Yogurtland

I have a new favorite!
I have not really tried Red Mango here but yogurtland is just so yummy! First, you get to pick the flavor that you want. you can try a bit of everything or just go for the usual plain tart of a mix of 3 flavors. And then you pick on what topping you want. You can get as many as you wish and then the cup is weighed. The only downside is if you get a lot of the toppings, you might have to end up paying more.

I think I would have to soon drink an appetite suppressant or else I would definitely gain weight.

Taipei

En route to the US, the lay over at Taipei was something I looked forward too. I knew they had a huge airport and huge it was. The 4 hour lay over was something I didn't even feel as I spent the whole time going around and looking at all the shops inside the airport. It was not only and airport but a mall too. Kudos to me as I didn't buy anything even if I got so tempted to buy something from the sanrio store or grabbing the best wrinkle treatment
cream they were selling.

I already T that we should visit Taipei next. I can't wait what the city has instore. Here are some pictures I took of their airport.

15 Days

Soon, it will be Christmas. I have not bought any gift except for the parents but I really don't have much on my list this year. I think it is of my advantage that I don't work since I won't have to worry about what to give to my co-workers. Most of those on my list would be family members and then my God children. I don't have much budget for gifts this year like last year so I hope to find good buys for them. I'm not pressuring myself into finishing the list as I realized that buying gifts should not be stressful. That it's something I should enjoy.

One more thing I need to decide on is if we should book any of the cancun vacation packages we have been sent by our travel agent. It's so tempting to just go away over the holidays but I would still need to check with T on his schedule. It would be really nice to end this wonderful year with a vacation.

Random Musings

1. I so need to go to the salon for a hair treatment. I need to do this by next week.
2. While at the salon, I should have my mani/pedi done too.
3. I need to finish the preparation of all the documents I need for the most important interview. it's 10 days from today and more than being scared, I'm so looking forward to it.
4. I remembered I could already start using my 2009 starbucks planner. *yey*
5. Have you guys done your Christmas shopping yet? I have not bought a single thing. I should make a list.
6. Trying to lose weight is hard! I hope I won't have to use a fat burner anytime soon.
7. Finding time to meet up with friends is difficult. Everyone is busy.
8. A lola I saw along Sto. Domingo last week was asking me for Php5 so that she could go home. I would have given her Php5 if I had not seen the newly lighted cigarette she was holding.
9. Watching Top Chef makes me want to be a Chef!
10. Mike Defensor is not going to win as Mayor of Quezon City.
11. ERAP is running again for President. If he wins it would be the fault of the Filipino and we would have to just deal with it. I hope he does not win though and that he finally shuts up after.
12. My blogs need a new look.
    
13. I hate ants!
14. I ♥ T!
    

Black Friday

This post is about a week late but last week I was so busy checking various websites for some good deals. I saw a lot from circuit city. One that really caught my attention was the DSLR camera's. One camera made me go back to the website tons of times and made me start reading reviews about the camera. The reviews were really good and for the price they offered it, I know it was such a good deal. The only thing that held me back is I don't really know if I'm ready to start using a DSLR. Maybe I should just wait till next Black Friday. Teehee!

Coming Soon

Soon we will launch the "new project" we have been busy with. It was almost 2 months back when my cousins and I thought of this project. It sounded so good and we felt it was really promising that is why we gave it a go and spent weekends planning on how we would go about with this "new project". We had to make sure we had all our options covered just like when getting a life insurance quote. Im pretty excited with this "new project" and I just hope everything goes well. We are ready to launch it before Christmas and its something we are all looking forward to.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's not only today that we should be thankful for all the good things and the not so good things that come our way. Everyday should be thanksgiving (like how everyday should be Christmas). Personally, God has been so good to me. This year brought about so many changes in my life but it has all been good. God has thrown some curve balls my way but He has also helped me and has taught me how to move ahead. God has given us things we didn't expect that made us worry but He has taught me that instead of worrying to just trust in Him for He will never forsake us. Everyday He has been faithful. He has been my light and my guide. I have learned along the way to be thankful for even the littlest things that happen or I receive.

God is good and forever I will be thankful.

Stressed

The waiting is killing me. I took the NCLEX 10 days ago and Im still waiting for the results. No news yet although a part of me thinks I didn't pass but an itsy-bitsy part of me hopes I did. I think the local boards is more difficult than the NCLEX but that does not mean I have more chances of passing the NCLEX. I remember how confused I was on answering the question about colon cleanse. I think I will need to wait atleast a week more.

