CAPTURING THE MOMENTS

Many Things to Celebrate!!!

2010-08-14T03:07:00.000-07:00

In my life now, there are many reasons to celebrate and be thankful for. Last August 8, we hosted a 5 in one simple party in our Bedford home. This i dubbed as the First Party as i am very sure there will be lots of parties i will be hosting on this lovely home.

We had been thinking to baptize Baby Ali in the Philippines but the schedule was so tight by then with all the paperworks and other stuffs and we figured it out why not?Since Coco was baptized in Scotland and Cam in the Philippines why not Baby Ali be baptized in Canada? So, we did it, baptizing Baby Ali in the Bedford's St. Ignatius Catholic Church.

The Christening was officiated by Father Pat Cosgrove and attended by Godparents and our supportive family and friends. The community welcomed Baby Ali and together with his Baptism, we also renewed ours. His godparents are: Mr. and Mrs. Al Brown, Mr. and Mrs.Nathan Scott, Amanda Hillier, Naty Agdeppa, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Craig, Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Donasco and Mr. Salvador Senarillos. May Baby Ali grow up to be a good boy, full of love and full of wisdom.

Now, another reason for celebrating is the blessing of our new home. In Canada, they call this a Housewarming. In my country, when we transfer to a new home, we invited a Priest and let him bless a new place and offer a prayer. We call this House Blessing. I did both --- we had housewarming and house blessing! I would like to thank Father Pat for coming to our place after the baptism and blessed the Father (and mother) of the house, blessed our home and our new van. I feel so blessed after that!

Now, another reason to celebrate is the birthday of my husband, Scotty and our middle child, Cam. Cam's birthday was actually July 28 but since we don't know anyone as playmates for Cam for now (we are only here for over 2 months), it is not practical to have a kids' party for him. So, we decided just celebrate his birthday on the same date as Baby Ali's christening. He did enjoy that day --- opening lots of presents and eating his birthday cake before the dessert time!!! For Scotty's birthday, it was August 10, but since it was very close to August 8 and since he don't want to do anything on his day, we celebrated his day on the 8th.

The last but not the least reason to celebrate is that: August 8 is always a special date for us. It is a date we had been engaged last 2002 in General Santos City, Philippines and wow it was 8 years ago!!! Two years ago, we had a second wedding in Canada dubbed as the 8-8-8 wedding. So, August 8 is a very special date and it is just worth celebrating!!!!

Before i end this post, i just would like to say thank you to all the people who made the party a success --- our chef extraordinaire, Winston; my sister Phoebe; my friends Coney, Ate Lourdes and Kuya Chris. Thanks to the Godparents, the Officiating priest, Father Pat Cosgrove and to my ever-supportive family and friends. Most importantly, thank you, Lord for letting me experienced a wonderful family life. There are just so many things to celebrate and You let me experienced it all!!!

Seeing Pat and John

2010-08-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

It was 2002 when i first met Pat and John, a lovely couple who are like family to us. Pat is the cousin of Scotty's dad, Terry. Because of that connection, i always call them Uncle John and Aunt Pat.

Scotty had known Pat and John for ages. Scotty told me that they always come to the lake cottage and spend time with them on the summer. Now, as things changed, circumstances changed, not only Scott will see them whenever they are here in Nova Scotia, but also us...

2002, i first met them at Windsor, Ontario where they live. I was then pregnant with Prisco. We went back again to Windsor, Ontario (2004) when Coco was over a year old and saw them. And then two years ago(2008), with new baby in tow(Cameron), they were on the lake property in Annapolis valley and we visited them again.

Just recently, specifically, yesterday, before they will go to Prince Edward Island with Sharon,Meghan and Katelyn, we spent time with them and they were delighted to see the newest addition to the family, Baby Ali. It was good to see Peggy as well, Aunt Pat's sister.

