PLAYGROUND COTTAGES HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.

Going GreenPosted by admin on February 5th, 2010

One of the things we are actively doing at home is make compost pits out of biodegradable stuff we have at home, that way, it will be easier for us to make sure our gardens flourish. It’s just hard to dig up a pit as we need to have one made that is not too near where the kids play because it must be deep enough for the chickens, cats and dogs not to dig into it. A compost tumbler should solve our problem!

Here is what they have to say in the site:

As an alternative to traditional compost bins, a compost tumbler can speed up the composting process due to the ease of being able to turn and mix the compost.  Additionally, the enclosed container helps with odors or preventing unwanted critters from rummagin around in an open pile. Just 7 give it a spin once a week to aerate the mixture and you could be compost-ready in just 21 days!

I think we we will be getting this!

Cars and Gasoline PricesPosted by admin on January 7th, 2010

One thing I am thankful, even if we are in a global financial crisis, is that gas prices have drastically gone down since August of last year when it came to shockingly 60pesos a liter. The husband travels a lot by car because it is essential for work and their field was drastically affected by the gas price increase. It was a good thing that their company was efficient enough to increase their daily allowance to at least 30% more, that already includes their transportation and food allowances for the day. Still, it was still a heavy burden for us, especially since where we live, basic commodity places like the hospital, school and market are very far. There is no traffic but we cover a lot of miles.

Fast forward to November last year, gas prices went steadily down. Until it became 30pesos a liter. Now we can breathe a sigh of relief. We can even go and travel back and forth to Manila without having to think about the gas consumption. The husband can now reconsider the car option and payment plan of the company (We were second thinking about it since we cannot afford the ride the car on gasoline so the car will be useless). He just hopes the auto allowance program that comes with it is big as well so we will no longer worry about cars and transportation.

Here’s hoping *crosses fingers*.

This is a sponsored post.

Wheels.Posted by admin on January 7th, 2010

You call it car, auto, wheels, transpo.

When did the car become a basic need for us to beyond me. All we know is that when we were commuting to Amadeo every weekend, the transportation allowance was draining a hole in our pockets already. And that commuting is very very tiring. We also need the flexibility of time – coming and going as we want to as we keep odd hours with work and with life at the province. We decided, well, realized is the term, that we need a car. A second-hand one, a jeep-type, we dont care. We just need to save more and cut back on commute expenses. I actually blogged about it a few days ago.

It can do for now.

But what about our dream car? Well, I really would like an SUV for the family. We travel big – and Id like to have relatives and my family inside one vehicle when we travel out of town. I want it to be comfortable. (And cheap on gas). So you can see I really dont have any requirements for a car, specifically that is.

Now, Edil, if he wasnt married, would like an Eclipse, BMW (who doesnt?), Jaguar or a Corvette. Too bad, his company’s Car Allowance doesn’t cover it. With his work and his extensive field work, the company has given cars to its employees as a benefit, with the option of selling it eventually to the employee with tenure.

This is a sponsored post.

Holiday partiesPosted by admin on November 23rd, 2009

As early as now, we have been receiving Christmas party invitations left and right, and everyone in the family is invited! Almost all our friends are already married and have kids so parties now are planned with kids in tow. It is harder to organize and since we live so far, every party becomes an outing for us. I pack so much stuff. I am not complaining though. The parties are so much fun and the kids get a lot of gifts so everything is worth it.

Our HummerPosted by admin on November 23rd, 2009

Our vehicle is a simple jeep. It was originally owned by my father-in-law who gave it to my husband when we moved to the suburbs. It’s pretty beat up and there are times when I actually hate it especially when its maintenance costs are too high and it drains our already empty pockets. But I am grateful we still have a mode of transportation and it takes us places. Our goal before the second quarter of the year is to buy a new one and as early as now I am looking for auto insurance quotes that we can have it applied under.

holiday seasonPosted by admin on November 23rd, 2009

One sure sign that the holidays are coming is the weather changes. It gets cold here where we live and just last night, I forgot to bring light jackets for me and my daughter when we went out to have coffee and I was freezing already. I took out their long-sleeved pajamas, sweaters, hats, scarves and jackets for easier wearing too. We don’t use the fan at night and it is still cold, I might need an electric blanket to keep warm. I love this kind of weather – cold but not raining, perfect bed snuggle weather!

Death by SugarPosted by admin on October 6th, 2009

Sepcifically, caramelized sugar in bananas. Aka bananacues.

We have been cooking bananacues for THREE straight days now. Our family of five give or take 4 more people can actually finish FOUR pilings of saba.

Bad. Very bad.

But it tastes oh so yummy. I better show you how bananacues should be cooked. These are the ones that are cooked for eating and not for selling. That way, sugar is abundant and oh so caramelized.

In fact, Im still eating right now.
Did I just brag I lost 15lbs? I might as well havent bragged about it because I might gain another 15 with the way Im eating hahaha Trust me, if there are Sebo vacuums designed for sucking fat, Ill be all over it.

Screened In.Posted by admin on September 5th, 2009

After being hit by the dengue bug (literally), we have not been home for almost two weeks. We are forcibly camped out at my parents’ place until every last inch of our dirty kitchen gets screened. Not that Im complaining really, who doesnt want to be pampered and spoiled all I want?

So far, ever since being home last Tuesday, my mom has set to recover all the 15lbs I lost. So I sleep in until 11AM, eat heavy brunch, sleep at 1PM then wake up in time for snacks. Repeat lethargic activity aka do nothing.

I’ve also been getting home massages a lot.

So there, it’s Friday and we are nowhere going home for the weekend.
Maybe next week.

276Posted by admin on September 5th, 2009

That was the magic number.

Four days into having a fever and seeing no progress in sight, my Dad decided to get me into the hospital to get some blood work done. So with me puking all the way and feeling my head was going to detach itself from the rest of my body we go to this hospital.

Ospital ng Tagaytay.

Grabe, mamamatay ka sa hospital na un.

The minute I saw it, I was a bit apprehensive going in but we were there already and I didnt have the energy to tell my Dad to take me somewhere else. So I was called in the lab.

And oh my gawd, the technician took my blood by PRICKING using a capillary tube to collect the blood.

Can I just say we were requesting for CBC with PLATELET COUNTS?!?!!?!?

Grabe, mamamatay ka sa hospital na un.

So yes, the 276.
276 was my platelet count with them as of 12NN Thursday.
By 1PM I was puking nonstop and had to be admitted to the Heart Center.

Where my platelet was down to 52.
Can you imagine if we were common menfolk there?
Grabe, mamamatay ka sa hospital na un.

Bug’s LifePosted by admin on August 19th, 2009

Proof that we have special bugs here.
Here are what I normally see with our everyday life. The moth especially has been hanging out in our dirty kitchen a lot

I also have seen more spiders than I have ever seen in my life.