a sidetrip to the hospital

Joaqui and I were walking along the hallway in our condominium when I thought I forgot our keys so I looked inside my bag. Suddenly Joaqui screamed so loud. I thought he was just throwing another tantrum, but he said, "It hurts! It hurts!" So I asked what happened and he touched his head. I figured out that he bumped his head and so I looked at it and touched it. I was shocked when I saw blood in my hands when I touched the part where he bumped his head. I held out a small towel on it and asked the guard to get us a cab.

In the emergency department of the hospital, he kept saying that he was scared and he doesn't want to be in the hospital. He cried more when he saw a man in a doctors lab coat. Good thing a pretty girl in a bright-colored hospital nurse uniform approached us and tried to soothe him. He was able to stop crying and she looked at his wound. She said that it was just a punctured wound, but to be sure, they will give Joaqui a tetanoid booster shot and also have his head x-rayed to look for fracture.

This was the first time we have been in this hospital and I noticed that their facility is quite nice. In fact, the medical staff are courteous, friendly and approachable. They also looked very fashionable in their navy blue medical scrub set. After we got the results of his x-rays, Joaqui was cleared to go home. The doctor just told me to keep his wound clean and dry. He also gave me a prescription for ibuprofen for the pain and antibiotics. I was just so relieved when it was finally over. When we got home, I asked Joaqui where he bumped his head and he pointed to the box for the fire hydrant on the wall. Apparently the corners of the box were sharp and so he learned his lesson not to go near the fire hydrant anymore.

shopping for business insurance

Last August 20, my brother did treat us for a sumptuous lunch after Joaqui's program in school. I thought that he just missed Joaqui so much and that is why we were having lunch at a restaurant, but it turned out that his business is already running for 1-1/2 years. He just wanted to share the blessings with us. As we were eating and talking, my brother mentioned the idea of expanding and also of getting a business insurance policy. Now I am not so familiar with business insurance and I thought that he has a point - he invested much time and money into his small business, and having an insurance can assure him that this will not fall apart when an unforeseen loss happens.

That same day, we were able to chat with our aunt in Texas who already owns a small Filipino store there and we inquired about her Texas business insurance policy. Apparently, she has had a great experience with an insurance shopping service in the internet, Netquote insurance. She said that she was able to find the best business insurance rates from reputable insurance carriers. Although she spent a little extra for a small business insurance, it was a good decision she made especially when a fire broke into their store. If it had not been for the business property insurance that she had, she could not have recovered from that loss.

As a business owner, my brother knows what is the adequate insurance coverage that he needs and can afford. Determining his insurance needs can help him get the best insurance rates and with the help of a professional insurance agent, I am sure that his small business will be in good hands.

budget friendly

Since we've been living in our own home now, I do our weekly budget including menu planning and grocery shopping. I never thought that it was hard to really follow a certain budget and stick with it. It gave me a clear perspective on where we usually overspend and before, I do not pay much attention to the price tag of certain things, now I do price comparison at the supermarket. This way, we get to save a lot on grocery shopping.

What helped me though was by always bringing a list of what we will buy, so I don't get to buy unnecessary stuff. I do an inventory of our pantry once a week, so I'll know what things we are short on and what we need to buy. Bringing a calculator also helped. By doing this, I discovered that P1,000 ($23) could go a long way if I will just buy what I need and not what I want. I also avoid bringing too much extra money when I shop so that I can stick with my budget.

Sometimes I think that it would really be nice to go to the grocery or supermarket and just buy everything I need and I want without having to stick on a budget, but I am learning so much from this. It also makes me strive to live within our means and enjoy the simple things in life.

love by tshirt

The internet is one such place where you can find anything and everything to give as gifts or find something for yourself. As early as now, I'm scouting for unique items to give as Christmas gifts and I found that a custom tshirt is really a nice thing to give to someone. There are so many shops for custom shirts out there, but not all of them are of good quality with awesome designs. So I'm checking out the ones referred to me by my friends at cafepress.com.

I think that a custom tshirt fit for the wearer makes it a personal and well-thought of gift. Here, even sports tshirts can be customized, for that sports fanatic or an athlete, or for someone who just likes to play sports. There are so many cool designs that I'm finding a hard time what to choose. They have a wide array of topics from TV and movies to comics and non-profits. I'm even eyeing a shirt from Twilight design with a team Edward slogan.

