I’m So Excited

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and I’m really excited about it. We don’t have any plans as of yet but I’m so totally into it already that I spent the whole morning doing my Valentine’s post. No, this is not my Valentine’s post, it’s actually over at my mommy blog. I have actually wasted half of my day researching for my post so I’m so glad it’s done already. I have watched a lot of uber sweet and romantic movie scenes in the process and I enjoyed watching them too so I know you’ll have a great time watching it. My husband just arrived and I let him watch it and he’s not easily pleased but he liked my movie clips especially the last one. If you are still wondering what the hell am I talking about then do head over at Mommy Diary and ready my entry on The Top Five Romantic Movie Scenes that I Absolutely Love to Watch. One suggestion though, don’t keep it to yourself.  Share it with your husband. Who knows how he’ll react? Maybe he’ll get inspired and do the No. 1 on you. LOL!

Super Bowl 2010 Online Stream

Are you looking for the Super Bowl 2010 Online Stream? I don’t blame you. The Super bowl kickoff has begun and people are already watching the main sports event of the season. You must definitely must not miss it as the New Orleans Saints battle it out with the Indianapolis Colts. Personally, I think the Colts would win but that’s just me. I’m sure you want to see the action right on your computer.

If you want to watch Super Bowl 2010 Online Stream the streaming live just be patient in looking I’m sure the links are already posted online.

The Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Routine Put to Test

This is the second part of my post on Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Routine. For the first part, click here.

I put the Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Routine to test on Z. I wanted to know if this still works for preschoolers or if we could get some benefit out of this routine. Here is my story.

Step 1. Give him a warm bath or punas using JOHNSON´S® Baby Bedtime Bath.

I never give Z a bath at night even when he was a baby. He rarely sweats a lot so I was contented on giving him a once-a-day bath. I never even give him a punas at night. I’m one of those moms who thinks a little dirt here and there could actually be good for him. If something falls on the floor I say, “Of course dear, you can still eat it.”

Now that he is five, however, everything changed. He became three times more active! Just before the sun goes down you can find him outside playing with our neighbors. I let him play all he wants because he’s an only child and the interaction with other kids would be good for him. The downside is when he comes home he is so sweaty, his hands and feet are black, and even his knees are black from all the playing. He is so dirty that even I can’t take it anymore.

Z was not so keen on the idea of him taking a bath at night. He quickly retorted, “Naligo na ako, di ba?” (I already took a bath, right?” but I was prepared for a battle. Knowing how he loves taking a bath with warm water I quickly prepared a warm bath for him. That and I think his not-so-good feeling with the dirt and grime from too much playing outdoors made him relented. I told him we’re not going to use his usual soap anymore but the Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Bath . I know it’s designed for babies but there’s never a grime too tough to remove with gentle scrubbing. So with that Z came out of the bathroom feeling refreshed and squeaky clean. He must have loved it so much he never objected for a bath at night ever since.

Step 2. Give him a soothing massage using JOHNSON´S® Baby Bedtime Lotion.

I know that massages are for babies. It’s also for my husband who comes home tired after a night of hard work. I wasn’t sure how it would benefit my five year old. Would he even keep still while I massage him – I didn’t know.
Not to give up that easily, I put step 2 into action. As soon as I dressed him up after taking a bath I told him I would massage him with his own lotion. He was interested and obliged. I massaged his chest, his back, his arms, and legs. He was attentive the whole time. I found that this was the perfect time to talk to him.  So while I was giving him a soothing massage I also asked him questions about anything. If normally it’s hard for him to focus when I was asking him about certain things because he wants to play, play, and play during this time we can definitely engage in a meaningful conversation. Now I know that massages are perfect for my five year old. It’s definitely a perfect mother and son bonding moment.

Step 3. Time for some Quiet Time

After massaging him with lotion, we start our third step but before that I put Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Powder on him. Reading books was what we did for step three. I already shared to you Z’s favorite book, Goodnight Moon. That’s not the only book we read at night. Z likes this part of the bedtime routine so much that we read three books. It’s great that he likes it so much but I have to be honest here. No matter how I love him so reading the same books every night makes me bored. At one point I was afraid I was going to fall asleep first before he did so sometimes when I’m particularly tired I say to him, “Maybe we can just read one book tonight, Z.” Or sometimes I just breeze through the book so that we can finish faster.

