WILL THINGS CHANGE

America, land of the milk and honey, land of opportunity. For the past years people around the world have been struggling. Many have lost homes, cars, lands and jobs. With recession still being felt by every company, jobs are hard to come by. I know a lot of people that have lost jobs or have a hard time landing one. Its not just enough that you have experience in the job your applying for, companies now are looking for people with degrees. With technology and the world wide web on our side getting a degree is as easy as going online. My BIL Angelo wants to start a small business and he is looking at online business degrees that will one day help him with his business if it ever pushes through. I am rooting for him. I just hope that the economy will at least start to change for the better. Everybody is hurting and all we have to do is work with what we have and make the best. And it doesn't hurt to get an a degree like education,online business degrees, online IT degree, the important thing is that education will give an advantage. I believe that with good education and excellent work ethics one can easily find a good paying job.

STONEY SMILE

Meet Mr. Stone Smile Frost, our Snowman. I have been very lazy about updating my blog. I have just been preoccupied with trying to finish the latest television series I have been hooked on. Ralph and the kids made this snow man a few days after the latest winter storm that passed. I took a picture of the snowman before Ralph even finished it. Well I though it was already finished so I went inside where it was warm. Lo and behold, he took one of my hat, scarf and completed Mr. Stone Smile Frost. I totally forgot to take a picture. The kids were ecstatic about the snowman and were the ones who helped daddy dig up stones for the snowman's smile and buttons. This was the very first full size snowman Ralph has ever made since we have been living here..It was also the only snowman in our street, lol. With the rain, sleet and sunshine Mr. Frost didn't last long but the chance for the girls to bond with daddy will last for a lifetime. My kids are so lucky to have such a devoted and loving father. Maybe on the next snow storm we will have a make a girlfriend for Mr. Frost so he won't be lonely outside guarding out house.

9 TIMES IS THE CHARM

Have you heard of the saying "Always the bridesmaid but never the bride?". I almost believed that for the reason that I was a bridesmaid for the longest time. I was a bridesmaid 9 times and 3 out of those times I caught the brides bouquet. After my 9th time as a bridesmaid it became a family joke that I can start my own bridesmaid boutique due to all the dresses I have in my closet. I was fortunate enough to have family and friends who wanted me to be a part of the bridal entourage. Like the movie "27 Dresses" I had about 5 bridesmaid dresses in my closet and I loved wearing all of them. I may not have looked as breathtaking as the bride but my dresses were made to fit me. So I guess 9th time is the charm, I am not married for 4 years this coming Valentines to the love of my life. Since I was a bridesmaid so many time it makes me wonder if my kids are going to take after me, lol. It will be great in a way so my kids don't get married early or I won't see my girls walking down the aisle. We will have to leave it to destiny to unfold itself.

CAPS OFF

Staying in touch with family no matter what part of the world they live is soothing to me. I was just chatting with my favorite cousin on my Iphone. I had to ask her if she was going home to Cebu to attend her sisters graduation. I can't believe that the little girl I used to baby sit and play with is graduating from high school and will soon be starting a new phase in her life. I actually have two young ladies to applaud, one is my cousin Margaret and the other one is Ralph's niece Kristen who are both graduating from high school this year. I want to do something special for both of them. Pear Tree Greetings has the perfect graduation cards that tells a story or show a picture of how they have changed over the years.
My favorite among the graduation cards I got from Pear Tree Greetings is the one in front. The great thing about their greeting cards is the way you can personalize the card and put pictures of them starting from an early school age until the present and where they finally graduate high school. Since I don't have access to any of my cousins pictures I know her sister does. Being able to do all of this online is a cinch, her older sister can do it with her. I know Margaret will love the idea and she can choose all the picture she wants on it. She can even put her favorite quote and anything special on her invitation. This is one of the ways that she can share the good news of her graduation and make it personal. I wish I would be there this coming March to witness her accepting her diploma and starting another stage in her young life.

IT'S IN THE BONES

Its good to write again. To be in front of a computer and not just to satisfy my latest addiction. I am totally addicted to watching a series of shows. I have just finished watching Bones. From season 1 to the latest season now. I already knew about the show even back in the Philippines. My sister was really the one who started watching it first. I clearly remember which episode that was, It was when they got quarantined inside the lab just before Christmas. I so love the show. The characters are all so interesting and thrilling. The show in itself is full of humor, thrills and a lot in between. Have you seen that show? I got hooked and I stayed glued to my laptop whenever I could to finish watching my show. I am so totally addicted to watching series shows and that is my latest vice. That's the reason why I have been absent for a little while. My vice is, If I get hooked on something I don't stop until I am totally satisfied that I did good or that I finished it till the end.

