Lighting, A Must.

A great addition to our house would be a bright outdoor light. The problem with our subdivision is we have insufficient lamp posts. During the night, it gets very dark in large areas around our neighborhood which can be very tempting to burglars. Too bad there's shanti's near our subdivision, so ample lighting and security is a must in subdivision and in every house. I have seen very stylish Kichler outdoor lighting and if I could make decisions regarding our house then I would definitely get one of these. It will be a great addition to the house, something stylish yet very useful.

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Thursday, Feels Like Monday

It is a Thursday, last work day of the year 2010. I am not THAT busy, but I am stressed. Been looking for a missing document for hours already. Plus, it's the 30th and I forgot to make the checks for a few of our employees. Bad bad.

It's a manic, panic Monday for me but I refuse to dwell into that, instead I'd make this day a Cyber Monday instead. Been eying the iPhone4 for months now. If not a new laptop would be great. My pink Dell Inspiron's keyboard has shortened and cannot be used already. The little boy has spilled milk all over it. Good thing it still works with an external keyboard. So, for now - it is still very useful. One thing I realized though, my family and I cannot live without a laptop and wireless internet. When we were in the province for a week last Christmas, I really miss logging online to Facebook and even reading the news. We are a certified techie family.

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More Shopping

Yesterday, Hubby and I were in the department store, kids department looking for gifts for the boys. Nothing fancy because they get toys from us all the time. Just last week, when I went to the states, I got Oz and roaring Trex and the little one a Leapster writing pad. This time we just want something they can open up on Christmas day.

I was checking out Personal Creations baby & kids department, there were cute onesies and Santa outfits but then I ended up buying Oz (again!) another dinosaur from his fave show and Shoti a toy car he can ride on. I hope my boys will love their gifts. After all, Christmas is for the kids and the kid at heart.

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Friday Fill-Ins #204

This week, I'm going to give you a choice of fill-ins OR a different kind of fill-in (or both). A friend emailed me a list where you have to identify Christmas songs by the initials of the first words of the first line of each song. Each Friday until Christmas Eve I'll post 9 more of these songs and if you'd like to play along, great!

So...here we go!

1. What in the world _____.

2. My wish this Christmas is for all the street children and orphans to be well fed.

3. Go now because we don't have time anymore.

4. The invites were sent a month ago and still there has been no RSVP, how rude!

5. I keep pretending nothing's wrong.

6. To buy or not.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Thea's wedding, tomorrow my plans include Judd and Rae's wedding and Sunday, I want to REST!

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Waiting.

My layover here in Detroit Airport is quite short compared to when I arrived. Suprisingly, the wait is bearable. There are lots of stores to visit, the modern furniture is suprsingly comfortable, there's internet access plus I got to meet other Filipinos going home as well. Listening to their different life stories is interesting.

I didn't get any sleep last night (and for the pst nights!) so I am hoping to sleep through all my 19-hr flight.

Uncomfortable and cramp - but I really hope I can sleep through it!

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Firsts

1. First trip to the US.
2. First bus ride alone.
3. First time in Wal-mart.
4. First time to stay in a hotel alone.
5. First snow!!!

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Benefits

One of the things that I was griping about when I was still single was the fact that employers automatically deduct social security from our paycheck. It's a minuscule amount as it is without other 3rd party company getting some of it. After having kids and having benefited from the system, I realized why it is important to remit. In the long run, when there are time you need a loan, or some maternity benefits, the social security benefits is going to be your lifeline. Some people does not even know the extent of their benefits. They don't know they can get this much or that much - but ignorance is not an excuse. There are many cases when people with disability fail to get their benefits because they don't know they have it! Good thing there are institutions out there like Allsup who can help.

I've been working for 5 years already and I've been remitting religiously. I may not be able to see the benefits right away but for sure they are there which is a good feeling for me that there's someone I can rely on in the long run.

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For Her

Tomorrow, I'd be leaving for the States for a business trip. So, these past few weeks, I've been stressing out since there are still too many things to do before I can go. Aside from work, I have set a goal to finish all my Christmas shopping (and gift wrapping) before December but that didn't happen because my trip took up most of my time. Prior to it, I had to obtain my VISA, get all my documents in check, book a flight, book a room, research on the place (so I won't get lost!). Now, only a few days left before Christmas and I haven't gotten anything for my Mom and my MIL. There are great christmas gifts under $20 for her which I browse daily for inspiration.

For example, a pendant, a purse, w wooden frame, a chest, or a music box are some items on my mind just to name a few. What are other gift ideas for Moms? Care to share?

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Thursday Thunks: Live Long, and Prosper

Welcome to the December 2nd edition of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.
Write about it on your blog... simple as that.
Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!
Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.
Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs.
Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!
That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?
We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

The TT questions are brought to you by Bud, the color of a one eyed jack and the number 69.

