Jo's Precious Thoughts

Hooked up on CityVille

2012-01-26T19:47:00.002-07:00

I just started playing this a couple of days back... so if you want to be my neighbor, please add me up. I still need a lot of stuff for my small town. Any help you can give will be deeply appreciated.

In search of a better pasture

2012-01-26T17:44:00.001-07:00

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I missed the Corporate World. Unfortunately, whatever I learned in my home country doesn't apply here. For me to move on to a better position like doing taxes here or better yet applying for a Healthcare Administration Jobs, I need to go back to school. And with the new management and constant changing in procedures and policies, I am really thinking of going to back to school so I can find better career.

Things that I missed

2012-01-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

I missed the Corporate world... I missed my corner office by the window on the 18th floor... and having lunch with my co-workers every other Friday... I missed having signing authority and training new stuff... I missed being a supervisor and material handling and collection... I missed wearing business suits... I missed dealing with VPs and AVPs... my work here is so much different from my previous world.

Well, it is another chapter and I am enjoying my tax season.

Neglected

2012-01-20T08:45:00.002-07:00

Sorry. I have been neglecting this blog of mine. I just had too many things going on and I do hope I can get myself organized before my tax season officially starts. I haven't had the time to blog hop either.

To be honest, I am so hooked up on playing Words By Post that I think I had carpal tunnel syndrome already. And that is taking my time away from blogging... :-)

Walgreens, the name you can trust

2012-01-19T17:00:00.001-07:00

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever been to Walgreens? Are you a regular customer at Walgreens? If you are, then you must be familiar with Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens.

For a very limited time offer, family membership are available for only $10 per year. This includes your spouse and children under 22 years old, and it also includes your pets. What a steal! Individual memberships are also available for only $5 per year. This offer is only available until January 30, 2012.

Benefits of being a member? You can get huge discounts on over 8000 brand name and generic medications. Not only for yourself, but for your pets as well. You can also get discounts on your pets' medication and some medical equipment/supplies.

Likewise, you can sign up for their free online pharmacy account. You can manage your prescriptions securely online. And with this you can also --

Review your Prescription Savings Club transactions
Set up auto refills for the medications you take regularly
Pick up prescriptions in store or through free shipping and
Share and print photos, shop online for beauty, health and personal care items

Let us show our support and follow Walgreens on Twitter and liking Walgreens on Facebook.

Parrots

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Miami Seaquarium, October 2011

Today, my son turns 15!

2012-01-10T20:59:00.004-07:00

Time flies so fast! I can't believe that my first born just turned 15 today. It wasn't really hard for me to find a suitable birthday gift for him since he already told me what he wanted for months now. It's a new DSi and the Call of Duty MW3. Though I am not so keen on getting him the MW3, we had to give in.

It used to be that I can just pick personalized gifts for kids. Now, they tell me what they want and I had to give in as long as it is within reason.

Here's what we had for dinner...

Koiji Restolouge

To my one and only son, Happy, happy birthday! We love you!

Florida City in Legoland

2012-01-10T20:55:00.003-07:00

My son is still into Legos. He is 15 years old today. I told him that he should work at Legoland someday. He can be a designer or a builder of these cool miniature cities and landmarks. I believe that he could really do well and excel here.

Related posts --

Daytona International Speedway
Miami Beach
Ford Explorer
Little Havana
San Francisco and Hollywood
Key West
Washington DC
Legoland

Tempting treats

2012-01-10T20:50:00.003-07:00

My husband always asks me what I want on my birthdays or our anniversaries. I always said that 3 roses will suffice. I prefer receiving flowers from time to time, rather than gifts that I may or may not like.

Anyway, on our last anniversary, our 15th, he decided to seek the "experts" on how and where to find the perfect anniversary gifts for wife. I ended up enjoying a one week anniversary treats from flowers to fruits dipped in chocolates to a spa basket treat! And I love it!

Funny tee shirts

2012-01-10T20:18:00.002-07:00

My husband's office mates just love to wear funny tee shirts to work! Yes, it is under his office clothes, but he took time to show it to everybody. And my husband would always take a picture of his shirt and sent it to me. Some are really offensive, and some are just plain funny. So on his birthday, he got about a dozen of funny tee shirts from his co-workers! And he just loved them all.

Fashion conscious

2012-01-10T18:16:00.001-07:00

My daughter is 11 and she is still a baby. She doesn't care if she wears the same sweater everyday to school. Sometimes, if I didn't like what she's wearing and ask her to change, she will frown at me. Once she got something on, there's no asking her to change it, even if the colors doesn't match.

On the other hand, my friends' daughter who is only 8, is very much conscious on how she look. She's very fashionable for a child. She even wanted a Roberto Cavalli Sunglasses for Christmas. I said, a what? I have not even heard of Roberto Cavalli until that time. Kids!

Tortoise

2012-01-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

Discovery Wildlife Park, Innisfail

Still hopeful

2012-01-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

I grew up not having any kind of pet at all. And I honestly don't like petting animals either. But sometimes, I wished that I had become an Equestrian. I admire their whole outfit, I really think it is cool to be wearing riding breeches, jodhpurs, and boots.

Well I am still hopeful that either one of my kids might take interest in this sport someday. If I can't be one, at least they still got the chance to be one.

Thera Bands

2012-01-09T19:15:00.002-07:00

Therabands® has been a trusted and recognized name in fitness and fitness related products since 1978. Professional athletes, physical therapists, sports/personal trainers and chiropractors would often use their products for an efficient workout or rehabilitation session. It's a must-have. And it wouldn't hurt if you have some of these at home to work with. They are lightweight and easy to store.

A space saver

2012-01-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

I find the medical clinics these days to be too high tech. All these new equipments that they have are really interesting and fascinating. Even the computer cabinet that they are using are really a space saver.

I am definitely not looking forward to the day where employees are no longer needed and that they will be replaced by machines and computers.