If you want to explore more on artistic tshirt design, you can read all about it in Death by Tshirt which is a blog dedicated to original arts and designs shirts. Who knows, you might get hooked into it and design a shirt of your own.

yummy wahmmy

I can't believe I have not posted this here. It's about my new blog called yummywahmmy where I write about stories more of my being a work at home mommy. Wahmmy is short for work at home mommy and yummy is for delicious...because I am one delicious mommy...hahahaha. Actually, I like the sound of it and it rhymes very well. I hope you'll check it out!

close encounter with asthma

In the last several weeks, Joaqui has been suffering from on and off coughs and colds. Despite our regular check-ups with his pediatrician and taking of medications, his symptoms really never completely went away. We even tried "hilot" (an ancient Filipino art of healing) but to no avail. I was never really worried because his lungs are always clear and I thought that he gets this from school. When he had the colds again, I decided to bring him to his pediatrician and this time, he heard some wheezing in his lungs. It was then that he ordered a chest x-ray and his suspicion for asthma has been confirmed. When we learned of this, I was really sad because it is a lifelong illness and battle with environmental triggers. His pediatrician though assured us that as long as we can control the triggers such as dust, animal dander, etc., his symptoms will be minimal except of course for the change in weather - that we can do nothing about. And to be living in a country with an ever changing weather is not good for asthma.

Joaqui is on nebulization therapy for 5 days and he has to take an anti-asthma medicine for 3 months, and then his doctor will check on him again. I'm proud of Joaqui for being able to tolerate the mask for his nebs. It is a good thing he is very imaginative and when he wears the mask and hears the sound of the nebulizer machine, he thinks of himself as an astronaut in space.

As a parent, it really breaks my heart to see him like this, but I know that God will heal him and keep him away from illness.

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

—Isaiah 41:10

smart online saving tips

Finally, after a week of not being able to go online because of a busted phone line, brownouts, typhoon and our recent move, this blog is back! We have moved to our new condominium unit and although it was really stressful - financially, physically and emotionally - it was all worth it. Of course, our stress level would not have reached ultimate high if we could have hired professional movers. Packing and unpacking our stuff was so tiring and how I wish I could call on Houston movers to do that for us.

We have prepared well for our move. We searched and compared prices for our electrical appliances like air conditioning unit and refrigerator. I have learned to follow our budget strictly and avoid unnecessary purchases, which is a money-saving advice I got from Billy.com. It was also a little difficult for us because school already started and the move was also a little stressful for Joaqui. Good thing he settled in quite easily, although he was asking for his "sassy" (my mom) in our new home.

Our next step would be the blessing of our unit which would just be a simple family affair. We are planning to do it in time for my dad's birthday. Now I really have to learn more about online saving tips to keep our budget air tight. ; )

Mommy Moments - School Day

This school year is Joaqui's first time to go to school. He is 3-1/2 years old and at the Nursery level. His classes start at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. He was a little anxious on his first day at school and would not want to be left alone, but on the second day although he was teary eyed, he agreed to be left in the classroom without me.

This was the first time he wore his school uniform and of course we had to take pictures. ; ) I can't believe how much he has grown when I saw him in his school uniform for the first time. My baby is now a school boy!



When I ask him what they do in school, he would tell me that they color, draw, play and their teacher read them a story. He also tells me that they pray and then eat their "baon." I also always ask him if he is having fun in school and he would tell me yes. We don't do formal lessons yet at home because I don't want to pressure him, but we do coloring and drawings, and most of the time, he would ask me to help him write his name.

Get to know other kid's school days as their moms blog about it at Mommy Moments.

Joaqui at Nursery

Joaqui started Nursery school last Wednesday and we were much more excited than him. ; ) He was a little anxious at first but because it was the same school as the summer camp he had attended, he settled in quite easily. It was also a little emotional for us as parents because sending him to school is like the first real step in letting him go, grow and explore the world around him. Hubby and I were reminiscing about the time he was just a baby and now he is in school. I was also busy preparing his school materials, putting plastic covers and name tags on his books, and making a box of toiletries to be left in school (this contains extra shirt, extra underwear, powder, alcohol, etc.) I am also in the quest of creating a healthy lunch box or snack box for him and putting them together as a bento.


I was telling hubby I was wondering how Joaqui would fare in school, but more than that I really want him to have fun and enjoy it as much as he could.

Father's Day Gift

Father's Day is over and I guess a lot of Dads got something as a gift from their wife and their children. A lot of the restaurants last Sunday were crowded and I guess it shows how fathers are given importance here in our country. I got hubby a shirt from Team Manila and he really liked it. If I can afford it, I would have gotten him billet grilles for the car. He would follow me to the ends of the earth if I gave him those! Men like to pimp their rides and billet grilles just make any car look more attractive and bolder.

It was also a good thing that we got confused by the dates and celebrated Father's Day a week earlier because of the crowd in many of the restaurants, it was difficult to find a good table. We also got to visit my father-in-law's grave at the cemetery, and there were also quite a number of people who were there for the Father's Day.