BINDI

We had a business meeting last week at megamall to finalize the details of our new business ( to blog about this soon!) and get the Medicare supplement insurance of my dad. My cousins brought their little girl with them and I was happy they did. Bindi is such a darling. She was waving at everyone and gives them a flying kiss.

Like her Lola she loves shopping and trying on clothes. She is only 14 months old but already wears dresses for 2 year old kids. Last halloween, she was dressed as a nun and she was such a hit! Everyone at the mall was calling her sister baby.

Sorry for the picture overload. Just can't get over how cute and darling our little Bindi is.

SB planner

After 17 cups of coffee, I was finally able to complete the stickers last Sunday for my Starbucks planner. The timing was perfect as I would usually go to my favorite Starbucks branch to study. It's not only the time of the year to collect the stickers for the planner but also I look forward to the red cups because of Toffee Nut. The Dark Cherry Mocha is really good too. I used to like the Peppermint Mocha but not anymore.
I don't want to think of all the calories and all the weight I gained with drinking coffee just to complete the stickers. Also the money I could have saved and used to buy myself a BCBG Max Azria bag. Then again, this happens only during the Christmas season and the planner was just to nice to resist.

Mango Panna Cotta

Let me share a really easy but yummy receipe of Mango Panna Cotta.

1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon gelatin
1 cup cream
*1/4 pc vanilla pod, seeds scraped
3 tablespoons sugar
1 pc. mango, diced

Pour milk into a small bowl and stir the gelatin powder. Set aside. In a saucepan, stir together the cream, vanilla seeds, vanilla pod and sugar, and set over medium heat. Bring to simmering. Pour the gelatin and milk into the cream, stirring until completely dissolved. Remove from heat, and let steep for a while before lifting out the vanilla pod. Pour in serving glasses and let set in the fridge. When set, top with diced mango.

I use vanilla flavoring instead of the vanilla pod. This recipe is also good for 3-4 persons so just double the ingredients if you need to make more. I like this recipe because it's not too sweet. You also have the option to substitute the mangoes to any other fruit like peaches or blueberries. It's a perfect dessert for your Christmas parties because it's so easy to do.

Now off to look for Christmas party invitations for my mom.

Burglar Breaks Into Diaz Home

My title looks like I copied it from a newspaper but that's what really happened last night or must I say early this morning. Everything still feels surreal. This was one of those mornings wherein I wish I could just go back to sleep and wake up to a different scenario. You know how sometimes you have a bad dream and you just think that if I wake up this will all end and everything will just go back to "normal". I was waiting for someone to shout "cut" or for someone to say they were just playing a joke on me but it was for real

My room has a passage to the house next to ours and is connected to Borgy's room. You can consider me a light sleeper as I almost always wake up to Tito Hermie going inside Borgy's room or to Borgy going inside his room. I slept at past 2am last night as I was trying to finish some practice exam for my NCLEX. Borgy has been in Cebu for the past month so I'm pretty much alone in both rooms.

I was awoken around 6am with my mom calling my name and asking on where I was. I even raised my hand as it was still quite dark inside the room and told her I was right by the wall. She said that someone broke-in the other house. I then immediately noticed the laptop was not on the table anymore. I immediately grabbed the jewelry box and thank God my engagement ring and wedding ring was still there. I then checked on another box to check if the other jewelries I had was still inside the box and it was still there. I then looked for my bag and checked if my wallet was still inside it but wallet was missing so I called the bank immediately to have my ATM cards cancelled. While I was on the phone I woke up Ate Peachy to have her check her things. But I guess the burglar didn't know that they could go through our house from my room. Probably they did not see the door. We were just talking inside the room when I realized my IPOD was no longer on the bed. I remember waking up with the earphones in my ears but no more IPOD. My cousin Mac who was staying in the other house with Tito Hermie was then telling us of what he initially saw when he got out of their room and we then checked on the first floor to look at what was missing and then to also check if the other neighbors were okay. I then realized that my phone was missing too and it was just right about the same time Ate Peachy asked me about my phone. My phone and IPOD were right beside me as I was sleeping and the thought of how near they got to me just scares me! We then went back upstairs to check on what else could be missing and saw a green box on top of Borgy's bed. That green box was inside my cabinet. He was probably looking for other valuables inside my cabinet but inside the green box was just 3 packs of Yogos that I was trying to save. They didn't get the yogos but they were able to get 3 watches. This bad people knew what to get since they made sure they also got the power cable of my laptop and IPOD. They also managed to get the old mobile phones in Borgy's room and 2 old laptops.

