Football

Hubby is a Michigan fan. That's why I've been trying to get him season tickets to the Wolverines' 2012 season. But it's so hard to get them. I inquired online and I found out I need to shell out $500 just to put his name on the waiting list. And I heard the wait is at least a couple of years. That is insane! Such a turn off. For now,
tailgating will do. He went last year and had a great time with his friends. Parking was a rip off though. $50 per vehicle! I guess that's the price he has to pay. And he did so willingly.

Babies

My sister in law is seven months pregnant and looks really cute in her maternity clothes. They're expecting a baby boy and we are all very excited to welcome the new addition to the family in a couple of months. They haven't decided on the name yet, but whatever they pick, I bet it'll be beautiful.

I remember when everyone was trying to encourage us to have another one after Alexis was born. It took me a while to relent. I had a hard time giving birth the first time and I swore I wouldn't do it again. But what fun would that be? I'm glad we have two wonderful kids. Best decision ever!!!

Dream vacation

Hubs and I always talk about a winter family vacation in one of the ski resorts up North. An all inclusive resort where one can enjoy fun activities and sip hot cocoa by the bonfire, all bundled up after resting worn out skis on a thule ski rack. I wish! We're always couped up in the house during winter time and we'd love to break the habit. He grew up in Michigan and is used to outdoor activities during the winter time. I, on the other hand grew up in a tropical country where the sun always shine. Our kids, unfortunately are growing up to be a lot like me, happy and content inside the house. I realize I need to put a stop to this and allow them to enjoy the beauty Mother nature has to offer. I need to change my ways and try to enjoy winter more so my kids can do the same.

Miss my hometown

dusting

I should have used burton snowboards instead of my car! It snowed a couple inches last night and we woke up to a blanket of snow. It was a surprise for me coz we've had a mild winter so far and we got spoiled a bit. But I guess I shouldn't complain because last year was a lot messier as we were battered with snowstorm after snowstorm. It got so bad the county had to declare level 3 emergency. SNOW DAY for grown ups!!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed so we may not experience any more snow storms. We don't need that kind of excitement.

Log Furniture

Nothing compares to the appeal of rustic log furniture. It's simple, yet very classy. It's also durable and is never out of style. Someday when I can afford it, I would love to redecorate my living room with log furniture. I have bought many home design magazines and I enjoy looking at them, picking up ideas for the future. I like contemporary designs and I will make sure this goal is met someday.

But for now, I will be happy with what we have. Simple life, simple living.

Cold

I dislike winter! It snowed a lot last night and it had gotten a lot colder. It would be nice to stay home but things need to be done. I was on my way home from the gym this morning and I almost couldn't stop my car at the intersection. I didn't realize there was black ice and when I stepped on the break pedal, the car slid. It made me a bit nervous. Good thing there were no other cars around. I could have created an accident. When I got home, I turned my electric mattress pad on and took a long nap. The best Christmas present I received last year!

keeping fit

Speaking of healthy regimen, not only did I sign up for a gym membership but I'm also watching what I eat. I'm a yoyo dieter and I'm hoping to curb my appetite for chocolates and junk food. In the summertime, I plan on hiking the trails with my friends. I bought a new high sierra swerve backpack to inspire me. :-)

How about you? How do you keep yourself healthy?

Fit and Healthy

If you're not a yoga enthusiast, you probably won't know what zafus are. I admit I never heard of it until I signed up for a gym membership. I'm glad I did. I've gained so much weight and I have to do something about it. It's about time. The only problem I am facing is the lack of time. Work and home life keep me busy all the time. But I have designated a few hours during the weekend to be my "me time". I believe that by keeping myself healthy, I am doing myself and my family a whole lot of good.

work mode

I spent seven years in retail before I switched to banking. It was a fun seven years and I learned a lot. From an entry level job at the customer service desk, I moved on to bigger and better things within the company. I learned everything there was to learn and I never shied away from work. I wasn't afraid to scan through the whole store using the barcode scanner making sure the prices are correct. My utmost concern was customer satisfaction. That hasn't changed. I do the same thing in my current job right now. I do what's best for the client, and as the trusted advisor, I strive to exceed their expectations. I am thankful for my job because I have the opportunity to do what I do best everyday.

watch trend

I see a growing trend stainless steel watches. I can't help but notice the beautiful shiny metal pieces whenever I go to my favorite jewelry store. Perhaps the main advantage of stainless steel is it is stain free and easy on the eyes. It is also very durable and inexpensive compared to gold or titanium. I remember buying a titanium watch for my husband 3 years ago and it set me back a few hundred dollars. He still has it but barely wears it because he's afraid to ruin it in his line of work. I bet if I had bought a stainless steel watch, he'd never take it off. And I won't mind either if it gets scratched.

