D-DAY

The husband just left to go the US Army recruiting office at Balboa today. He's taking his ASVAB test around noon. He promised me that if he gets a high score we will be watching Eclipse today. If not... well, we're gonna stay home and just continue doing laundry. He's been a nervous wreck ever since he started reviewing his ASVAB. I was helping him review the past few days, I just wish he could get the score he wants. I asked him last night if he was nervous for basic training, and he was like 'I'm much nervous for the test, basic training is ok,' funny guy....

We tried comforting him as much as we can. I know he can do it. He's been preparing for this for months and I don't see why he has to give up now. Joining the military was the last option. He lost weight in a matter of months, if he doesn't make it then at least he had lost the weight and that's a great benefit for his health, It's time to move on with other options. If he has a great score on his ASVAB he'll be tested for Physical and I think he can ace that. From push ups, sit ups and running miles... I believe he can do it.

I remembered when the recruiter told me back in 2003 that I couldn't join the Navy because I had a C-section, he wanted me to go back the next following year when I'm all healed up, plus I still had 10 lbs to lose back then. But laziness reared it's ugly head and I didn't go back because I was already comfortable with my job. I'm 27 now and if the husband doesn't make it in the Army, I'll make sure I get in myself. I will try my best for the sake of my family.

I kept on praying for him... He has a lot of potential. The Army SGT. he talked to looked at his college diploma and he said that if my husband ever gets in, he will get to be an E-4 right away. My husband has his regrets, he waited until he was in his late 30's to join the service. And when I compared my husband's body the first time I met him and today, I say his present body is the fittest I have seen. And he too admitted that he never felt so fit in his life. Ever since we pulled him to the gym, he has never stopped since. :)

I'm on pins and needles right now just waiting for his call.... doing laundry at the moment and I need to check out this epson receipt printer, my work place definitely need to change their receipt printers, they are all breaking down like potato chips, seriously they need a make over like, right now. Every time I change the receipt paper, the top just falls off! Anyways, got to for now, my first load of laundry is done.

The voice post meme

1) What's your middle name? Lo

2) How old are you? 27

3) Where are you from? Are you living there right now? Philippines. No.

4) Is it cold where you are? It's alright. Not too hot, not too cold.

5) What's the time? 10:30 AM

6) What are you wearing? House clothes.

7) What was the last thing you listened to? California girls by Katie Perry.

8) What was the last thing you ate? fried boneless bangus w/ kalamansi and soysauce.

9) What was the last thing you watched on TV? Fresh prince of Bel-air.

10) What's your favorite TV show? Why? (lots) Everybody hates Chris, Smallville, George Lopez, Supernatural, The vampire diaries, cake boss, cougar town, 19 kids..., pawn stars, american pickers, deadliest catch, scrubs, sonny with a chance.

11) Quick! Find a book, or something with text on it! Flip to a random page and post the second paragraph's first sentence. "close to shopping, Fine dining, Theatres, & much more..."

12) What was the last movie you saw? How was it? Toy story 3. It was a great movie. I was in grade school when the first toy story came out now that I'm all grown up as an adult and have a family of my own, my son and I watched it. I can't believe the ending is so sad... but I believe there will be a new chapter for Woody and the gang.

13) Do YOU think you have an accent? Where do people in your country do people speak with strong accents? I think I have a little accent. But most people don't notice it when I talk to them. There are different dialects from my country and It is sure hard to point which one is.

Happy birthday, Gully!

I had conversations with my co-worker about loved ones dying a few months ago. She had experienced a lot on her part and It was mainly about cancer. She got all choked up when I also told her about my brother who died from cancer last August 2008. It was such an emotional moment when we were talking about our loved ones who left us. I am pretty much open now to talk about loved ones who passed away, I give emotional support to people who need them. I've trained myself to accept the fact that my brother is gone. He is not coming back anymore, that's what I told myself. I loved my brother so much, I had lost a best buddy in my life. But I prayed to God every day to guide me and accept the truth. As hard as it is, I had learned to accept it. Yeah, Once in awhile I still cry, but that's normal. I know wherever he is right now he is looking down on us and smiling. I know he is guiding us with the help of our Lord, that's why I'm thankful. He's our angel and we will never ever forget him.