I also discovered a book at my mother-in-law's house entitled "101 Ways to Spoil your Husband" and it was very timely indeed. I think I will try some of those tips suggested in the book because hubby deserves to be spoiled and it doesn't take a lot for men to be happy. God made men simple because women are already complicated. : )

Mommy Moments - Daddy Moments

The spotlight is on daddies for this month of June at Mommy Moments and since Father's Day will be this Sunday, I will be sharing some of Joaqui's precious moments with his Daddy.

Daddy and Joaqui loves to play. When Joaqui wants to fly like Superman, it's Daddy who lets him fly. If he wants to crawl like Spiderman, it's called Daddy playtime. In this picture, Joaqui was pretending to be a carpenter, so when we went to Daddy's office and Joaqui saw the ladder, he asked his Dad to help him go up the ladder and then he "fixes" him like one of his cranes.


I like watching the two of them do things together. This was when we went to Nuvali and hubby helped Joaqui feed the fishes.


Hubby is one very special Dad because he makes it a point to be there for Joaqui always - doctor's appointments, birthday parties, special occasions, first day at a school summer camp, etc. and although he does not say much, his actions speak loud of how he loves us and takes care of us.



Joaqui is blessed to have a father as loving and caring as you. Happy Father's Day Daddy! We love you!

Father's Day celebration in advance

It was an honest mistake. I really thought that Father's Day this year was June 13. I had it mixed up and thinking of it, that was I thought that nobody was sending greetings of Happy Father's Day yet because it was supposed to be on June 20. Anyway, we proceeded with our advanced Father's Day Celebration by making reservations at Isabelo Garden Restaurant in Marikina. Hubby heard some raves about this private dining by Isabelo and when I got to read the post by Our Awesome Planet, I made reservations for June 13, for a Father's Day Celebration. I sent an email to Ms. Portia, the passionate cook behind Isabelo, and she sent us a map, the directions and a list of their best sellers and prices.

It was raining hard while we were driving to Marikina and we almost missed the restaurant because there was no sign outside their gate. When we got inside the gate, there was an ancestral house with sprawl of old trees and plants. There were tables set up, decorations of hanging bottles, potted plants and a smell of something good cooking inside the kitchen.

We pre-ordered the Orange Herb Chicken, Quatro Formaggio Pizza and Parmigiano Carbonara.

This is the Orange Herb Chicken, which according to Ms. Portia was cooked for two hours! It was moist and flavorful with a subtle hint of the herbs and orange. It comes with vegetables like marble potatoes, carrots and squash.


This was not in our original list, but our waiter asked if we would like their available appetizer, which is the Spinach Artichoke Dip. This was the dish that started it all. It was really creamy and goes very well with the crunchiness of the bread.


This is the Parmigiano Carbonara, which is not like the usual carbonara that we've tried. The creaminess is not overpowering and we can really taste the flavor of the ham and the Parmigiano cheese. It's also olive oil based.


The Quatro Formaggio pizza is a must try. The dough is homemade and cooked grilled, so it is crunchy on the outside but still chewy on the inside. From the smell of it, we can really tell that the Mozzarella used was fresh, including the tomatoes on the sauce.


After our main feast, we ordered Watermelon Sorbet, which is just the right ending to our wonderful meal. The homey ambiance at Isabelo is a perfect scenery for the excellent food that they serve. We also got to meet Ms. Portia when she visited us at our table. Overall, it was really a nice family dinner for us as we celebrated Father's Day.

Note: All pictures above were taken by hubby. ; )

PBW 7: Celebrations

Our weekend was hectic because in one day, we had to attend two celebrations at two different places - a baptism held in Quezon City and a birthday party held in Pasig City.

Bella, one of hubby's nieces from his cousin, was baptized into the Catholic faith.


Bella with her god parents. This was at the Twin Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church.


After a lunch at Jade Valley Restaurant, we went to McDonald's El Pueblo in Pasig City to attend a 7th birthday party. Joaqui played and joined the games. He skipped his afternoon nap because of these two celebrations, so he was really tired by the time the party ended.

Weekends are also a time for celebrations of life's big events and I'm happy to be part of these. Hope you had a weekend worth celebrating. ; )

are you a certified shoe addict?

Then you should join VNC's Ode to Shoes (Anything and Everything About Shoes) and get a chance to win a new pair of shoes every month for 12 months! Here's how:

* Create a work of art that best represents the theme. Artwork must be done through Adobe Photoshop and must measure 5” (L) x 6.5” (H). File should be submitted in hi-resolution PSD (non-flattened image). Entries not submitted in the said format will be disregarded.

* Submit your work of art in CD format through any VNC outlet or email via vnc@paradigmimage.com. Don’t forget to write your full name, complete address, mobile number and email address.

