My Addictions

My awesome blogger friend, Roselle, gave me this fabulous award. Thanks a bunch sistah! :) Sorry for the delay though. I know I should have done this sooner. Busy, busy, sometimes forgetting or simply slacking hehe :) I do appreciate the thought though. :)


With this award you have to list your 5 addictions. Well, here's mine...
1. my "MEN"- Oh yes! I'm addicted to my men! But hold on! Before thinking of me as despicable, my men refers to my dear hubby and our 2 little boys-Noah and Kaiden :)
2. internet surfing-Googling, blogging, checking my email, etc.
3. couponing! hehe! :)
4. checking on store deals/sales, sale shopping, stocking up on sale items like home necessities
5. green tea

A Filipina White House Executive Chef

I just thought of sharing this awesome achievement from a fellow Filipino. I've heard of her name before and I was glad to learn that she has remained as the White House Executive Chef. She must really be a magnificent chef to stay in that position for years, and for 2 presidents at that. Mmmm! Maybe it would just be in my wildest dreams that I get to taste any of her cooking. lol! :) She certainly makes us proud of our heritage.

Anyway, here's the story...

Cristeta Comerford To Remain White House Chef

Today, Michelle Obama announced that Cristeta Comerford will stay on as White House Executive Chef, putting to rest all the speculation surrounding the decision.

Cristeta Comerford took the job in 2005 and is the first woman and first minority to serve as executive chef.

"Cristeta Comerford brings such incredible talent to the White House operation and came very highly regarded from the Bush family," Michelle Obama said in a statement released by the transition team. "Also the mom of a young daughter, I appreciate our shared perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families."

Comerford is a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Philippines who studied French cooking in Vienna, Austria, and specializes in ethnic and American cuisine.

She's come a long, long, long way, this former hotel "salad girl." Before she was hired as an assistant chef in the White House in 1995, before First Lady Laura Bush promoted her to White House Executive Chef last week, Cristeta Comerford -- "Cris" to her neighbors and co-workers here in the Washington area, "Teta" to her large but tight-knit Filipino family in the Chicago suburb of Morton Grove -- was in charge of a salad bar.

"That's what I called her, 'salad girl.' She prepared Caesar salad, Cobb salad," says Juanito Pasia, Cristeta's older brother, trying not to laugh. It was Juanito who drove Teta -- then 23, newly arrived from the Philippines -- in his blue Ford van to and from work at a Sheraton Hotel near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. "Can you believe it?" he asks, giving another hearty laugh. "Can you believe this is happening?"





News and photos from Huffington Post

Special Offer

Last Wednesday was when my husband left for Florida. Since that day, little Noah has been looking for him for he has been missing him a lot. I'm glad that I have my parents with me to entertain him, and take care of him while I go to work on particular days. Every day and night, even with his hectic schedule, he never fails to call or text us. I normally put him on speaker whenever he calls so Noah can hear him and talk to him as well. We don't have a landline at home. We use mobile phones for practical reasons. 3 Phone Deals are available at Mobilephonestore.net. They have special offers for very low price. LG Renoir, Sony Ericsson C905 Black are examples of the phones they feature. They do have amazing deals that will save you a great deal of money.

Smart Woman

WOMEN WHO KNOW THEIR PLACE

A point of view.

Barbara Walters, of Television's 20/20, did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan
several years before the Afghan conflict.

She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands.

She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands.

From Ms . Walters' vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime,
the women now seem to walk even further back behind their husbands, and are happy to maintain the old custom.

Ms . Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, 'Why do you now seem happy with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?'

The woman looked Ms Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation said, 'Land Mines.'

Moral of the story is: (no matter what language you speak and where you go)

"BEHIND EVERY MAN, THERE'S A SMART WOMAN"


Funny! Pretty smart, huh? :)
I got this email from my friend who sends me a bunch of hilarious, even naughty ones, (I can't post them here for apparent reason...wholesome eh :)) almost every day.

Pretty Flowers

I was surprised to get flowers from my co-workers on my birthday which was weeks ago. Oh, it was lovely! Our office smelled so good! So fresh and colors were vibrant! I actually thought they've forgotten it. My birthday was on a Saturday. No one greeted me on a Friday before that when I was at work. Although, the phone department remembered. I was alright with it since I didn't really care that much. Monday, the following week, a bouquet of flowers was delivered and put on my desk without me knowing it. I was faxing something that I had to leave the office for a minute, and when I got back, there I saw my flowers. I felt so special. I thanked them all. It was so sweet of them. Martha Stewart flowers do make wonderful centerpiece. I like the Martha Stewart Mixed Rose Bouquet. It accentuates our simple living room. I like the combination of the colors- red, pink and purple. It complements the design and color of our house. We do have roses on our front yard. We love how they bloom in spring time. They are so lovely to look at. Every rose plant seems to compete with one another with their rich color. This Valentine's day, the Martha Stewart bouquet makes a wonderful gift. Oh, I would surely love to receive one. If you want to make someone feel special, just go 1800flowers.com. They have flowers for all occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, get well, new baby, congratulations are some examples. They can be delivered on the same day as well. Prices are reasonable. They offer bouquets as low as $19.95.