AND SO IT BEGINS

I took this yesterday night at beginning of the winter storm we were going to get. This was around 10 p.m. when I let our dog Sunny out for the night. As soon as I saw the snow I knew that the kids would have no school the next day. I just stood by the door going to the backyard and just let the sight sink in. I love when it snows, it is seems so peaceful, clean and quiet. Until now I am amaze about the snow, the changing of the weather. When we woke up the kids immediately went to look out the window to check how much snow we got. A lot of screaming with oohhhs and ahhhhs and asking me when they could go out and play. Knowing me, they knew that they had to be extra behave so they can go out to play. Even though it was cold I ventured out and played with my kids.

SHOES TO FIT

Let's talk about collections. When I was still in college I started being fascinated with eraser. I started collecting them and I had one big plastic bag full of different kinds of eraser. I guess I didn't take after my mom who had a whole lot of shoes when she was younger. Like most women, my mom loved a good pair of shoes and would make any excuses just to buy one that she would be great to add to her wardrobe. I love shoes but I don't buy lots of them and when I do buy it has to be of good quality. Before we left for our trip last July I scoured a lot of stores to find a specific shoe that I wanted. Just recently I came across Josef Seibel brand of shoes and I found the shoes I wanted, I wanted something that looks like a clog. Why that kind style? It's easy to take off and its easy to slip on and something that looks good with jeans. I just found a perfect pair that is not only cute but its also affordable. I'm talking about the Sofft Shoes of Sofft Women's Laurel Mule Clog in Tan color.

They also have Dr. Martens Shoes, I saw that is perfect for my husband. He is always in uniform, he needs new shoes that he can wear for work as well as for going out. With our Anniversary fast approaching maybe I'll buy him a pair of nice shoes so he can throw away his old uniform shoes. And I will ask my Step dad to take a look at the site and see if he likes the Keen Newport sandals as a late birthday present.

NOTHING LIKE CLEAN

There is nothing better than relaxing on my newly vacuumed love seat. With a dog around and kids my baby gets covered with so many dog hair and just about anything. I love my couch and my love seat and I try to take good cake of them. Our new couch is a much better improvement from our old couch that got so tattered from cat scratching on it. It was a good timing that we got our new couch after my MIL cat Smokey passed away. He was the one who puts holes on our old couch. The one thing that I do not like about having a microfiber couch is the shock that you get every time you get up to open a door. I am literally scared of opening doors now coz I don't like getting shocked. My husband thinks its funny that I put my elbow on the door first before I would open it so that the shock will be on my elbow and not my hand. If I am watching T. V. I avoid opening the door by making my daughter open it for me,lol.. On April my baby couch is turning a year old. Let's hope that our red couch will last the onslaught of kids in the house.

WILL TURN 18

Things are going to be interesting this year for Ralph's niece Kristen. She will finally graduate high school and turn the big 18. I wonder what she wants to do when she turns 18, I hope she goes on the right path and stay away from trouble. Kristen has always been a good kid, like most teenagers she does get moody according to her dad. For a while now we have been convincing Kristen to come down in Delaware and go to school here. She can always stay at our house providing that she gets a job to support herself while she is in school. My husband and I love her lots so when she turned 16 we had a family party just for her. We have not done that to any of Ralph's nephews and nieces just Kristen. In July she will finally be of legal age and can do with most of the things she wants. Will Ralph brother Larry give her a big bash when she turns 18? Probably not, but one thing for sure he will scour the stores, online to get the best 18th birthday gifts for him or her. Or he could get her the car she has been asking for. I wish her all the luck and hope she stays good.

SEAFOOD CRAVING

Winter gives me a lot of excuses to eat. You can ask my family what I tell them whenever they see me eating a lot. I would always reply to them that I am hibernating and I need fats in my body to stay warm in this freezing weather. Its a pretty pathetic excuse but its an excuse nonetheless. For months now I have been craving, going crazy about eating a whole bunch of seafood. I miss eating seafood and I fee like the only time I can really get to eat seafood is in the spring and summertime. I drool at my friends pictures when I see them eating grabs, calamari, shrimps and fish. Growing up in a tropical country and surrounded with lots of water, I had my fill of seafood. Ralph also loves to eat seafood, whenever we go to our favorite Chinese buffet he would make a beeline for the seafood section. He love oysters, clams and lobster while I am more of into the crab and shrimp. Ralph knows that I really love crabs but he can't seem to find a good seafood market or even an online fish market. It doesn't matter to me where he got it as long as its fresh and good. With today's cutting edge technology and the Internet its already possible to by oysters online and not only get the best but the freshest.

