Thanksgiving.

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in the Philippines. But I am a lot to be thankful for this year.

1. Chippy my guilty pleasure.
   
2. Job stability.
3. The opportunity to travel.
4. Healthy and happy kids.
5. shows like The Walking Dead, Glee and How I Met Your Mother.
6. Power naps.
7. Google map
8. Hardworking nanny (every working mom's wish come true!)
9. Wifi @ home. Information is readily available - stuff like motor home repairs isn't that hard to find after all.
10. whitening pills.
    

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it.

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Saturday 9:Dark Lady

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Dark Lady

1. Have you ever been to a fortune teller? If yes, what happened? Nope. I don't like the idea of having someone "predict" my future. I believe, we make our own destiny.

2. How do you cope in an uncomfortable social situation? It can go2 ways, either I keep quiet or I chatter needlessly.

3. A genie appears (of course). She asks, “If you had 3 wishes but each took 3 years off your life, what would you wish for and why?” 1. I wish to die at the age of 110. 2. I want to win the lottery and 3. Good health for me, my family and friends.

4. Would you rather lose your soul mate or never meet them at all? I would rather not meet at all than lose my soul mate

5. What is the hardest thing that you have ever had to do? Have kids and raise them.

6. Have you ever had a miracle happen to you or your loved ones? Every day, for me, is a miracle. I am blessed to have a good life and I can't help wonder when my luck would change - so I pray it won't.

7. Tell us about a quote that you can relate to. Why can you relate with it? "A life lived in love will never be dull." I can relate to it because I feel my life is full of love. A saturday - even when spent at home becomes a super-day because of the laughter the family shares. Kids can do that. They bring love and happiness in a home.

8. What personality trait has gotten you into the most trouble? Impulsive.

9. For those in The States, how was your Turkey Day? If not from the US, do you celebrate a day like Thanksgiving? I am not from the US, we don't have Thanksgiving or any holiday like it.

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Gimme Some of That!

Antihistamine (virlix) to be exact.

I am breaking out again...:( Chronic Urticaria this week at its worst. My father says I am stressed by the upcoming trip. I don't think I am. I have hit the snooze button on the panic alarm days ago. I am quite excited actually. I think it's caused by something else, the food or maybe some dust in the air. Whatever it is, I hope this thing won't plague me when I travel. The thing with having the hives aside from the itch is that I tend to get drowsy and I have trouble breathing. It's bad enough that I have to sit through a 20-hr flight + 9 hours waiting time, body don't yah fail me now. Ack! I hate it. I can't forget what my friend who has severe acne told me earlier - suck it up!! He says having acne is worse than the hives. The scarring. The pain. Now that he is an adult it just looks unappealing. That's why he spent most his savings on adult acne treatment just to cure it. It has been a month now and his acne is clearing up. Good for him. As for me, I'd take his advice and suck it up. Urticaria or no - there's nothing stopping me from enjoying my first time in the US.

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Midnight Snack

They say papaya is a natural colon cleanser. I can't recall where I heard this or if this is even true, I hope it is because lately I feel bloated inside. I just had my period so it's not that. I guess its my body's way of saying I need to cut back on the meat and eat more veggies and fruits. Lately I've been craving for cholesterol rich foods like roasted pig (lechon), pizza and hamburgers. It's almost 10pm and I can't help but debate whether or not I'd call the nearby fastfood for some good 'ol midnight snack of delicious burgers. My tummy says yes but the mind says no, so I obey my mind this time. I'll just finish off this post and scavenge for whatever leftover we have downstairs.

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Friday Fill-Ins #201

Ahhhh...so stuffed with turkey I almost forgot! Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate.

So...here we go!

