Day 23: That Long Audition...

...that took 3hours from my Saturday, and kept me from leaving early for the out-of-town vacay turned out to be a blessing!

Mamma Mia - the Smash Hit Musical!

I took KY to her Mamma Mia auditions Saturday. My dad was supposed to take her, but he had to leave with my mom and my kids on the big van. They were our early party, since they were doing the check-in. So my brother KM was supposed to take KY instead. But he wasn't dressed yet when I got to their house and was actually busy strapping the bikes to the back of his SUV. So I took KY.

It was a boring 3hours. I waited and waited. Had Kesong Puti Pillows and a glass of cold Pineapple Tea from the cafe where the auditions were being held. I was so hungry, since I had early brunch (around 10am) to prep for the trip north.

Anyway, KY passed the screening, and will play Ali in a benefit show this December. So yay!

God sure knows how to turn my days around. So happy KY got the part!

Day 22: Friends

Meet new friends but keep the old,
one is silver and the other gold.

I spent friday with friends - new and old.

After work, I rushed to Ortigas to meet L and my new small group. I haven't been attending my Victory Small Group lately (well, since L moved and then I moved, so I somehow got displaced). But I promised myself I will attend regularly now, so I met L and her new group Friday night. Yay!

After small group, I had solo dinner (I know, how sad, but I was quite happy to spend some me-time, thinking about life and balancing my Moolah notebook) at Coffee Bean. Then I headed for Kamias for a small reunion with my old CCF d-group friends.

Couldn't find a new photo of my d-group peeps together. This one's from RL's shower, with KY. Hehe.

I love my friends! Just being with them is already a blessing! Having them in my life is God-sent!

Update!

I went on vacay, and didn't get to blog because of the following reasons:

1) My SmartBro service was down due to the typhoon and I couldn't get a decent signal. Was somewhere up North where Typhoon Mina was strongest.
2) It is mighty difficult to blog on the iTouch, especially when I can only do so during free Wifi breaks at the Cafe.
and 3) My mom hates it when I bring the laptop since it breaks all forms of communication. So I refrained from taking it out and lazed around all long weekend.

So there. Now that I have all my excuses out of the way...

I have sad news. My iTouch died last night. Our nanny forgot that it was sitting on her lap, so when she got out of the car, it fell. I thought she had it with her so I didn't look for it until 2 hours later. After another hour of searching, and turning the car upside down and looking through bags and shopping bags, we found it in the gutter two houses away - ran over, soaked, broken, cracked and useless. The good news is, my friend T told me he could have a look-see and check if maybe he can just replace the screen. So I'm letting it sit in a bowl of uncooked rice with 4 packs of silica gel to get the moisture out. Keeping my hopes up, and all fingers crossed.

Excuse me...

I just needed to say that right now, I am thankful that KY is done with her auditions!!! That took the whole afternoon! Thank you, Lord!!!

Day 21: Yohoho! (Take Two!)

Ok, so I was reading through posts on the Disney Junior FB page, and thought to see if I knew any of the other YoHo Treasure Hunt winners from the Philippines. Then I saw this:

Yohoho! So happy to get a second prize! Yay!

Yes, another win! See, the promo site said the promo had ended when we logged in Sunday afternoon. But A insisted that the promo was 'til Sunday and we should still send in an entry. So I tried going direct to the entry page and submitted an entry. So there, we won again! Yay!

God is good! My little boy is doubly-Disney-blessed!

Day 20: Ice Cream

I was craving for ice cream yesterday, and whaddyaknow! Our warehouse worker, M, was celebrating her birthday and treated everyone to ice cream! Yay!

I scream for Ice Cream! Just had to say it. LOL!

I am blessed!

Day 18 and 19: Good Health

I know I mentioned that my little boy was sick over the weekend. And that his fever went away Sunday morning. But it was back a bit on Monday night and then again Tuesday morning. So much so that I got so paranoid just thinking about it yesterday.

