Jake's Photography #2 - Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Thomas

Thomas and Friends is Jake's favorite show. At the store today he saw a thomas DVD ad started throwing a fit when we told him we are not gonna buy it. So, we ended up buying two DVD.

He has a thing with camera these days and been taking tons of pictures. Too bad the last bathc of pictures he took where he had lots of nice subject were all deleted because of my stupidity. I thought I had everything up uploaded to my computer. I did not checked when I deleted everything up. The pictures that was uploaded are the ones in the internal memory.

Anyway, aside from Thomas and Friend, he also took a bunch of snap with the cartoon shows he and Justine was watching. He is getting good with taking pictures though and if I asked him to take picture of me and Justine or Joe, he refused because he is busy. That's what he said. "I am busy mama, or No, I'm gonna take Thomas.

Jake's Photography #2 - Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Thomas

Easter Stuffs on Sale

In store today when we were at the cashier aisle paying, we saw a bunch of left over stuffs from Easter. It was on sale like 75% off. I was gonna pick up some stuff for next year's Easter but the budget is limited. If you want to save on this kind of item, you should shop now. You can hide it and pull it out when the time is right. You can also buy chocolate bunny candy online for less. It doesn't have to be Easter to eat bunny candy right plus the thing is you get to save when you buy it now. Grab this chance to buy the chocolate you like before it will be out of stock.

Easter Stuffs on Sale

Show Off Justine

She thinks she is a big girl now. She is not scared to climb up on this ladder and showing off. She will be 21 months old on Tuesday but this this girl has been doing the things that most two years old does. She is very talkative, and in fact couple of night ago, she woke up around 4:00 in the morning singing and talking. I recorded some of her wit. She said "Dada wheh ah you?, Mama wheh ah you." and random stuff like Jake, bird and more." The she was singing the alphabet in her Gibberish talk.


She was also aggressive to try the big person's swing. She got a boo-boo because it swang and hit her.

Show Off Justine

Baseball Fanatics

Are you a baseball fanatics? If you do, then you probably knows about baseball paraphernalia and which one is good quality or not. What do you think about demarini vendetta c6 baseball bat? This bat is BESR certified. It has hybrid comfort grip which means has two piece grip built for ultimate comfort and tack. Feel free to click on the link provided for some cool features description and price range. All these baseball players we watch TV possessed the best priced baseball bat and ball as their collection. Baseball is also a family sports thing. Most father's would love to teach their kids on how to play baseball. So, if you are looking for quality baseball bat then, visit HomerunMonkey.com. This site will help you find the right baseball bat that you need for you and your kids. So, check it out now and browse at their great choices of baseball bat. What are you waiting for?

Baseball Fanatics

Rides, Slides and Train

The choo-choo trains cost $2/head, so we let these two ride on it because the lil guy love train and he will throw a tantrum fit if we won't let him ride on it. They had three rounds for one minute.
Then went straight to the Playground after we had lunch.
It was lunch time when we got to the mall but the lil guy wanted to ride with the Robot first, so we spent $5 of quarters. We let the lil Miss ride the race car and motorcycle. It was the lil guy who spent most of the quarters as he knows how to drop those coins. Once the rides is over he would stretch his hands and asks for money. They had fun.

Rides, Slides and Train

DIY candy for my husband for Valentine's Day

Guest post written by Donna Crisp

One of my New Year's resolutions for 2011 is to cook more. Well, my husband was really excited about that because he has a huge sweet tooth and part of that resolution is to make more desserts at home too. So I thought that I would make his dessert dreams come true and make him some serious homemade candy and desserts for Valentine's Day this year. We already have a reservation at one of my favorite Italian restaurants for dinner that night and I'm going to make sure that I have my homemade desserts ready for us to eat when I get home from the dinner.

I went looking online to see what I could as far as recipes go for what I could fix for us. When I was online I came across the website get.wildblue.com and after I looked through it a little bit, I decided to change over our home internet service to the provider.

