Care To Share

Things have been hectic around the house lately, and with my parents still out of town, I have not taken a breather from household stuff and work stuff at all. However, that's fine...I have not checked on a lot of things including my life insurance policy which I have been meaning to discuss with my agent. I have a few questions and clarifications about an additional rider now that I have a new baby. I hope I don't need to pay extra though.

I also need to set-up a budget for the Christmas shopping - but before that I need to make a list of whom to buy for. Oh, gosh - with the economic slump got to really budget and get useful stuff for my loved one's and friends.

So, what's a nice gift idea this Holiday? Care to share?

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Discipline Effectively

A 3-year old with a new baby brother is a handful. My boy has his moments wherein he regresses and acts like a baby. I guess its his way of telling me that he too needs my 100% attention. I do understand where he is coming from considering Hubby is not here and I am mostly focused on the baby. That is why whenever the baby is asleep and I am not too dead tired, I always make it a point to spend quality time with my boy. We would play, read books or just simply talk. I realized, 90% of the time where he's misbehaving its because he's asking for my undivided attention.

However, during times wherein he is out of control I resort to 5 minute time-outs. I must admit there have been times I've spanked him (nothing too painful) just a little tap on his hand or behind just so he knows I am being serious, but I feel so bad after that I promised myself I won't do it again. Besides, that would only teach him to hit others as well and I don't want that. Anyway, I find time-outs work. Then again, there are different scolding tactics for different tantrums. For time-outs what I do is ask him to watch the clock and that if it hits a certain number his time-out is done. He responds better this way which is a good thing. After the time out, he is calm and that's where I sit down and talk to him about why he got punished.

Other discipline tactics I use is taking away a privilege like not allowing him to watch TV or play with Laptop. When he misbehaves or says "No!" I would always talk to him about consequences. For example, he refuses to take a bath, I would tell him that if he does not take a bath, he can't come with me to the office or he can't play with his car or something like that. He actually knows there are consequences if he does not behave at this point. Generally, he is a good boy whose very affectionate towards me and his baby brother, as long as he's not in his grumpy mood he's the sweetest little boy I know.

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Networking As A Business

My brother graduated from the course Business Management so naturally I ask him questions like business ideas, marketing strategies that he's learned and most recently networking. What brought this on was that a friend was trying to recruit me to the newest networking craze that hit the Philippines. The company, UNO (Unlimited Network of Opportunities) International Corporation actually has a very solid business plan. I am sure they hired great business plan writers for this. They are engaged in the distribution of healthy and natural products like vitamins and supplements that address the needs of modern living. Since I don't have many connections and I am sure I won't have time for selling, I declined. Many say it's a scam or whatever, I don't believe so - all I know is that they have a good product line-up. If these agents focus on selling rather than recruiting then this business will survive unlike the other networking businesses that have failed before them.

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The Party Mummy Meme

Today we ripped this meme off a blogger named Sarah at the blog Lady Mama. She states that Party Mummy (she did not provide a link) insisted she do the meme. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Party Mummy Meme

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you.
::: Milette. A fellow mom and blogger. She's awesome. Check out her blog as well.

2. Where was your first kiss?
::: I forgot when exactly. I just remember I was in 3rd year High School. :::

3. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? If yes, why?
::: Yes...mostly just goofing around. :::

4. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? When?
::: Yes, in college, we had Speech 101 and part of our exam was to sing in front of the class. I rocked it. :::

5. What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex?
::: Over-all hygiene. Clean clothes, shoes, hair, nails - that sort of thing. :::

6. What really turns you off?
::: Bad speech and uncleanliness. :::

7. What is your biggest mistake?
::: I guess not traveling enough or doing many different things when I was still single, now that I have kids, I am lucky to even have 1-hour a day simply for myself. :::

8. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
::: No. Although I have starved myself before to stay slim. That's about it. :::

9. Say something totally random about yourself.
::: I work better with a schedule. This means I like it when there's control and a working system. :::

10. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
::: Yeah. Some local celebrity :::

11. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows?
::: Yup...I have a 3 year old 'nuff said. :::

12. Are you comfortable with your height?
::: I have learned to love it. However, it would have been fun to be taller (clothes fit better).:::

13. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you?
::: ..Hubby when he bought me my first designer bag. :::

14. When do you know it's love?
::: When you stop thinking about yourself and begin to think of that other person more.:::

15. What's something that really annoys you?
::: Too many things I'm afraid, I am anal like that. I get annoyed with a dirty toilet, a messy room, unfolded clothes, dirty shoes, unkept hair...should I go on?:::

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He Is The Man

A new superhero is in town and his name is Pacman. He single-handedly stopped all crimes in the Philippines yesterday. According to reports there was no reports of violence and even road accidents. The 3-day mall wide sale was deserted. Streets on a Sunday were empty and that is saying much when you talk about the streets of the Philippines. Obviously, everyone was busy watching the fight. In my case, I was too busy with the kids to even watch however, I more or less know the outcome judging from the yells and countless blow by blow comments from the next door neighbors. What's the point? Manny Pacquiao was going to win there was no doubt in my mind about that. The dude has a lot of misses regarding his personal life but he sure can rock it in the ring.