1. There are a lot of emotions in life. Except for Mr. Spock. What emotionally scares you the most? ::: Clowns and ventriloquist dolls scares me!! :::

2. Do you have any present goals that are tough enough that you'd like to forget about them? ::: I vowed to lose 5lbs by the first week of December, that was months ago and I am no where near by goal. :::

3. Your Internet service goes down. What would you miss the most? ::: Facebook :::

4. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you. (Nomenclature? Can you tell that I stole this question?) ::: I would buy them toys even though I know in a few months they would be obsolete (in the eyes of the child) but then their expression and joy when seeing the toy is priceless. :::

5. If money was no object, and you had a free month or so, what would you love to do? ::: Shop till I drop in Europe with Hubby. :::

6. Why did you start your blog? Was it because you were pissed at someone? ::: I started because I wanted to document every little detail of my child's life. :::

7. Kimber and Berleen (Thunks founders & BFFs) are finally going to meet in person. Who are you friends with in the blogosphere that you'd love to meet? Why? ::: Chat. Because we have common friends (my cousin actually) and we have a lot in common (I think) and I hope someday we'll be able to meet. :::

8. When you were in high school, if you can remember back that far, what mistake did you make that you'd like to change? ::: Chose a guy over my friend. :::

9. Do you believe in forever, as in 'love forever'? ::: Of course I do. If I didn't, why else did I marry? :::

10. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, what is you favorite romantic comedy movie? ::: Pretty Woman :::

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Money Talk

Speaking of winning the lottery; with the winning jackpot price reaching more than 500 million, people who don't normally buy lottery tickets have started buying in droves! I mean, last week, the line for the lottery ticket is unbelievably long! Woah. I was shocked but then again, knowing how poor the Philippines is people cling to the hopes of getting lucky. Why not? When you have nothing more going on for you, betting on that ticket might be your only chance to become moneyed.

Since I didn't win (yes I bought a ticket!!) I might as well try my luck somewhere else. I wonder how much I can win from playing online casino games? Oh well, worth a try. If I lose, then no harm done. As long as I play for fun and not get hooked! I know a lot of people hooked on casino's most especially the slots. One time, a family friend of ours was griping because her mom was spending more time in casinos than with her own family. They were an old rich family and after the patriarch died, the matriarch turned to gambling to cope with the loneliness. Oppps, I should not have mentioned slots online to her one time when we talked. She seemed so happy playing with the slots that I blurted the option out. As for me, I'd stick to playing a bit of lotto and also a bit of online casino just to try my luck. When I say "a bit" that means, maybe once every 3 months? Yes, because I seldom get free time and even extra cash these days. Busy busy busy these days. December is rolling by and employees like me are marking our calendars before we receive our christmas bonus! ^__^ I have a few things in mind to buy for myself already. Ack. Counting the chicks before my eggs hatched. Story of my life ;P

How about you? Have you tried your luck in any lottery or game of chance? What was the largest amount you won if you ever did?

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If I won the lottery...

...have you heard? the jackpot of 700++ million pesos was won already by lucky pick!!! Oh-mhhhhy-ghhhhhad.

If I won that kind money, I would:

• donate a bunch of it to different charities (no joke)
• give to my family/friends
• move far far away

Seriously, it's both a blessing and a curse. People will flock to you and you'd be forever watching your back. For sure, people will try to kill you too.

Money is money. We must remember in the end, we cannot bring our riches with us in the afterlife. So enjoy the money but remember to give back. Money isn't everything after all.

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It's Just Sad.

I feel bad for my friends' family. They are having a very difficult time controlling their drug addicted brother. It is sad because he has 6 children all under-aged. He and his wife are both hooked on drugs and its a very dangerous road to be in. Their mother would give money to ensure the grand kids get to be enrolled but lo and behold, the money was used for drugs! If it were me, I'd put those parents behind bars. Let them learn their lesson. They can't afford to be selfish, not now. Not when they have kids of their own that look up to them. But that's me. I am a bit mean when it comes to the thought of little one's getting what they don't deserve.

What their parents actually need it help, a proper Addiction Treatment is in order for them to get their life on track. This is important because they are not only hurting themselves but the lives of their family and young kids. It might be hard to admit at first that our family member or friend is drug dependent and would be needing Drug Rehab - the fact remains that if not handled properly they can cause major damage to the community. Case in point - this family friend of ours has a lot of loans here and there and he had to transfer towns because everyone doesn't believe him anymore when he says he will pay back. He even owes the nuns a lot of money for his kids tuition fee's. The Holidays are days away and it is a sad time for their family, instead of singing merrily, they are lamenting on the fact that the guy and his wife might be put to a rehab facility. They have no choice and it's for their own good actually. I know someone who voluntarily checked into an Alcohol Rehab and came out a better man.

Right now I can only hope and pray for their family. I hope they do get a merry christmas this year.

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Manic Monday#227

What do you cook when home alone?

I can't cook well, so when I am alone, I cook instant noodles OR call take out.

What is something you'd like a chance to eat or cook?

I want to be able to cook meatball spaghetti. I know, it's easy but I've never made one myself and it's my fave dish so I should learn.

What is your favorite cookbook?

Uhmm none. I guess if there would be one entitles 30 minute meals that would be it. Something easy and fast.

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