This is the Aylesford lake in Annapolis Valley that we went yesterday where Pat and John and family were relaxing or reflecting or entertaining family and friends. I fully agree that this place is heavenly. Some lucky people could buy property near this lake, developed this property by making lake chalets or lake cottages. In this spot, there are woodlands that make you feel you are in the other part of the world as it is very quiet and very private. Aunt Pat's dad, the late Dr. Albert MacPhee, bought a property here, developed it and his offsprings had enjoyed it in many years. We enjoyed our stay here as well, no matter how short it maybe! It is always nice to meet genuine people...

I want to thank Pat and John for always a very welcoming couple in this world. They are people whom i feel the positivity in life despite the sorrowful things that are uncontrollable. They are people whom i admired and respected. They are people whom you always want to see even if you're tired, or busy, or hungry! God bless you, Uncle John and Aunt Pat. God bless your family!

Discovering Discovery Center

2010-07-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

On Cameron's 3rd birthday,we did not do any fancy party. He still did not have many friends that we can invite, so we'll have to wait until next year for that children's party. Also, i don't feel having a party and Scotty is not here. But Scotty is coming and he and Cam can have their birthdays together!

Here is Cam turning three last July 28. On that day we did the following unforgettable things: kids rode on the bus for the first time, we ate at the Filipino restaurant, we walked in some parts of downtown Halifax, and the most special thing of all --- we learnt many things in the Science Discovery Center at Barrington Street. Yup, we explored science and technology through exciting and interactive experience.

I first heard about this Science Discovery Center from my son who loves science, Coco. Their Grade 1 class had an educational tour here before the school ends and many times he'd been urging me to go back there. I keep on telling him that yes, we'll go back. And so, we did and yes, on Cam's birthday!

The Discovery Center is a non-profit organization fostering interest in science and technology. Me, Phoebe, Coco, Cam and Baby Ali had a virtual science tour. This place houses three floors of hands-on exhibits where the emphasis is on informal learning through play and fun.

They have an exhibit about Diamonds on the first floor, specifically the Canadian diamonds which are highly valued in the world. Now, me and my sister really wish we'll gonna win that grand prize --- a Canadian loose diamond from Charm Diamond Centres valued at 19,000 dollars!!! I can only wish...

The second floor consists of many things but the best one is the Bubble Room where you can blow huge bubbles and watch them levitate around you. It was cool! The kids really liked it! They also went on the Suspension Bridge many times and Coco looks like a scientist at work while using the microscope!

This Galaxy 2 Oil Platform is located on the 3rd floor. Also on that floor, there is this Arch bridge, a maze, and a hall of fame section. Phoebe and me had a hard time cycling while powering a lightbulb! It looks easy but not really. So, it was nice, we had a work-out.

The best experience on that day is the Fire and Ice Showdown on the Theatre Room. It is an experiment where fire made interesting colors and ice(liquified nitrogen) can affect the size of the balloons or do lots of bubbles with the combination of a dishwashing liquid.

All in all, we had an enjoyable time. The kids can run around without getting much attention from other people because kids have freedom to move around as they wish on this place! Thank God! Plus, they really don't know that they are learning lots of stuff! So, yes, it is fun, educational and interactive.

I cannot think of any other activity that can top that on that day.

Cam becomes 3!!!!

2010-07-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

When your life is endanger because you are hemmorhaging in your labor,when that baby on that labor died and brought you so much grief,would you remain the same person? Would you try for another baby?

I was fearful, i was indifferent,i was bitter, for a little while only, until,my husband said,"you are not living at all if you live a fearful life!" I was,until, i gave another try and until, we have CAMERON JOHN MACPHEE in our lives.

My husband wrote this on his facebook status : July 28th, 2007 Baby Cam entered this world and changed our life forever. His dimpled smile, laugh, enthusiastic waves, and magnetic personality have gained him so much adoration everywhere he has travelled so far (and he loves the attention). Happy 3rd Birthday Cameron!!! Wishing I could be with you today but won't be long now until I see you again. Love you Wee Man!

Born July 28,2007,Davao City,Philippines,Cam weighed 7.5 lbs and measured 52 cms. When i first set his eyes on him and heared his first very loud cry, i am complete. The pain is worth it.