Pool fence saves lives

2012-01-09T18:57:00.002-07:00

How many times have we heard of children drowning in the pool at their own homes? It is just sad to hear stories like this. Children are innocent and they need to be protected all the time. One can never be too safe. If you have a pool at home, make sure you have pool fence az to avoid pool accidents. If you can afford a house with a pool, then you can afford to have a pool fence put up. Protect your love ones... act now before something bad happens.

Longer picture

2012-01-09T17:50:00.002-07:00

One key factor to a successful business is looking at the longer picture. Never plan for short term, always plan for the long term. If you plan short term, then it means you don't expect to succeed.

Say for example, you need a POS machine, don't just buy the cheapest in the market because of small capital, think long term because you might be better off getting an Aldelo System than some unknown product.

Skid Steer

2012-01-09T16:03:00.005-07:00

TexasSkidSteer.com offers a huge selection of use skid steer at a very competitive price and a lot of style to choose from. They've got videos so you can see it's performance and detailed specs. They believe that the more you know about the product that you are interested in, you got better chances to pick the right one.

Blessed New Year to All!!

2011-12-31T16:14:00.002-07:00

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist and your plumber.

May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues.

May New Year's Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends. May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night.

May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your check book and your budget balance - and include generous amounts for charity.

May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parent, your siblings; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor.

Happy New Year to ONE & ALL!

Noche Buena 2011

2011-12-25T20:46:00.010-07:00

This is our yummy Christmas Eve dinner with 3 other families! Good friends. Good foods. Perfect Christmas get together! How's your Christmas?

Embutido [meatloaf], Christmas Ham and Baked Mushrooms with shrimps

Beef Lengua with mushroom sauce, Pancit Palabok with pork rind and Chicken Relleno [Stuffed chicken]

Chocolates, Almonds with lychees and Sansrival

Truffles and Fruit platters

Making it works

2011-12-25T20:06:00.002-07:00

I mentioned in my previous post that a friend of mine recently bought a mini restaurant. Unfortunately it didn't last long. She didn't have the proper restaurant equipment to properly store food. She had to do her marketing on a daily basis. This totally drain her out and she decided to sell it after less than 2 months in the business. She was making money. Her food was delicious. She just didn't have the guts to see it through.

What's on your list?

2011-12-25T19:56:00.002-07:00

I honestly can't imagine people going on camping every week during the summer months. A friend of mine is actually making camping plans for the summer already and made some bookings already. Now that's getting ahead of time.

I tried it once, and I kind of like it. I could probably try this once or twice a year, but not more than that. Unless somebody got an RV that I could use. My friend was trying to convince to look at RV loans and get myself an RV so we could go camping with them all summer long. I don't think so! That is definitely not on my priority list.

Water Pumps

2011-12-25T19:03:00.002-07:00

Looking for commercial or industrial water pumps and don't know where to start? You can easily search by types, by horsepower, by size or by manufacturer. At We Got Pumps, you will get expert service, huge selection with unbeatable prices. They sell all type of pumps: engine driven, sewage, trash pumps, high pressure pumps, submersible, chemical pumps, centrifugal pumps, self priming, water pumps and more. All 100% manufactured in USA. And best of all, they offer free shipping within Continental USA.

Medical Info

2011-12-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

Do you know anybody with spinal or chronic back pain problems? Well, they might need what we call the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute. It is simply a procedure requiring a small incision of less than 1.5cm, hence the "minimally invasive" term. It is also known as laparoscopic surgery or band-aid surgery. This will result in less trauma for the patient and it also allows doctors to guide instruments along the length of the lumbar spine, diagnosing and treating problems in real time.

Greetings!

2011-12-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS
TO ALL OF YOU!!!

May you and you family have a
wonderful and blessed Christmas! Cheers!

Collector of coins

2011-12-23T12:30:00.001-07:00

My line of work as pre-board screener can be interesting at the same time frustrating. Frustrating in the way that sometimes passengers just don't realize that what we are doing are for the public safety and that they are the one flying not us.

Interesting because we get to see a lot of interesting stuff and meet interesting people. The other day, the bag was way too dark and dense that we couldn't really identify the stuff that's in it. And when that happens, we are require to look into it. This gentlemen is a collector. He buy gold coins online from Golden Eagle. These coins were all organized in a glass case. Really cool collection. Unfortunately, it is unethical for us to inquire about the value of it.

Time for giving

2011-12-23T12:13:00.002-07:00

Are you all done with your Christmas shopping? You got 2 more days till Christmas! I got almost everybody except for my husband. I just don't know what to get him this year.

I find it so easy to shop for my goddaughter presents. There's just too many things that are so adorable and affordable that will make little girls happy. From clothes to toys to accessories.

I find it hard to buy presents for teenagers and adults. Nice things comes with a price.

Presents in small packaging

2011-12-23T12:00:00.001-07:00

I just sent a box home and I am so glad that it arrived in time for Christmas. I just find it hard to fill up the box since it is 20x20x20 and irregardless of the weight, or if it's full or not, I will still pay the same price for shipping.

In January though, my husband will be going home for his dad's 75th birthday, and since the airlines are restricting the number of free luggage and limit the weight per luggage, I thought it will be a good idea to buy citizen watch for my father-in-law. It's on sale and they are small and easy to pack. I'm still looking for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Long and winding road to Elbow Falls

2011-12-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

For welders out there

2011-12-23T08:34:00.001-07:00

From farmers to metal fabricators, manufacturing plants to home mechanics and hobbyists, there's definitely a Millermatic that you can use and will easily fit into your application and budget. It gives you the ultimate arc performance, and also the power to weld thick metals. It can also pulsed MIG to weld thin-gauge aluminum. And the flexibility take it with you on location. Do your job better with the proper equipment and tools!

Desktops at it's cheapest

2011-12-23T08:26:00.001-07:00

When I first bought my desktop, I paid so much $$$ for it. And after 2-3 years, I had to either upgrade or buy new hard drive, and that's additional $$.

