Some Tips

Been reading my book and thought of sharing some of the tips here:

1. If you store ice cubes in polythene bags, spray them with soda water before you put them in the freezer. It stops them from sticking together.
2. A good substitute for real cream is evaporated milk. Boil an unopened tin in water for twenty minutes. It whips up to double its size and does a fair immitation of the real thing.
3. If you line the salad drawer with kitchen paper before you put your fruit in it, any excess moisture is drawn into the paper and the fruit stays fresher longer.
4. If you are making soups to freeze, use half the liquid the recipe calls for. Add the rest when you defrost it.
5. If you are making a beef casserole, add a teaspoonful of vinegar to the recipe. It makes the meat more tender and brings out the flavour in the gravy.

More to come, guys. :)

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Talking of Jobs

the local paper advertised local jobs (not just bus for sale) so I am thinking of looking into it more often. I am not just motivated to be more pro-active for local job as I feel there won't be any vacancy for my skill around our area. Mcj recommends that I go to TAFE to acquire some new skills so I could look for work in the local enterprises. Have yet to see...

With Jens in consideration, location of the job is a big factor. I would really prefer a local posting because it means, I can devote more time to my little one.

Everything has yet to be seen. It's just all plan, plan, plan. I need more time and energy and enthusiasm to start cracking.

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Saturday Movie

I know, I know... we all saw Forrest Gump movie. And I'm sure, you also admit that it's one of the movies worth watching over and over and over.. and over.. Again. :)

And so I did. Today. Weekend means boring telly shows. And it was sort of a gloomy day today, so we just stayed indoor. And what better way to spend your lazy Saturday than watch your favourite movie?

Even if I have seen it for the nth times, I admit it didn't stop to amuse me. I still haven't memorized the plot so I was still sooo into it to know what comes next.

I'm quite interested with the quotes (I'm sure most of you feel the same). And so I'm sharing some here:

"Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there's anything you need, I won't be far away.

You know it's funny what a young man recollects? 'Cause I don't remember bein' born. I don't recall what I got for my first Christmas and I don't know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But I do remember the first time I heard the sweetest voice in the wide world.

Sometimes, I guess there's just not enough rocks.

Have you found Jesus yet, Gump? I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Read more...

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What's Next?

Okay, I got my PR visa. So what's next?

We've applied for the little boy's passport last week. Received an email today that it should arrive in the registered mail in the coming week. I kid Mcj if that's the sign that our supposedly trip back "home" would be soon. And he said, blah.

With the visa, I'm planning to join the corporate rat race. Again! I said before that going back to full employment would depend on the age of Jens. It still is. There are lots of things to be done to prepare the biggest separation of the millenium ever and I haven't started any yet. But, the thought of contributing some moolah towards our retirement/future in the soonest possible time is very enticing. So, I'm giving into it. But not too soon. True, I've looked up the net for some job openings but I haven't registered on those sites nor have I updated my resume. I am always excited with the prospest but I admit, I am a big procrastinator. Actually, as of now.. I feel like I am stuck into something that I can't even make the first move. I reckon, a trip back to the Philippines would perk me up. So, let it be soon. :)

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Happy Weekend!

I wish you all a Happy Weekend.. as happy as this cat.

***photo swiped here

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What The!?

Diesel - $1.826

Mcj couldn't justify it even to himself why diesel is dearer than unleaded when it doesn't need much refining process to come-up with that kind of fuel.

Go figure.

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Brrrrrr...

I'm all rugged-up. It has been sprinkling all day. Chilly and gloomy day.

Just finished changing my toe-nail polish. Waiting for the sleepiness to kick-in after drinking the coffee that Mcj made me about an hour ago. lol.

The little boy is sleeping soundly after a dose of paracetamol to ease peggy pains. But it won't be long and he'll be awake, wanting some food. Again!

Received the play tent freebie from his nappy today. He was sort of overwhelmed of it that he didn't get into it right away. I have to get in first and lure him before he get half of his body in to pick up some toys. I'm sure, he'll get used to it as days go by, just like the tunnel in the playgroup.

What else? I'm cold... where are my socks? :D

Good night, guys! Sleep tight.