Today, he is 3 years old, very well-loved, very well-taken cared of. I love you so much,my everdearest boy! Please grow up to be a God-fearing, kind, sweet, smart fella as you are.

Lastly, i wanna share here what i had put in my Facebook: Time flies and time heals. After losing a baby girl, i had this fear not to be pregnant again. But as my husband said, no point in living if you are fearful,so,we tried again & the next baby is healthy & handsome & smart & charming. Lord,thank you,Cam is now 3 years old!Happy,happy birthday to you,my darling Cameron!!!

Back for Good in Canada

2010-07-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

After almost eight years of living overseas,after having four pregnancies, after delivering the newest baby boy,ALISTAIR SCOTT MACPHEE, after realizing how tough it is for Coco to keep on transferring schools,after getting tired of packing and unpacking those big boxes of stuffs,after thinking that CANADA is the best place in the world for us, for the kids especially, here we are moving back to my husband's country and finally getting settled.

We are here in this new home for two months now. We love it and we love the community. It is a very peaceful neighborhood. We are very close to almost everything--- the schools,the shops, the public library, the church, etc...My husband picked the best choice for us. I am not yet driving, so this place is perfect for me! The house is wonderful. It is not very close to the main street, so we are far from the cacophony of the city. In our backyard is like a mini-forest with lovely,big trees and colorful flowers that abound the area. Just a lovely,perfect family home.

Finally, we have a place we call ours --- to raise our kids, to run around, to make a mess, to cultivate, to clean and fix, to make anything a normal,stable family do. Finally, we have a place to call a HOME SWEET HOME.

SSA Summer Dinner

2009-06-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

I am having fine time here in Scotland. Yes, there are some low moments but they are quite normal. Please excuse me for being inactive in the Blogging World, i am so preoccupied with other things and you know what they are --- kids and family, travel, shopping, fashion, friendships and food.

Talking about Friendship and Food, our SSA Coordinator here in Aberdeen, Scotland, Emilie Wain sent us, the SSA ladies a lovely invitation which stated: "Dear Ladies, We are having a lovely Summer Dinner to celebrate all sorts of things; the beginning of summer, the approaching end of the school term and the appointment of our own Irina Herbert as European Area Coordinator for the SSA! We hope you can join us."

And we did join! The lovely dinner was last Saturday, the 12th of June at Cafe Montmartre, Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen, Scotland and here are the food choices:

Entrées
Cream of baby pea’s soup with fresh mint
Snails with shallots, herbs & garlic butter
Crayfish Salad topped with aioli sauce
Pastry tart filled with spinach, goat’s cheese & crème fraîche

Mains
Duck confit in orange sauce
Stuffed lemon sole with prawns & spinach in lobster sauce
Sirloin steak with french fries, and vegetables, topped with green pepper corn or Garlic butter sauce
Risotto with asparagus, mushrooms & broad beans and cooked in white wine with a provençal aubergine sauce

Desserts
White chocolate tart, served with crème anglaise
Finger sponge cake filled with vanilla mousse, topped with various fruit berries
Lemon & Mango Passion fruit sorbet
Cheese platter

Atleast fifty (50) ladies coming all from all parts of the world attended. We also welcomed two(2) new ladies--- Yolanda Pardede from Indonesia and Blanca Mittler from Mexico. As the new Hospitality Coordinator, it was my task to hand them their Welcome Baskets, which i think was a very nice thing to do!

We do thank our husbands' company for the utmost support to our spouses' association. Meeting these lovely ladies, having nice chitchats with them, developing good friendships are both heartwarming and culturally enriching.

I think everyone enjoyed the food as much as i did as everyone went home happy and full of smiles on their faces. Let's enjoy the summer, everyone!!!

For more photos of the dinner, please click:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3325047&l=edc378c205&id=734535184

Grandad's 80th Birthday!

2009-04-28T01:26:00.000-07:00

This is Grandad Larry, 80 years old last April 15, this year. He is the grandfather of my husband Scotty and i considered him as grandad as well. Gramie Joyce, on his birthday party wrote lots of adjectives for him such as : Darling husband, Good neighbour, Sweet Uncle, Radical dad, Awesome great grandad, Good friend, Loving grandad, Terrific brother, and Bestest brother-in-law. Probably, i would add, the Blueberry guy, the survivor, and although he will not show it, an affectionate Grand-father-in-law.