1. Three things I must have on my (Thanksgiving table) Christmas table: Roasted Pig, Pasta and Salad.

2. After the food overdose you can see me sacked out on the couch.

3. This is a good time to bond with the family, especially since Hubby was away for most of the year.

4. My Mom loves to decorate the house with anything Christmas-y. We now have the tree up and some wreaths.

5. Oh, man, thankfully it's a long weekend.

6. I am still going to perfect the art of EATING JUST RIGHT ON HOLIDAYS.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping in early, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping, hearing Mass and cleaning my room and Sunday, I want to enjoy the whole day with the kids, the family, Joshua's classmates, their families and the whole school body in their annual family day!

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I Miss My Body Then

Yey!

My dress for my BIL's wedding is almost ready. I can't wait to see it and have it fitted ;) Hopefully I didn't gain too much from the time my measurements were taken! Nuninunoo. Actually, there's something I have to do but I'm procrastinating - again. I need to open my closet, decide which I can wear for the trip to the US next week. After all, it is an expo. I have to attend seminars and classes, I should be half decent. The clothes in my closet are mostly laid back, simple and casual. I rarely wear anything formal so most of the stuff are stowed away in some boxes top of the cabinet. I wonder if they fit me? The last time I wore something formal was in college - when we had a thesis defense. I was like 10lbs lighter then. Plus, my tummy was flawless.

Oh well, no point in bring back the past. I should try the skirt on at least I would know if it still fits. Even the most effective diet pills can't bring back that body now though. I may be small but the rolls of excess skin in my tummy are just hopeless. 2 pregnancies can do that to you. Anyway, just look at Hubby's goofy grin! We were so young then. No worries. No responsibilities. Those were the days.

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Road Trouble

When I fetch my son from school earlier I saw my friends' car on the road. They had an accident. My friends car was hit by a van that was backing up. Every time I see roadside accidents, even when no one is injured I get stressed. It makes me remember the time when I was in a car accident as well. That time it was 100% my fault and I learned from that experience well. Now, I am a careful driver - well I'd like to think I am. Anyway, it got me thinking, road accidents are inevitable. It may be your fault or not - but it can happen to even the most careful and defensive driver. My Hubby is not here and my Dad is often out of town so if ever (I pray not) I get into any road situation there's no one I can call for help. Getting roadside assistance plan is a good idea. I've been telling myself to get a plan or have a membership somewhere for some time now but I never really got around to doing it. Once, I had a flat tire in a long stretch of high way with minimal lighting. It was scary. Thankfully, there was a vulcanizing shop across. That was a stroke of luck, next time I won't be so lucky.

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Stuff to Do.

I can't imagine November is almost over. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating New Year. Where have the days gone?

Before this month ends, I hope to finish all my to do's so that I will travel with nothing on my mind. It's bad enough that I have to think of the kids and how they will fair without me; how much more if I leave a lot of work piled on my desk.

To Do's

• Make checks for the salary and other company payables.
• Finish all my reports supposedly for the 10th on the 30th to avoid delay.
• Order all requisitions!!!
• Make sure to finish the document scanning of my ID's and also MCO's ID's and CC's for my trip to avoid delay in the airport.
• Wrap gifts.
• Leave some work sheets that Joshua can work on while I'm gone.

Plus, before going, I have to research on the street names, the places I can go to shop and the Church where I can attend mass. I will arrive on a Saturday night and expo starts Sunday afternoon. I have the whole Sunday morning to explore Austin. I can't wait!

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Shoti @ 1y and 2m

At 14 months, my little one has mastered the art of walking! He likes to walk around the house without help. If you try to hold him, he would get mad. You'll know when he wants to go out because he'll grab his fave pair of shoes and give it to you to help him put it on.

It's pretty clear that this boy loves it when people is around. He likes the attention unlike his big brother. He doesn't shy away from strangers, and offers a toothy grin when in the mood.

He is already weaned from the breast. He knows how to hold his bottle and he drinks heartily.

He is hard-headed. As in. He whines and cried when he doesn't get what he wants. Once you say "no" he would lie on the floor and cry. He's that spoiled.

He can't talk but we can decipher his babbles. It's either he's calling his big brother, he's looking for food/milk/water or he wants the telephone.

He loves music and he likes to dance!

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Giftsssss.