I feel bad that I left my camera's memory card inside the laptop so I lost the day 2 Bacolod pictures I have. I lost access to other pictures I didn't get to post online or save on a CD. I lost copies of the US TV series and movies I downloaded online. I have to go through the hassle of getting new ID's but atleast I still have my passport which I would badly need next week. I lost a lot of files and reviewers I need.

I lost all this but I know that I am blessed. Who knows what those bad guys could have done. If they sprayed anything to make me stay asleep, I thank them for doing so because I sure would have shouted had I seen them inside the room. And only God knows what could have happened next.

What I have lost God can replace in tenfold. I am alive, shaken but unharmed. God is good!

Extreme Makeover Home Edition

This is one TV show that never fails to make me close to crying and often times cry. I love how they help other people with doing makeovers of their homes but ultimately changing their lives. I'm always at awe of how the houses turn out. They are always beautiful and I end up dreaming of owning a house like those they build too. What's amazing is they finish the house in one week! Building a house in a week is no joke so you can only imagine the sacrifice the workers go through just to finish the project for the week. I love how they carefully plan every detail of the house from the living room, bedrooms, backyards and bathrooms. I can't wait to furnish our own home soon and I have been looking at Grohe faucets already for the bathroom to use. Just a few more months to wait!

Bacolod

After 4 long years of not being able to go to Bacolod, Im finally going this weekend! It would only be a 3 day visit but still something to look forward too. Im already dreaming of inasal! It was a good thing we were able to buy cheap tickets about 3 months ago from cebu pacific. Roundtrip ticket was for only a little over Php800.
I will be packing my things tomorrow and will do a few errands in the morning. I totally forgot about my cousins request that I buy him a digital frame so I have to go to the mall tomorrow and buy that plus my dad's medicine. Im so looking forward to seeing my relatives and visiting my aunt who's sick. Im pretty sure she's excited to see us too.
Pictures and stories next week!

Mental

Is a new store with branches at Trinoma, MarketMarket and SM Annex. The clothes are really cute and funky. This store caught my attention because of how their window looked...

I liked a few of their tops and would have wanted to try them on but my friends were already waiting for me so I just ended up with buying an orange headband. I do want to go back to purchase some cute bag tags that they've got which is a perfect gift idea this Christmas.

I was thinking of buying 3 of the POS systems for my shopaholic friends.

Cooking

I have been doing some cooking for the past few days and I'm running out of reciepe's. My dad being hypertensive is currently under a strict low fat low salt diet. With him being restrained to eat only such, we too would also have to follow the diet. I'm totally for it as it could answer my needs of losing weight without having to use any weight loss product but it gives me a major headache to actually come up with a dish that would still be yummy. Cooking is totally hard! I know I should get used to this set up as I would be doing a lot more cooking in the future but any suggestions on easy to do meal that are low fat and low on salt?

Help!

I need to buy a steam cleaner but I don't know where. Anyone who could help? I'm thinking of going to the mall next week, probably on monday to look for one but to whoever is hitting the mall this weekend and finds one please message me so as I'ld know where to go already by next week. I totally forgot about the need for this not until my cousin texted me checking if I was able to buy one already. argh! major memory lapse on my part.

Bacolod

In a few weeks, we are off to Bacolod for 3 days! It's been years since I went to visit relatives so I'm pretty excited with this trip. It'll be a little different as the main reason for this trip is to visit my mom's sister who had a stroke a couple of months back. The stroke has caused the left side of her body to be paralyzed. We are not sure if she'll still be able to fully recover as we are given little hope by the doctors but atleast she is doing good right now other than her being paralyzed. I need to look for bed wedges as that is something that she really needs. Hopefully I get to find one before our trip.
Can't wait to spend time with my relatives and eat authentic Inasal!

Glee!

I love Glee!

I actually love it that September has come (and gone) and that means new season for my favorite US TV shows. I usually follow Grey's Anatomy, House, Private Practice and Gossip Girl. Add to this are Hell's kitchen, Top Chef and Project Runway. Two new shows has been added to the list and that's FlashForward (will blog about this show next time) and Glee.

Glee is like High School Musical but way better. It's something I look forward too every week. I was lucky to squeeze in time to watch the new episode while I was waiting for the industrial safety supplies my Uncle ordered that i had to pick up from the warehouse.

I have to admit it that I'm a GLEEK!

Busy

And bored. That's me. I have things to do every day and have even skipped on studying for the past days but it seems like my days have always been full. Im doing more house chores right now while we look for another helper. We do have one right now but we need another one. It might take a few more days before my Aunt finds one or before our current house help finds one that could help her around. I've been looking at the free directories for agencies but then again we are not really too keen on getting one from an agency. till we find one, I would have my hands full of doing things around the house.

