Our family was privileged to have two Harvesters Christian Fellowship (HCF) pastors visit our Nanay (mother) in our parents’ house in Cavite yesterday to pray for her successful heart bypass surgery.


From left to right: Meann, Tatay, Nanay, Tetcha, Justin, Ptr. Andrew, and Ptr. Raul
Travelling all the way from Ortigas, Ptrs. Andrew Bush and Raul Rodriguez took time out of their busy schedules to lay hands on my ailing mother. Ptr. Andrew Bush is the director of the Living Stones Center in the U.S., which he founded in 1998. Ptr. Raul Rodriquez, on the other hand, heads HCF Manila.

One of the greatest fears about getting older, especially in women, is having wrinkles. That’s because wrinkled women are often viewed as less attractive to men. The good thing is we can prevent or even delay premature wrinkles by following these simple steps: (1) Avoid too much sun exposure because the sun’s rays can physically destroy skin tissues that can cause wrinkles. (2) Maintain a healthy diet and take vitamin supplements that are good for the skin, such as vitamins A, C, D, and E. If you already have wrinkles, however, try looking for a good anti-aging wrinkle cream. If I were you, I would go for an effective but inexpensive brand, such as Prevera.

I’ve been rather busy lately with work (my full-time work) and more work (writing opportunities), and my crazy schedule often extends into the weekend. Yesterday, however, was quite different because for once, after a long while, I decided to just relax and spend a worry-free Saturday with my family. I didn’t really mind what time we’d be going home or what activities we would do for as long as we’re out of the house and having a fun time. Glorietta was our mall of choice this time. Here’s how our Saturday went.


Stopping for some BreadTalk


Checking out the kiddie playground at the Activity Center


Getting sleepy already?


Father and son at Timezone


Posing for another shot


Chowtime at Northpark

We went home tired but happy. Well, technically, only my son and his yaya went home. My husband and I chose to “go our separate ways” when we were at Robinsons Galleria; he went to watch a movie, while I did a little shopping before going to the supermarket.

My husband got home a few minutes ahead of me, and that was almost 9pm! As if what we did the whole afternoon wasn’t enough, I went down to the beauty salon downstairs for that much needed nail cleaning and hair coloring. I was hoping my son was already asleep by the time I was done, but lo and behold, he’s still awake waiting for me to give him his bath and lull him to sleep!

Overall, our Saturday was truly fun and relaxing! We should do this again!

Because I had hormonal imbalance in 2002, I ballooned to 136 lbs. That’s considered overweight for a 5’1” woman. That’s also the same weight I had when I was about to deliver my son. But even if I gained a lot of weight back then, I never tried diet pills because I was afraid of their adverse effects. If you’re the adventurous type, however, there’s a diet pill for women that promises effective weight loss, skin improvement, breast enhancement, and sexual stimulation. Before trying out CurvaTrim, however, I suggest you find out first what others who have used this product have to say about it.

Whenever we pass by Greenbelt Park in Makati, we make it a point to dine at Conti’s. That’s because of the sumptuous treats they have to offer. Their Baked Salmon, for instance, never fails to satisfy! On our last visit to Conti’s, my husband and I ordered Callos and Fish Fillet and shared a delicious slice of Mango Bravo.



Callos (Ox tripe, knuckles and chorizo bilbao in garlic tomato sauce, served with steamed rice), Php225.00


Parmesan Fish Fillet w/ Parsley Sauce (Served with buttered vegetables and almond pilaf), Php230.00


Mango Bravo, Php120.00
Conti’s is located at Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Makati City.

It pays to be money savvy, especially during these times of economic crisis. Because every penny counts, people are finding ways to cut corners on bills and other expenses. For my part, I make sure I only buy necessities when I go to the grocery store. Also, I usually buy clothes, shoes, or bags when they’re on sale. I also realized that since I became a mom, my needs oftentimes take a back seat to my child’s needs.