* Ten (10) entries will be pre-selected for the final judging based on the criteria below. These 10 entries will be posted on our Facebook fan page at http://facebook.com/vncphilippines.
25% : understanding of VNC as a brand
25% : adherence to the theme
25% : creativity and originality
25% : audience vote

* The winning artwork will be used as the cover photo of our upcoming notebook promo in October 2010. The artist of this winning entry will also receive a 1-year supply of shoes (12 pairs of shoes, 1 free pair per month).

* To vote for an entry, you must become a fan of VNC Philippines on Facebook. Leave a comment on an entry explaining why you think it deserves to win. This comment serves as your vote. You are allowed only one (1) vote per entry. Ten (10) fans who voted the winning entry will also get a chance to take home one (1) free pair.

* All prizes are transferrable but not convertible to cash.

* Promo period is from May 15, 2010 - July 30, 2010. Based on the timeline below, the deadline to submit all official entries via email or CD is on June 30, 2010.
MAY 15, 2010 - JUNE 30, 2010 : period to submit artwork
JULY 02, 2010 - JULY 23, 2010 : period of online voting
JULY 30, 2010 : announcement of winners

* Winners will be informed via email and a list will be posted on http://facebook.com/vncphilippines They are required to respond to the email to inform VNC their preferred outlet from which they will claim their prize. The winners should claim their prize within 60 days from receipt of notification, otherwise the prize will be forfeited in favor of VNC-Paradigm Image, Inc. with prior approval of DTI.

* All entries will be considered property of VNC-Paradigm Image, Inc. and may be used for announcements or marketing purposes by VNC.

* The prize may be claimed at the winners’ preferred outlet.

* Winners must present the following to the authorized VNC representative when claiming the prize:
One valid ID with complete full name, picture and correct address
Photocopies of any of the documents (ie. birth certificate, marriage contract, SSS ID, driver’s license, school ID)
notice sent by email

Mommy Moments - Motherhood

If you look inside a mother's heart
You will see that it is full of love
It is really what sets them apart
For the joy that is theirs to have.

If you look inside a mother's heart
You will see the sacrifices she made
For every child's pain and sorrow
Her devotion never falter nor fade.

If you look inside a mother's heart
You will see her faith that is deep
And the prayer she utters in her lips
Are a child's prayers for God to keep.

If you look inside a mother's heart
You will find her true unfading beauty
As she is God's tender guiding hand
For the world's miracle to see.

This is a poem I made that somehow expresses how I feel about motherhood. Not all of us will be given a chance to become a mother, but we are all witness to a mother's love and sacrifices. I became a better person when I became a wife and a mother. It is never easy, especially for a WAHM like me, but the rewards are priceless. Motherhood is a gift that needs to be nurtured, a responsibility and a lifelong learning experience - and I am happy to be part of all of this in my lifetime.

Bon Voyage Lizette and Tristan!

It was not our usual get together, but the laughter and the fun was the same. We always pick up where we left off. We had fun - we always do. We cried a little - like we used to, over a few buckets of beer and roast chicken. Heartaches, failures, love, family, charity - one way or the other, we have shared them all. And as we all go into different directions, goodbyes are always bittersweet.


To Lizette and Tristan, we are very happy for you because this is a realization of your dreams. We will miss you terribly and we hope that you do well in your future endeavors. Good luck and Bon Voyage! We love you!



"Don't be dismayed by good byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." - Richard Bach

PBW 6: Garden and Adian

We spent a quiet weekend at our home in Cainta and then we went to visit my mother-in-law in Valenzuela. Saturday, Joaqui helped his Sassy (that's what he calls my mom - it was supposed to be Momsy, but he can't quite pronounced it when he was a baby, so the name stuck) in her garden. He already knows how to use the garden tools and shows interest in gardening.


Sunday, we had a great time at my in-laws. Here's a picture of Kuya Joaqui with Baby Adian, his cousin. I really like this picture. Joaqui is a sweet kuya and plays with Adian a lot.

Looks like they're talking about something here. Cute!

I hope your weekend was well spent with love all around you. ; ) For Pixel Bug Weekend, just click the badge above.

Mommy Moments - Mother's Day 2010

Mother's Day will always be a special day for me because it was Mother's Day when I found out that I was going to be a Mom to Joaqui. I can't quite remember how we celebrated the past two Mother's Day, but my husband never fails to make me feel special during this day. This year we celebrated it as a family and instead of just going out to eat, we spent an afternoon at Nuvali in Santa Rosa, Laguna. It was a refreshing Sunday afternoon as we strolled around the area, did fish feeding and had a water taxi ride, which was Joaqui's first time.


We had a lot of fun and it was worth the travel. I did not receive any fancy gift this Mother's Day except for a book (which I love) from hubby, but every time I look at these pictures, my heart bursts with joy as how simply being a Mom makes me feel so special.