It's so hard to have kids who are sick. And to top it off, we have that Dengue epidemic (I don't care what the government wants to call it, but to me, it is what it is) that scares the heck out of me. A was sick Thursday last week, and was sent home from school. Friday, it was RL's turn. So can you imagine my paranoia when his fever recurred Monday evening? (Read: Dengue Scare)

So for Monday, I am thankful to have a pediatrician who loves and cares for my kids - a pediatrician who is on call, who gives out her mobile number so she can reassure you on your child's condition.

I'd rather be sick than have my kids go through it. I get so paranoid!

And because my son's fever didn't recur after his last bout with it at 7am yesterday, I am thankful that RL is okay. No more fever. No more colds. I think we can rule this fever out as his body fighting off the onset of a bad cold? Nevertheless, he is well and that's what counts.

Prayer is the best medicine. Thank you, Lord!

Day 17: RL's Surprise!

Today's blessing is brought to you by Disney Junior!

Before that, let me tell you about another blessing. Yesterday, my little boy was suddenly sick with a fever. At the doctor's clinic, his temperature was a high 38.6°C, which prompted his pediatrician to order a CBC and a Dengue N1 Test - which came out Normal and Negative (Thank you, God!). When we got home from the hospital, his fever shot up to a 39.7°C! This morning, for the first time ever, he complained of a headache. Poor baby.

He slept all morning, and at noon, when I went up to wake him up for lunch, his temperature was down and normal. And now, he is the energetic little boy that he is. His appetite is back, too. He finished a bowl of rice with tortang ampalaya (bittergourd and egg) and a cup of cereals. So yay! I am thankful, Lord!

After lunch, while attempting to send in an entry for Disney Junior's YoHo Treasure Hunt, I was surprised to see that winners for the past days have been posted already. And lo and behold, RL won!

Woot! Can't wait for RL to receive his swag from Disney Junior!!! Yohoho! Treasures ahoy!

There are good days and bad days. Life is a balance.

"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him..." Romans 8:28

Day 16: Rare Opportunities

These deals are rare and you have to be mighty blessed to get first dibs on it. I was about to sleep when a tiny voice told me to get up and check my mail. I wasn't sleepy but didn't want to get up so I used my phone to log in.

Whaddyaknow! Right when 5J announced their "Tie a YelLOW, LOW, LOW Ribbon Seat Sale"!!!

Can someone say... "Seat Sale?!!!" This is almost as good as it gets!

And just like that, my little boy and I have tickets back to the homeland! A has to stay home because she cannot afford to miss classes, boo! :( We're meeting friends from Japan, so this sale came at just the right time.

P4,777.27 ALL-IN for two Round-trip seats and baggage allowance. Great deal, donchathink? My God sure is watching over me!

Day 15: Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival

Today is Quezon City day. Yay!

I needed the day off, and I got it today. I stayed in bed and lounged in my PJs the whole day. Wasn't anywhere near productive (except for cooking lunch), but that's all good, right?

My kids are sick, but the pedia isn't at the clinic today. I hate it when illness comes to my home. Medicine is so expensive nowadays. :( Sigh.

But God is in control, and I know He watches over me and my family.

Today, my mom got us tickets for the upcoming Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival! Yay! RL is excited! He loves Mickey!

Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival in Manila on October 5-9!

God is good! He gave me a mom who knows how to turn our blah days into dancing! I love my mom!

Check out Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival here.

Day 14: Photobook Deal!

My siblings and I have been planning on getting a coffeetable book made for our mom. When they moved to their new home in Quezon City, they had my photographer friends document every new nook of their house. The plan was to have the photos compiled into one nifty photobook. However, my friends have a new baby and you know how time-demanding a new baby can be.

So my sibs and I were thinking we should just design and have the photobook made ourselves. But photobooks are pricey. The last deal we saw on one of the groupon sites was for a small photobook. Knowing my mom, she'd want something grand to show off her grand home.