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Blue-minded

Your Mind is Blue

Of all the mind types, yours is the most mellow. You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles. Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Mind?

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Curb It

I've been checking this particular shopping website since mother's day for sale and free shipping merchandise. Apart from furnitures (like patio furniture), I love shopping for manchester. Sure we can buy lovely patterns and shades of machesters in the local shop but this website, always offer prices lower than the registered retail price. I've bought several times and my only complaint is the queen bed quilt cover couldn't fit the queen bed quilt. It has a weird shape.

Anyway, lately I've only been window shopping and admiring them. Mcj told me to reign my horses as we need to save as much as we can. We are looking forward to pay an arm and a leg for his coming major dental works. That's the priority and we don't need manchesters anyway. I just love to have something new in the cupboard. :)

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Award

This is a long overdue posting of awards, yet I am very glad to receive it from Eds and Mitch. Thanks, wonderful mothers.

All the mothers in the world deserve this.

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Good Buys

I am a notorious bargain hunter. Ironically, I don't love to shop when there's a massive sale or price drop. It's the throng of shoppers that makes me avoid the shop. I can't concentrate shopping when there are lots of people around me, it makes me feel giddy.

Just last week, I wanted to buy Jens a belt. Daggy me, couldn't find the display area and I had been passing it more than 5 times. lol. Anyway, I found a pair of short pants with belt on it for just $1.50. Isn't that a remarkable find? It would have cost me more than 5 bucks for the belt alone.

We also bought Jens a talking book for just $15. And my MIL thought we bought it for 40 bucks.

Last Friday, I bought these books for just $10 in A & R. The original price was a total of 28 bucks. I saved a lot.
I'm always on the look-out for good deals when shopping, sometimes even for travel and holidays. There are always sale and marked-down price for tours in travel agencies (like Chicago travel). Problem is Mcj will only fly on trusted airline companies' airplanes. When I say trusted it means no record of plain crush in the last 5 years or so.

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Big News

I thought the gifts for Mother's Day would stop coming on the day itself. But nah! Yesterday, I got one of the best gifts in the mail. A letter from the immigration (with the photos, certificates and cards that I submitted) that I was just granted of permanent resident visa. How good is that?

We were not expecting it to be granted this quick. I was looking forward to be interviewed first.

I also went straight to permanent resident visa without going through the two year temporary as we applied for a spouse visa after two years of being married and with a child. Now, the pain of giving birth is more worth it. lol.

Next step would just be a trip to the immigration office to have the visa affixed to my passport. And maybe, planning on the trip back to the Philippines. Oh, we need to apply for Jens' passport first.

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Face Bumps

My face was pimple free from when I got pregnant until a "friend" came back when Jens was 7 months. It was 16 months of clean face. Just last week, the bumps just kept on breaking out on my face in their favorite spots, the chin and forehead. Gross! It could just be because I am expecting a "visitor" or because I've been a naughty girl and kept on feelings bumps and humps on my face when I was watching telly. A habit that I am trying to curb if not rid of. I haven't really consider of looking for the best acne treatment as the zits were not really recurring problem unless I am expecting. I just need to wash my face constantly to get rid of the excess oil.

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Kushika

From Leah. I had fun, thanks!

For the instructions, add your name on the list and simply spell out your name using the given Japanese letter- translations below. Tag six of your friends and inform them of the tag. Have fun.

TRANSLATION:A - ka —– G - ji —– M - rin —– S - ari—– Y - fu —– B - tu —– H - ri —– N - to —— T - chi —–Z - zi —– C - mi —– I - ki —– O - mo —– U - do —– D - te —– J - zu —– P - no —— V - ru —– E - ku —–K - me —- Q - ke ——W - mei —– F - lu —– L - ta —— R - shi ——X - na

1. OSWALD - moarimeikatate (sounds like american and states har….har…har…)
2. JUNELLE - zudotokutataku (Thank God I’m a Filipino! sounds like sadako. nyay! hehehe)
3. JACQUELINE - zukamikedokutakitoku (Ayay!! Unsaman ni perti mang taasa..wa ko kasabot nyahahaha)
4. LIRA LUZ - takishika taduzi ( sounds like a title of an anime show) it’s cute!
5. Gracey - Katakamikuari (oh my, i’m glad i’m not japanese. Nothing sounds like it!
6. Vannie - Rukatotokiku (huh? ruka sounds cute!) hehehe
7. Farah - Lukashikari (hahaha! it’s cute!)
8. Patricia - Nokachishikimikika (ang haba naman! ) : )
9. Leah - Takukari (buti na lang maiksi lang name ko. hehe!)
10. Era - Kushika

How about you: Wirelessbliss, Arlene, Mitch, Eds, Mich and Idealpinkrose, what is your Japanese Name?