The first plan was: made a big party for him in a hall, but he declined that idea. He is not really up to a big party. He just wanted to stay in the house and have a nice, simple, more personal lunch or dinner with family members . I cannot blame him for that, as he preferred a very low profile occasion and he is really not up to talking to lots of people on that day. He wanted a very relaxing birthday, not a
stresssful one! At 80,he survived lots of health problems even a cancer. So, he is really so lucky and well-blessed.
We know how special is the 80th Birthday for everyone, especially to Grandad Larry who we loved and adored, so our birthday gift for him is for us to be on his birthday. Hence, we flew from Scotland to Canada, most especially to be on his special 80th birthday. We know Grandad was very happy and we had a wonderful time. To you, Grandad Larry, many, many birthdays to come. Cheers to goodhealth, goodhealth and goodhealth!!!

For more photos on this day, please click http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120141&id=734535184&l=69b8d31800

Goodbye,Brother Louie,Louie,Louie!!!

2009-03-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

This song reminds me of a grown-up lad named Louie. Brother Louie, a very popular disco song of the 80's keeps on repeating Brother Louie, Louie,Louie in the chorus of the song. Yes, i had known someone named Louie and he might not even been born on the 80's...

He is a very energetic, idealistic laddie with an infectious smile. First grandson of award winner local government official, the only son of his family, the first male local youth chairperson (Sangguniang Kabataan) of our local government. 15 years younger than me, this youth leader has a clear future of being another leader one day, contributing good developmental projects to the youth of Barangay Labangal and General Santos City as well and even the Philippines in little way. He continued the projects and programs i had started before --- scholarship program to the poor but deserving students, sports development, anti-drug abuse campaign, adolescent development program, etc... etc...Ah, i miss those times when i was a very active youth leader and seeing the dynamism on the next set of leaders after you gives you an inner connection.

So, last december of 2007 (i know it seems like yesterday), i bonded with the local youth. The photo here represents three youth leaders in different generation. We had bowling tournament and we had a fun time. The beauty of youth is that energy and vigor is just beaming and giggling and laughter is always around. I could not forget that time and i could not forget this photo.

Over a week ago, i was shocked with a news : Louie died in a vehicular accident. Up to now i still cannot believe it. Just a split of a second, his life was taking away from him. So sad...so terrible... The youthful Louie, his smile and his face just like that will be what we will remember of him. Such a tragic loss of life to his family and friends and to the community. My condolence to his family. I know it is a really terrible time.

Rest well, Brother Louie,Louie, Louie! We'll treasure the memories we had with you. You'll be forever youthful in our hearts.

Valentine's Couple Bunco

2009-02-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is the first time that gentlemen(our dear husbands) played bunco with us. It was fun and now they know what is the kind of atmosphere --- lots of screaming and giggling. It was wonderful! In the photos here: me and Scott and our party hosts--Sheila and Nelo.

Last February 7, one Saturday when the northeast Scotland roads were all covered with snow, nine (9) sweet pairs did not care about the freezing roads and attended the bunco party-- Sheila and Nelo,Kelly and Sean,Sue and Alan,Lynn and Phil,Becky and Joel,Emilie and Stephen,Elsy and Ken and Annette and Rick; one (1) lovely lady -- Jane, and two (2) cool girls---Meghan and Natasha. Sheila and Nelo , as i previously mentioned hosted the party and Sheila was so gracious enough to give a tour of their spacious, beautiful home. Each participant registered 10 pounds each. The highest price will be 50 pounds for the most bunco wins.

As usual, Table 1 was the controller of the game. There were 15 sets of games. Playing the game does not require any skill at all but mainly pure luck. Of course, delectable dishes were present. The host had done great job while the boncu coordinators, Becky and Kelly made the activity very well-organized.