I'm making some DIY Valentine's Day chocolates, including truffles and some bark. I think I may also make some caramel turtles too.

DIY candy for my husband for Valentine's Day

Blue Monday - Easter Egg Hunt

Happy Easter everyone!

It's our first time to have Easter egg hunt and Jake was having a blast. He also enjoyed opening those eggs for chocolates. He even switched few of his empty eggs with Justine's eggs. The lamb chop was more interested on the swing and the chocolates inside the eggs.

Here are the eggs that Jake found.

Hunting for eggs.


Putting chocolate inside the egg and dyed four eggs. The lamb chop drop one of the egg, that's why we had three dyed eggs left.


Happy Blue Monday ya'll!

Blue Monday - Easter Egg Hunt

Grand family getaway

Although my kids are still small, toddlers actually, I am already thinking of talking to my husband on saving up some funds for a grand family getaway in Spain or Italy in a couple of years. We could maybe spend a month-long vacation there and perhaps rent some posh villas in Spain or bask under the sun in some gorgeous Italy villas.


I know there is so much time ahead but planning this kind of trip takes a lot of effort. Not only is cost an issue for a month long trip out of the country but also building up an itinerary as well as knowing exactly when the kids will be ready to make such a vacation.

At first I thought of having our grand vacation at my hometown in the Philippines. But then I realized, sooner or later, if funds permit, we will be going there every year or so that the trip won’t be as memorable as I would like it to be. I mean, if we keep going there back and forth to spend time with my family, it really would not be a getaway, would it?


Then I thought of taking them to other Asian countries, maybe Singapore or Malaysia but that too didn’t seem so grand, just because it’s still in Asia. Don’t get me wrong, I know we will still take trips there but I’m hoping for something grand, something neutral. Since I’m from Asia and my husband is from the Americas, then I want something neutral. Something that we will both find exciting so that it also becomes extra special to our kids, thus somewhere in Europe perhaps.


I thought of Spain or Italy because first, they have their own native language. That in itself is perfect for my husband and me. It will be interesting to learn a new language but at the same time, know that we will be safe because most of them still speak English. Another is that culturally speaking, Spain and Italy have somewhat similar culture that we are accustomed to, since Spain once colonized the Philippines and we were left with such a great influence by them. With the Italians, let’s just say that like most of the movies I’ve watched, maybe we’re similar in a sense that we’re family-oriented.


Anyway, all this is still not final. Again, I need to be able to convince my husband about this plan first but hopefully one day, it will materialize and my family will have this opportunity to bond together as well as learn more about 2 different countries and cultures.

Grand family getaway

Financial Freedom

I have always wanted to have a stock account. I’ve heard that a lot of people actually earn from stocks and that it is considered a pretty safe investment, well… as long as you have a great agent or broker.


One such site that got me interested is Mint.com. First, their service is free which is great for me, and second, is their site really helped me understand how it all works. Yes, it’s not all about stocks, it’s actually about being on top of your finances.


With Mint.com, they pull all your financial data, from balances and transactions, credit card activity, loans and even investments. But it’s not just something that you’d use for bookkeeping. The site actually has algorithms that suggest how you can save more and where and how to invest your savings. You are not obliged or mandated to follow their suggestions, which is the best part, but I love the idea that it gives you more options and ideas.


Seeing the whole picture on how your finances are certainly help plan ahead. Instead of just living and paying bills and debts one day at a time, they help you find a strategy on how to stay on top if not ahead of things.

Financial Freedom

Friday Photo Flashback - Baby Photos

Guess who?

This is the Dada's baby photo.

These are J&J Baby photos.

Jake was 4 weeks old in this photo and Justine was 3 weeks old. Do you see any resemblance to Daddy's baby photo?