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I Think Like...

Your Thinking is Concrete and Random

You are naturally inquisitive and curious. You're excited by new ideas, and you are a true independent thinker. You are interested in what is possible. You like the process of discovery. You are often experimenting, challenging old ideas, and inventing new concepts. Rules, restrictions, and limit don't really work for you. You have to do things your own way, and you can't be bothered to explain yourself.

What Kind of Thinker Are You?

Some of these hit home. And however good these sound to my ears, they're not at all good. My kind of thinking sometimes causes clash to my loved ones even to Mcj. Based on these, you can rule out that I am not a business minded person. Why? Because in real life, small business opportunities are ready to bite me yet I just turn my back on them.

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My First Mum's Day

From Arlene. Thanks, sis.

What to do:

Share your favorite Mother's Day quotes and place your blog/name right after the piece of artwork.
1. Irresistible Fascinations / Naomi2. Manna from Heaven / Lena3. And Life Goes On / Lena4. Sheng's Simple Thoughts... / SHENG5. Pinay WAHM / Juliana6. Teacher's Corner / Juliana7. Dancing in Midlife Tune/ Arlene8. Life is What we Make it/ Arlene9. Sunshine's Photoblog/ Arlene 10.Permanence in Change 11. The Life of a Tatapilla

My share:

1. Mothers are the sweetest thing on Earth.
2. Motherhood is sure not a walk in the park but it sure is the most rewarding and fullfilling profession there is. The pay is priceless.
3. It only needs LOVE to be the best Mum in the world.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mums.

I'm passing the ball to Leah, Jody, Mich and Eds.

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Chocolate Oracle

I used not to like sweets, like chocolates and icecream. My palette changed after I gave birth. I like desserts now especially chocolate and icecream. How bizzarre is that? I know lots of things changed after giving birth.

As to chocolates, it is better now that I like them. Mcj has a very sweet tooth and Jens is becoming to be like his Daddy. I don't want to be singled out. I reckon it is better to be addicted to chocolate than to 'those' substances (and be booked for drug rehab).

What Your Taste in Chocolate Says About You

You are sweet, mellow, and easily satisfied. You don't like anything too intense and dramatic. Deep down, you're a kid at heart... and you're nostalgic for the past. You are passionate and full of life. You fall in love easily, and you tend to have whirlwind relationships. Your passion sometimes does get the better of you. You have a crazy temper! You love new adventures and activities. You enjoy living a full life, even if it is chaotic. You feel lost when things are quiet. You rather not think... you prefer to just do!

The Chocolate Oracle

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Popcorn

I may sound so dummy and naive but I popped my own popcorn recently for the first time. Conventionally.

I found a healthy snacks recently, that is popcorn, but eventually dislike it. The salt or whatever in it burnt my tongue, lips and gums. And before that happened, Mcj suggested that I buy popping corn and do my own. I was hesitant thinking that it may be too hard. I don't like hard work, you know. But with the sore mouth problem, I eventually bought a pack and started making my own. And it was fun!

I did it right the first. Just burnt some because I don't agitate it constantly. It will be hardwork then if I will do it that way. Hehehe. Maybe, I just have to reduce the heat and agitate it every now and then.

I like it soo much that I am stacking popping corn. Scared I might run out. :)

I remember back when I was still a girlie at my parents' place. We can just have popcorn during fiestas or when there were carnivals in town. Now, when I eat.. it feels like it. Manol gid. :)

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I've Got Mail

Since I started subscribing to freebies, I get excited to check our mailbox everyday. It is the only reason why I don't like weekends.

