THE DRESS

"Always the Bridesmaid but never the Bride"

Those were the famous line I always utter every time I was asked to be apart of a family or friends wedding. Would you believe that I was a Bridesmaid 9 times before finally becoming a Bride myself? Yup, Its true and I had a collection of Bridesmaid dresses in my closer back home. June is a month for all brides so what better way to find the best collection of bridesmaid dresses to complete a whole wedding entourage. June is the month for wedding and I'm absolutely sure that brides are frantic about finding "THE DRESS". Well, worry no more girls, Best Bridal Prices will come to your rescue like a knight in shinning armor. Check out the affordable collection of Bridal and Bridesmaid dresses, you're sure to find that once in a lifetime dress.

POST MEMORIAL DAY BBQ

Kaitlyn finally got over her fever on Friday morning. Still I was worried that I may come back again so I was thinking of not going with MIL to Angelo's Post Memorial Barbecue. Thank God her fever didn't come back and she was slowly getting back to her old rambunctious self. It was just family and we had so much fun. I didn't get in the pool though since it was windy and cold. Kaitlyn dipped her feet in with her cousin Lauren holding on to her. The second photo was of Kaitlyn trying to pull out Lauren's eyebrow ring piercing,lol. Even though Ralph was not able to come with us due to work we still had fun and the food was just superb!!

BRANSON HAS GOT IT ALL COVERED

It can't be stopped, Summer is just outside our doors. The weather has been very nice expect for a few rain showers here and there. Families are hustling and bustling around preparing for the much awaited Summer Vacation and Getaways. As for us we will be spending most of our summer in our backyard specially in the swimming pool. We do have plans to take the kids somewhere for a day or two of fun rides and activities. If only our youngest was a little bit older we would not think twice about checking out Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. It looked like such and inviting place for a family with kids to stay at. Located at the heart of the Entertainment and District, I would think that we would not have a big problem finding activities to do, be it for the kids or just for mom and dad. Days would be spent letting the kids enjoy the National Kid's Day Fest at Silver Dollar City while dad take on a few holes from a championship gold course a few distance from Branson. Since I know my family we would probably be spending a lot of our time beside the Hotel's pool and let our little tadpoles swim in the cool sparkling water. And for those who mix business and pleasure Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is the right place for a business conference, rest and recreation of your choice. Be it a Vacation for your Family or a Business Trip, The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel can provide and meet all of your expectations.

FIRST DIP IN THE POOL

This photo was taken a couple of days before the princess bruiser got sick. Our pool has been open now for more than a week. I however, did not go in the pool when I took this one since it was still way to cold for me. Ralph and the kids braved the cold water to cool off from the scorching heat of the sun. Kayla is in her life vest/ bathing suit since it allows her to swim around the pool without sinking. She is still learning to swim in the pool and it allows her to have freedom to swim which ever way she wants to go. As for the lil' bruiser, she does not like staying in her floater for very long. She prefers the comfort of somebody holding on to her. Thank God we have a pool or else we would have been driving back and forth to my BIL house every weekend.

SAVING WHILE ON FORMULA

For me nothing was more precious and memorable than the days, weeks and months that lead to the birth of my first born baby girl, my princess bruiser. From the moment I found out I was pregnant with her I knew right away I was going to breastfeed her by hook or by crook. My mother was not able to breastfeed me due to my allergies so at a very early age I was already on formula. It was not just any formula It had to be a certain formula that is exactly for my needs. I grew up on formula and not on my mother's milk. Breastfeeding was a conscious effort on my part. I knew the benefits it can give to my daughter and to me. My daughter can get the best nutrients and vitamins from my milk while I also get the chance to really bond with my daughter and share something really really special with her. Breastfeeding was not that hard on my part but unfortunately my milk dried up after 6 months. The only consolation I feel is that I still got to breastfeed her. From 6 months on she was already eating by then and also on the formula about 4 times a day. Mind you putting her on the formula was expensive but like Ralph would say It is an expense that he would not mind. Kaitlyn is been on Enfamil and she is striving. I always wonder though how much we could save if we put her on Parent's Choice Infant Formula. Now, I can find out for myself how much I could be saving If I had Kaitlyn on store brand formula rather than the name brand ones. One big can of formula is $25 a pop in our place and if we should transfer her to the store brand we could be saving over $300. That is a big savings right there. Want to know how much you could also be saving if you switch from your brand name formula to store brand formula? Easy, just check out Parent's Choice Saving Calculator and find out how much money you could be putting back in your pocket.