Something happened though that is worth sharing. It was Monday and we were only at Day 3 of doing our bedtime routine. I had just finished reading the book, Go Dog Go, and since it was already the third one I breezed right through it and finished reading it out to him in half the time.

I was hoping he wouldn’t notice how I “cheated” him on the third book.  After I finished reading , I closed the book shut  and looked at him. I was hoping he wouldn’t let me repeat it.  He was silent for a second or two and then  he took the book from me. He opened it and the next thing he did really SURPRISED me that it took  me a minute before I was able to grab the camera.

That’s my son “reading” the book from memory.  I was so stunned that’s why I couldn’t get the camera fast enough. Hearing him read that book brought tears to my eyes. You might be wondering why I was emotional.  It’s because if there’s one thing you still don’t know about Z it’s the fact he doesn’t want me to teach him to speak English. I already tried lots of times but every time I start he would make me stop. So this is the first time I’ve heard him trying to speak in English and also trying to read a book on his own. It made me realize that even though I didn’t put much thought on our reading time he was very much into and he was really listening attentively. That is the benefit the bedtime routine gave us. Aside from a perfect bonding time for the two of us I realized it was also the perfect opportunity to teach him something. I was able to teach him to read and speak English in the most natural way with both of us not even realizing it. That’s why I am now a certified believer of the Johnson’s bedtime routine. You might think I’m just trying to promote their products but those certainly set the mood for our routine. Z had no problem voicing his opinion on how he loves using all three. I also love how good he smells because of it – sweet-smelling like a baby. That plus the simple bedtime routine made our nights much more productive and meaningful. It didn’t help Z sleep better because he was already sleeping right but the gems we discovered from our experience made me conclude that the bedtime routine is not only for babies and toddlers but is perfect even for older children.

Guide to Facebook’s New Home Page

If you’re like me who’s at Facebook everytime you might have already noticed the new Facebook Home Page. This change is in celebration of Facebook’s 6th year anniversary (wow, didn’t know FB is already 6 y/o!). I scanned the new homepage and I like two parts – new messages and requests notification at the upper left part just beside the Facebook logo. They made the right change, in the old homepage it’s kind of awkward looking at the right screen for new requests and the inbox is so inconspicuous it’s really not the first thing I notice when I log it.  Also I love the Friends Online part at the lower left so I don’t have to click Chat in order to see who’s online. Take a look, here’s a guide to the new Facebook Home Page that I got from Facebook.

Guide to Facebook's New Home Page

Scale Surprise

I stepped on the weighing scale the other day and my eyes almost popped out.  I gained another 2 lbs these past few weeks. I can’t understand why I am gaining weight now when I lost weight during the Christmas season.  Well, numbers don’t lie so I guess I have to start looking for weight loss products again.
I can’t believe how hard it is to lose weight now. It’s been five years since I gave birth to Z but I haven’t gotten back to my pre-pregnancy weight until now. How I wish I can go back to the days when I was stick thin and I could eat without gaining weight. If I only knew then what I know now then I wouldn’t have been such a picky eater when I was younger.

Valentine Dreaming

Valentines is almost here. Hubby and I are racking each other’s brain for the perfect place to go on Valentine’s Day.  I wanted to watch a concert. He was not too keen on the idea but I kept on asking him which one he likes to see. When he heard that the concert of The Killers was cancelled he said that’s what he wants to see! Hmp, so fine if he really doesn’t like then we will not go to a concert.

He then suggested we go to Noah’s Park in Montalban. I checked it online but I don’t feel like going there on Valentine’s Day. It’s not romantic enough for me.

Anyway, I was blog hopping and then I found this:

Valentines Cruise

They can accommodate up to 10 couples (20 pax). Price per couple is Php 4,000 (Php 2,000 per head), inclusive of buffet dinner and drinks.  Available dates are February 12, 13, and 14.