For instance, I’ve been wearing prescription eyeglasses for as long as I can remember. Because I have a hyperactive preschooler who loves to play rough with mom, accidents do happen, and my eyeglasses are the usual casualty. Because they’re quite expensive, I can’t replace them right away. I need to save enough to get a new pair, and that will take some time.

However, when I saw Zenni Optical, I realized I don’t really have to wait so long to buy a new pair of eyeglasses. That’s because I can get prescription eyeglasses from them for as low as $8.00! You better believe it because it’s true! Zenni Optical offers a wide selection of fashionable eyeglasses for less. Every order comes with a durable stylish frame, full UV protection, and quality hard eyeglass case among others.

I have a writing task for PayPerPost (PPP) v4.0 that is set to expire today, but I can’t log in to the site. Every time I enter my username and password, this message appears:


The system is down for maintenance as of 17:58 EDT.
It'll be back shortly.

I’ve been trying nonstop to access the site but to no avail. This is the first time this problem happened, and it bothers me that I didn’t receive advance notice from PPP about any system maintenance happening today. I’ve already written to IZEA about it, but I haven’t received a response yet.

Is there really system maintenance going on, or is my computer playing tricks on me? Have you had a similar experience before? Was the deadline for your pending task extended because the site is undergoing maintenance?

I’m getting really frustrated! Had I known this was going to happen, I would have finished all of my PPP writing tasks yesterday.

Summer is the perfect time to cool out at the beach and have fun. However, summer heat also causes oily skin, blackheads, and acne breakouts. To keep these skin problems at bay, you can do the following: (1) Wash your face with a gentle, non-drying foaming cleanser daily to control oiliness. (2) Apply a light moisturizer on your skin to prevent dryness and premature wrinkling. (3) Apply sunscreen on your skin to protect it from the sun. (4) Take a shower to wash away sweat. (5) For skin breakouts, find a good acne treatment. By following these simple steps, you can keep your skin looking great during the hot summer months.

We’re supposed to share in this week’s theme what motherhood means to us. Honestly, I never imagined myself becoming a mother because I thought I was fated to become a spinster. But much to my and everybody else’s amazement, I got married at the tender age of 24. That’s because I thought I had nothing better to do with my life at that time than be a wife.

We didn’t have children right away because I had hormonal imbalance, which was later discovered to be caused by a tumor in my pituitary gland. This pituitary growth suppressed my fertility. When part of that tumor was removed in 2004 and the rest was treated by medication, everything went back to normal, and I got pregnant in 2005.

We never thought we’d have a baby, and when we finally had one, I wasn’t sure how to go about being a mom. I was totally unprepared for it. Being a mother was painful (I delivered via cesarean section), it was tiring at its initial stages (it still is!), but it’s also the most fulfilling experience I’ve ever had. So if you’re going to ask me what motherhood means to me, I would sum it all up in two words: sacrifice and reward.

Motherhood is the ultimate sacrifice. Because you’re the child’s mom, you’re expected to do all of these things: give your baby a bath, feed him, care for him, take him to his pediatrician for his vaccinations or when he is sick, attend to his school activities, etc. You’re not excused from performing these motherly duties even if you’re also working. You now have to put your baby’s needs first before your own because he is totally dependent on you.

Motherhood is life’s greatest reward. Motherhood is God’s special gift. Not every woman is meant to become a mother, though, and I consider myself fortunate that God has made me one. I earnestly await my son’s hugs, kisses, and his whispers (or shouts) of I love you every day, and I now look forward to a lot of things that we will do together as a family. Motherhood has made my life more meaningful.

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Term life insurance is a life insurance policy that provides death protection for a stated period of time or term. If your budget is limited but you need life insurance coverage to settle a loan or you need insurance protection during the child-rearing years, term life insurance might be the solution to your problem. You can go here to get free term life insurance quotes online from some of the finest life insurance companies. These quotes can help you decide what’s best for your needs.