My Walmart Experience

I ran out of milk and eggs today. My Mom and I along with Noah went to Walmart to do some grocery shopping. Chet had already told my Mom that I had been crazy about couponing and stocking up on items when they're on sale. This morning before we proceeded to Walmart, I picked up the newspaper on our driveway and looked for the circulars. Price Chopper, Hyvee and Hen House have great deals for the week. Before, I would go to each store to avail of their discounts or sale. This time, I tried a new saving adventure. We went to Walmart as planned, bought groceries, but bought them not at Walmart price but at a lower Price Chopper's sale price. Confused? I brought along the Price Chopper circular with me and asked the cashier if they could match their sale price. Yes, they do price match. Price Chopper has Kraft Cheddar cheese on sale for $1.88. Walmart sells it for $2.14. I showed the cashier the Price Chopper ads, and instead of putting $2.14, she rang it up for only $1.88. Same thing for Edy's Ice Cream. It was on sale for $2.69 at Price Chopper. I got it at that price instead of paying $3.48. Oscar Mayer bacon was also on sale for $1.99, got it at that price instead of the regular Walmart price... and the list goes on. In a nutshell, instead of going from store to store to take advantage of each store's sale, I can just go to Walmart, and save the most money. Saves a lot of time, too! Such convenience for me. :)

Anyway, for Price Chopper deals, you can either check their circular, or you can go to their site mypricechopper.com.

Enjoying Movies

My parents finally arrived last Saturday. As with most grandparents, they were so happy to see their little grandsons. Noah got a bag full of toys, coloring books, crayons, etc. Kaiden got new winter clothes which are truly adorable. As for me and my hubby, they brought us Filipino foods which I have been craving for a long time. They were frozen even when they got here. There's not really a Filipino restaurant around here so you can just imagine how desperate I am to have a taste of sumptuous Pinoy foods. Last Monday, I went to work while my parents take care of Noah and Kaiden. When my Dad was watching TV, Noah accidentally hit one of the buttons of the remote control. The TV did something strange and my Dad didn't know what to do. Back in their home in New Jersey, they use DirecTV.

I checked online to learn more about DirecTV. Right now, they have amazing DirecTV deals. You can get 28 movie channels, FREE for 3 months and also save as much as $23 per month for a year. When my hubby returns from a trip, I would definitely suggest their great DirecTV offers to him. Can't wait!

They're Here!

I'm so happy to see my parents again! Their flight was delayed for about an hour and my hubby was even there an hour earlier than their scheduled flight. The weather was chilly then and roads were a bit slick. Gladly, they were able to get home safe. Oh, everybody was excited as expected! As soon as they entered the house, my Mom kissed the boys and carried baby Kaiden with much joy! :)

This Saturday

2 more days and it's Saturday! I'm excited! Hmmm... You might wonder why. Well, my Mom and Dad are coming over to see their little grandsons and spend a week vacation. They're flying from New Jersey in the morning and will get here early afternoon. My Mom has been calling me almost every day to ask what we want, what Noah wants or what Kaiden might need. I can definitely feel her excitement through her voice over the phone. She laughs whenever Noah says "Yoya" meaning "Lola". So funny! Around that time though, my husband is going to Florida for MLS Training. Flights To Miami are accessible and can easily be found at flighttomiami.com. They have a comprehensive list of flights through their directory. If you're looking for an economical or discounted flight, just go to their site. Everything is listed for you including tips for traveling, etc.

Kaiden at 7 Months

Oh, yes! He can stand up like a pro now. hehehe! Just last month he had just learned how to sit up by himself and crawl. Now, he's standing up on his own while holding on to something, and fearless of falling. He had fallen a few times, cried, but there's no stopping the baby! He's persistent and determined to be like his big brother who's all over the place, running, jumping, dancing... :)

Journey Within

Like every parent, you would want to protect your children and keep them safe at all times. Even if we've been using the daycare for almost 2 years now, there are times that I still fear for my children's safety. "What if Noah falls from the stairs and badly hit his head?" "What if they're running with a pen and he falls and pokes his eye?", "What if, for some reason, the daycare provider didn't notice there's a knife or scissors lying around and an accident happens?". Not that my daycare provider is irresponsible and incompetent, it's just these are some fears I can't help but worry about on some days when I'm not with my kids. Our caregiver is the nicest and the most patient and caring person I've ever met. I can say that Noah, and even little Kaiden love being there. Each day, I pray and entrust everything to Him. I keep telling myself that they're in good hands. I do my best to quit worrying each day. I have to, else my life will stagnate. Nice Average Guy is a novel about a man who lives a pretty comfortable life yet fears about having a meaningless or worthless life, finding no love in the end, etc. It is a well-written book authored by Ned Mansour. This book touches the heart, and will allow you to retrospect or look deeply into yourself without being draggy as it is filled with wit and humor. Buying this book will benefit the TrinityKids Hospice Care.