Too bad Dad wasn't able to catch the fight. They will visit Las Vegas probably next week. He and my Mom are still in Illinois right now for business. Leisure comes next in the agenda. I was actually teasing them to pass by the chapel and have a quickie wedding just for fun, you know what Dad said? "Once is enough!" Anyway, they should try the casino slot machines while there. I heard there are so many different kinds of slot machines you get confused on what to choose. As for me, I'd settle on online blackjack or online slot machines games. This way I don't have to leave the comforts of my room just to experience the thrill of it all.

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Baby Jacob @ 2 months!

My big boy is already 5.1 kgs. He is doing fine. He smiles, coos and ahhs. He especially likes it when we talk to him. I usually talk to him about his surroundings, about what his big brother is doing. Ozzy loves talking to his brother. He would show him his toys and Oz would get frustrated when the baby does not listen to him.

Jacob's cradle cap which was a concern for me a few weeks back is gone. The rashes (pimple like things) in his face before which is normal for a new born, is gone too. He sleeps longer at night waking up just 2 times now. He would nurse and then go back to sleep. I'd like to think we have developed a schedule for him already which is good because I function better with schedules. The only problem I have now with his is that he loves to be carried all the time. We always make it a point to put him down whenever we can even though its hard now, its better this way for in the long run he will eventually learn to sleep in his crib.

How's he developing?

Your baby can tell the difference between familiar voices and other sounds, and he's becoming a better listener. He can also show you that he's in tune with his environment. Notice how he looks to see where certain noises are coming from.

An ongoing conversation (although seemingly one-sided) can help your baby develop his sense of place. He may even watch your mouth as you talk, fascinated by how it all works. You'll be amazed by his ability to communicate with a growing repertory of coos (musical, vowel-like sounds), smiles, and unique cries to express his different needs. - Source

As for me, I had tenderness and redness in my left breast this weekend. A sign that a milk duct has been clogged. I have already applied hot compress and tried to express all the milk as much as I can. It is still painful. I just hope it does not result to anything serious.

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In-Charge

Their off. Mom and Dad left for the US last night. They are scheduled to come home by the end of the month, their stay there would be short but sweet. They are planning to visit LA, Minnesota and even Las Vegas. If I was with them I would have wanted to visit Florida because many of my friends are there. I will do that if it was me traveling. Anyway, last night just before my parents left a fire broke out in a nearby school. We can clearly see the smoke and fire from the third floor of our house. Suddenly, I felt panic about being left in-charge of the house. I realized there was more to it than making sure the ref is stocked. I should also make sure the doors are properly locked at night, no lights are left on, no faucet is leaking and many little details I took for granted before because Mom was around. I especially should make sure electrical appliances are turned off and even unplugged when unused. Heaven forbid, burning the house down when Mom and Dad is away is NOT an option.

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This Is So Right

Your Hands Say That You Are Logical

You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills. Bold and daring, you're not afraid to change your life if you think it needs an overhaul. Consistent and reliable, you like to count on structure and routine in your life. Your emotions tend to be relaxed and uncomplicated. You don't read too much into things.

What Do Your Hands Say About You?

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Oh Christmas Tree

With Christmas coming closer each day, our household had been busy preparing to put up our artificial Christmas tree. Sure, a real tree is much prettier, I would know I saw one in a lobby of a hotel once and it did smell and look better than an artificial one. However, how long would that tree stay pretty? A few days? Weeks? In our household we go for an artificial tree. Its more practical this way, we can store it after and reuse it the following year. If you are looking to purchase one, check out some artificial tree promos and pick out your kind of tree. There are many to choose from, trees which vary in sizes and color. What's more is that you can also save more by using Christmas Trees Galore coupons. Save as much as 60% off when purchasing a tree using your coupons. If you have time, hop in there and have a look see.

Anyway, last weekend we had general cleaning and started to rearrange the furniture in our living room to make way for the tree. Last year, Ozzy had so much fun preparing, setting up and lighting the tree. He was our baby then. This year, who knew he would already be a big brother to baby Jacob. He has grown so much this year and has taken his role as Ahia very seriously. This Christmas is doubly joyful because Hubby will be coming home and we are blessed with an addition to our little family. I can't wait to start decorating our tree. I know Ozzy will enjoy it too.

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Sharp and Crisp Viewing

I was a kid during the 90's. Our television set was already colored but I remember it was a small TV with bad audio/video quality. If someone told me before that TV's in the future would be flat I would have not believed that was possible. Now only a few years later, Flat screen HDTV ruled the market. Everything is in HD, so don't get left behind.

