condo living

For a little over seven months now, we have been living in our condominium unit and a lot of our family and friends ask me how is it to be living in a condo. I would say that since there is just the three of us and I work at home, it is a lot more practical and convenient because we maintain a more manageable space. We also get to enjoy amenities like a 24-hour security, guarded parking space and a swimming pool.

Although owning a condo unit is more affordable than buying a conventional home, condo living is not for everyone. By choosing to live in a condominium, you are choosing to live within a community of other condo unit owners who become your instant neighbors. Each condominium complex is a community in itself and each owner should accept and follow the standard rules and regulations unique to condo living.

As with buying a house and lot, we also considered the pros and cons of living in a condo, and considering our lifestyle and financial capacity, we have been very satisfied with condo living so far. I guess it really depends on how willing are you to share common spaces with other people and of course, how patient you are and tolerable of other people's manners. One thing for sure, I have observed that respect for other people's privacy is very important if you want to live harmoniously within the community of other unit owners.

up, up and away

We recently celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary and Valentine's Day by going to the 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta last February 11-13 and the event was really quite impressive. Joaqui had so much fun watching the balloons being inflated and finally taking flight. We stayed at Oasis Hotel in Clark, Pampanga because we wanted to be really early for Saturday, but we got there at about 4 a.m., there was already a long queue for the entrance tickets.


Once inside the venue, we waited for about 1-1/2 hours before the balloons started to be inflated. Good thing that Joaqui was a real trooper because he just patiently waited for everything to start. No tantrums whatsoever. Finally when the paragliders hovered above us for the start of the event, the different shapes of the hot air balloons were quite a sight.


It was a day of seeing a lot of things that fly - hot air balloons, airplanes, kites, ultralights, parachutes, helicopters - and for a little boy who loves everything that flies, it was one totally awesome experience for him - and for us too.

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.