FEBRUARY 12 (Friday)
EVENING CRUISE
Assembly Time: 7:30 PM, Manila Yacht Club
Departure: 8:00 PM
Arrival: 11:00 PM, Manila Yacht Club

FEBRUARY 13 (Saturday)
SUNSET CRUISE
Assembly Time: 4:00 PM, Manila Yacht Club
Departure: 4:30 PM
Arrival: 7:30 PM, Manila Yacht Club

EVENING CRUISE
Assembly Time: 7:30 PM, Manila Yacht Club
Departure: 8:00 PM
Arrival: 11:00 PM, Manila Yacht Club

FEBRUARY 14 (Sunday)
SUNSET CRUISE
Assembly Time: 4:00 PM, Manila Yacht Club
Departure: 4:30 PM
Arrival: 7:30 PM, Manila Yacht Club

EVENING CRUISE
Assembly Time: 7:30 PM, Manila Yacht Club
Departure: 8:00 PM
Arrival: 11:00 PM, Manila Yacht Club

For inquiries and bookings, Call or SMS Raymond at 0917 5808800. Reserve your slots now!
*Reservations will be accepted starting February 1, 2010.
**Reservations will be held up to 2 days only. 50% downpayment is required to confirm your slot.
***Pictures from our past cruises available upon request.

And my heart skipped a bit. Now, I want that! It’s definitely romantic enough for me but I can only drool for now. sigh

Z’s Brother

No, I don’t need to take prenatal vitamins. I’m not pregnant and sometimes I wish I am but other times I’m hoping I wouldn’t be for now. So in short, I’m confused but it’s better not to dwell on those things. It’s up to God if he wants Z to have a sibling or not.

Anyway, Z already has a brother.

Meet Chewee, our curly-haired Shih-Tzu. Most Shih-tzus have straight hair so we have a joke in the family. Z got his hair from mom while Chewee got his hair from dad! Shhh, don’t tell daddy. He’s still in denial over this one.

Domain Shopping Not Spree

I’ve been thinking of buying new domains. The only thing that’s keeping me from going on a domain shopping spree is I can’t think of any catchy domain name or even a sensible one like www.besteyecreams.org that I can use.

I don’t know if you have tried buying a domain lately but, believe it or not, all the good names have been bought already. Even the funny names have all been bought.

It’s so hard that you practically have to invent a new word just to be able to get one. Or I can just settle for a really long one that nobody wants like makemoneyonlinewhilestayingathome.

Hmm, what do you think? Should I buy that one? It has all the money making keywords after all. LOL!

We Love the Same Pizza

Hubby and I don’t usually agree on food. Like with pizza, he likes the thick crust while I prefer the thin crust. He likes the meaty flavor while I would rather go with the veggie flavored.

Lately though, we have been agreeing on the same pizza. We love it so much that we have ordered it twice already. It’s the Angus Steakhouse Pizza by Shakeys. How we both love the ample servings of the most tender and delicious beef we have ever tasted. Here’s the photo of the pizza. Don’t stare at it too long as you’ll be craving for it in no time.

As delicious as that pizza is I’m seeing now that we shouldn’t make eating pizza a hobby unless we want to spend the next months trying to find the best acne treatments. Just look how oily that pizza is! I wonder why it wasn’t so obvious when I was eating it.

My Growing Boy

I can’t believe Z is already 5 years old! It seems not too long ago when he was still in my belly. He is so tall now but I remember he has always been tall. When he came out he was 9.6 lbs! I tell you, he was so big he definitely didn’t look like a newborn baby. At the rate he’s growing up now I’m sure he wouldn’t be needing human growth hormones.

What he needs are clothes. Definitely more clothes. Even his five year old mind noticed how short his shirts have been getting. He complains to me that he needs more clothes. I tell him we would buy soon but I always forget. Just this afternoon I changed his shirt before he went out to play outside. I changed his shirt so he would look presentable. As I waved goodbye to him from our terrace I was shocked to see that the shirt I put on him is also too little! I thought it was one of his good shirts but I was wrong.

So this weekend my growing boy and I are going to go shopping. I would ask him to choose his own clothes this time. I want him to feel he can already make choices on his own. I just hope he won’t pick something too horrendous so I don’t have to intervene.