Friday Photo Flashback - Baby Photos

Back to school

Have you ever thought of taking up extra courses just so you can earn a little bit of extra on the side? After my friend said she was looking at listings for cosmetology schools, I too thought if I could do something similar. For the time-being, I know I can’t go back to school because my children need my full attention. But maybe when they’re a bit older and are going to school, I can look into taking the same classes as well.


I got intrigued by all this cosmetology talk because it’s something I can practice in my own time. Maybe I can put up a small salon or something later on, but at the start, like what my friend mentioned, I can start doing jobs for my friends and relatives.


Talking about makeovers and stuff, I thought it was fairly easy and simple. It was just girl talk, you know, make up, skin care and hair care. But when I chanced upon the Oregon Board of Cosmetology, I realized that it was actually more serious than that.


Setting up a salon or being in the cosmetology field would actually require you certain licenses. A salon owner also has to follow a lot of restrictions and guidelines before and during their operation. Knowing all these makes me have more appreciation for workers in the field. Maybe soon I get to join that field soon.

Back to school

Blocks, Tracks and Choo-choo

Before Jake took interest with Thomas and Friends, he was into the blocks. Dada and him constructed the blocks and his favorite character was always Robot. This was their latest creation.

Then, it was December when he spotted a DVD of mixed cartoons shows which includes Barney, Thomas and Friends and more. I pulled the box of tracks and Thomas little engine out and he took interest on it right away because he saw it on TV.

Tracks #1

This was his first tracks that he and his Dada did.

Here he is, making his own choo choo train using boxes and his creativity.

Blocks, Tracks and Choo-choo

Seminars and Training

Summer time means vacation. Here in the US it is not vacation yet, but in the Philippines the school year just ended last couple of weeks. For the kids it's fun to take two months off from school but for public school teacher not so much. Some of my teacher friends were already taking their vacation and hit the beaches because in a week or two they will start with their Dep-Ed seminars and trainings. With the use of latest technology such as projectors, computers and the like, it's gonna be easy to grasp the whole seminar thing. I am not really sure if they are using mimio now, but as what i have remembered before, they are still using projectors and some materials collaborated by teachers creativity and resourcefulness.

Seminars and Training

Blue Stuffy and Clouds

It's Monday once again and time to play Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally. We spent few minutes outside at the playground in Schenley park just to let the kids get out from the dungeon. It was windy but the sun was out. The heat of the sun was not enough to conquer the wind which causing me ear ache. This is what the clouds look like this afternoon.


After Jake's birthday, that was last month, we went to Slippery Rock. Then my MIL treated us to dinner at Coney Island. Jake wanted to play one of that machine but he doesn't know, so Daddy came to the rescue and won this blue stuff dog.

Blue Stuffy and Clouds

Snoozed Up

After a long day of playing and running around, she got tired and smoozed up on top of thi comfortable foamy table.ZZzzzZzZzzzz

Jake and Justine were busy trashing the house and pulling every thing out. Then, Jake thought of using the Justine's Dora sofa into a bed but on top of the table. While he was fixing it, Justine thought of sliding the sofa and found out it was fun. They played with it for a while until I heard cries and scream because they're pushing each other. Well, it more like Jake pushing and hurting the little Miss. I gave Jake warning until he ended up in his room for a time out. That time out was like a nap too because I needed a break from yelling at this two. Justine got the sofa bed all to herself and settled there while watching Thomas show. Every thing was so quite and peaceful because both of them were napping.

Snoozed Up

Elite GMAT Preparation

Learning is a continuous process. It never stop even if you have masters degree or Phd or even you think you are done with it. As long as we are still alive, we keep learning the things we want to know that would help improve our life. Success is a journey. You have to work hard on it to achieved your goal. However, taking a test, it may be written or oral are just part of the evaluation to find out how much you have learned in your field of specification. If you plan to pursue your MBA or masters degree in business administrations well then you need to take the GMAT as one of the criteria for mba admission or getting into graduate business administration programs. GMAT is one of the most important factor required to get into MBA in the United States. It is a standard computerize test in mathematics and the English language for measuring aptitude to succeed academically in graduate business studies. It may be sound difficult but if you have best preparation, you will surely nail it. If you are preparing for the GMAT well then feel free to check out Veritas Prep as elite GMAT preparation and admission consulting that will help you get higher score in GMAT. Visit the link provided and find out Veritas Prep in your area. So, what are you waiting for?