Because it was too hot yesterday and because both mother and son are getting bored at home, I decided to end my work early so Justin and I could go to the mall to cool out a bit. Our first stop was Dairy Queen (DQ); Justin and I both love DQ’s Dilly Bar, so I bought two of these delicious soft-serve ice cream dipped in luscious chocolate-flavored coating.


Dilly Bar (photo source: http://slickdeals.net)
Then, I asked him if he likes a Shrek toy, the one he sees on TV. He said yes, and so off to McDonald’s we went. Shrek was not available, so we opted for the talking Puss in Boots instead.


Puss in Boots
I was hoping we could stay in the mall a bit longer, but my little boy needed to poop (What impeccable timing!) so we had to hurry back home. That put an abrupt end to our mother-and-son date. Oh well, we could do this again next time!

If your job requires you to move frequently, then renting a fully furnished apartment is your practical option. This saves you a great deal of money, time, and effort. First off, you don’t have to spend a single penny on new furniture when you transfer to a new place. Because you don’t have to move your own furniture, which requires a lot of planning and is also time-consuming, renting a furnished apartment saves you valuable time and effort, too.

Are you looking for a furnished rental right now? FurnishedApartmentShop.com can help you find the furnished apartment that matches your needs. This website offers a good selection of furnished apartments in various cities and states in the U.S. The property details and photos that accompany the listings are also quite helpful. Their user-friendly search makes it so much easier to find your ideal furnished apartment. Imagine, you can search by location, amenities, or price! Know your affordable housing options; check out this website now.

Something made me smile today. Jac of Mom’s Special Diary gave me this “Sweet Blog Award.” Isn’t it lovely? Thank you so much, Jac, for thinking of me!


Blog Awarding Rules:
1. Pass it to 10 Sweet people.
2. Inform them about this award.
3. Link back the one who gave this award.

Now, I’m sharing this award with the following sweet bloggers: Evan’s Mom, Shy, Willa, Beng, Kat, Rose, Des, Seiko, Grace, and Kayce.

I hope you like it, guys!

Because I have a family history of hypertension and diabetes, I know I need to make some lifestyle changes to avoid having these diseases in the future. I’ve started cutting down on my rice, red meat, and sugar intake. I also want to start exercising, but my busy work and home schedule leaves me no time to go to the gym. I’m left with no other option but to work out at home. I’m now on the lookout for the perfect fitness equipment. Can you suggest anything?

The young and innocent don’t have a care in the world. They don’t have to worry about anything because their whole world revolves around play. They can do whatever they want and can get away with almost anything.

The downside of being a kid, however, is your parents have authority over your life. They get to choose what food you’re going to eat, what clothes you’re going to wear, what TV shows you’re going to watch, etc.

As a mom, I have the privilege of dictating what my son will use for bathing. Talk about a MacGyver mom! My husband and I didn’t buy him a baby bath tub because we knew he would outgrow it in no time. We made do with whatever the adults at home are using for bathing or for washing clothes. We don’t think our son’s deprived, though, because he enjoys every minute of his bathing time whether he’s inside an improvised bathtub or not.


Inside our little red pail


In our laundry tub


No improvised bath tub here, just playing while bathing

Do you see what I mean?

If your website or blog is powered by WordPress and you’re contemplating on changing your template any time soon, you might want to check out the high quality and lovely WordPress themes being offered by WP Rex for free! Done by the finest web designers, these free WordPress blog templates will surely improve the overall look of your website or blog.

You don’t really have to worry if you’re a newbie because this website is user-friendly. You can search by theme specifications, theme colors, or most popular keywords. The templates are easy to download, too, plus you don’t even have to log in to have access to these templates.