My One True Love

My one true love…

• is God-fearing
• is smart
• is talented
• is diplomatic
• is a homebody
• never watches TV
• can’t sleep without me by his side
• looks for me the moment he opens his eyes
• can stay in front of the computer for hours even if it means looking for colonix reviews
• cannot say no to me
• is so easy to please
• doesn’t smoke and drink
• tells me I’m the most beautiful and he says it in a way that makes me actually believe him (meaning he’s a good actor)
• is a responsible husband and father
• promised me seven years ago that nobody will love me more than he did and lived up to his promise
• is like the older brother I’ve always longed for
• is like the father I never had when I was little
• is like the husband I’ve always dreamed of
• is like the lover I never knew I wanted. LOL!

Late Night TV

I can’t keep my eyes off the TV. If before I was asleep by 8pm now I’m awake up to 12 midnight. I can’t help but watch the new programs of ABS-CBN. I don’t care about the programs during the day but at night it’s different. The new TV shows are so good that I can’t miss any episode.
If I keep on doing this pretty soon I would be needing an acne cleanser. My husband would be very disappointed if that happens. He likes that I’m acne free and his face is that way too. Maybe I should just watch the shows online so I don’t have to sleep too late. We’ll see if I would be able to keep myself from watching it.

Magic Trick

This is one of the many happy scenes during Z’s birthday party. Kuya Mau just performed a magic trick on him by pulling out a banana out of his ear. Just look how surprised he was! I’m so glad I was fast enough to catch it on camera.

For more Wordless Wednesday Participants click here, here, here, and here.

Picture Overload

I’m glad Z was born during the digital age. We have so many cherished pictures of him starting from the day he was born. We have chronicled his first everything through pictures. It’s simply a joy looking through the pictures and reminiscing every moment we have captured.

Five years and a thousand pictures later I’m no longer amused by the mounting number of pictures that we have to store. Its number just keeps on growing every month and with every occasion that we celebrate. I am so overwhelmed by this and sometimes I worry they might somehow get lost and I wouldn’t have anything to remember him by when he gets older or when he gets married and leaves his mom and dad behind.

That is why I’m scouting for a reliable online backup that would take care of my worries. I can’t rely on the hard disk because it crashes or burning it on CDs because CDs gets broken in time. What I need is a permanent online solution with unlimited storage and of course the most important of all – it must be cost-effective since I would be using this service for years or even decades.

How about you? Care to share where you store your photos?

The Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Routine

What is a good bedtime routine for your baby? I’m sure this question has been asked by any mother at one point or another. Last weekend, I was invited to the Johnson’s Bedtime Discoveries informative talk regarding the benefits of having a bedtime routine for your baby. They also taught us an easy to remember three-step routine that would make bedtime less stressful.

With Ms. Christine Bersola-Babao, our lively host at the event

The Johnson Baby Bedtime Routine they shared is nothing extraordinary. It’s actually as SIMPLE as one, two, three. This is the beauty of the routine. It’s perfect for moms who have a lot on their minds already.  With all the multi-tasking that we do from managing our household efficiently and make sure the baby and daddy are happy – not to mention work-related stuff that we must do – the last thing we need is a COMPLICATED routine!

So what is the Bedtime Routine I am talking about. No need to bring out your pen and paper. Once you read this you’ll never forget it. Yes, it’s that simple! Here it is:

Step 1 – A Warm Bath or Punas

Step 2 – A Soothing Massage

Step 3 – Some Quiet Time

Now what makes this routine more effective is they have made some Johnson & Johnson products that complements this bedtime routine.  That’s why it’s called the JOHNSON’S Baby Bedtime Routine.

With the  JOHNSON’s Baby Bedtime routine you can say goodbye to sleepless nights because it has been clinically provent to:

• Put baby to sleep faster by 37% less time
• Reduce night-time awakening by 37%
• Stretch baby’s sleep time by 23%

My baby is not really a baby anymore. He is already five years old and he doesn’t have any problems sleeping at night (nap time is a different story, though) despite not having a proper bedtime routine. I guess I was one lucky mother.

