PLAYGROUND COTTAGES HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.

Things I Learned without the MaidsPosted by admin on June 30th, 2008

1. I learned that I really do not like to cook. Id rather eat bread, eat out and eat anything that doesnt require me to cook. Edil cooked breakfast for the whole weekend. Truly.

2. I learned that I cannot live without running water. Hence, Im bombarding my parents with pleas to look for another house. Yes, I want to move again. Same big house, but with running water please.

3. I learned that Im naturally and instinctively lazy. I need to force myself to work.

4. I learned that I really need a maid. I lost $50 worth of work because I needed to do the work of the maids. And for $50, which I would have earned in a day, that would be enough for their salary. So yes, bring on the maid.

I need more clothes.Posted by admin on June 30th, 2008

I want more lounge pants and babydolls for myself soon. Since Im always at home, I just want to be in my jammies all day Ill use the babydolls when I sleep. I dont care much for jeans and tanks anymore. But the jammies I really need. I think I would need to wait for the next storewide GAP sale.

The Bahay Kubo MansionPosted by admin on June 30th, 2008

I was able to watch it at Mel and Joey last night. They featured it and I was just blown away with all the features the architect (who was also the owner of the house) added to it. It had high ceilings, plenty of greens and lots and lots of water. Which to me, all boils down to this – fresh air! (I think that is a must for me from now on). Most of his furniture was made of kawayan/bamboo or coconut. The sconce was made out of husks. It was sooo nice!

Hearty WeekendPosted by admin on June 30th, 2008

We had a nice weekend. Edil got his quarterly incentive pay so we had the chance to take out the kids on Saturday. We went to the mall, ate pizza, bought some things for the kids, came home dead tired and then watched replays again and again of Toy Story. Sunday we went to my parents’ house where there was salad, potato balls, steak and spaghetti. Oh gosh, I seriously would need to order more weight loss pills after what I ate last weekend. Im going to my parents’ house to work on the treadmill too, let’s hope the extra calories will be burned faster.

Day 4Posted by admin on June 20th, 2008

Life in the Suburbs
Day 4 – June 19, 2008

Sunsets + Grandparents + KFC + Shrine

1. It was nice. We got to go the Shrine and visit my parents. I also had time to pray. I so wanted to go to vigil but the kids need to be tucked in bed by 9PM (Matthew actually). I need to device a plan next week. I need to have some quiet time with the Lord.
2. I practiced shooting in manual mode. Got some nice pictures of the sunset and the kids walking with some shots of Lola and the kids. I want to, next time, capture moments. Now to practice being obscure.
3. KFC = playtime for kids.
4. The only downside of the day was Matthew’s tantrums. I really need to learn to control them. It is not that my son has ADHD, he is just very sensitive and moody.
5. Plans for NCLEX | Nursing | Teaching is being thought over. I have been dreaming about medical id tags. I hope it comes to fruition this year.

Im latePosted by admin on June 20th, 2008

Just so you know — I didnt miss a day Im just late Hahaha.

Life in the Suburbs
Day 3 – June 18, 2008

We went to Manila, supposedly to have Martha checked. BUT we did the wrong move and ate at Aristocrat first then went to UST to find out the doctor has left already! *dumb dumb dumb*. Oh well, at least I are Aristocrat Chicken BBQ again! Yiheee. We bought Matthew rubber shoes and Martha some Dora Slippers which she picked herself (only to find out she switched the sizes so we got the smaller one at home!).

Random Comments:
1. I really cant live in Manila anymore, well not in Manila per se, but Dimasalang. Too crowded, too noisy, too hot, not peaceful. Siguro nasanay na ako dito talaga.
2. Parang kumukulo ang tyan ko pag nakikita ang SM. I wanted to eat Red Ribbon, Chowking, Pizza, Waffles, Mango Shake, etc etc. Tawa ng tawa sa akin si Edil.
3. GAS!!!! Oh my GAS talaga! A full tank of diesel is now 900, whereas last May it was only 600. Grabe.
4. I dont miss Manila. I guess I just want to have some me time in a mall but not really stay in the city.
5. Malayo pala talaga ang byahe. Hehehe.

This will kill me later.Posted by admin on June 18th, 2008

Life in the Suburbs
Day 2 – June 17, 2008

The highlight of the day was when Martha was visited by a manghihilot. She still had fever for most part of the day and when I was ready to go to Manila today to have her checked (We even made plans already) – I thought of getting her a manghihilot baka kasi may pilay sya.