These days though, PC desktops are at it's cheapest. Imagine owning one for only $400+. Students can easily afford this!

A family of 5 went through my line the other day and I can't believe what I saw. Each kid got their own laptops. Both parents got a laptop and an Ipad each too. There is no sharing in this family for sure.

Are you editing your photos?

2011-12-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

You know, I follow a lot of memes - like Wordless Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, SkyWatch and all those on my sidebar. I am always fascinated at how beautiful their photos are. Like they were all taken by pros. Little did I know that most of them do a lot of photo editing before publishing their photos.

Well, in this blog, what you see is how I took it. I do some cropping to remove unwanted extras in my photos, but that's it.

I took some classes on photography, and I just never had the time to really learn the manual mode of my SLR. I also took Photoshop course, and am fascinated at how much a photo can improve with Photoshop. But I just don't have the time to do any editing. And I think I have forgotten how to use Photoshop.

Do you do any photo editing???

Fashionable maternity clothings

2011-12-19T18:12:00.003-07:00

My pregnant friend is getting prettier by the day. She won the best dress in our Christmas party two Fridays ago. And it was a unanimous vote. I remember years back when I was pregnant, it was so hard for me to look for a decent maternity dress. These days though maternity clothes are very fashionable. From jeans to tops to dresses to skirts, one can never look bad.

Daytona International Speedway in Legoland

2011-12-08T22:34:00.002-07:00

Legoland Florida, October 15, 2011

Other related posts:
Miami Beach
Ford Explorer
Little Havana
San Francisco and Hollywood
Key West
Washington DC
Legoland

Pleasure listening

2011-12-08T22:21:00.002-07:00

My husband and I have different point of view when it comes to sounds. Her prefers to have a PA system where he can hear the powerful sound of the music or dramatic effects of a movie.

To me, as long as I can hear the song or the dialogs, then I am okay with it. I mean, I know there is a difference, but to me, they are all the same. I couldn't care less for the brand and no matter how expensive or inexpensive it is.

Miami Beach in Legoland

2011-12-05T15:19:00.001-07:00

My Legoland adventure continues... I am truly amazed at how real these looks.

Legoland Florida, October 15, 2011

Ford Explorer in Legoland

2011-11-22T08:00:00.002-07:00

It was so hard to take a photo of this without people... It was just swamp with people all day long.

It took more than 380,000 brightly colored plastic Lego blocks to make a full-size version of the Explorer, part of a promotion between Ford and a new Legoland theme park in Florida. Twenty-two designers worked on the project, and it ended up weighing as much as a car: 2,654 pounds with a 768-pound interior aluminum base.

Check this video out... it shows the time-lapse view of how they build the Ford Explorer.

Ford even have driving school for kids under 12. These kids get to drive a motorized Lego car with traffic lights and signs. And if they follow all the rules they can get a license after.

My daughter got hers! She's very proud of it too!

Legoland Florida, October 2011

Little Havana in Legoland

2011-11-19T00:15:00.000-07:00

Miami consists of 68% Spanish speaking people....

A vibrant Hispanic culture permeates everything in Little Havana, Miami — colorful murals, monuments to heroes past and present, elderly men playing dominoes as they discuss politics, and cigar rollers deeply at work amidst Little Havana’s ever-present aroma of Cuban coffee. These scenes of daily Little Havana, Miami life play out amidst a backdrop of Little Havana's pulsating music, vibrant storefronts, unique art galleries and quaint restaurants.

Legoland Florida, October 15, 2011

Next post will be really cool... it's all about a Ford Explorer made of Lego and weighs as heavy as a real one.

San Francisco and Hollywood in Legoland

2011-11-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Golden Gate Bridge, Crooked Road and Victorian Houses in San Francisco

Hollywood Bowl and Chinese Theater in Los Angeles

Winter = Skiing Time

2011-11-15T08:47:00.002-07:00

Winter is upon us. It's been a cold week so far and we just had our first snowfall last week. I have been sick for the past 2 weeks, on and off. I don't like the change of season, it always makes me sick.

The one good thing about winter is that it means we can go skiing again. This time though I am thinking of investing in some skis, Black Diamond Poles and ski shoes instead of renting. It is cheaper in the long run.

First snowfall = accidents

2011-11-15T08:04:00.002-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, we just had our first snowfall. And on the very first day of snowfall, accidents happen all around the city. Two of my friends were in an accident. One was lucky enough not to hit anything or anyone. The other one is not so lucky. Her car was a total wreck and was beyond repair.

In cases of accidents, what do you do? I don't have a single clue, that is why it is a relief to know that there is such a thing as auto collision estimating software to help you out.

T13: Food trip @ South Beach Miami

2011-11-10T01:00:00.002-07:00

What I love about going on a vacation?
I don't have to cook!
No washing the dishes.
No laundry or ironing of clothes.
No vacuuming or sweeping the floors.
No house chores. Period.

Fine Dining @ Scarpetta, FontaineBlue Miami Beach
Cod fish and Lobster
I am so glad our dinner was FREE! I couldn't afford to pay for our orders.

P.F. Chang's Chinese Bistro
Lettuce Wrap - the best!!!

Shinju Japanese Buffet

Five Napkins Burger

Sazon Cuban Cuisine [My most favorite of all! We even went there twice.]

Join Thursday Thirteen

Key West in Legoland

2011-11-09T10:08:00.002-07:00

I was so amazed at how they created Miniland! These are miniature of the real thing and they are all made out of Legos. I told my son that he could be a builder of Legos when he grows up. He is still into this up to now and his creativity comes out.

Legoland Florida, October 15, 2011

More of these series in the next few posts....

Washington DC in Legoland

2011-11-08T19:12:00.006-07:00

Do you recognized Obama and his family standing outside the White House? So cool and so creative, isn't it?

Legoland Florida, October 15, 2011

More pictures from Legoland to follow.....