Now, the prices: 50 pounds for the highest number of wins, 40 pounds for the player who got the last boncu, 40 pounds for the player who got many aces out, a player who got many losses, and lucky draws of 10 pound each. That means many went home happy because the money was spread out among most of the players. Guess who got the highest price? I did and Scott was one of the lucky draw winners of which i unexpectedly picked out!!!!

One thing that i could not forget during that night: this game can be bloody as well as i accidentally scratched Sue's hand while grabbing the dices when she got bunco. Please excuse me, Sue! I honestly really felt bad about it! I hope the 10 pounds you got from the lucky draw was fair enough!

At the end of the end of the party, my shy husband who obviously had lots of fun that night said, "so when are we going to do this again?" I'm not sure when but i was surely happy we won 60 pounds that night as it will help us pay for our baby sitter!

For more pics of the event, please click the following link:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=106664&id=734535184&l=4b480

The Bunco Group Christmas Party 2008

2009-02-13T23:48:00.000-08:00

I know that today is Valentine's Day and probably too late for posting Christmas write-ups, but i love to post this one as i enjoyed this party a lot. A party with very good camaraderie, very good laugh and very good food and very good ambiance(not to mention the really funny exchanging of gifts!) is very hard to forget, hence, my blog would never miss that special event in my life! (what a drama!hehehehe!).We had a very good laugh as evidently shown in the photos and posing with silliness and promptness was the rule of the game.

Thirteen happy ladies (Becky,Kim,Carolyn,Jane,Kelly,Prily,Lynn,Sheila,Cindy,Cristina,Emilie,Grace and Glenda) attended the party bringing with them christmas gifts, savoury food, sweeties or drinks to share. The gift was worth 10 pounds or more. There was no boncu game to play,so, no dices to roll just friendships, food and drinks to share.
Our Boncu organizer,Becky hosted the party. Thanks a lot,Becky, just to let you know that we had a wonderful time!

Here are some of the photos, but for more pictures, please click this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=103646&id=734535184&l=12784

Let It Snow!

2008-12-02T23:35:00.000-08:00

There are still lots of snow today and still more and more will come showcasing that real winter is here!!! It will gonna be a white Christmas, i presupposed. Yesterday morning as i woke up, i opened our glass window and voila! there were lots of snow. It actually started few days ago. With that first accumulation of snow, my boys were excited, especially Prisco and Baby Cam. This is Cameron's first snow, so i knew for sure that he is really so amazed and excited of this new change of season.

With the first gush of snow, we went to Banchory and explore the woodlands. We reached the place called Scolty Woodland Park where many acres of trees were all covered with the silvery, white snow. We had snow fight and Prisco was the champion on this! I love running around exploiting the thick snow layers and let my footprints embedded on them. I felt like conquering their own little world! It was fun! Yes, it is always cold but fun. So, wearing layers is a must!

Scott and Prily's Octoberfest!

2008-11-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

There are two major occasions last October that we had celebrated --- my birthday and our wedding anniversary. So, i invited my close neighbors and good friends here in Scotland to join us with our simple feast and "get together". My good friends, Mario and Sally helped me with the cooking. They are good nurses but equally good cooks. So, we feast on Filipino dishes such as Pancit Canton(Noodles), Afritada, Caldereta, Chicken Curry, Vegetable Lumpia(Springrolls), Beef steak, Fried Rice, Biko, Seafoods --- succulent big prawns and escabeche (sweet and sour fish), arroz valenciana, paella, chopsuey, maja blanca and pininyahang manok(chicken with pineapple). The party started at 6 pm until almost 2 in the morning. We had lots of fun. We had videoke and lots of dancing, and of course, lots and lots of eating. We are lucky to have a big lounge area to accommodate lots of guests.

Here are some of my beautiful friends who stayed until the wee hours of the morning: Cheryl, Joy, Sally, Mario, Tenny, Shiela, Mark, Jane and her daughter Isabel. Thanks for those who joined us until almost 12 midnight: the loving couples Ruchelle and James and Auntie and Uncle Derek. To my neighbors who got kids and stayed until 11 pm, thanks so much for coming. I am so pleased they loved the Asian/Filipino cuisine.