So yeah, its chores and errands that take up the most of my time. Oh and not to forget is making sure my dad is drinking his meds, BP is ok, and visits to the hospital for his check-up. Im hoping things go back to "normal" soon. That I find time to study again and finally take the NCLEX. I had to reschedule my exam as I don't think I have had enough preparation to take the exam. I know I have been studying for months but I have planned a last week hard core review that Im not able to do because of my dad's hospitalization. Atleast my dad's doing ok now and I guess that's all that matters.

After The Typhoon

After Ondoy and Pepeng, obviously a lot of work is to be done. It's not the time to point to our government officials on what to do and on what they didn't do. It's not the time to be lazy and just wait for relief goods or help to come our way. It's not the time for self-pity.

It's the time to get our acts together and to work and to make sure we recover from what hit us. It's the time to think and contemplate on the lesson we need to learn from all of this. It's the time to work together and help each other.

A lot more has to be done. A lot of people would need to build their homes again, A lot lost family members and they would need all the support to recover from the tragedy. Schools has been damaged and one I saw on the newspaper would need new preschool furniture as they lost everything.

I just pray and hope that people would not take advantage of the situation. Help could only be given up to a certain extent. After all the help, they'ld need to work too. You can't just go depending on other people for your food and shelter. The community and the government could only help but you could not expect for them to give you everything.

Thank God

Im blogging from Rm1113 of Manila Doctors Hospital. We are set to go home later, before lunch I hope. My dad just needs to do an ultrasound and then we can start working on settling our hospital bill. He was confined due to high blood pressure and was diagnosed to have bell's palsy. Bell's palsu is easy to manage but the reason for his confinement was his BP which was at 230/130 when we first got here. Im sending love and thanks to all our relatives and friends who prayed for my dad. We are thanking and praising God that it was not stroke. Bell's palsy was a blessing in disguise as the doctors were able to diagnose my dad's BP which if left unmanaged could end up to stroke. His doctors are all wonderful! Dra Lara my dad's cousin who is a resident at PGH has managed to hook us up with good doctors here at MADOKS. Now other than knowing the importance of good diet and exercise, we have come to realize the importance also of health insurance. My dad does not have one right now but im already checking for insurance online. You'll never know on when you'll be needing it. Thank God really for all the people He used to help us and assist us and for making my dad well.

More hospital kwento later.

Happy Monday

We all have to start the week with a smile. It has been a hard one last week for a lot of us. Lots of depressing news and not so good things on TV. The typhoon scare over the weekend was not a good way to end the week as well. So let us all look forward to this week with a smile and a prayer that all things will go well and that life is to continue and move forward. Let's all try to be optimistic and hopeful that one by one, little by little everything is going to be ok.

Im hopeful too that things will go well for us with regards to some papers we are having processed. I pray to get that email we have been waiting for more than a week now to just get everything started and hopefully put an end to all this waiting we have been enduring for the past months. God is good and I know he answers prayers so I trust and believe that he will grant the desires of our hearts. I will try to get access to a live chat later to check on the status of things and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that all is well.

Everyone let's start the week right!

Sunday Thoughts

Last week classes were suspended because of "Ondoy" but tomorrow most of the students go back to school. I have a feeling that traffic is going to be really bad too. My mom's cousin who had to cancel her implant dentist Plano is glad that she'ld be able to finally go and visit her dentist. I only have barely 3 weeks of studying to go so I really have to be concentrate and give more time to studying. I have to sacrifice and then after this I can just look forward to going to Bacolod by the end of the month.

Count Your Blessings

I for one would have to admit that I most of the time ignore the blessings I receive. I always tend to want more and I guess this is human nature. But with what happened last week and seeing how many people suffered, I just woke up from deep slumber and realized how much blessed I am and how God is so good not only to me but to my family as well.

We stayed safe and dry. My sister was stranded at SM North but thinking about it, it's the best place to get stranded in. At least she had access to food and was still able to go home after the flood has subsided. We also opened our home to a few of my mom's officemates who were stranded and were not able to go home. They were all trapped a block away from our home and had been there for close to 5 hours already when they finally decided to go to our house.

I remember complaining that we didn't have electricity for close to 24 hours but after seeing on TV what has happened around me, I have realized that I should be thankful that we only lost electricity because others have lost their homes and some even their loved ones. I feel ashamed for complaining and whining the whole day about when our electricity was to be restored.