Trivia on Miami

2011-11-06T10:19:00.002-07:00

Did you know that the 80s TV hit series Miami Vice and CSI Miami is not shot in Miami? They were shot in California. Huh!

I learned about this from our city tour of Miami.

My whole family is sick

2011-11-05T21:38:00.004-06:00

Sunday. First it was my daughter. She was so weak, she didn't go to school on Monday. Tuesday came and she was fine. But I was starting to feel too tired all of the sudden. Wednesday was spent in bed practically the whole day. I got the flu! I couldn't bring myself to eat nor to stand or sit up. I get dizzy. Thursday, I am a little better, but still nauseous. And again spent the whole day in bed, watching movies. Hubby started coughing too. Friday, I felt good. I even joined my friends for a lunch birthday party. Hubby is still coughing. Saturday [today], my son went to bed without dinner. That's not him at all. So I went to check up on him, and he said it's too cold. He's chilling [like I was 3 days ago]. I gave him his medicine and hopefully he will feel better tomorrow. :-(

The only thing I hate about the changing of the season is that people are more prone to sickness!

T13: South Beach Miami

2011-11-03T13:31:00.016-06:00

I missed the beach. I loved the beach.
I missed the sights of palm trees...
Especially if you live by the mountains like me.
And our vacation last October to Miami, Florida was just perfect!
Unfortunately, my kids who grew up here, enjoyed the pool more than the beach.
We even made it to the grand opening day of LEGOLAND Florida.
We did have a lovely weather all week long, except for the last day. So can't really complain.
We just missed our chance to go see the Key West. But there will be next time...

Next week's T13 entry will be all about our food trip.

Join Thursday Thirteen

Feeding time

2011-10-30T10:30:00.000-06:00

I wish they weren't caged at all. It just doesn't look good to see the wiring. This made me want to go to Africa Safari were the animals are out in the wild. Maybe someday...

Discovery Wildlife Park, Innisfail, Alberta

Change - good or bad?

2011-10-30T10:17:00.004-06:00

There's going to be a lot of changes at work starting November 1. This is due to the supposedly change of company. But then our existing company bought out the new company, so I guess we are still stuck with the same company. Still, changes in some procedures and operations will take effect on November 1. And rumors had it that it's not going to be good.

Anyway, this started me thinking that maybe it's high time I start thinking of a real career for myself. A change will always be good. Maybe I could look into medical field like Dental Assistant Jobs. I always loved the smell of dental offices. I don't know why but I do. But this would mean I have to go back to school, again. I really need to ponder on this thought much further.

Random

2011-10-30T10:05:00.000-06:00

Here's a new site that was just created. It's called eyelash growth products' site.

The name alone made me think of eyelashes. The first thing that I see in a person is their eyes. They say that the eyes are the window to one's soul. And I love eyes with long eyelashes. I wish mine or my daughter's were long too, but they're not.

3Rs

2011-10-28T12:10:00.001-06:00

Looking forward to do the 3Rs this weekend - Relaxing, Resting and Really doing nothing!

What are your plans?

Litratong Pinoy: Matamis [Sweet]

2011-10-27T10:15:00.004-06:00

Halo-halo with leche flan and vanilla ice cream -
perfect Filipino dessert for a hot summer!

How the ???

2011-10-24T22:00:00.000-06:00

Lethbridge, August 21, 2011

Legoland, Florida

2011-10-21T22:49:00.000-06:00

This wasn't part of the plan, but we made it to the grand opening of Legoland Florida! We left around 6:30am and it was a 4-hour drive from our South Beach hotel. But it was worth the trip! We even get to meet my hubby's cousin who lives about an hour away from Legoland for dinner. We got back past 1 am already.

The weather was perfect. It was in the 70F+. It was not too hot and there was a breeze too. I had over 740+ photos and I don't even know how to start sorting them out.

I have been wanting to go to Legoland in California for quite a long time now, but just couldn't come up with the perfect time.

Smart phones

2011-10-21T11:01:00.004-06:00

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

When my husband first suggested that I should get a smart phone like Android, I was skeptical. My current cell phone is only on a pre-paid plan. I don't really make unnecessary calls on my cell. If I can wait to make the call when I have access to a landline, I will do so.

So when the idea of a smart phone came up, I hesitated. Simply because I don't want to pay for data plan. And there's also the fear of being out of control and go overboard with my phone bills.

You know what? I'm glad he push me into it. It was my birthday gift from him. Now, I Feel Richer with Android and I was able to stay on my current pre paid plan with no problems. I normally use data when there is a free WiFi.

But still, for somebody, like college students and even teenagers, one can get unlimited monthly service for as low as $45 that includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web! Now, that's The power of Android.

Get your own amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth. Feel Richer with Android !!!

The Straight Talk Image... by LittleBard95

What would you do with $1 Million?

2011-10-17T10:01:00.002-06:00

This post brought to you by Aviva Community Fund. All opinions are 100% mine.

Now on it's 3rd year, Aviva is back again to give you the chance to win the Aviva Community Fund Contest worth $1 Million. And it is quite simple. All you need to do is come up with a life-changing cause or idea by November 30. Then create awareness by making friends and family like Aviva Community Fund on Facebook and/or Follow @avivacf thru Twitter. These social networks, including Google+, will help you reach out to people.

So how do they pick the winner? It's quite simple too. Winners are chosen based on the number of votes they got on Facebook. So the more active you support and spread your idea, the better.

Please go to Facebook and "like" the Aviva Community Fund page. Because for "Like" Aviva Community Fund receives, $1 will be donated to' Free The Children' to support at-risk youth programs in Canada.

The Aviva Community Fund competition is here. Please take time to check out the ideas of other people and make your vote. Be a part of your community. Round 1 of voting ends October 19th. But new ideas will still be accepted till November 30, 2011. After that, 90 ideas will go to semi-finalist. 30 of which will go to the final rounds for judging, which is scheduled on December 17, 2011 to January 24, 2012.