Here is our Anniversary cake. Prisco blew it for us while Cameron is busy playing with the other kids... What a party!!!! Not only that the grown-ups had lots of fun but also the kids as well.

Before i end this entry, i want to give special thanks to my husband who made this party possible and i want to thank him for doing dishes after the party is over!!!! My everdearest, you rock!!!!

Officially 33!!!

2008-11-11T13:17:00.001-08:00

Over a week ago, i said goodbye being 32, although i am not really bothered how old i am since the time i turned 30! But now,i am double 3 and as my husband said, "you're catching up on me and you will never catch me!." My husband is over 34, going 35. But, oh well, it is not a big deal.

The big deal is this: i am 33 and is happy, is content, has peace of mind and on the best of health. I am 33 with no debt or financial liability. I am 33 with possessions i do not imagine i can have.

I am 33 and i got a wonderful, very loving husband who spoiled me to bits, caring me so much, beholding me as his equal. I am 33 and got 2 adorable boys who blessed me in many ways unimaginable.

With these things, i am so grateful. Nothing more i will ask for. I have families that care for me. I have friends that greet my day.

On my birthday, although i keep telling them, i don't need anything, still i got something --- cards, cash, jewelries, perfumes. Thanks for the best wishes from my families and friends.

I thank God for all the blessings i received. I am very grateful for everything. I know that there are lots of uncertainties in life but i would say i am a very lucky woman who had faced lots of trials and tribulations beginning at an early age and had survived those.

I am 33 and i am taking things easy, one day at a time, one step at a time.

Again, i am so grateful and thankful. Thank you, Lord for making me the kind of person i am now.

I am now 33 and the journey is still long and although sometimes the road will be bumpy and rough, i will remain happy and confident because i know there are lots of happier, more exciting times ahead.

What We Did Last Summer?

2008-08-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

The air is now getting colder, what a change of season! Before we know it, the hot summer is gone. Well, am back after almost two months of going around. I want to thank you for visiting my site even of my absence and i have to admit that i am missing the Blogosphere. But of course, i know, i know, there are lot of many things than blogging, but what the heck, i will blog again, anyway...

But what did we do last summer that i was really sooo preoccupied? Here is the list:

1. I travel with my kids and my in-laws. We visited the Royal Deeside of Scotland, saw Inverness which is the capital of Royal Highlands, saw one of our most favorite cities in the world --- Edinburgh, the lovely, very clean and amazing capital of Scotland, and saw Glasgow and any other villages/counties around Scotland.

2. We travel to Canada. We flew from Glasgow to Halifax and from Halifax to my husband's county --- Hant's County, the place of the highest recorded tide in the world. We travel to Fredericton as well, one of the cities of New Brunswick, Canada. In there, we attended the 50th Wedding Anniversary of my husband's Great Aunt.

3. Visit relatives. We love seeing my husband's family, most especially Grandparents.

4. We got married. Yes, again! It was not easy to get married. Lots of things to be considered and that is why i have to be away right after Prisco's Nursery school was finished. Getting married means making invitations, book for the venue, book for the photographer, choose the food, choose a band or a DJ, choose a wedding gown, a wedding shoes, Groom's tuxedo and the outfits of the wedding party, bouquet, boutonnaires, etc...etc... I will talk more about it next time.

But all in all, what an amazing, long, summer holiday! Here are two photos which i want to share for now:

Spotting Spittal of Glenshee

2008-07-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

Established 961 AD... historical, a must-see in our lifetime, unbelievable...

Here are the Highland Lovers...and the Glenmorangie single highland Scotch whisky...

Prily on Holiday

2008-07-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends and family! It is now the exciting start of summer for me. I will be off from the Blogosphere and will do lots of touring around. My inlaws will be with me as we discover many captivating castles, mysterious rivers and basins, vibrant cities and sumptuous foods. We'll have many, many other things to see and do --- a river cruise, a wildlife encounter, an encounter with other nationality, a taste of a foreign food, a glance of wonderful gardens, etc... etc...It will be a really fantastic and enticing summer for me...