BIG THANK YOU MAY DROPPERS

It is once again time to give thanks for my faithful droppers for the month of May. This past week has been very stressful for me when my youngest daughter got sick. Its not easy when the child that is sick cant tell you what is wrong with them. I barely had sleep, was not able to do any household chores and not a lot of posts. There was even a day that I was not able to return any drops when we got stuck in the Emergency Room. A very big THANK YOU to all my top droppers and to just any one who drops and reads what I have to say.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

Its been two years that we have lived in this house. Two years and yet we still need to fully furnish our entire house. We don't even have little knick-knacks decorations since I have a little toddler in the house. Decorative candles are not even safe, it ends up all chewed up and all over the house. We made a conscious effort not to buy new furniture for the living room since we converted it to a playroom for now. In another year or two I hope to have a living room, a family room and a nice dinning room. Finding the right furniture, hardware and accessories to make a house a home is not that easy. One easy way of looking for furniture to beautify your home is by going to some website like hardware Toronto. Where you can have your pick of the many styles and selections from Exteriors Lights, Hooks and Brackets, Heating Registers and Electrical Plates, Safes and many more. For now, I'm more inclined into looking to get a safe. Husband is a Police Officer and he comes home with his gun. I would feel much better and safer to know that when he brings it home the kids wont have access to it. With kids around you will never know what they will get themselves into so its better to be safe than sorry.

EMERGENCY ROOM TRIP

For the past two days the lil' bruiser has been having a high fever of over 102. Yesterday, we decided to take her to the Emergency Room at A.I DuPont Hospital. She was shivering so bad and I did not want to wait until her fever spikes up so high that her mouth would turn blue again. I could not take that risk so at past 8 pm we were at the Emergency Room. It was just MIL, the baby and I since Ralph had to take care of Kayla. They checked her ears for possible ear infection but found none. So they had to check her urine to rule out UTI ( urinary track infection) and the best way to do that was to catheterize her. It was traumatizing to all of us when they did that. She was screaming her head off and just wanted to get up. Thankfully it only took about a minute then they were done. All her results came back negative which is good but still puzzling at the same time. We got home around 2 am this morning.

I just want to Thank God for watching over her and keeping her safe. Most parents should know how I feel. I would rather be the one that is sick than my kids. Its so heartbreaking to see them suffer specially when they cant tell you what is wrong with them. I also want to apologize to my visitors for not dropping on them. My daughter needed me and I had to be there for her. She is in my arms right now sleeping, very clingy, whinny but I would not have it any other way.

Saturday Ride

Today we are here at my BIL house Angelo. Were in his pool and were just having hot dogs, hamburgers, corn, macaroni and pie. The two Princesses were in the pool as soon as we got here. It was a little cold but you know how kids are they don't mind. I can't go in the pool since its that time of the month so I'm kind of glad that nobody is bugging me to get in the cold pool, lol. I'm doing my post since the princess bruiser is upstairs taking her nap. I forgot to bring her swimmers diaper so she just had on her regular diaper when she got into the pool. It was hilarious when she got out since it blew up so much and it was so heavy she looked like a little bumble bee with her diaper butt sticking out. Time for me to go for now, were eating..

ASBESTOS RISKS

While I was still pregnant with Kaitlyn I watched T.V a whole lot. Most of the shows I would watch was about babies, women in labor, discovery channel and game shows. I was so into watching television that I had memorized a lot of the commercials shown. One commercial I remember was about Mesothelioma Lawyer and how they can help victims to asbestos get compensation. I had no Idea then what asbestos was about and how it could affect one's health so I asked Ralph about it and he told me that it a material used to build buildings, electrical insulation and many more. He further explained to me that a lot of people working in construction, demolition, shipbuilding industry and many more have gotten sick due to the exposure of this chemical. Their are 3 major health effect due to the exposure of asbestos:

• Asbestosis - a serious, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs.
• Lung cancer - causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos.
• Mesothelioma - is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining of the lung, chest, abdomen and heart.

That is why it is important if you have a relative or know somebody that has been exposed to asbestos and is sick, a Mesothelioma Lawyer can help get them the compensation they deserve.

NOSE SENSE

I'm sitting here typing then I think, when am I going to breath naturally again? Ever since the start of Spring bloom my allergies have been plaguing me so much. I sneeze about a thousand times a day, my nose drips like a faucet, my eyes just wont stop itching and my nose is as raw and red as Rudolf. I carry with me a bunch of tissue everywhere I go, I'm so tired of feeling like this. When is this going to end? In the morning when I get up my throat is as dry as a dessert from sleeping with my mouth wide open. I had forgotten how to breathe through my nose and when the stuffiness would ease a bit it takes to much effort to breathe through my nose. I have been taking over the counter allergy medication and it helped at first but not anymore. I guess a visit to the doctors is eminent. When will a be able to breathe again?