Fisher Island, Miami

2011-10-14T16:29:00.003-06:00

The only way in and out of this man-made island is either with your own private boat or helicopter. Living in a place like this, you are assured that you have your own privacy!

Minimum cost of a condo here starts at $3.5 Million and can go up to $8 Million. There's also a once a year membership fee of $175,000 per unit. So only the rich and famous can afford to live in an island like this.

This was part of the boat tour that we did.

Temperature in Miami

2011-10-14T16:20:00.003-06:00

When I check the weather forecast for this week, it was supposed to be raining all week. Thank God that we are enjoying the sunny and warm weather of Miami. It didn't rain on us all week long.

My kids don't like the warm weather and they get tired very easily. It's a good thing that the pool is situated just outside our hotel room. It is accessible through our balcony. And they get to swim every single day.

And I am so glad that I decided to take the city tour where we just stayed in the bus. Unfortunately, I couldn't get photos of Miami with us in it. But at least I won't hear my kids complaining about and saying "mommy, we're melting... we need air-conditioning..." hahaha!

Even on the boat tour, they decided to stay indoor where there's air-conditioning rather than stand on the deck and view the lovely city of Miami.

Anniversaries

2011-10-14T16:06:00.004-06:00

My in-laws just celebrated their 44th anniversary last week. And though we wanted to be there on their special day, we have our own anniversary to celebrate. Our anniversaries are 1 day apart, and we are on our 16th.

So what better way to be thankful to my in-laws for bringing my wonderful husband into this world then by sending rose plants? There was a bit of a delay since I was late in ordering them, but they loved it!!!

Did you know that you can also arrange to have flowers/plants delivered on a monthly basis? That way, young lovers can never forget their monthly anniversary!

Photo opportunities

2011-10-14T16:04:00.000-06:00

From this trip, I have taken over 1400+ pictures already. And I'm sure it will be another 300 to 400 this weekend as we are going to the grand opening of Legoland in Tampa tomorrow and the Key West on Sunday. There will definitely be a lot of photo opportunities.

This made me realized that ever since I bought my SLR, I am taking quite a lot of photos! Not just the ones with us in it, but a lot of friends, and places and interesting sights, and even food.

I got 2 hard drives and they are almost full. So my husband is now looking for discount Hard Drives [portable ones] for me.

Games and Teenagers

2011-10-14T16:02:00.000-06:00

At first, my son was happy that we are going on a trip! And then he was happier when he realized that he will be missing 5 days of school! On top of that, he gets to play with his DSi.

I don't understand what is with the boys/teens these days. All they want is play, play and play. He wanted to buy new games all the time. And he wanted this and that and this and that. It was non-stop.

Now, he is begging to have gaming desktops, he said that his netbook is not powerful enough for his games! When is he going to grow out of this???

Hello from Miami, Florida!

2011-10-14T16:00:00.002-06:00

We're on our 6th day here in South Beach Miami and we're enjoying the weather, the food and the shopping! The next 2 days will be hectic as it involves a lot of driving for us.

Anyway, while shopping, I was telling my daughter to start looking around as to how other girls are dressed or even just looking at mannequins. I believe she can be tall enough to be a model someday. I told her she can wear designer clothes and shoes and they are going to be free. But she said "I don't want people looking at me."

Yet she wanted to be a cheerleader someday and possibly win cheerleading trophies.

Traffic on the runway

2011-10-10T09:58:00.003-06:00

On our connecting flight to Miami, we got held up in Houston due to the storm... According to the pilot, there's like close to 20 planes waiting to depart... luckily, we are the second one on queue.

Miami, here we come

2011-10-09T04:08:00.000-06:00

We're off to Miami, Florida... it's going to be our first time there, and we are all excited! Finally, we get to hit the beach!!! We've been to the side of Orlando and Tampa a few times before, but never been to the south part of it. We're praying for a good weather, all week long.

Hubby is going on a conference and since the hotel and car are already paid for by the company, we decided to tag along. It's also a week long celebration of our 16th year of blissful marriage with our 2 precious kids. ",)

16 and counting...

2011-10-08T10:08:00.001-06:00

It's not going to bed with someone that proves you love them,
it's waking up with them every morning and facing life's challenges together.

I remember the 2nd day after we got married, I woke up and got startled by having somebody besides me. And then, after a few seconds, I realized that I am married and that I was waking up to the most beautiful man beside me.

Now, 16 years later, I still love waking up next to him... as we faced parenthood together.

To my hubby: You complete me and I love you with all my heart. Happy 16th Anniversary!!!

Hotel or rental homes

2011-10-08T09:02:00.003-06:00

Planning for a trip is never easy. Scouting for a cheap airfare is not as bad as it sounds. But looking for the place to stay is the most challenging of all. In any place, you always have to option to look at hotels or motels or even rental homes.

If you have a big group, then rental homes might be ideal since you can share the cost, cook your own meals and still got a huge space to chill out. Rates are almost the same as a 4 star hotel, depending on where you are looking. So for our upcoming trip to Miami, we decided to just settle for a hotel since there's only 4 of us.

Litratong Pinoy: Masarap [Delicious]

2011-10-06T07:00:00.002-06:00

My favorite dish during summer and picnic time...
my friends love it too...

16

2011-10-03T21:40:00.001-06:00

16 seems to be a bad number for a few of my friends and colleagues. My BFF here got separated after 16 years of being married. My other friend's husband started fooling around on their 16th year, now separated. Another friend's daughter got pregnant at age 16. And a fellow blogger also got separated after 16 years of marriage...

I wanted to skip our 16th anniversary and go straight to 17th. I don't need any jinx this year.

Firm or Soft

2011-10-03T21:18:00.002-06:00

My husband like our bed to be on the hard/firm side. I prefer the soft side. Over the years, we've argue about the type of bed to buy.