Still I wanted to put the Johnson’s Bedtime Routine to a test. I wanted to know if it would also benefit my five year old son. So I decided to follow the bedtime routine they recommended after all five is not still too late to establish one.

Stay tuned for the second part of my post. The post that I made has already reached 1115 words so I decided to cut it into two parts. Was it effective on my five year old? My lips are sealed. You have to come back to see for yourself. I have a clue though, it really surprised me in the end. Even now that I’m remembering it, it doesn’t fail to put TEARS IN MY EYES. I hope I got your attention on that one. So see you tomorrow!

Update: Here’s the second part – The Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Routine Put to Test on Z.

I’m Using ScribeFire

Scribe Fire Test

This is a test post using ScribeFire.

Attending the Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Discoveries

It was an unusual Saturday for me and I was giddy with excitement. I have read about the Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Discoveries Event from other blogs previously and I remember wishing I could go too. Now, thanks to Nuffnang I was one of the bloggers invited this exclusive event.

When I arrived at the Ascott Residences in Makati I didn’t know what to expect. My nerves were only calmed by the thought that I knew my friends, Fedhz and Pehpot will be attending too.

As it turned out, I didn’t have to worry about anything. The hosts were super friendly and made sure that we were comfortable right at the start. It was supposed to start at 9:30 but I didn’t care that it was a bit late because I was busy getting to know the bloggers at our table. The food they served while we were waiting also proved to be an effective distraction. I hardly noticed the time at all.

From the first talk held last year, I knew that it was Christine Bersola-Babao who hosted it so I was secretly hoping it  would be the same for the second one. I was not disappointed because she came in as bright as the sun in her yellow maternity dress still full of energy despite having to go under the knife for her C-section the next day. She instantly made us feel at home with her presence and her lively chatter.

I learned so many things that day at the Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Discoveries event. They taught us a  bedtime routine that would help babies sleep more faster and more peacefully. My son is already five but that didn’t stop me from putting what I learned into action. From the time Z was a baby he didn’t have any trouble sleeping but he lacked is a bedtime routine. It’s my fault I didn’t establish one and I’m just so lucky he hasn’t had any sleeping problems as a result.  I am making up for my mistake now and I’m happy to report that we’re already at Day 3 of our bedtime routine which I will post about in detail on my next post.

Looking for the Cheapest Wii Fit plus Balance Board

I’m on the quest to find cheapest wii fit plus balance board. I have heard so many good reviews about this and I’m sure it would benefit me and my husband at home. Married life has been good but both of have some excess fat in the middle region that we can definitely live without! XD With us working hard for our little son we don’t have the luxury to go to the gym and exercise. We bought an exercise machine but we’re not motivated to use it.

The wii fit has changed all that. Now, you can exercise at home without being bored while doing it. The cheap wii game prices that I’ve been finding online made me motivated to buy it more. Aside from us getting the exercise that we badly need, our little one can also enjoy playing the fun wii games while getting a little exercise too.  Not that he needs it. He’s already active as it is but it’s certainly better than being in a stationary position while playing his PSP. If only I knew Wii would come out then we wouldn’t have bought the PSP.  Wii fit plus & wii
is so much better and it’s getting even more better as I continue to find good deals online.

Happy Birthday, Pehpot!

To the most OC mom, veteran multi-tasker, young mom of four, seductive wife to her husband, uber generous to her sisters and nephews, friend to many, cook for all occasions, my next village neighbor, my blogging friend and partner sa lakwatsa.

Happy Birthday, Pehpot!

I know your wish is what every blogging mama wants -  to have more hours and in day so you can do all the things you love. Unfortunately for us, that will take a miracle to happen so I’m wishing you the next best thing, an eternally happy and sexy love life for you and Cata. LOL!

Enjoy your special day. Just relax and pamper yourself, go to a salon, get a massage, and last but most important of all don’t cook for your own birthday, okay? hahaha

Villar is going to be the Next President

That’s  my fearless forecast. No, I’m not a die-hard fan but I have a feeling he will definitely win. His ads are everywhere – TV, radio, newspaper, and even Facebook. His jingle is so famous now that even people who don’t like him knows it by heart.