Likewise, we'll be off to Canada on the 6th of July to spend more time with relatives and friends. We will be there until the 15th of August. Yup, surely it will be long summer holiday for me.

I will be missing our "planet" here. But i will get back to you once i will be back again in Scotland.

Take care,my friends! God bless us all, everyone!

Summer and Strawberries

2008-06-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the strawberry fields of Cairntradlin, Scotland! This is the home of juicy, sweet strawberries you will never like to miss whilst on Aberdeen,Scotland! We are lucky to be here on the right time for picking. This is my first strawberry-picking experience, also first time for both of my kids. My in-laws and my husband had been to many strawberry-picking experiences in Canada. So, the experience was not new to them. I was very excited and so were my boys... all of us were very excited! We can eat as much as we can while picking. I ate a lot and my two boys,too.... Ah.... The taste? Strawberries!!!!

In Western countries, when it is the start of strawberry season, it is definitely the sign that it is officially summer! There is nothing that says summer like a bowl of fresh, delicious strawberries. You can see how my baby boy likes the taste of it. We all love strawberries. Anyone, who doesn't like it? Sweet and juicy, fresh strawberries are truly nature's bounty.

First-Aid Training for Children Under 5's

2008-06-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

"Children are angels whose wings grow shorter as their legs grow longer." (Old French Proverb)

Once our angelic babies are already unstoppable, wandering, and became curious machines whose only purpose in life (apart from eating) is to make mess as possible, injuries are always a common thing and we as adults should never take for granted the basic survival skills. We know that many young children are inquisitive, curious and "risk-takers"; venturing out into a world that is immense and dangerous. Compare our children with little cars without steering wheels, bumpers or brakes!

Until children learn the basic survival skills, they remain vulnerable and at greater risk of injury in the home. Parents or carers must carry out a difficult balancing act between encouraging children to explore and develop, while ensuring they don't get hurt. Although prevention is ultimately the best, First-Aid Course helps deal with some of the common injuries that may occur within the home.

For three thursday mornings this June, i had participated in a First-aid training course for under 5 year olds at Kintore Community Center. I had been a first-aider when i was in highschool and college but first-aid is a very important thing that you need to refresh every now and then. It was a long while since i had a refresher's course. I was so happy after finishing this short course.

My first-aid learnings during my younger days were focused on older people, but this one is different, we focused on babies 5 year olds below. The other differece is the kind of environment that we focused. I asked them," what shall we do if an ant went to child's ear?" This happened to me many times when i was kid. Nobody had answered, they were like shock with the question! And then one instructor said, " I had never seen an ant in Scotland!". Oh, great!!!!

Anyway, the areas that we covered were the following:

1. Unintentional Injuries and Accidents in under 14's like Falls, Burns/Scalds, Poisoning and Garden Injuries. ( We try an avois using the term "accident" and instead refer to this as an "unintentional injury". Using "accident" can make people believe that the injury was just bad luck, a random event and ultimately unavoidable. This is not the case as many "accidents" can be predicted and avoided. We are trying to challenge the belief that "nothing can be done" and show that many "unintentional injuries" are preventable.

2. Fire Safety/Electricity Safety/Glass Safety

3. Safety Barriers and Door Safety

4. Cuts and Wounds

5. Fracture

6. Shock/ Seizure or Fit

7. Choking

8. Child Basic Life Support (AR/CPR)

Always the aims of first-aid are to preserve life, prevent condition getting worse and promote recovery before the services of a physician is obtained.

The Flame of Friendship

2008-06-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Flame of Friendship.
A symbol of spirit of unity.
The burning icon of love.
Undying picture of hope.
The hot symbol of oneness.
The Flame of Friendship.

And now it’s your turn to flame yourself!
Meet new friends. Discover friendship. Make bonds.
Copy this post starting from the PICTURE ABOVE to the end
and add your blog on the list below.
Let’s start FLAMING!