Justin’s five-week summer class officially ended last May 7, 2010. We have two reasons why we enrolled him in summer class. First, we want him to be doing something productive while on vacation. You see, he gets pretty bored at home, and I can’t blame him as living in a one-bedroom condo unit doesn’t offer much space for kiddie adventure and exploration. Although kids here can frolic in the building playground, he doesn’t really like going there these days. Another reason for enrolling him in summer class is to provide continuity from his Nursery class which ended last March to his Pre-Kindergarten class which begins this June. This way, when school opens next month, he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable in the company of his new teachers and classmates.


Some of Justin’s summer class artworks

If your line of business deals with a crowd of people, your topmost priority should be everyone’s safety. Accidents can happen anytime, commotions are bound to occur, and the crowd can become rowdy when you least expect it to be. That is why you need to be in control of the situation.

Purchasing quality crowd control products can be the greatest investment you can make. You just don’t buy them anywhere, though. You need to get them from reputable sources. This is your assurance that you’re getting the best products that you need for your business.

Have you ever heard of Camelback Displays? This website offers a large selection of high quality crowd control products, like stanchions, velvet rope, pipe and drape walls, retractable belts, barricades, and a lot more. Most of their products are good for the environment, too.

Grace’s Amazing Grace turns 1, and she’s holding a blogversary contest to celebrate. Everyone is invited to join!


The rules are simple and easy:
1. Make a post about this contest and add Grace’s sites Amazing Grace, A Walk to Remember, Gracia Fashionista, and Bucket of Wisdom to your bloglist.
2. Return to her blogversary post and leave your comment with the URL of your post.
3. One entry per blog site.
4. Bloggers outside the Philippines are welcome ( just leave a Philippine address for the delivery of the items).
5. One winner for each item. Winners will be drawn through random.org.
6. Contest runs from May 01 - June 15,2010.

Don’t be left behind. Join in the fun!

Different people have different ways of coping with life’s challenges. Some resort to God and religion for emotional and spiritual strength. Others seek the help of friends and peers. And there are those who turn to drugs and alcohol for solace. Oftentimes, these people don’t realize that what they’re doing is wrong until it’s too late.

Do you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol? Do you want to help him but don’t know how? Drug addiction and alcohol addiction are quite complicated. You can’t tell a person to stop drinking or using illegal drugs because he simply can’t. Your loved one needs the help of experts to overcome his vicious habit.

Have you ever considered drug rehab or alcohol rehab? You might want to check out the drug treatment and alcohol treatment programs being offered by Axis Residential Treatment in Los Angeles, California. This drug and alcohol treatment center combines a 12-step therapy with individualized treatment plans that will help a drug dependent or an alcohol dependent achieve mental and physical well-being. Help your loved one rebuild his life by calling Axis Residential Treatment now.

I got an invite from Ogilvy to attend a parenting seminar at Cinema 1, SM Mall of Asia yesterday afternoon. This is the first of three free education and parenting seminars organized by Kumon Philippines for 2010. Kumon Philippines’ Education and Parenting Seminar Series (KPEPSS) aims to educate parents on how to raise responsible children. Now in its third year, KPEPSS focuses on the concept of self-learning. The event was hosted by Ms. Patty Laurel.


The seminar is divided into three modules, namely: (1) learning the basics, (2) sharing of experiences with parents, and (3) achievements of someone in a self-learning environment.

Module 1: The Basics
Speaker: Melissa Lopez Reyes, Applied Cognitive and Education Psychologist

The first module discusses the self-learning ability of a child and how it is developed when the child is exposed to a stimulating yet safe surrounding, e.g., the home. It also gives examples of how parents can foster independence in their kids and teach them to become responsible.


Module 2: The Reinforcement
Panelists: Ms. Olivia Angeles, Mr. Harlan Busto, and Dr. Melissa Lopez Reyes

The second module is a discussion between parents and a child development expert about how the concept of self-learning is reinforced when it is practiced consistently in different situations and at various settings.


