Tomorrow I turn a happy 42. And yes, I am really happy. Unlike some people who dread getting older, I welcome it wholeheartedly. And it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that I…ahem….do not look my age. Indulge me, ok.

Anyway, since I’m on the subject, I might as well get some sensible thoughts in…at least for now.

So what do I hope to achieve this year. Well, probably the same as the year that passed. I honestly believe that I haven’t done so bad. My work output is pretty much satisfactory, my kids are happy and healthy, and my hubby hasn’t lost any more hair. So I did pretty good.

Personally though, I am still hoping to get my fitness routine up and running…pun completely intended. Other than reading diet pill reviews, I would really like to get back on the fitness bandwagon and maybe shave a couple of pounds in the process. And then that would my 43rd year even better. Right?

So again, happy 42nd to me!

Tags : Birthdays, Fitness

Dear Honey,

Since today is Father’s Day I have taken it upon myself to treat you like the king you think you are….but mind you, only for today.

Please take note of the following changes :

Number one….I will have your car cleaned at that stupidly expensive car wash.
Number 2 ….I will hold my tongue the whole day and pretend to be nice.
Number 3 ….I will allow you to be masungit if and when you want to be.
Number 4 …. I will not harbor thoughts of manhandling you or pulling out your hair…tutal konti na rin lang naman ang hair mo.
Number 5…. I will not utter cuss words today.
Number 6 ….I will share the remote control with you and patiently watch those baduy shows you like to watch.
Number 7 ….I will fix the room for you.
Number 8 ….. I will smile and agree when you say you look hot.
Number 9 ….. I will even treat you to a movie and not be mad when you fall asleep while watching.
Number 10 …. I will not ask you to buy me a birthday gift….just yet.

Please be reminded this offer is valid only today. Tomorrow things go back to normal.

Happy Father’s Day. Enjoy it while you can….

Love,
Bella

Tags : family, Husband

This last week officially ushered in the rainy season…for us. Despite the fact that PAGASA announced it earlier, we only felt it in earnest last week. Why? Well, we had to pass through our first patch of flooded road after a heavy afternoon downpour.

With the recent spate of flash floods all over the globe, it makes me wonder if the same thing will happen here. I’m sure that many are still shaken up about what happened to the metro last year after Ondoy made an indelible mark on our city’s landscape. Then there is that recent flooding in Singapore that rendered Orchard Road impassable…prompting local media to rename it Orchard River. This one really saddened me….imagine all those shop merchandise that were ruined

So we have already dusted off our rain gear. Bought some spanking new umbrellas and got the kids their raincoats. I still have to get my kids new rain boots since their old ones are already too small for them. And if I had my way, I’d buy a boat (will definitely need rv financing for my chosen model…hehehe) since there are roads going to my kids’ school that really go underwater….like maybe 6 feet of water. No kidding.

Keep dry and safe y’all.

Tags : environment, gripes, health, kids

A couple of days ago, I was fortunate enough to find one of my favorite stores on sale. And because they were offering a whopping 70% off on some items, I took it upon myself to buy some stuff and keep them for future gift-giving purposes.

When my bill was tabulated, guess how much I was supposed to pay….

Here’ s close up of my my total….

Yikes!!!

Tags : PhotoHunt

Bubbles and children. They go together like coffee and milk.

This pic was taken 5 years ago when my eldest was a toddler. One of the best ways to make her stop crying was to have her blow bubbles. One time we were all out of bubble liquid and she was throwing a fit. My father had a brilliant idea. He put out a large basin, filled it with some water and threw in some shampoo. Then he made like an egg-beater and beat the water and shampoo until it frothed up. That was enough to keep her occupied and surely threw her fit out the window.

Tags : PhotoHunt

We’re going on our 2nd week of school and my eldest is still dealing with school jitters. I don’t blame her. No amount of preparation really prepared her for the shocking sight of an honest to goodness BIG school. From the comfy confines of her prep classroom where there were only a handful of students, she was thrown in the almost “grown-up” world of Elementary school.

When I asked why she was upset she simply said that she didn’t know what being in Grade 1 felt like. We have all assured her that it felt exactly like Prep only better but she doesn’t seem to buy it. I guess its the feeling of being left all alone in a sea of strange faces that really frightens her. Considering that her prep school population was half of her class, it really makes you feel a little lost. However, she seems to be getting the hang of it as the days go by. There’s less clinging now. She still tells us that she sometimes wants to cry but she can already control it.

I’m sure she’ll be better this week when schoolwork really starts in earnest. And to think this is Grade school. I wonder what it will be like if and when we start facing sat prep courses or even college entrance exams. Egad. Gotta toughen her up for this. Anyway, we’ve got several years down the line. In the meantime, I’ve got some serious menu making to face. She starts eating lunch in school this week.

Tags : kids, school

Last night while enjoying a hot mug of coffee I felt what seems like a lance going through my cheek. The makings of another dental appointment was apparently the cause.

All this time I was pretty sure that the filling I had was ok and that visits to www.badbreathtreatments.org was the only dental work I needed. Well, not so. My filling had a huge chip. And part of the tooth cracked. OUCH!!

So I’m set to have another dental appointment 2 days from now. I fear that the tooth might not stand up to another filling. I hope it does. I am in no mood for another extraction. And to think I’ve been very diligent with my oral hygiene. I blame my genes….all my ancestors had pretty bad teeth. Oh well. I guess I have to start saving up for major repair in the future. Maybe by then implants will be common and way more affordable.

Tags : gripes, health

Bakit nga ba napakahirap minsan isipin kung ang buhay ay talagang may pag-asa. Kung minsan naman kasi, kahit gaano ka na magsumikap, talaga namang may panahong minamalas ka.

Tulad na lamang ni Dong (names changed to protect subject), tuwang tuwa sya kay Dang (not her real name kasi Ate Arlyn ang name nya). Nung minsan kasing nagpunta kami sa park para makapaglaro ang mga bata, aba’y naisipan ni Dong at Dang na sila din ay maglalaro. Naku ha, intriga yan. Joke.

Actually, medyo TH silang maglaro kasi kinda matanda na sila para sa mga larong napili nilang gawin. Kaya ayan, nagtaka naman ako kung may pag-asa pa ba silang mag-enjoy ng maigi. Eh mukha naman di ba.

Tags : Litratong Pinoy, photography

The first bloom of my miniature kalachuchi plant this summer. After a week or so the lower branch had a single bloom too but this time it was red. Unusual!

Tags : Today's Flowers

I have to admit that I have gained some weight in the last couple of months. Especially so that my physical activity has been little to almost zilch. I’m not blaming anybody but myself. Sure I’ve got a truckload of work and sure I’ve got a lot of non-work things that need extra attention. But not making time to be healthy is entirely my fault.

So the result is a pudgier me. And since I’m prone to a thicker mid-section, yes, people have asked me if I’m on the family way. Not once, not twice, but several times over. At one point I even went as far as checking out those China made diet pills in complete desperation because I was looking for a quick fix to my problem. Not to worry, though, I didn’t take any and I would rather consult my doctor regarding diet pills that work and are safe as well.

What now? Well, I am definitely working on this. When? Soon. And thats a promise I am really keeping.

Tags : beauty, Fitness, health