RELAXING VACATION FOR FREE

Its been very hectic and stressful the past couple of days for both Ralph and I. Saturday I decided to take charge on loosing weight and used the Wii Fit again. While doing that the t.v kept turning off and I just brushed it off hoping it was a power surge or something. Sunday the television finally showed its last show, chocked and died on us. It was stressful on me, since Kaitlyn didn't have her usually shows to see she just kept following me and just rounding up a storm in our already cluttered house. I felt bad for Ralph since he knows we have to dip in our savings to buy a new television for the family room. Monday was busy with a lot of running around to do. We went to different stores to look and compare prices on television and finally settled on a 50" Sony Plasma Television and a new stand for it. As of Monday it is official, we are broke!!! With all that running around done and that lifting and organizing again, both of us need a well deserved vacation.

A vacation that we don't have to shell out any money since we don't have none so to speak. So I'm seriously considering about Kissimmee and the Freedom to Enjoy Sweepstakes. With our financial situation, that is the only way we can have that relaxing vacation we so richly deserve. The kids can always have fun in any of the world famous theme parks and water parks they have. This time I'm thinking more on something Ralph and I would enjoy. Ralph loves to play golf on the Wii so why not let him have a day of private golf lesson from a pro, and I will enjoy a day of pampering. That is what I call a body and soul relaxing vacation. For all you guys reading this and want a free vacation, join in the Freedom to Enjoy Sweepstakes. Prices at stake:

• 3 weekend getaways (3d/2n) for 2
• 2 week long vacations for 4

Drawings are as follows: 4/1/09, 5/1/09, 6/1/09. I don't know about you guys but I'm joining in this once in a lifetime free vacation to Kissimmee.

KAYLA IN HER CLASSROOM

Photos were taken after Kayla's awarding ceremony last Friday. Kaitlyn wanted to be with her sister so bad that she kept following her and even went as far as going inside Kayla's art room class. The teacher didnt even see that she had an extra student on her hand, lol. We signed her out of her art class and we went to her room to get her book bag. Second photo was Kayla showing her baby sister where they sit down for story time and circle time. She showed her baby sister everything in the classroom and was so proud to introduce her baby sister to her teacher Ms. Fisher. She is such a good girl and little or big achievements we are proud of you manang..

SUMMER FUN FOR ALL

It's finally getting warm enough that I can wear short sleeved shirts and even short. Starting this Monday the weather is suppose to be above 70 degrees and maybe just maybe it will warm the pool enough for us to use. Still summer is looming and we still haven't solidified our plans were to have a vacation. I'm worried about Kaitlyn, we took her to a carnival here in the city but she didn't get to have as much fun since she is very young. If she was old enough Kissimmee would definitely be in our plans. Kayla is old enough to be able to enjoy most of the rides and even the water rides. If we ever decide to go to Kissimmee, the fun and activities is not only limited to water parks and theme parks. The have outdoor activities where both the girls could see wildlife creatures, zipping down the zip line and even a ride on an air boat. They even have a mini golf game for the whole family. I would should love to try that out and see if I could beat daddy at it. As for Mom and Dad not to worry, there is a luxury and after dark activities fit for adults. How fun it would be to have that vacation for the whole family. For other families whose planning a vacation, this whole vacation could be won by your family! Kissimmee is giving away a 3 weekend getaways (3d/2n)for 2 and 2 week long vacations for a family of 4. Drawing was held 4/1/09, 5/1/09 and another one on 6/1/09 is still up for grabs. Hurry check out Kissimmee and join the sweeps take to win that much coveted vacation.

KAYLA WITH HER AWARD

May 15, 2009 Friday we went to Kayla's school to show how proud we are of her. She was among the selected student to win a Wilbur Award for being such a good student. It's the school's way of encouraging the kids and rewarding the good traits and attitude towards teachers and fellow students. She looked so beautiful marching in the multi-purpose room. Kaitlyn was of course all over her sister and while they were seated on the floor she sat in Kayla's lap the whole time. Kayla's mom Dawnita was also there. It makes me happy to see that event like these she will know that she is very much loved. Kayla, we love you and Daddy, Menie(me), Grandma and Kaitlyn are so proud of you!