Today he turns 24. Happy birthday, Gulliver! :)

Before I get some sleep I need to head on over a website that pays attention to Mesothelioma. So if you are interested on reading about this certain cancer, I suggest you do so it just might help somebody in the near future.

snowy

I've never wanted to live in places that has or experiences snow. Maybe to go on vacations, that's the only thing I want... Other than that, no thanks. I don't know, It seems fun... But just the thought of buying snow boots and a whole winter wardrobe is like very expensive for me. Well, I still keep the options open on moving to places that experiences snow, so maybe I won't mind then. I love the cold season, but not the icy part. The cold weather I experienced here in California is enough for me, I have like 3 layers on me when I first got here last fall, I was frozen to the bone! So I can't imagine myself driving in the snow either. Yikes! Scary as it is, but I think I can manage. It's nice to experience a different season for once, right? My son Nathan had experienced his first snow when he visited Atsugi, Japan last 2005 along with my mother-in-law. My sister-in-law and her family were stationed there so he got to experience playing with snow. Unfortunately, as much as we wanted to visit Japan we didn't get a chance to do it, too bad - I would love to visit Japan! :)

I love you!

My husband has come from a well off and influential family but I am so proud of him for being such a great father and provider. We might not have a lot but there is just a lot of blessings to be thankful for. He's such a hard worker. We've been together through thick and thin. He is a man of his word, when he says something he makes sure he does it. He doesn't keep any promises yet he fulfills it and doesn't ask for anything in return. He's not sociable, which I am thankful for because he is far away from trouble, drama and whatnot. He tries very hard to be a best father. He's a disciplinarian, a teacher and a best friend to our little tyke, Nathan. On fathers day, since I had work that day, we just stayed at home and bonded like what we always do. We don't really eat out too much, and we give a lot of hugs and kisses to each other. You don't need fancy presents or expensive dinners, all you need is to be with your family at every special moment. I love my man so much, Thank God for giving him to me. :)

The Eighty Meme, Part One

Stole this one from my fave blogger friend Chikai
1. What curse word do you use the most? ah, sh***!
2. Do you own an iPod? I used to, but I gave it away to our late uncle.
3. What person do you talk to on the phone the most? My mommy dearest.
4. Do you still remember the first person you kissed? Yeah, I'd rather not talk about it.
5. Do you remember where you were on 11/9/01? I was at home watching TV with my fam.
6. What was the last movie you watched? Toy story 3. I cried at the end. :(
7. Has anyone ever called you lazy? oh, yes.
8. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep? Oh, no. and Never.
9. Has anyone told you a secret this week? Nope.
10. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? eyes.
11. What are you looking forward to? For my hubby to pass his ASVAB test tomorrow.
12. Do you own any band t-shirts? no, not a fan.
13. What will you be doing in one hour? Still on the computer.
14. Is anyone in love with you? My 2 boys :)
15. Last time you cried? A few days ago before I went to sleep. I remembered my brother who died from cancer. :(
16. Are you on a desktop computer or a laptop? laptop.
17. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos? none for me, thank you.
18. Would you ever date anyone covered in tattoos? I didn't want to but I found out that Hubby has one on the side of his thigh. What can I do? I'm in love.
19. What were you doing before this? reading articles about the Army basic training.
20. When is the last time you slept on the floor? Last september, the night before we left our Condo to check in the hotel because we were leaving Hawaii in 2 days.
21. How many hours of sleep do you need to function? at least 6 hours.
22. Do you eat breakfast daily? No. It depends. I usually have brunch though. :)

zap them zits

You know one thing I'm thankful for? Not having to deal with adult acne. I'm serious. I feel so bad when I see people with red bumps on their faces, It's like I want to invent a medicine that will make those awful zits go away permanently. I do get zits, but they only come one at a time and since I started going to the gym my face had been clearer than ever, so I don't really get them on a regular basis, I usually experience them when I have my monthly visitor. I am just fighting blemishes right now which is so hard to avoid. Sweating it out at the gym makes a big difference for your skin since it flushes out the dirt from your pores. Plus, I don't wear make up when I'm just at home. But I guess It's the hormones that's really a big factor when it comes to acne, creams and lotions sometimes doesn't work so It's better to consult a doctor when you know your acne is on it's severe stage.

the bun is done :)

Last June 26, my friend's baby Darlene has finally popped out! The last time we went out for brunch was around march, and her baby bump is soooo round. I am so green with envy with every baby bump I see. I wonder when I'll get to spread the news that I have a bun in the oven? My time is almost up, because our deadline for the next baby would be 2011... Anyways, I wasn't sure if Donna had someone with her since it's only her and her 7 year old son, The husband is in the Navy and just went on deployment and It's really sad that he couldn't be there to see the baby. Tsk, that's the only down side of being in a military family, you usually miss a lot. I saw the pictures she posted on facebook, she has a cute little baby girl now! :)

RepairPal to the rescue!