Lucky Blessed us, the Philippine Groupon site has the perfect photobook printing service on sale this week!

Perfect Photobook deal at Groupon Philippines!

We got the P1400 for P6000 worth of Photobook from Photobook Philippines deal! Great deal, huh?

I am excited to start this project and can't wait to give this to our mom for Christmas. Yes, Christmas. It takes time and dedication to edit photos. But not to worry, we're starting early. Which reminds me, that 2011 family calendar needs editing... ooops. Changing the dates to 2012. Late na e. LOL!

Wanna know the best part? My brother KM paid for this deal! Haha! But I'd have to edit, so I'd say... quits! :D

To avail of the same Photobook deal or see other great deals, visit Groupon Philippines here.

Day 13: Registered!

Disney Junior Asia is having a Yo Ho Treasure Hunt and I've been trying to get RL registered to the Disney Junior site since Monday. I guess everyone's trying to register, so much so that the site has been unavailable since.

But not today. Today... breakthrough! I was able to access the site and got RL registered! Yes! A has a Disney account as wel, but RL needs his own account for his entry to count as valid. So after lunch, I had the nanny watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates with him, and we had answers for today's Q on the site. Yay!

Join the YoHo Treasure Hunt by watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney Junior!

I hope RL wins!

What breakthroughs have you experienced lately?

Day 12: Free Lunch!

My brother and I had lunch at Kanzhu Hand-Pulled noodles today for FREE! Yes, the voucher came free due to referral credits. So we had a big meal, courtesy of CashCashPinoy - thanks!

The Kanzhu deal on http://cashcashpinoy.com! 

My brother's Fried Lamb Noodles, P175; Hakaw/ Shrimp Dumplings, P120.

My Beef Tendon Dry Noodles with Soup on the side, P130.

And the noodle guy making the noodles by hand - the old, authentic way.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26

Day 11: Quality Time.

I am a single parent. And single parents don't have all the time in the world. I am blessed to even have the energy to run errands after a full day's work. Yesterday, traffic was terrible on the way home. Apparently, the guys from DPWH just had to repair a whole stretch of concrete right at the mouth of the highway. WOW. The 15-minute drive took me more than an hour.

But blessed little ol' me, my little boy was still awake when I got home. After dinner, I had the chance to run a few errands with him. We had a few serious conversations, too.

My little boy makes me laugh! Conversations like this one are priceless.

I am blessed to have a funny toddler who erases all trace of exhaustion. Thank you, Lord for RL!

Extra time is rare in my family. The extra minutes are blessings! Have you been blessed with the "extras" today?

Day 10: Shopping Perks

Shopwise is having their Anniversary Sale, and this week (until the 17th), they're bringing in Buy 1 Take 1 deals! I had to get RL some more of his fave prune juice (don't ask why he loves the stuff, but it helps with toddler constipation) yesterday and rushed to Shopwise before they closed. The store was packed on a Sunday. I came for the juice and this:

Awesome deal from Shopwise! Beef Shank for P285/kilo plus another kilo for P1!

That's about P150/kilo! For beef!

We hardly ever get to have beef because of rising prices, so deals like this one help single-income, single-parent, meat-loving families like ours.

Thanks, Shopwise!

Oh, and I won an Apple, too.

Blessed today with awesome deals! Et tu? How was your Sunday?

Day 9: Free Haircut!

Note: Didn't get to blog during the weekend, sorry!


My mom took RL out on a date Saturday afternoon. My kids get separate dates with their Granny, and they both look forward to it. Saturday was RL's day, and my mom took him to get his haircut.

Ever since RL watched both A and me at the salon two months ago, he's been bugging everyone for a hair cut. We were all scared he'd do another Trinoma episode (cried his heart out for all of Trinoma to hear, when we went to have his hair shaved off last year for a wedding), but the last haircut was decent enough. So when my mom asked if she can take RL to get his haircut, I said yes.