So, if your looking for to purchase a new television set for the new year then start the year right by purchasing a bell tv. Watching shows and movies in high definition is the perfect way to go. The pictures are crystal clear and the sound is crisp. Shop now because sale is on while supplied last.

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A Quick Blurb

Woot! My favorite day of the week again. Friday. End of the week, start of the weekend. More time to catch up on my sleep and more bonding time with my 2 favorite boys. Jacob is doing really well. He is beginning to smile a lot in response to our smiles. Anyway, there's nothing much planned for our weekend really except that I should stock up on some groceries before Mom and Dad leave for the US next week. That way I don't have to go out the house as much. Without Mom and Dad this would leave me in-charge of the household. This has never happened before since my elder sister was here before. Now that she's based in Manila, I am the one left aside from our youngest brother of course.

I hope everything goes well. I am actually excited to be in-charge. My agenda during that time? Clean, clean, clean! I know, I am weird this way. I actually enjoy cleaning.

What's your quirk?

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My Goal.

There are so many ways to lose weight. However, we must bear in mind that diet should be coupled with exercise and some weight loss supplements to become effective. Nobody wants a flabby tummy or lose skin right?

I'm the one to talk, I never exercise. The closest I've got to exercising is 5 minutes on the stationary bike and that's it. I get tired and stop. I've also tried crunches to firm up my tummy but that was such a painful experience I stopped at 20. Gosh I am so bad, I've been talking about losing weight so much before Hubby arrives and now only 6 weeks more and I am still all talk and no action.

Got to fit my skinny jeans before the month ends. That's my goal. I will keep you guys posted.

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600 Calories A Day!

We should find a new cook soon. No offense to our maid right now, but eating fried stuff all the time is not healthy. You see the one in-charge of cooking right now is still learning because the cook left unexpectedly a month ago. We are still looking for a replacement until now. Honestly, it is so hard to find a reliable and good help nowadays.

On the plus side, I've been so busy with the house chores and baby lately that I won't be needing any fat burners to help me lose the extra weight around the tummy area. I have not slept since the baby was born and my food intake has been erratic. However, I do keep in mind that I have to eat because I am nursing. Did you know that you can lose up to 600 calories a day if you breastfeed exclusively? Amazing. 600 calories! That's just like getting two hours of aerobic exercise each day. Woot. Now that's the exercise I like.

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Relaxing

I didn't work all morning. Teehee.

It's time to take a breather and just relax. Mom and the maids have been cleaning up downstairs in preparation for Christmas and making way for the Christmas tree and decorations. I can't believe its the Holidays again. Time flies so fast when you have a lot going on right?

The baby is almost 2-months old and hubby is coming home in a month! I have a few weeks to get back into shape! LOL

*wink*

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Web Geeks

A few months or was it a year ago, someone made a comment about bloggers. I believe what she said was, "bloggers are slackers" and for them to "get a life". I guess she doesn't know a thing a blogging, web hosting or maintaining a blog for her to say such things. If she only knew how much work it needs to maintain a blog then she would retract what she said immediately.

Blogging, whether for fun or done professionally is no easy feat. Personally, I have many things in my plate already and on top of being a mother of 2 and full time office worker; I blog in my spare time for 3 reasons. The first is to relax and de-stress. The second reason is to document my sons milestones and the third reason is to make extra money from it. Making money through blogging is easy actually. You just have to have the patience for it because it usually takes a few months to get your blog going. Most often than not, advertisers would like to see blogs that are self-hosted and have a dedicated server that's up and running all the time. Readers are turned off when your site is slow to load and always experiences downtime. That's the reason I had to let go of my old favorite site before, the server was always down so I had to change it up. Good move on my part, now I have 3 self-hosted blogs that have PR and are doing fine. If you have a small or medium sized business look for vps hosting; a virtual private server (VPS, also referred to as Virtual Dedicated Server or VDS) since it delivers control at a level similar to a dedicated server at an affordable price.

...and remember, bloggers are not slackers! Hmpf, Shame on you Malu.

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Stressing Out

The long weekend was a welcome change where I was able to sleep and rest. Now its back to reality. It would not have been so bad if not for our help issues. The thing is - one of our help went home for the long weekend and promised to come home yesterday morning, until now she's not here. So it leaves us with only the nanny around. She does the housework now - and because of that I am in charge of the 2 boys. Taking care of the boys should be okay except that I need to work too!!! I am stressing out right now.

The baby is asleep and Ozzy is here with me in the office. I just feel really disappointed with the maid. She had so many cash advances and she was allowed to go home frequently than usual and how does she repay us? By lying. She should have been upfront about her plans if she would come back or not so we don't wait for her and go ahead look for a replacement. At this point I don't know if she plans to come back. I don't really want her to. Tsk! The nerve of some people.

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