Module 3: The Mastery
Speaker: Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Young Global Leader Awardee

The last module puts the concept of self-learning in a societal context. It is the “realization” part of the whole process of teaching the child independence during his early years. Bam Aquino discusses how the concept of self-learning coupled with his parents’ love and guidance has helped him discover his full potential and how this has made him an agent of change that he is today.


The next leg of KPEPSS will be held at SM City Pampanga on June 24, followed by SM Cebu on August 28. Interested attendees may register by visiting http://ph.kumonglobal.com. Admission is free.

If you’re planning to buy a home but you cannot qualify for a conventional loan, there are affordable housing options you can look into. One of them is land contract homes. A land contract is a security agreement between the seller (vendor) and the buyer (vendee) wherein the vendor holds the deed to the property until all agreed upon payments have been made in full.

Land contracts offer many benefits to both vendors and vendees. The vendors get higher sales price for their properties and no appraisal, plus they also receive monthly income from the vendees’ payments. For the vendees, everything is negotiable, including the length of the contract term, the interest rate, and the payments.

Are you looking for land contract homes right now? TheLandContract.com can help you find the perfect land contract home for your needs. This website offers a vast selection of land contract homes in various cities and states in the U.S. If you’re looking for Mesa Land Contract Homes, for instance, you’ll find 17,430 listings of land contract homes in Mesa, Arizona with accompanying property details and photos. Because of the website’s user-friendly search, it is so much easier to find your ideal land contract home. You can search by location, amenities, or price.

When I was young, I was always finding fault with myself. For instance, I thought I needed a nose job because I find my nose ugly. Sometimes, I would stay in front of the mirror and pinch my nose to see how I would look like if I have a better looking nose. I also think I had the worst looking legs because I have sensitive skin and my legs received a healthy dose of skin allergies, skin irritations, and insect bites when I was growing up. I suffered from inferiority complex back then because I thought I wasn’t pretty enough, I didn’t sing well enough, I didn’t do good enough, etc. I feel there’s always something missing in my life.

But with age comes wisdom, so they say, and as I grow older, I realize I’m as good as everyone else. God made me who I am for a reason, and I should bask in my uniqueness. Instead of being envious of others who are prettier, richer, more intelligent, and more blessed than I am, I should just always, always keep in mind that all of us are created differently and if we lack some things in our lives, God compensates for those in some other way. For instance, you may be poor but talented, and that talent can help you change your life for the better.

I remember a poem we discussed in our high school class whose message really stuck with me. Whenever I feel inadequate, I just recite these lines from the poem, and I feel okay: “Talents differ: all is well and wisely put/ If I cannot carry forests on my back,/ Neither can you crack a nut.” I hope the poem below significantly impacts your life the way it did mine.

Fable
By Ralph Waldo Emerson

The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel;
And the former called the latter "Little Prig."
Bun replied,
"You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together
To make up a year
And a sphere.
And I think it's no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I'm not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I'll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ: all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut."

If you’re planning to buy a home but your credit isn’t good enough such that you can’t qualify for a home mortgage right now, then renting to own a home is an option that you can consider. The process of rent-to-own or lease-to-own house is similar to a car lease in that the renters pay a certain amount each month to live in the house and after a set period, they have the option to buy the house.

Renting to own a home is so much better than just renting because when you rent, your money is lost forever, but when you rent to own, a portion of your rent goes towards your down payment for the house. The downside, however, is when you rent, your landlord takes care of house repairs, but when you rent to own, you will be responsible for all of these things. These are points worth considering when deciding to buy rent-to-own homes.

Now, if you need rental assistance, iRentToOwn.com is the place to go. This website offers a wide selection of rent-to-own homes in various cities and states in the U.S. Their user-friendly search makes it so much easier for the buyers to find their ideal rent-to-own homes. Imagine, you can search by location, amenities, or price! I’ve tried looking for Charlotte Rent to Own Homes, and I found 2,941 listings of rent-to-own homes in Charlotte, North Carolina with accompanying property details and photos. You should try this website for yourself and learn about your affordable housing options.