Dont get me wrong. As a medical professional, Im quite wary of things like these too. But Martha has no colds nor cough, is active. Save for the passage of watery stool thrice a day (which I think is because of some viral illness) – she is OK. But she has been having fever since Sunday and when fever lasts longer than three days – it is not good.

So screw me. The lady said Martha has pilay at her back. She proceeded to massage the princess while the brat screamed to death – she perspired heavily (cold sweat pa) immediately after. And a few hours later, the fever was gone.

And she had energy to last her until 3AM watching and dancing to Barney *sigh*.

Now I have no sleep.

The low-key, but equally nice, moment was talking to Edil for an hour over the phone. Nice times. Night owls talaga kami. (Baka maging habit na ito).

And can I just say = Matthew was been sleeping at 8-9PM for two straight days! A huge accomplishment for the Big Mommah!!!

The Virtue of PatiencePosted by admin on June 17th, 2008

Life in the Suburbs
Day 1 – June 16, 2008 (night time)

I have yet to learn the virtue of patience.

I pray that I will have it.

Yesterday was a rough day. The princess was running a fever and was extra clingy and grumpy and the prince was asking for attention as well by being hyper and making fun of his extra grumpy sister. I think I snapped out of anger so many times that by 7PM I was ready to call it a night. I was mentally tired already.

The prince slept at 8PM surprisingly while the princess, with the calming effect of Calpol, was hyper until 11PM. I was so exhausted I wasnt able to do my stress release activity – scrapping.

I talked to the husband for 3:46 (I have a call summary feature on my phone). It’s hard for us because we are not texters nor talkers (ever since) so keeping in touch needs effort. I text him once a day, given we dont have any emergencies (money-wise usually), worth 3 messages (it’s long) and he calls (or I call) and we do the usual how are the kids routine. Maybe I need to be sweeter? (By the time I typed that out Im cringing already) – I guess maybe on my part Im expecting him to call and be the more active party – I have the kids, his FAMILY IS HERE – he should communicate with us all the time. Yet I forget that he is busy making a living, no matter how seemingly insignificant dining out with doctors are (ugh, I still have a long way to go to accept some things).

Communication is the key for all relationships to work.

Be patient. Communicate.
Action plans for today.

Let' see if I can be true to my word this time.Posted by admin on June 16th, 2008

Life in the Suburbs
Day 1 – June 16, 2008

We have been here since May 1st. And while we are adjusted well, I have to come to accept the fact that it might take us longer to settle down. We still have a bare house, with bare essentials. We make do with what we have and the kids don’t even notice the small stuff. But it is the small stuff that I really sweat about. Stuff like clothing hooks on doors, matching dining sets, a bed platform (!!!), a shower curtain. So many small things that are lacking, but true to its insignificance, doesnt really make our lives miserable.

Dont sweat the small stuff.

It’s a bit hot today. I hear thunderstorms – a sign that rain, a strong one, will be coming this afternoon. The sun shone around 5:30AM today while the roosters cuckoo-ed around 6AM. I have been having listless sleep nights – I am waking up every two hours, I wonder why.

Last night the dogs from the neighborhood howled. Howled like what you would hear in horror movies. Old tales say the dogs howl when they see ghosts. All I can say is, I was so glad the husband was here last night

He left for work in the city today. I pray for more strength and understanding for our situation because I have the tendency to nag and be stubborn. I want him relocated. And while it is not for entirely selfish reasons, I know that it is not the most practical solution to our situation for now. So I pray some more.

The princess has been nursing a fever since yesterday too. She has been sleeping since 10AM (and now it is close to 2PM) – and her fever just broke. I hope it is just viral in nature because her asthma can attack and I still havent replaced her empty Seretide just yet.

The prince will be home in exactly in 45 minutes. Which means I have that long to take a shower, unhook G from our connection and hook up our family computer. I think I would want to scrap today.

The owners of the house are fencing in the area lot (thank God). I just pray that the laborers arent really noisy so I can take a shower in peace.

Weight TalkPosted by admin on June 10th, 2008

I think I gained weight from last week – or it could just be PMS talking as Ive got a huge zit on my chin and have been craving chocolates more often than usual (and for a chocoholic like me, that is crazy! ) Im going to be stricter with my health regimen – at least 15 minutes of activity that will make me sweat, more water (like 3L) and some weight loss supplements. A friend has been recommending some cheap Phentermine but Im still too scared to try it out – I have tried Xenical (but the husband got me generic ones which are cheaper) and it works .

I want to be healthy – taking care of two kids who are active made me realize I need to be fit to keep up with them.