Elite GMAT Preparation

Sky Watch

It was an old photo that I took couple of weeks ago. I have not uploaded yet the one i took yesterday. I just can't get enough of this clouds though. It looks so wicked and heavy. The texture looks like a cobweb or a cocoon coverings. What do you think of the clouds folks?

Sky Watch

Tax Extension

Have you done filing your taxes yet? If not well you better take care of it because you only have until Monday, April 18th to file your income tax. April is tax season and for sure not all of us are happy about it except those who get a big refund maybe. When I checked my Facebook account yesterday, someone from the Philippines posted in her wall that says, she is glad she is not from USA because April 15 is going to be a painful day for US bloggers, but on the brighter side US bloggers gets more blogging income opportunities. I keep thinking, what is on April 15, why it's going to be painful? I had no idea that april 15th is the deadline in filing income tax.


Meanwhile, I just read in the news about taxes and deadlines. The deadline of filing income tax is going to be on April 18th instead of April 15th due to holiday called emancipation and it also fall on the weekend which gives tax payers three days extension. However, find some information about irs extension if any circumstances you failed to file you taxes on the given time. You can visit IRS.gov or click on the link provided to get tax forms and information on how to apply for an extension of time to file. I know some of you are done with your taxes and perhaps have received refunds already. But those who have not filed their federal income tax yet, well then do it now. Check out online for any tax preparation software so you know what to do. There are many online tax filing website you can use these days to file your taxes and finish it quickly.

Tax Extension

Where's the cable guy?

I need an appointment with our cable guy. Ok, it's not because our cable is not working, it's just because I thinking of switching to Satellite TV. I haven't called for an appointment yet. I still have to get my husband on board with this. I know it may be a bit expensive but I'm hoping he finds it convenient that this way he too can record his shows if he doesn't make it on time.

It happened many time that my husband and kids have little arguments with TV channels. My kids love to watch the cartoons but my husband game is on. Well, luck is not always on my husband's side because the channel where the game was on was having technical problems. The husband ended up watching the score in his computer. There are few shows on TV that my husband love to watch such first 48 and other sports on the weekend. He gets frustrated if he miss any of those games though. By having Direct TV at home, I'm sure he'll get his recreation at his own time. So, Satellite TV it is and watch all the shows we want.

Where's the cable guy?

Play like there's no tomorrow

The daredevil is always on the go. She went straight to the slides as soon as we got to the playground yesterday. The buckaroo was acting shy at first because of the crowd, He was not used on seeing too many kids that day. But the kikay just never care. There she is sliding like a pro.

She was sliding the small slides until she got tired of it. So, she look around the playground and saw the rope ladder. She already tried this one before and i think she finds this one challenging. So she started climbing up. I took a quick snap of my camera because this daredevil doesn't care how dangerous the ladder with no one holding her.
The Joe came and kind of assist her but she was the one did all the climbing. Jake is scared to try this one but she doesn't.

Now that she was on top, she sat right away down the slides and weeeeee, then went back to the ladder.

Jake wanted to try so Joe had to hold Jake up but the girl can't wait for her turn and she started climbing up. So, Joe lifted Jake down to the ground because he was scared and he went the other way to get up there.

So, the girl was already up there and just sliding down with big giggles.

She kept doing it again and again like there is no tomorrow until one girl took over the ladder and she was lost. She saw the smaller ladder but it was not as challenging as this big one. I offered her juice instead and take some break hehe.
She dares danger and doesn't care. Lots of mom in the playground asked us how old she is and amazed of her. She just turned 20 months old last week and she acts like two years old.

Play like there's no tomorrow