As much I hate to admit it, yes - we have been involved in a few accidents these past years and It's really such a shame, too. Like what happened to me three years ago, Hubby bought a new vehicle which was a mini van and since It was brand new I was kinda hesitant driving it, I just dropped of my mom and brother at the Hospital when I was driving down the ramp, a bunch of trucks were driving up and I got scared and silly me scratched my right side of the van while turning right. It was terrible. I called my husband right away, and he was at work at the time. I didn't know what to do, I just wished there was a shop like RepairPal somewhere that I could take the van to. I think RepairPal is available in a lot of locations around the states like in Chicago, just in case you need a Chicago auto repair, you know where to go. Check out their website for more information, if you have one in your area check out their shop directory. I think this site is great, because it not only helps with car repairs, but it helps you with more information about cars and price estimates. So if you have any problems with your car, be sure to check them out and see if you have a RepairPal in your area today.

dog on a leash

That's what majority of people say when they see toddlers on a leash. Animal inspired (LOL) When I first saw one a few years ago, I thought it was cute. My mind didn't spark any feeling of anger against the parent at all. Yeah, it does look degrading but if you think about it, YOU are protecting your children that way. I remember my son when he was only 3 before, he couldn't stay put and if you take your eyes away from your child just a few seconds - ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! When I bring my son to shop I make sure I put him in the cart so he doesn't get away from me. Holding a child doesn't work, he could easily slip away and you'll never know where your toddler is at. My mom called me last week and reminded me to take good care of Nathan no matter what. Because there was an accident that happened on their street, The dad was on the other side of the road when the toddler ran to his father and a vehicle had hit the boy. Poor thing. Can you imagine this as your child? Scary, isn't it?



When I also watched Pet Sematary before and the boy wanders off into the road, then a truck was approaching really fast and before he could stop he had hit the boy. It's devastating! No matter how degrading products are made this days to protect your children, Just think about the best thing you can do for them. That's why I'm adding this on my baby check list for my next pregnancy.

oh my gym

I am so upset with myself, seriously. It's been a few days with no gym! Can you believe that? I am too busy. We did a lot of things the past week that's why I missed a lot of my days working out. So far I've reached 209 lbs. that's a total of 39 lbs. gone. Although it usually stays above 210 or 211 and maybe a few weeks later it will come down to 209. That's how my weight loss works, It's a bit slow but as they say It's better than losing it all at once. I have a better chance of not gaining it all back in the future, which is good. Oh how I wish we can have any kind of fitness equipment here at home like a treadmill, So I can run for at least 30 minutes or an hour. It will also save us on gas, that's for sure. I miss going to the gym! I feel so accomplished when I sweat out real good. I feel like I am melting my fats every day. Anyways, I hope I can go tomorrow morning. :(

The deadliest catch

Hubby is so addicted watching this show ever since it first came out. It's just so sad that captain Phil is gone :(. Whenever hubby watches this, He tells me it's his dream to become one of the fishermen there... and I'm like "whaaat??" You gotta be kidding me! He says it's only a dream anyway. Look how scary it is to be in the vast Bering sea?! I salute those fishermen. They're very heroic to go out there and do one of the scariest jobs in the world. I can't imagine myself or my husband being in that business, It's like chasing Death. Anytime your life would be over. Accidents are also a big part of it almost every day, very scary. But if you do get hurt while working at sea, There's this Gulf Coast Jones Act where employees from cruise ships, oil and gas industry employees and seamen have the right to have a lawyer and can be entitled to compensation from people who have been responsible for your injuries. Check it out over at lawyerforyou.com for more information on Maritime accidents.

my future online shop

Yep! You heard it right. I'm planning on opening up my online shop in the near future. It won't be soon enough though. I am thinking of bringing in little homemade pieces a few at a time. Here are the following things I have in mind:

1. jar sets
2. picture frames
3. table runners
4. pillow cases
5. handbags
6. painted mugs
7. vases


Everything will be country, girly and Victorian inspired. I had a Japanese clay craft book when I was a kid, a gift sent from my dad when he used to live in Guam. So loved that book! In it were stuff all made with polymer clay like Buttons, flowers, jewelry, etc. I was so inspired with it, I just wished I've brought it along with me when I married and moved away from the Philippines. I hope that book is still alive. :( I'll start out small on ETSY, hopefully It'll be a successful one. I'm still thinking of a good name for my shop. Any suggestions? :)

who is this??

This is pretty cool. Some of you probably know this already, for those who don't stare at it for about a few minutes, maybe a minute will do - and tell me who you see!