Our 4th wedding anniversary is fast approaching and we have yet to decide on what to do that day. Go out to eat dinner or just have a big feast in the house. Having dinner in the house seems to be more promising if Ralph can buy seafood and get a lot. If he wants some action he better get me the biggest and meatiest crab and oysters for him.If you love seafood and can't seem to find a good seafood market near you, let your hands do the walking this time and check out all the links for the a great selection of seafood online.

NEW HIKES FOR FLYERS

Its been 6 months from my trip back home to the Philippines. Now that it has been months, it seems like it was so surreal. From the time I booked our flight online it was like going on a marathon. Packing, buying stuff to bring home, getting all the documents in order and just making sure we don't forget anything. It was good that Kaitlyn and I got to go back home before Airfare hikes go up again. And if I do get pregnant, we would probably have to win the lottery first before I can go back with my kids. Airlines are on the verge of hiking Airfare and fees. It was a topic that soon babies less than 2 yrs old will no longer fly free. Parents with more than 3 kids are really screwed if they fly. Here is report about what the new year may bring when it comes to air travel. We are diffinitely not flying anywhere anytime soon.

PUFF PUFF

Smoking has been a way of life for my husband's side of the family. Ralph started smoking quite late considering that brothers smoke at around 16. He didn't smoke at first and would even refuse to let any of his family smoke in his car. That all changed when he started dating this woman who smoked. From that time on he was hook line and sinker. He enjoys it smoking and its his only vice. Ever since the prices of cigarette have gone up he has tried different kinds of cigarette. I don't know if he has ever tried smoking a cigar but I want to see him try. Since our 4th wedding anniversary is coming up, I was thinking about getting him a few Black and Mild cigar. I don't know about cigars but it reminds me of my grandpa, brings back memory of my childhood. Anyway, if Ralph likes it I may even get him more if I get pregnant so he can pass some out when I have the baby. He knows that his smoking will be cut significantly when I do get pregnant and have a baby in the house and car.

S-SLUSHY

Have you been out today? Let me tell you its a slushy, slushy day today. School opening were delayed 2 hours due to the icy road condition early in the morning. I got to sleep in a little bit, let me rephrase that. I got to lay in bed a little bit and move a little slower, lol. The snow that was left from last week is slowly melting into slush and may turn into ice. At least it wasn't that cold out when I finally walked my eldest daughter to the bus stop, just wet. I don't like, getting wet and the mud that goes with it. To those who had to work and commute early this morning I hope you arrived safely at your destination.. Drive safe and pay attention to the road!

HARD TIMES

The economy is still in turmoil. Many people are still loosing their homes, jobs, business and getting buried in debt. I thought the recession is over but that is not the case. People are still struggling and its specially hard when your disabled. I should know, my BIL Angelo has been on disability for many years due to his back injury when he still worked. Its been really tough but I admire my BIL courage and strength. He has been to court and has fought for his right to get disability. Last Summer his disability was cut off due to the fact that he did work part time and made to much. I asked my husband is Angelo will be able to get a disability insurance that he deserves. Angelo had to fight and did his research and as it turned out, he was still eligible for disability even though he worked part time. If he can find a job with great benefits he will certainly be glad to get off disability and claim his life back. I do hope that he will find that perfect job.

GOALS

One of the many goals I would like to achieve this year is hopefully loose about 10 lbs or so. I have been talking about wanting to loose weight and slim down but I never really do anything about it. My husband has tried several times dieting on his own but falls back on his old ways. Let it not be said that I didn't try, I have tried dieting and exercising but I never stick to it. I lack not only motivation but dedication and had no goal. I have read so many weight loss medication, pills, how to exercise but this is my first time to hear about chromium picolinate and weight loss. Sound effective and scary at the same time. Since our first goal of this year is trying to get pregnant within the next 3-6 months, taking any medication for weight loss will be put on hold. If I do get pregnant and gain a lot of weight I am hoping that breastfeeding will help loose the baby weight. The rest will have to be shed the hard way and that means exercise. This time around I am going to do my best.