Two years ago, we went through the same thing again. This time, I let him made the final choice! We got the firm one, and now, 2 years later, his side of the bed is becoming softer [again]. LOL, he is just way too heavy for the bed to stay firm. And to think that it costs too much.

I told him we could have gotten the memory foam mattress instead, it's cheaper and distribute weight evenly.

Everyday ritual

2011-10-03T20:27:00.000-06:00

My morning and evening routine is very, very simple. I shower, wash my face, brush my teeth and either I'm ready for the day or I'm off to bed. I can take a bath/shower in 10 minutes if I am really in a hurry. No ceremony.

My high school friend came to live with us for a couple of months when she first moved to Canada. And you just have to see her in her morning and evening routine. It took her over an hour to get ready in the morning and another hour to get ready for bed.

She uses different type of lotion for different part of her body. She uses different shampoo throughout the week too. She even got this coconut milk sugar scrubs that she uses on her face to "unclogs pores" she said.

Litratong Pinoy: Inumin [Drinks]

2011-09-29T01:30:00.001-06:00

Down the memory lane with FB's Timeline

2011-09-27T21:25:00.001-06:00

Have you guys check out Facebook's new Timeline? To enable click here.

I joined FB in September 23, 2007... and I love going back in time to see what I have been up to. I love it!!!

UPDATE: October 6, 2011... I decided to remove my Timeline. I don't think people are interested in going back to the past, except me.

Twis-ted Element

2011-09-26T17:56:00.004-06:00

There's always a first in everything. And September 25th was my first time in a gay club/bar called Twis-ted Element in downtown.

It was the birthday party of a friend. At first, I told her I'd meet them up at Brewsters for dinner only. I honestly don't have any plans to go to a night club. But since everybody's going, and out of curiosity, I decided to tag along.

I never imagined myself being in a night club, let alone a gay bar. Ha! But it was fun and it was something different. And though I have 0% alcohol in me, I have a hang over the day after. I got home around 1am already and had to get up at 7am to get the kids ready for school.

Que sera sera

2011-09-24T22:03:00.000-06:00

There is a reason the rear view mirror is so small and the windshield is so big...
where you are headed is much more important than what you have left behind.

In the Philippines, we also have a saying that "one who never looks back from his past will never get to his destination." [Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan." ~ Jose Rizal ~ ]

Never ever step on other people's toes. Never ever forget the people that helped you along the way. Never ever forget to say "thank you" to everyone you came in contact with. These people shaped up who you are today. Without them, you won't be where you are right now.

Never ever say that you got there on your own, because "no man is an island," no man can do it alone!

Encouragement and ideas can come from your parents, your brothers or sisters, your cousins and other relatives and friends... they can come from the person who shines your shoes or who cuts your hair or do your nails... or someone who cash you out at the grocery store... or even somebody who happens to be sitting beside you at the bus/train... or it could be from your favorite author or newscaster... They are all around us!

To all those that helped me become a better person - THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

Gibson Park

2011-09-21T09:00:00.001-06:00

This was taken from one of our summer trips. It's a 5.5 hours long drive. It's impromptu, like we decided to do this road trip Friday night and we left at 6:30 am on Saturday. We didn't have much food for this trip, I just took whatever we got in the cupboard. We met 2 other families there... and had a wonderful dinner together.

Gibson Park, Great Falls, Montana
August 21, 2011

Close encounter with Barney

2011-09-16T23:02:00.004-06:00

This is a REAL bear. And he is a movie star!!!

Last time, I introduced you to Betty. Today, I want to introduce you to Barney!

Again, this one cost me another $21 for the original photo. This is just a picture copy taken from my cellphone. Looks like Barney's a little hungry with the way he looked at us. This is called the "lunch" pose.

Barney was born in 1998, weighs 1300 lbs and stands 8 feet tall.
He is a Kodiak bear and is very good at doing contact work in the movies.
His temperament is very calm and his great size makes him very impressive!

His movie credits are : Grizzly Falls, Anchorman, Pathfinder, Mr. Nobody, Northern Lights, and Knucklehead

His TV credits: Shoebox Zoo, Heartland and Pet Heroes

His commercials: Mercury Insurance, Lowe's, Honda, Super Bowl 2004 Pepsi, Rice Krispie treats, Napa,
Chevy Tahoe, American Express, Titleist Golf Balls, Tennessee DUI, Assure Deodorant,
"State of Russia" for CH4 in UK, Anadin, Energizer, TD Insurance and Kobalt Toolbox.

Discovery Wildlife Park, Innisfail, Alberta

Close encounter with Betty

2011-09-13T00:23:00.010-06:00

This is a REAL bear. And there are no wires, no fence, no chains in between us and the bear. Awesome experience! A once in a lifetime thing too. I had to pay $21 for the original photo. This is just a picture copy taken from my cellphone. Please say hello to Betty!

Meet Betty, a Kodiak bear born in 1988.
She weighs 875 lbs and stands 6 feet tall. For a Kodiak, she is very small and petite.
Betty also has a very sweet nature and acts just like a little princess.

Her movie credits are: Dr. Dolittle 2, Grizzly Falls, Anchorman

Commercials credits includes: Super Bowl 2004 Pepsi, Super Bowl 2006 Bud Light,
Rice Krispie Treats, Napa, Toyota, and Farmer's Insurance.

Discovery Wildlife Park, Innisfail, Alberta

Sense of direction

2011-09-13T00:05:00.003-06:00

My son wants to attempt to get his learner's permit soon. I guess his classmates got theirs over the summer and he felt being left out.

Anyway, while we were on the topic of driving, he was saying that he wanted to get a license for motorcycle too and all he needed is a motorcycle navigator and he is all set. He talks as if I would let him drive a car or a motorcycle as soon as he got his learner's permit. Ha!

I told him that he didn't really need the GPS since he is more knowledgeable on roads than I do. He knows his North South East and West.

Morraine Lake

2011-09-07T01:10:00.001-06:00

From one of our summer trips...