Flu Shot For Baby

I didn't know that you can give a flu shot to a baby. I just learned about it when our doctor said that Kaiden could get a flu shot as early as 6 months. With them being sick most of the time especially during the chilly winter season, we decided to let them have their flu shots. Laat Thursday, baby Kaiden got his shot, and amazingly, he cried for just a very short time. Two seconds, I guess. hehe! :) Brave little baby!

Wedding Day

I can't remember how long my youngest brother and his girlfriend have been together now. My wild guess would be 5 years. His girlfriend, Jack, short for Jacqueline, is the sweetest girl I've ever known. She truly is a sweetheart. She works as a registered nurse in a highly reputable hospital in New Jersey. I've been asking them when they plan to get married. I just believe that they deserve each other. Saying that, I stumbled upon this great site called aftersix.com where you can get stylish wedding dresses, tuxedos, etc. They have a wonderful collection that you wouldn't want to look elsewhere anymore. If you're looking for a bridesmaid dress, or flower girls dresses, they also have lovely choices with beautiful accessories to match. I love the designs, the colors, and the styles of their dresses.

Twinkle, twinkle

At first, I asked my hubby what quote would suit this photo of baby Kaiden. I showed him a list of quotes that I liked and he picked this one. "We can't all be stars. But we can TWINKLE!." His reason for this choice was because his eyes twinkle in this photo. hehe :) Well, I agree with him. I gave this as a gift (placed on a solid black picture frame) to my co-worker who has been very nice to me since I began working in the office. I was pleased to see her hang it on the wall by her desk. Twinkle, twinkle :)

Noah's Party

Next month is my first son's birthday. He's going to be 2 years old. I know it may sound clicheish, but time does fly so fast. It is the truth that every mother has to face. Before I know it, he's already in school riding the school bus on his own. Anyway, I am thinking of giving him a theme party. A Disney party sounds fun. Noah loves to watch Mickey Mouse and His Friends on TV. He learns from the show and he enjoys the music and the dancing as well. I've been doing some research online and I found a great site called Celebrations.com. Oh, they have a lot of fun, interesting ideas! They provide you with valuable tips, activities, decorations, games, even recipes. I want to make my son a cake for his special day. Honestly, I've only baked a few times, but given the steps outlined in the site, I think I'd be good. Celebrations.com is like a one-stop shop to get all the information you need in hosting a party. It is all I need.

Plane Crash In Hudson River

Until now, I'm still amazed with the plane incident that happened at the Hudson River in NYC. Very smooth and successful landing by the pilot whom I admire for his unbelievable calmness and presence of mind, the airline crew, the rescuers who didn't waste any second to help the petrified passengers,... Hats off to everyone for the heroism and splendid work! God's Amazing grace!

Click this link for the complete story and for more pictures and videos about the plane crash. US Airways Plane Crashes In Hudson River

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times

Close Your Eyes...

This was just one of them. I wanted to give my friends something unique and personal last Christmas. I had a difficult time looking for one. I just ran out of ideas until I thought of giving them photos of Kaiden or Noah with suitable inspirational quotes. I put each of them on a small black hanging frame. They turned out pretty nice. I was glad that they liked them. :)

Turned A Year Older Today

Gee, that just doesn't sound good. hehe jk :) It's my birthday and I'm spending it with my 2 little munckins. Hubby is in Florida for the MLS Combine until Tuesday. We're planning to dine out and celebrate my birthday at The Cheesecake Factory or Ruby Tuesday as soon as he gets home. Mmmm! I'm excited! Nothing to do really grand or special today. Just hang around, play with the kids, and maybe cook spaghetti, or have a take out at McDonald's and buy Noah a Happy Meal as well. Can't really decide..hehehe :) Anyway, God has been so good to me. I've been blessed enough. Thank you, Lord! :)

A Savior

Before leaving for Washington last November for our Thanksgiving vacation, I made a list of what to bring along for the travel. Among the list were new toys to entertain Noah and Kaiden, DVD for them to watch in the plane, diapers, wipes, milk, etc. But the most important thing that I brought along was the baby carrier like the ergo baby carrier . Travels are so much easier with the baby carriers or baby slings. With a toddler and a baby, this is a must. And besides, we also had some carry-ons that we need to keep an eye on. With the baby carrier, I was able to move freely. I get to use my hands lifting other things for I didn't have to carry Kaiden with my arms. Even when we got to our friends' and in-laws' house, I was able to help in doing simple household chores like cleaning, setting the table, etc. Besides, Kaiden likes it a lot being in the carrier. He wants to stick around with Mommy most of the time. Whenever he doesn't want to be put down, I just slide him in, buckle him up, making sure that he's properly secured. I like my baby carrier for my back is well-supported. It has shoulder straps that are gently padded. So, if you're going to travel, you might want to consider taking a baby carrier or baby sling with you. It's a savior.

Inspiring Awards

Happy to receive these awards! Thanks youngest for these 2 tokens. You are just so sweet. Love them! :)