Serious little boy getting his long hair chopped. (Photo from KY's iTouch)

The best thing about dates with Granny? My kids get to do what they want (ie. buy what they want) and I don't have to spend a dime! LOL!

I am blessed with a great mother who dotes on my kids. Thank you, Lord.

Day 8: Small Stuff

I was trying to get connected to Globe for the past 2 hours (yes, 2 hours!!! *groan*). And right when I was about to give up, I whispered a frustrated prayer. And God, faithful as He always is, came through! Now I feel so guilty with the way I said my prayer. Must remember to come to Him with a cheerful and humble heart.

Blurry photo of those 4 steady green lights that mean I have net connection! Yes!

~~ o ~~

After 2 weeks of trying to make a side trip to the nearby seedling bank, I finally took time out to go over lunch today. My Malaysian-variety Moringga plant has been drooping lately, due to height, so I wanted to get Bamboo stilts (those thin poles/ sticks that keep plants up). My dad said you can buy them at plant stores, so I figured I'd drop by Manila Seedling Bank and get a couple from there.

While I was there, I decided to get a few Neem Trees (P70each), a Large-variety Calamansi bush (P100), a Sampaguita seedling (P35) and a Citronella plant (P75). The man manning the Fruit-bearing trees area of Manila Seedling Bank gave me 2 long bamboo sticks, just like that! He asked me if I needed some sticks to keep the Neem trees up (they're thin trees that could bend in the wind), and I took one look at the bunch he had and said yes! They're long enough for my Moringga trees, too!

"...your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:8 

Day 7: Look'it What Came Today!

Okay, for all of you following this blog, you must be wondering how all these blessings are just pouring in... Believe me, I am scratching my head as well.

When I used to keep a journal as a kid (and even when I migrated that journal to Xanga), I would often note down my blessing for the day. Not everyday, however. So this blog project sure is coming in handy. My days have changed. I now try to see the positive, over the negative.

Today, this came in the mail.

UK Post! Thank you, Trunki!

EDIT: Here is a photo of the Trunki strap!

We recently got our little boy RL a Trunki Freddie the Fire Engine Ride-On from the Hong Kong airport. However, when we got to Manila, we noticed the strap missing. Now, a Trunki isn't a Trunki without the strap. I tried asking resellers if they sold the strap, but none of them had the extras. So I did the next best thing. I wrote to Trunki UK, and guess what? They sent me a new strap via post! For FREE!

To find out more about Trunki and their products, check out their website here.

God is faithful everyday, isn't He? I am amazed and my heart is bursting with joy. 

Day 6: After Years of Searching...

...I finally found another Signs and Symbols poster!

When A was a year old, I bought a similar poster and had her learn all the signs for the Alphabet. In a week, she knew them by heart. This was how I taught her spelling and eventually, how to read. So when RL came along, I wanted the same poster. But I searched NBS for this poster, and they no longer had it. The truth is, I hardly ever look anymore. RL has baby signing books, and he's mastered his signs. But we're currently teaching him the Alphabet and letter-recognition, and it would have been great to use the Signs and Symbols poster.

A needed a new Philippine Map for tomorrow's AP test (we can't find the one supplied by her school). So after lunch today, I decided to check out NBS Quezon Avenue. Was looking through the poster rack for maps, and there it was, a stack of Signs and Symbols posters!

Signs and Symbols Poster - P25.00! Cheap, too!

I know it isn't a big deal, but I am so happy! Hahaha!

Are you happy with even the smallest of blessings? Count it all joy!

Day 5: More Swag!

Look at what I got today!

GCs for MickeyD's!!! My kids are gonna go crazy!

Yes, more swag. Thanks, McDonald's Philippines!

Have you started keeping track of how God has blessed you each day?

Day 4: Dinner!

It's A's exam week. Needless to say, I am stressed. I have to get up early (430am!), get her ready for school, get ready for work, work, run errands, tutor, etc. Oh and I have to cook dinner, because my nanny, B, doesn't cook (she's only 18).