Nostalgic

2011-09-05T11:11:00.000-06:00

Whenever I am feeling homesick, I tend to watch Tagalog movies or listen to Tagalog songs.

After watching the movie of KC Concepcion and Sam Milby's "Forever and a Day", I had this sudden urge to go home and fly out to Cagayan to try all the sports that they did in the movie. Sports like zipline, zorbing and rafting to name a few. I even emailed my cousin in Taiwan and told her I wanted to experience those things with her. And that we should go home at the same time.

I love the movie but it made me cry a bucket!!! I hope and pray that I will not have to go through something so difficult and painful.

Anyway, since it is not in our budget right now, I ended up downloading Tagalog songs to my cell phone. Old and nostalgic songs from Freddie Aguilar, Florante, Asin, Hotdogs, Rey Valera, Basil Valdez... and a whole lot more. Really, really oldies!

Problems are part of all business!

2011-09-02T10:21:00.005-06:00

I know somebody who used to earned big time as an employee and still make money on the side singing commercial songs. When she got married, she gave all those up, and decided to become a stay at home mom. She still sings on the side but nothing permanent.

Since then, she had tried numerous business like laundromat, barber shop and even catering. But she easily gave all those up. Catering seems like a good deal. You get 2 events in a month, and you are good. Because the mark up is somewhere between 200 to 300% of your cost. But a few problems here and there, she keeps on quitting!

Now, she invested money into a small restaurant. It opened just last month. And we haven't heard from her yet. I think she is doing everything on her own - from marketing to menu planning to cooking and even handling the cash. And on top of that, she got 2 kids to take care of. She is one busy lady. We were afraid she might give up on this one too. And all the money and time invested will go to waste, again.

Well, if she will only stick this one out, through thick and thin, she just might be able to expand her restaurant business. And with the expansion, she will need a retail system to help her out!

What is wrong with my question?

2011-08-31T08:11:00.000-06:00

In a work environment where people work on shifts, it is quite normal to form groups within your own shifts. I love my morning shift because the people are nicer, friendlier, and we do not envy one another. We do not spread rumors about one another. We party a lot! Even out of town trips.

Now that I have to work on a different shift [afternoon], I find that it is much harder to get along with the people. We are all Filipinos, and yet, they are the type of people who are nice to you when they are talking to you... and talks about you when you are not around. In other word, hypocrite.

I didn't make a very good first impression with them due to this incident. And I don't really care. I already know their attitude way before I got to this shift.

Anyway, the afternoon/evening people had a picnic recently. I was invited, but I had other plans so I didn't get to join them. The very next day, people started posting photos on FB. And I browsed through them. My next working day, I greeted A with a cheerful face, I said "Ang saya saya naman ng picnic niyo!" [Wow, your party looks fun.] And you know her reply? She said, in a high pitch voice - "But of course, not only morning people knows how to party!" What the??? Did I say anything about morning parties?

I ask myself "is there something wrong with the way I said it?" So I decided to ask two more people the same question. The first one answered "Oh yes it was fun, but we got lost along the way." The second one answered "Oh yes, there's so many food." Now, that's the kind of answer that people would normally say, right?

Because there's unity in the morning people, we have tons of parties all the time! And since we are on the morning shift, our parties would start as early as 5pm and ends around 9-10pm. Yes, it ends that early because most of us have to wake up at 3:30am to get ready for work. We can't invite the evening people because they have work during those hours. And we didn't really want to party with them because among themselves, they don't have unity. I guess they can see our parties and trips on FB too and a bit jealous of it.

A few of them would always say comments like "how come I am not invited?" or "how come you're not inviting the afternoon/evening people?" Why should we?

Since Christmas is just around the corner, the evening stuff wanted to have a Christmas party of all the Filipinos at work. The organizer told me that they can't have the party without the morning people. If the morning people didn't join this party, they would incur more expenses. So I said, I will take charge of the morning people, if one of us will go, all of us will go [as long as there's no conflict in personal matters].

I hate leaving my morning shift. But being a mother comes first, and my kids are my priority. I just have to try to get along with the afternoon people since this is my new shift now.

But I will definitely be partying with the morning group!!!

NET10

2011-08-29T08:01:00.002-06:00

This post brought to you by Net10. All opinions are 100% mine.

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This is also a good plan for college/university students. We all know that kids these days can't live without their gadgets. And this is the best way to get hold of them when they are out with their friends. It will give peace of mind to parents and grandparents.

Playing with shadows

2011-08-27T21:09:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, we went to Great Falls, Montana for just one night. It's about 5.5 hours drive, one way, but it was worth it. The place was very clean, people were friendly and very helpful, and the falls were breathtaking. Pictures from our trip to follow.

In the meantime, on our way home, we got so tired that we needed to stretch. Unfortunately, the garden that we were suppose to go was already closed. So while at the park, this is what we did... we took a few shots of our shadows!

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge

Cutting down on bills

2011-08-27T17:00:00.003-06:00

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

When you are on a tight budget, one thing that can easily be cut down is cell phone bills! To me, yes, it is a necessity and every body needs one, even children of school age. But do we really need expensive phones? or pay a huge monthly plans?

There are ways to save. And Straight talk will give you everything you need. Where else can you get 1000 minutes, 1000 text messaging with a 30 MB data plan for only $30? Or what about unlimited package for only $45, and this includes unlimited calls, text, picture messaging, and web? And here's more, there's no activation, reactivation, or termination fees at all and no contract to sign!

All mom knows best, kids needs to connect and call a friend or their boyfriend or girlfriend from time to time, and what better plan than Straight talk.

And if you got love ones outside of the country, no problem. They also have International Long Distance Service that is flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at very low rates.

Wal-mart is the only place where you can purchase a Straight talk phone and plan. It's one of my favorite store because it got everything you need!

Worth every cent

2011-08-25T18:16:00.000-06:00

Finally, I was able to get a decent haircut... thanks to a friend whose parents are here on a short visit. The mother was a hair dresser back home. And she took time to cut our hair.