Preparation

My daughter, who's a high school freshman is very inquisitive. That's a trait she displayed early on in her childhood and has proven to be very useful in her studies. Her teachers love her and she excels academically. She is excited about college and is already doing a lot of research about colleges she is interested in. She plans on doing dual enrollment in the near future so she can get college credits while in high school. I see a lot of opportunity for her in the medical field. She loves animals so I advised her to look into Veterinary Technician Jobs. She didn't like the idea, but she's willing to explore her options. That's all I could ask for.

Useless

I wish my husband was a handyman. I wish I was too. If we were, we could save a lot of money doing repairs around the house. Neither of us know how to do minor fixes. Can't count the many times we summoned a repair guy, only to find out we could have done the work ourselves. We have many tools, but we don't always know how to use them.
We even have micrometers handed down from my husband's uncle who was an engineer. Needless to say, they're collecting dust in the attic. I wonder if we should enroll in a trade school? Not a bad idea.

Someday soon....

Short term goal......working on it....

TV land

We finally relented and bought a box converter for our oldest daughter's TV in her room. She had been begging us to get her a converter so she can start streaming Dr. Who and some other British made TV series via Netflix. We made her promise that she'll maintain her grades up and the TV can't be ON past 10pm. She agreed and has been behaving so far. She better, or she'll be grounded the rest of her life ;-).

Superbowl

We had a Super Bowl party at our home two weeks ago but people are still talking about the decorative football laced strawberries we served. Not only were they the perfect eye candy, they were also delicious!! Two of my friends thought I made them myself. I could've taken the credit but I couldn't lie. I wish I was that talented! I immediately wrote down the website I got it from and my friends said they'd check it out as soon as they get home. We had a really fun evening. Best of all, I hardly ever lifted a finger...thanks to my online "connections". :-)

It's almost March. Almost Spring time! Thankful that it's a mild winter so far. Stores are selling Easter items already. I see Spring/summer selections as well. Next thing we know, it's Christmas time once again. It's a vicious cycle. Last year went by too fast that we weren't even able to put out outdoor lighting. We'll be better this year though. We decided to convert to led light bulbs because we heard they don't burn out as fast and conserves energy. Yay for green energy!

Meanwhile, sun is shining outside and I think I'm going to enjoy a brisk walk with my pup. Ta Ta!!

Shoe junkie

I didn't want to leave the house yesterday, but hubs suggested we go to the outlet stores in Howell Michigan. He said he needed a bigger gym bag, and since I'm a Coach purse junkie, I didn't object much to the idea. Perfect timing coz most the stores were holding President Day's sale and were giving additional discounts. I went to a shoe store that sells work shoes for women, and I end up buying 2 pairs for work. I saved so much money that I treated myself to another pair of running shoes. Hubs bought 3 pairs of athletic shoes as well. Fun times! :-)

Modern technology

I can't believe I've been away from my country for most my life. I left in 1993 right after college and I've only been able to visit 3 times, most recently in September last year. It was just a 2-week vacation but I had so much fun that I decided to do it every 2 years. I still keep in touch with most of my high school and college buddies. Some of them are living abroad as well, but those who are still in the Philippines are still pretty much a part of my life. We communicate regularly, thanks to the internet and the beauty of video conferencing. We are up to date with one another and are able to nurture the friendship through the years. Thank God for modern technology!

Skin tone help

I've always complained about my skin tone. It's uneven and looks blotchy at times. I tried many products to even it out, but none of them really delivers the total satisfaction I've been looking for. I apply thin foundation on my face when I go to work, but it causes my skin to break out. I apply moisturizer, and I don't forget to wash my face before I go to bed. I use facial mask, toning liquid wash, and what have you's but nothing seems to work. I don't know what else to do! I wonder if anairbrush makeup machine can help with my problem??

Smell Good stuff

Believe it or not, I can't remember the last time I went to the mall to shop. I love online shopping. It's convenient and I don't even have to leave the comfort of my home. Shipping doesn't take long either. I was browsing fragrance express perfume online and I couldn't believe the vast selection of products. I had a great time looking at different gift ideas for all my loved ones. I wish I had found the website sooner.