The past week God has reminded us that He is good and the storm was a tragedy but is bringing out the best among the Filipinos. We can see how everyone is working together to help those who were affected by the storm. I pray that we can always be united even after the tragedy. May we not forget the lessons we had to learn from typhoon Ondoy be forever be remembered.

My heart is full of Praise and Thanks to our God who is good. Let us always remember that "In Christ there is no crisis!"

Beach Mode

Was reading about Fort Walton beach and then I remembered I have never blogged about our Boracay vacation last July. My bad!

We came from Cebu on this trip to Boracay and stayed there for 2 nights. This was my 3rd time to Boracay and I still had fun. We stayed at The Tides on our first night and then at Swipers Inn on our second night. We discovered Swiper's Inn as we were just walking along station 1 in search for a place to stay in on our second night. We were not even sure if they were renting the rooms but we just had to ask because the location was perfect (beside Ambassador's hotel and Discovery Shores) and it had a beautiful view of the beach from the room. Good thing we asked because they were indeed renting the rooms, it was within budget and it was beautiful! Atleast I now know of a place on where to stay the next time we go back. Here are some pictures of our The Tides and Swiper's Inn for those who might be interested.

Bindi is O-N-E!

Before I forget and before I check on some acne treatment for my cousin, let me blog about Bindi's first birthday party.

It was a PowWow party for the little princess. Her actual birthday is Sept 11 which her parents celebrated with a mini party at home. It was raining and we could only wish for no rain on the day of her actual party which was Sept 13. The venue for the party was the clubhouse of Royal Palm Residences in Taguig. My cousin told me that we had to be in costume so I had to prepare for one the day before the party. I felt like I was a contestant on Project Runway trying to come up with something to wear for me, my sister and my mom. Good thing my cousin made one for my dad already. It was a fun party and Bindi enjoyed it to bits! She never cried even when everybody forgot on giving her milk or just anything to eat. She loved her costume/outfit too--and I must say she was so cute! Everyone obviously had fun and thank God for a nice weather. It was raining Sunday morning but by early afternoon the skies cleared up already. Here are some pictures of the party

Invitations made by her mom and Chachi (Aunt) Peewee

Let's Party!

Clubhouse of Royal Palm Residences
Birthday Cake...my cousin ordered a plain cake from goldilocks and then she just added the decor
The Aswani's
Bindi With Papa and Mama

Cousins in costume

Everytime you ask her on how old Bindi is, she does this O-N-E sign

Time Flies so fast indeed. The little baby is now one and she is bringing so much joy not just to her parents but to everyone around her.

Happy Birthday Bindi Athena! We love you!!!

What Now?!?

I hate it when I can't make any plans. I used to believe that I'm a patient person but looks like my patience has been growing thin the past few weeks. All the waiting and the uncertainty is killing me. I know I have other things to worry about (like my upcoming NCLEX, that I had to again reschedule!) but at times I find myself not being able to concentrate and just lost and frustrated. I even forgot to get the air filters for my room from my Aunt's house. Apart of me is thinking I should not really stress out but then again since I don't know on what is to happen in the coming months, I end up stressing again.

I know, I'm crazy like that.

Pfft!

Woa! I just realized I have not posted anything in 13 days. Just so many things to do and my review has taken up so much of my time. Im such a bad blogger! I have not update my other blog for close to a month now and to think that blog does not only need updating but I have yet to finish the layout as I changed it about 2 months ago. I'm hoping to find time to do that soon. If not for the health insurance leads I need to look for, I don't think I will even remember updating my blog.

A few more weeks and then I'll have time to do anything and everything I want.

Thank God

I almost lost precious files and photos! I would have never done on what to do had I lost those files. For sure I would never be able to recover them and I would totally hate myself for not doing the free online backup. I have been having problems with the desktop computer and I have been delaying having it checked. I have totally learned my lesson and have now made use of the free online backup. The desktop is now ready for repair/reformatting.

Long Weekend

Long weekends are always nice and is something we all look forward too. No out of town trips for us and I don't even have plans of going out today. Just staying home today and hopefully be able to do some readings. I'm hoping to finish off a few chapters and make a lot of progress with my review.

I had fun shopping with my aunt (who went back to the US yesterday) and my sister last saturday. Shopping is always fun. We had a family dinner after and then went around the mall again to check on some netbooks. A cousin has been wanting to buy one but has not found one that has a reasonable price and would have the specifications that she needs. I told her to just have someone buy it for her in the States since it's a lot cheaper there.

Had a fun weekend with the family again and looking forward to next week as we celebrate the princess's first birthday.