I love my new look... and my daughter's look, but she's not really too happy with it. She prefers long hair. Well, she can have long hair once she starts learning how to take care of it.

Upgrading... hopefully sooner than later

2011-08-25T10:40:00.002-06:00

SLR cameras are an "in" thing these days... My brother in-law wanted an SLR since they saw mine, the clarity of my photos and the capturing of the actions of the kids and their cousins.

I told them that if they can wait a little longer, it could be a year, it could be 2 years, they can have mine. Because I am thinking of upgrading my Nikon D90 to D7000. Am also thinking of upgrading my 18-200mm lens to the 28-300mm lens. I just need my next tax season's commission to see if it is achievable. Or I may need 2 tax season's commission to do this.

Expensive toy

2011-08-25T09:01:00.000-06:00

My kids got a netbook. But they are always fighting if it's their turn or not. And it can get annoying to the point that I have to hide their netbook from time to time.

One of my daughter's birthday wish was a netbook or laptop of her own. Her brother even attempted to search for the best laptop computers at the source, online, to find the most affordable one for me. And I told her up front that that will never happen. It is just way too expensive to be their "toy".

Let's play chess

2011-08-19T20:28:00.002-06:00

We are off for a day trip to Waterton National Park tomorrow... and on Sunday, we will be watching fireworks at the Globalfest... Happy weekend everyone!

Midnapore Lake

Planning stage

2011-08-19T19:40:00.002-06:00

My cousin runs a preschool in Taiwan for almost 10 years now. And she is looking into migrating to Canada and opening her own preschool here. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as she thinks she says. There's just too many things to prepare for. But one thing that attracted her is the required space for the preschool playground.

I do hope all her plans pushes through. I miss her so much.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

2011-08-19T18:03:00.002-06:00

It is very common for balikbayans [visiting your home country] to get sick while in the Philippines. Especially the kids who are not used to the pollution and the water. Every time we go home, I made sure we buy bottled water for my kids.

We are actually looking at buying/installing a reverse osmosis in my parents and in-laws home, so that we don't have to worry about the drinking water of the kids. Reverse Osmosis Systems remove an extremely broad range of contaminants and will easily produce enough water not only for drinking but also for cooking.

A must

2011-08-19T16:52:00.000-06:00

Back in the Philippines, due to recurring blackouts, every desktop at home and at work needs to be setup with efficient power supply to safeguard the computers.

I'm so glad that we don't actually need that here in Canada. But still, my husband got us power supplies, surge protectors and extension cords and universal power supply. He claims its a must. And we did encounter a few blackouts, and that help keep our computer safe.

Colorful

2011-08-17T10:38:00.002-06:00

Check out other entries for Wordless Wednesday and Thursday Thirteen

Mother and Daughter Baking Team

2011-08-13T10:25:00.000-06:00

My daughter and I took baking classes @ Michael's Arts and Crafts. We finished our first Basic class in October 2010... and just last month, we took the Gum and Paste class. It was fun, learning to decorate and make cakes and cupcakes. There's still the flower making class, we might do it next spring or summer. The class itself is cheap, only $27 per person. But the student kit and other materials that we need costs a lot.

My daughter made these for my birthday last month...

Midnapore Lake #3

2011-08-11T21:40:00.000-06:00

Check out other entries for Watery Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday here.

Need to slow down

2011-08-11T21:15:00.000-06:00

I think I am way over my head these days... Summer is just way too short, and by making the most out of it, I am way over my budget. First, we went camping... then we did White Water Rafting and then we stayed at Fairmont Lake Louise for 1 night. Our hotel was discounted, paid only 35% of the actual room rate. And then there's a series of picnics, my birthday and my daughter's birthday party... and then me and my daughter went to a baking class. The class itself is cheap, only $27 per person, but the materials we need for the class is ridiculously expensive. I had to collect and use coupons to purchase our materials. I don't want to result to cash advance, but if I don't slow down, I may have to.

My daughter's 11th birthday

2011-08-11T21:00:00.000-06:00

When I was planning on my kids' birthday, I never really bothered with invitations. I always seems to run out of time just thinking of what to do for their birthdays.

My daughter just turned 11 last Monday. And I gave the parents of her classmates one week advance notice, via email, about her supposedly birthday party at the movie. But of course, since it's summer time, most families were out of town or already got other plans. Hence, it didn't push through since only 1 kid was available. So next year, I promise myself to send out low country boil invitations in advance and give parents plenty of time! It's a good thing my daughter didn't really want a party, all she wanted was a DSi XL. And tomorrow, I'm taking her and a few other kids to Shakers Fun Center for some playtime.

F-16 Fighting Falcon

2011-08-05T00:12:00.000-06:00

SKYWATCH

Kids don't like the noise the F-16 created!

Airdrie Regional Air Show, July 16-17, 2011
Alberta, Canada

In a blink of an eye

2011-08-04T23:36:00.003-06:00

My best friend's brother had an accident while at the gym. He fell and hit his head at the shower. After the surgery, the doctor said it doesn't look good. But with prayers of the family and friends, and after two weeks in coma, he was able to recover. He is still in the hospital for therapy, but he can now sit and talk. There are some memory laps, but at times, he can recognize everybody too. It will be awhile before he is back on his feet, but he will get there with perseverance.

It is in cases like this that made me think if we have enough life and disability insurance coverage. Things can change in a blink of an eye. So it is better to be prepared!

Christmas cards in August

2011-08-04T22:49:00.000-06:00

Would you believe if I tell you that I just got my first set of Christmas Cards this week? Well, one of them was from a friend, and for whatever reason, she mailed it in December last year, but I only got it just now. It must have gotten lost in the mail room or something. Anyway, I am glad that it did arrived even after 8 months!

The other one was from Paperculture.com. It was just an advance promotion, in case I wanted to order some for the upcoming Christmas.