I am not consistent with the address that I provided to those freebie companies. At first, I gave our post office mailbox but eventually I did use our residential add. I myself is puzzled what is my rule why I gave our home address or the reason why. I still switch addresses sometimes.

Obviously, I favor our home address mailbox as I get to see the mails everyday. It brightens my day to receive any freebies, however insignificant they are.

Mcj requested for a key duplicate of our PO box, so I can access it anytime. Mcj's brother has the only key before so if he's away, we can't pick-up the mail anytime... though you can pick them up during office hours. Just ask at the counter in the post office.

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Things ToDo

I saw this meme from fellow blogger last night and wanted to do it but haven't gotten around of doing it. Then, I got a tag from Arlene for the same meme. Thanks sis.

1. I really need to wash the canvass shoes that I soak.
2. Put away Jens clothes that I washed yesterday - remove the lint and fold them.
3. Wash the bedsheets that we bought today.
4. Mend (sew) the seams of my white capri pants.
5. Sew the sash of Mcj's robe so it doesn't dangle on the back.

Whew! I never thought I have so much stuff to do until I made this list. You see, I only do things when I see them. Out of sight, out of mind. Lucky, I don't pay the bills lest we would have a foreclosure notice because of late payment. Well, this list is just what's on top of my mind, not to mention those that have been buried at the land of burke. :)

I'm passing the list to Tracy, Chelle, Lutchi, Yums and Shiela.

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Our Sunday Walk

Yesterday, my little boy and I went for a walk in the morning. Instead of taking the usual route which is up to the main road, we instead took the route to the end of our road. We've been doing our daily walk for more or less 7 months but we really didn't venture that route, so that was our first time (second for me, the first when Mcj drove me around). We really didn't see any of our neighbor. The houses are far from the gate. One house looks vacant. There were newspapers lying on the gutter and the mailbox was bursting of mails. There were no signs that the property was for sale (just like in Hilton Head rentals) though. We really didn't notice that much around our neighborhood but I now know what's the name of the kennel and cattery resort. Well, we didn't walked too far as the road was slopey and pushing the pram on the way back was taxing for my arms.

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My Day

Idealpinkrose, tagged me this. Thanks sis.

What time do you usually wake up?
Between 8 and 10 AM.

What’s the first thing you do?
Cuddle bub or hubs. :)

Breakfast?
breadroll/cereal/fruit with fruit juice/coffee

Do you go to work/school?
none of those. hehehe. i'm a sahm/sahw for now.

Do you like it?
absolutely!

If you stay at home, what do you do all day?
lie down, sleep, watch tv or dvd, blog, eat...hehehe..

When’s lunch and what you eating?
between 12NN and 2PM. sandwiches or anything quick to prepare.

What time do you get home from work/school?
do i have to? :)

What do you do?
SAHM/WAHM

Dinner: When and what?
between 6 and 8PM.

What do you do to unwind?
read, watch telly, net sur, shop. btw do i need to unwind? not reallt

What’s your favorite part of the day?
all the time!

Who’s your favorite person to interact with?
my one-and-a-half-men.

When’s bedtime?
between 10PM and 2AM

Who’s bedtime with?
Hubs

I'm tagging JoyD, Rosselle, Ann, Rocks and Mitch.

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An Adventurer

Your Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer

For you, travel is how you learn about the world. And you like to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks. You truly have wanderlust. When you're not traveling, you're dreaming about where you'll go next. And your travels are truly legendary - they leave you with stories you'll be telling for the rest of your life!

What's Your Travel Personality?

*****

Mcj qualifies to play in a poker tournament, that if he would get lucky he will have travel deals by June. So I am crossing my fingers. I don't tolerate gambling but since he is not spending a cent of our money, just his time... I gave him my go signal not that he needs it. :)

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Mother's Day Treat

I collected a big bundle of catalogues (junk mail) last weekend. Apart from the usual that we receive every week, there were some that only came on special occations. There were lots of jewelry catalogue - promotions for Mother's Day. I looked into them and they featured pretty blings. I am not into jewelry for gifts (just as Mcj is not into men's jewelry) anymore. I had the idea of what I want two weeks ago. This is my first mother's day and I have received my gifts before we even got married. :)

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