I can really see his determination to win that I don’t see from the other candidates. I can now understand how he made himself  the person he is today – by sheer guts and determination. This is a man who when he puts something in his mind he gives it his all whether going around the country giving out promotional pens or going live on TV giving house and lot to the people.  I know it’s just for promotion but you got to give the man something for his efforts. He’s just literally all over the place!

Goodnight Moon

That’s our favorite bedtime story. I had heard rave reviews about it so when I saw it being sold in a book sale I grabbed it right away. I was disappointed though when I first read it. I thought the story was too boring. Z was not interested either so we put it away for awhile.

Then last night we started reading it again and the two of us had a blast. I finally understood why they said it’s a must have for kids. In the book, the rabbit was about to go to sleep. Before he goes to sleep he observes the things in his room like the kittens, the mittens, the little mouse, the painting of the cow jumping over the moon, and of course the moon. After that he said goodnight to everything inside his room.

Z can’t help giggling when I pointed out that the young rabbit was talking to inanimate objects as if they’re real. He had such a twinkle in his eye while looking around our room that I know he was silently saying goodnight to his things too.

Wishing for a Home Office

I’ve been working non-stop for this week. Me working while a timer is running means I spend less hours in front of the laptop but that doesn’t mean I’m less tired. In fact, my body ached all over! Although I love my work it still gives me some pain – body pain.

Maybe it’s also caused by my poor posture while I’m working. Working at home means I don’t have office furniture which I badly needed. I always forget that I have to buy something for myself to make myself comfortable when I’m working. A spacious office desk and a soft and comfy executive chair is now in my wish list.  Having my very own office space is not too bad either.

Speaking of which, I finally was able to take a peak at the new apartment they’re renting out next door. It’s such a beauty that I wanted to move right on the spot. Too bad it’s beyond our budget! Aside from the garage which we really need, it also boasts of two bathrooms, a dirty kitchen, and a small space upstairs flanked by the two bedrooms that can serve as my home office. The first time I saw it an image of me working in my very own office space flashed  before my eyes. The vision was so vivid that I had to snap myself out of it. LOL!

Well, the apartment is a beauty but I guess we can do away with that one. We really like living here and thoughts of Ondoy/Ketsana still haunts me. It’s either we stay on the third floor where we can be safe from any future flood or we move away to a flood free zone. That’s our only choice for now.

Work and my Two Timers

I’m super swamped with work. I’m happy about it too and I’m trying to achieve a balance between working and being a wife and a parent by using an online timer.  The timer keeps me on my toes and reminds me that I have things to finish so far the past few days my productivity is off the roof.

In fact, I like having a timer so much that I have installed not one but two timers in my browser – the Time Tracker and the Simple Timer. I didn’t know how it worked at first but I’m so glad I got them both because they have their own purpose.  You see, the Time Tracker is like an an automatic timer that tracks the amount of time I’ve been browsing. Time Tracker starts whenever I open a browser and pauses when I’m not browsing or if the browser is minimized whenever say when I’m doing my transcription and I have the Microsoft Word instead on my screen. With the help of the Time Tracker I know that  as of 2 pm today I’ve been on the internet (read – doing unnecessary things) for a total of 1 hour and 55 minutes. That’s so much improvement already compared to my previous record of like 8 hours! LOL!

As for my second timer – the Simple Timer – I use it when I’m transcribing. I can now track how long it takes me to finish a particular length of audio. Just its presence makes me aware that I have to get my ass moving and finish my work. I’m so happy because the faster I work the more time I have with Z and S.

Anyway, more of the Time Tracker and Simple Timer in my next entry. I would like to tell you more about these two simple time management tools that I have discovered. I hope it can also help you manage your time.

Robbers!

Someone robbed our landlord! He had some metals piled up in the backyard of the apartment and it mysteriously disappeared last week. I’m sure it cost him a lot of money so he’s taking extra precaution. He provided us with a lock for our gate which is the common gate for us and our neighbor. It’s a bit of inconvenience on our part but it makes perfect sense to comply. In fact, I wanted to tell him to install home security systems too so we can really feel safe. It would really be a good investment that can save us from future loss or harm.