My mom says I have to teach her how to cook. And I've been doing that each time I cooked dinner all the past 4 months she's been with us. 4 months - I've probably cooked more meals now than I ever did in my whole life! LOL! Seriously, I love to cook, but it's been so stressful lately, it's becoming quite a chore.

Yesterday, my dad calls me into his office and tells me he has food for us. And he tells me "so you won't have to cook dinner."

Gising-gising. Tacky phone pic, I know. But nom! My kids love this! 

Woot! So blessed that someone actually thought about the small things, because they do matter.

Big things come in little packages! How has your day been blessed?

Day 3: Jollibee Swag!

Sundays are TimeZone days for my kids. We've actually been trying to save on TimeZone expenses (yes, we're I am supposed to be on a TimeZone ban). So anyway, today, at TimeZone, we won our money back by winning this Jollibee gift check (worth P150.00)! Yes, my kids had fun, and I won swag.

P150.00 Jollibee Gift Certificate from my fave game at TimeZone! Woot!

Not a plush toy, but it is swag!

Did you have a blessed Sunday, too?

Day 2: Hand-Me-Downs

This post is meant for yesterday. But I couldn't log onto Globe yesterday. The good news is, after placing a call to the hotline and ranting a good 5 minutes to the lady who took my call (and a dozen of apologies later), I finally got connected!

Anyway, back to my Day 2 post. My cousin K sent me a message on FB last week, asking me if I wanted her daughter's hand-me-downs for A. Not that A doesn't have enough clothes, but I said sure anyway. A gets her clothes from 2 sources: HongKong and hand-me-downs. Having an older sister sure has its perks. Especially if the older sister has store credit spelled as G-R-A-N-D-M-A. LOL! Now, we add older girl cousins to the list. Hehe.

So last week, my cousin W (K's husband) brings this huge plastic bag of clothes to the office. I checked the loot and at the bottom of the pile was a pair of ZooYorks! In white, too!

A has been telling me how her PE teacher has been telling her that sneakers aren't allowed for PE use. And that she had to get a good pair of white rubber shoes. We've been putting off the purchase for over a month now, and getting by with her Chucks (sometimes her teacher fails to notice), until finally, I took home the pair of ZooYorks, to her utmost delight!

White ZooYorks in a size 7 - perfect!

So yes, thankful for cousins who think of my kids. And hand-me-downs that save us from dents to the wallet. Perfect blessing! Thanks!

How has your family blessed you today?

Day 1: Look Who Got Into Pottermore.com!

Yep, still on Day 1, and here's another thing to be thankful about! A and I secured pre-reg slots to Pottermore.com! (Okay, okay, ang babaw ba ng kaligayahan?)

JK Rowling's new baby - http://pottermore.com (yes, that's MORE of Harry Potter!)

Nevertheless, still a blessing!

Any extra blessings for you today?

Day 1: My Little Boy is Here!

Today I am blessed to have my little boy with me in the office. Not everyone gets to have their kids spend the day with them at work. RL is a handful but he brings so much joy to everyone when he's here with me.

My little boy, RL.

What a blessing!

What about you? How has God blessed you today?

Every Day is Blessed!

I was moping around yesterday (and yes, I cried..ooops) thinking what a sad, sad life I was living when I got whacked on the head by this realization that every day is a blessing. Cliche, I know, but guess what, IT'S TRUE.

There I was wallowing in self-pity, allowing the devil to steal my joy, when the truth is, I AM BLESSED. Every single day, God sends a spoonful of blessings my way, and I don't even bother counting it all joy. Well, not anymore. Today, I am starting this blog with the promise of counting my blessings every single day of the year. I am blessed beyond compare. God is my Father, and I am His child. The floodgates of Heaven are open just for me. Today is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad.

"Rejoice always, pray continually...

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18