I am almost done with my Christmas shopping - however, those left on my list are the hardest to give gifts to. I hope to finish my shopping and gift wrapping before this month ends. For sure, when December rolls by, I'd be busy with Hubby. I have an idea what to give my closest friends, but for my direct family, I don't!!! Maybe a nice graphic tee for lil bro and board shorts for my bro-in-laws. For my mom and MIL, I really don't know! Eeep. I need to check on gift ideas online some more. I think a good book (been checking out Amazon books) most likely Harry Potter books is a good idea for my bookish sister. Which is fitting because the movie just came out. =)

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Terrified.

When I was about to give birth to my first born, I was lying on the exam table totally unaware of what to expect. I got through it with flying colors. So for my 2nd baby, giving birth was easy breezy.

I am not saying flying solo to a foreign country is the same as giving birth, but the experience; going in totally unaware of what to expect is there. It would have been fine it #1 - Someone I know was meeting me there or #2 I was traveling with someone. But no. Others would die for a chance to go abroad, so I am thankful for this don't get me wrong, it's just that I am terrified. Weird, I wish I was lying in that exam table right now giving birth instead of the trip. ;D

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I Look Like A Zombie

You know its bad when you start dreaming about Plants Vs. Zombies and form a strategy in your head!!! Ack. I've only held up until the 37th flag in Endless PVZ. I don't know how that dude held about 1000 flags! My plants gets flattened by those Gigantours. I hate 'em. It's bad enough I don't get much sleep as it is, this addiction is going to be the death of me, well... that's too much. What I mean is if I don't nip this thing soon, I'd be looking like a zombie from lack of sleep. I'm lying there in bed thinking I need to sleep but I can't because all I can think about is those crazy zombies. Shucks. So maybe, some insomnia treatments is only fitting for me. Maybe an OTC sleeping pill can do the trick? I might need it too. I want to sleep the whole 16 hour flight to Austin next month so I'd be ready for the expo when I arrive. Are those things safe? Got to read up some more. Hope I don't get sidetracked again.

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Glad It's Back On: TT I told you I'd post it!

Welcome to the November18th edition of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday) Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.
Write about it on your blog... simple as that.
Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!
Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.
Please mention us in your post, and link back to the blog here.
Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs.
Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!
That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?
We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

The TT questions are brought to you by Berleen, the color of snow and the number that comes after 393.

Turn the tv on and open the newspaper.... whats the best reported news you've ever heard?

Prince William and Kate's engagement. I love her. She seems classy and I don't care what others say, its fitting that she gets the ring.

Hey! Guess what? Whats the best personal news someone has told you?

A friend said he was getting married. People my age are getting married. Welcome to the club ;D

Goshdarnit I'm tired... When you lay down to sleep at night, whats the best position for you to fall asleep in?

Fetal position all bundled up.

What the most excited you've ever been?

Well, right now. I am 100% excited about going to TX next month at the same time I am 100% terrified because it's my first time and I'd be alone.

Ever touched a turkey? And yeah, I mean the gobble gobble kind. I'm glad I re-read this or this could have been a stupid question. Have you ever touched a living, breathing, not on your plate turkey?

Nope. I don't ever plan to, those things bite, right?

Its everywhere, it's driving me crazy! Spend money, people, spend money! Have you bought anything from the "new & early" Black Friday deals this year?

We don't have Black Friday sales here, but we do have mall-wide sales usually before December to usher in the new stocks. Yes, I've bought my family's Christmas gifts already.

So the news is out, the most best news ever in the history of news - Kimber & Berleen are finally going to meet! Kimber is flying to Minnesota. What should she bring with her?

Yey!!!! Good for them. Food is good. Something to munch on over a good cup of coffee(or beer) whichever floats your boat.

Kimber thinks all Minnesotans eat lutefisk. It's a Scandinavian food and lucky for her, we're German. Maybe it's Norwegian. Heck I don't know - you ever ate the stuff?

So I don't eat that. I don't even know what that is. So I had to google that of course, its like fish with butter. I don't think that's too bad.