I used to remember the old doorbell sounds were just those regular ding dong and buzzing sounds. But when I visit people's homes, they have different varieties of sounds, like my sister-in-law's home, she has the Westminster Chime. I remembered when I first got here I thought it was the sound of a grandfather clock, although she doesn't have one. Funny, I know. Take a look at this site where they offer door chimes, You might be interested getting some different sounds for your sweet little home. I want one, too but I don't have a home yet. Try yours today!

ah-choo!

Sniffles. Hate them. Very much. I was born with a sensitive nose just like my dad's. Every morning ever since I was a kid, I would wake up sneezing and a few hours later I would be back to normal. What's worse is, I have plenty of cats at home and I really loved them so I didn't want to get rid of them just because of my allergies. I had to live with it. I take my allergy medicine once in awhile, dust still triggers it and I hate it when my husband or my son pinches my nose. I promise myself when we get our new home, I'd replace our old regular pillows and mattress covers with allergy mattress covers that would be great for me and my family. When we moved here in California, Our windows were always opened so every morning I was sneezing like crazy, good thing I was still on leave at that time, Thank God. Can't wait! Bye bye allergies.

so emotional

Hubby visited the US Army recruiter today. Great news! So far he passed the physical requirements, He'll take the ASVAB next week on Wednesday! aaww... I'm so happy for him. As much I hate him joining the military, It will be for the best. We need your prayers hopefully he'll do good on his test. Thank you, friends!! :D

Bag-a-holic

Yep, that's moi! I've always been a bag-a-holic ever since I was in high school. I am obsessed with bags, period. I really don't care if they're cheap and no-name brands as long as I love the design and It goes perfectly well with my outfit, I'm all for it! Everyday, I see women strutting in their favorite designer bags like Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Michael Kors, Chanel, you name it - because I know a fake when I see one. I can't be too judgmental either, because I have nothing against fake designer bags. It's your personal choice, you know. When my sister-in-law and I visited LA Fashion district a few months ago, I was totally blown away with all the fake designer handbags worth $20.00 each, and I'm like DANG! I was tempted to buy but I stopped myself. I don't want to be bombarded with questions if it is a fake or not, It's just not worth it. I can't blame people why they go for fake labels either, It's just too pricey! But if you think about quality over quantity, Then you'll know which is better. Some say fakes do look tacky on a person, but I figured It's the way you handle yourself, not every body can look good with a fake designer handbag. ;)

Since hubbykins bought me a Coach bag from Las Vegas last year (yes, that's a splurge for me) he promised me that he'll buy me another one some day, Only next time It's another designer bag. I am obsessed with bags, people - but I know my limitation... if you know you can't afford it - DO NOT MAX OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD! The temptation will always be there so be sure to fight it as long as you can. So far, I hadn't done anything crazy yet, thank God. Once in awhile, It's also good to pamper yourself. Give yourself some lovin' and treat yourself with something that you really like. We're not rich, but I know in due time with patience and faith, rewards will come pouring in.

I also decided to save. Every penny counts. If you are very eager to own a designer bag, save some money each month until you can afford to buy yourself the most affordable designer handbag that you want. :) Trust me, patience, faith and reward...

Every one of my co-workers own Louis Vouitton bags, like The Artsy MM, Tivoli Gm and The speedy 35. I guess once in awhile It is ok to splurge on yourself especially when you really deserve a job well done, right?

So, I just updated my wishlist on designer handbags below. :)

















I'll be aiming for a Gucci or LV the next time. (crosses fingers)

glimmer of hope

Well, I finally passed my application for an opening of a higher level at work. I'm currently a GS-04, and I applied for a full time Lead store associate which is a 5. It's hard to get that one, I've been waiting for a full time position for such a long time now. What I hate about myself is I lack the confidence. My husband and the rest of my friends at work boosts my confidence that I can do it. But just by looking at the greater responsibilities you have to face when you land the job - It seems so scary! Then, learning who are those people who are applying for the position, I suddenly just lose faith in myself. I know how to accept failures, so If I don't get the job I guess It's not meant for me and there will be more openings the next time around. Before I passed my application, I had to make sure my assessment questionnaire is complete and my resume updated. All I have to do now is wait. (sigh) I'm such a nervous wreck, I need to scrap!

mini albums galore

What can I say?? I LOVE THEM! I can't stop thinking of making my very first mini album. I am planning on making one for my niece's birthday on September, It will also serve as a gift for her before she leaves for College. She will be attending UC Irvine. I met her when she was 10. She was an awesome little girl, very humorous. She still is up to now. She never runs out of ideas and jokes, never a dull moment. I am very blessed to witness Celina and her brother Thomas growing up before my eyes.