Whats in your right pocket right now?

Nothing.

When you go to the dentist for your cleaning, do you use the toothbrush that they give you or do you use one that you have purchased yourself?

Dentists don't give us free toothbrushes, I use the one I purchased.

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Can You Handle It?

I have a few extra bucks waiting to be spent.

I was thinking about taking blogging seriously next year. The kids will be bigger and I may have extra time in my hands again. However, this year, instead of letting blogger host it, I will look into managed hosting service for all my 5 blogs. Yep 5. As of now, only 3 are active. The other 2 are dormant. I want to revamp the layout and maybe allow more ads on the side. That way, my blog can earn more.

I dunno. Can I handle it? 5!? I've been told I am super-mom. We'll see if supermom can handle 5 blogs + 2 kids + 1 day job!!!

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Pending.Pending.Pending.

Maybe the reason why I'm breaking out in hives is not caused by my cough medicine - maybe it is because I am a bit stressed right now. I feel harassed. I sent my application last Friday and my interview was set 4 days after. Gosh. I booked my ticket to Manila in a flash.

I have a lot of things in my mind, my pending work piled on my desk, the Christmas shopping, the trip (if it will push thru) and my interview. I really don't want to be denied. The hassle of going there and paying all the fee's would go to waste. My trip to Manila tomorrow is my very first trip where I am all alone. I have never done that before! I don't even like eating alone, all the more traveling alone to a place I am not at ALL familiar with. Good thing my sister is there and we'll meet up. Still, I have to ride the cab on my own to a mall I vaguely remember.

Anyway, I have tons of things to finish. Good thing, my supporting documents are 80$ done. Off to the bank.

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10.

My mind is running blank. I've been racking my brains thinking of a substantial entry but nothing. So, what the heck. I'll just list things about, who else, Me.

I have made a list like this one before but I can't recall where I posted it, besides it was a few years back so there are new facts about me now.

Just for kicks, read if you care, here are 10 things about me.

1. I bite my nails when I am anxious. Now, my son does it too and I nag him constantly against it. Fruit doesn't fall far from the tree after all.
2. I work at home. I am one of the lucky one's with home based businesses. It is such a perfect thing for me because I can still tend to the kids. Flexi time, it's the best.
3. I graduated an Engineer but I really don't feel like one.
4. I recently found out, I am allergic to cough medicine. It gives me hives.
5. I have a soft spot for BAGS.
6. ....I am a girly-girl.
   
7. I love to clean. It's like therapy for me.
8. I am terrified of spiders and snakes.
9. I like eating fresh carrots dipped in vinegar.
10. I dislike eating alone. (I tend to eat more because nobody's looking!)
    

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Operation : Weaning From The Breast - SUCCESS!

Weaning baby#2 went easier than expected. Once he hit the 1 year mark, I decided to wean him completely from the breast. He has been mixed fed since he was about 10 months 80% was still all me. People might say 1 year old is young to be weaned however, with his big brother, I found it more difficult to wean a 2-year old. It took me months to wean him. He stopped nursing when he was almost 3! So, yeah, I will wean my 1 year and 1 month old boy now.;)

I talked about the steps here. Basically, you just have to stick to your guns. Once you've decided to stop letting your baby nurse anymore - you have to commit so that the baby will not get confused. Distraction was the operative word. The Baby Einstein videos (specifically World Animals) has helped a LOT.

So anyway, the first 3 days was hell. I didn't get any sleep. He was crying and crabby most of the time.

It was hard saying no to this face.

But I insisted.

The baby didn't get much sleep. But after that, he slowly realized that nursing with Mommy is already a no-no and the bottle is just as good.

It took 7...errrm 10 days tops.

Now that he is weaned, I see that he sleeps longer at night. He would wake up and a simple song or tapping on his bottom will make him fall back to sleep. Unlike before that he would need the breast to fall back to sleep. Things are going along perfectly. At this rate, I won't have anxiety attacks leaving him and Ozzy for 2 days in December.

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