There are hundreds of mini albums over HERE, The inspiration is just endless. I can't wait to make my family mini albums as well. This can be a great gift to a friend or loved one. Just choose a theme and you can start from there. I am planning a hybrid one and currently choosing the best pictures to go within the mini album. I'm just finding the time to make one, I don't seem to find any available time to make it since we have many errands left and right. Scrapbooking is fun, what more if you're working on a mini?

Make yours today!

so crafty

Just finished fixing the giveaways along with my niece and sister-in-law for Celina's installation. She will be crowned honored queen on Saturday, My sister-in-law has prepared so much for her daughter's installation. I helped out by designing the invitations and the backdrop that my mother-in-law made to ordered in the Philippines. My sister-in-law designed the program as well as the giveaways, everything was black and white and just elegant looking! I agree with my SIL, Whenever there's a special event for your children make it more special by planning it real well in a timely manner. It only happens once in a lifetime, So make it special while you can. I looked at the garbage bag where scraps of cardstocks have been thrown away, I had to save them for my scrapbooking pages. My SIL laughed at me because instead of using new papers I had to resort to scraps. It was a very fun and girly time. I wish I had my own work space. When the time comes I want to choose my own office furniture so I can have my own place to work in for my scrap projects, etc. I can't work with anything in my tiny little space besides the window. It's also a bit crowded, I need to clean up and throw away unnecessary papers.

Rest in peace...

Our Uncle (hubby's side) just passed away from a heart attack a few days ago, He was 73... So sad... My mother-in-law just arrived last June 1st, now she's heading back to the Philippines for our uncle's funeral. She was suppose to go home Aug. 1st. He was sure a respectable person and he was everyone's friend. I can't believe he's gone now, even my mom cried. I am not related by blood but I cried so bad when I found out he was gone. Life sure is unpredictable... You don't really know what you've got until It's gone.
So hug your loved one today and express how much you love them. Life is too short. You never know, today... tomorrow... that person might just leave just like that.

Whatever hatred you have inside you right now, release it and pray to our Lord for help. So Spend time with your loved ones today. :)

Beauty regimens

I don't have perfect skin, to tell you the truth. I have scars left by that horrible chicken pox! I was 16 then and It was terrible! But of course after I had it I had to accept it and move on, what else is there to do? have plastic surgery? HA! I wish. But of course no matter what, you need to love your skin ALWAYS. I just pamper my skin by taking care of it 24/7. What ticks me off are blackheads. Pretty sure you loathe them, too. Not surprising why everybody hates them. Those tiny black hairs just ruin your day! They're so irritating to look at. There are lots of ways getting rid of blackheads and there are creams out there to help you with that. I've given up on creams because they worsen blackheads based on experience, I don't know about you maybe creams work for you, It probably depends on skin types. What I do to maintain healthy skin is to wash my face with warm water to open up my pores and pat my face dry. Then I use a Fine Loop extractor to push out the blackheads gently without scarring my face. After that, I wash my face with cold water to close the pores. I feel fresh after doing this, It minimizes oily skin and you'll have a fresh, clean and clear face. It's also better than those nose strips that hurts so bad!

graduations

I still have a few hours left before I go to work again. I'm actually hungry right now, I need to eat breakfast since It's the very important meal of the day, but goodness - I think I need appetite suppressants to ease my hunger, I am so hating this feeling. Anyways, I'll just eat the leftover Pasta from Pat and Oscar's last night, It was Celina's graduation day yesterday and It all went so great I was soooo teary eyed with the music and all... I love attending graduations because It's the end of a new chapter and the beginning of a new one. My sister-in-law is really happy for her daughter has finally graduated high school, and it is more challenging because in the next few months Celina will be starting college at UC Irvine. It is hard to accept that our babies are Embarking on a new journey in life, and college is pretty hard. My husband told me it really is hard, because when he was taking up physical therapy in college his mom was always there to support him no matter what. And my mother-in-law was telling us like how she worked so hard and at the same time she was always there for her kids, and when the time came they marched down the aisle to accept their college diploma It was a great feeling and tears of happiness was rolling down her cheeks. I know the feeling of graduating since I've experienced it in high school, but I always see myself graduating in college, too - and taking a picture along with my family and friends. I see myself on stage and having my kids (maybe all grown up then) and my husband hanging leis over me... Every time I witness a graduation, there is always a tiny bit of hope that someday that would be me walking on the stage accepting my diploma. Such a wonderful feeling. My husband always assures me that I'll graduate in college someday. Most of my friends graduated when they had families already so I never lose hope ever.