———————————————————–
The People Who Accepted The Flame of Friendship
———————————————————–
Tiklaton: We are the witness
Janeth Vicy's Life Journey
My Precious
Jenn's My Sweet Haven
Vannie's Confession of a Supermodel Wannabe
Portia's Portia Speaks
Prily's Capturing the Moment

Thank you so much Jenn and Vannie for this tag. Very much appreciated.

I am passing this tag to my blogging pals Desperate Blogger, Beth, Lindsay and Shiela.

The Sounds of Music

2008-06-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, i got videos of two charming performances. They might be little bit old-fashioned, but they are what we call the classic. The first is the Circa 1920 Mortier 89 Key Fairground Organ which was purchased by Bill Barrack from the Lord o' Neil of Shanes castle, Northern Ireland. It was one of the exhibited items on the fair. The other one is a Scottish lady piper. I would say there are only very few lady pipers. Listen to their melodies...

Steam Engine and Vintage Cars Exhibition - Part 2

2008-06-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

This Vintage Fair 2008 is actually the 5th time around that is being held on the grounds of Castle Fraser. Exhibitors have travelled from all parts of the UK and some parts of Europe to share their passion for their vehicles (despite the recent increases in fuel costs!). It is so encouraging to know that there are so many enthusiasts preserving these vehicles, which some existed even on the early 1900s. I do believe that these vehicles are great pride of United Kingdom as these form part of their heritage. Well, good for them and as for me and my inlaws, we were delighted to be a part of the exhibition as cheerful audiences.

I would like to share some vintage cars photos. I want to thank Popsy Robbie for contributing me some of the photos he took. These are just samples of the hundreds of automobiles on display. Cheers and enjoy the pics!...

Here are some samples of general purpose trucks...

Over the past few years a whole family has arrived on the Steam and Vintage fair scene, not just in Britain but worldwide. They belong to the gradually enlarging family of Little Engine Enthusiasts, many of whom make the variou Steam Fairs and events their holiday destination, their weekend break, complete of course with their "Little Engines". Here are some examples...

These generally single cylinders engines have many an interesting history. Some are fuelled by paraffin, others by petrol or diesel. All have made essential contribution to the work on the farms; in workshops, also as water pumps some times out on a riverbank. Many have been service driving small mills, generating electricity and in some cases are still in use. Here are some more extracts...

I am loving these classic farm tractors...

But most of all, i fancy riding in this elegant trailer. Oh, look at how this big truck carried it just like how the horses long time ago carried the royal carriages!

Steam Engine and Vintage Cars Exhibition - Part 1

2008-06-23T08:31:00.001-07:00

This is my first time to watch a steam engine exhibition. We went last weekend with my in-laws. I am so surprised how these steam engines and vintage automobiles look so new, dazzling and shining as if they were never used at all! I can only imagine the many, many hours which are put in over long winters on care and conservation of these vehicles. Just really amazing! Here are some photos...

I had put a good look at some of the magnificent examples of traction steam engines which are on the show and i can only think about how much time, patience and devotion it takes to keep these engines looking and running as they are! Again here are some few examples and by the way, Prisco think steam engines are pretty much loud, and really they are. That is why he is covering his ears...

As for the meantime, here are my in-laws, chilling out to the sonata of old Mortier Fairground Organ playing the melodies of yesteryears.

A Day with the Kilted Chef

2008-06-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

On a rainy Saturday of June during the Kintore Summer Festival 2008, we got the chance to watch the cooking demonstration of the so called Kilted Chef from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The food looks so yummy, appetizing, and succulent. After the demo, Scott took a photo of us with the Kilted Chef. But first the food...

Here are some collops of pork with caramelized apple and black pudding on Thyme mashed potato with natural jus together with the poached chicken and cous cous.

What we like with this chef is that he is so abrupt, no fuzziness and he is just natural. He said that a certain recipe should not be followed all thoroughly. If it tastes good, then, that's it! Some people are allergic or do not like the taste of onions or garlic, or ginger, etc.... So you put your own condiments whatever you fancy and which you think taste good on your palate.

Here is one video demo i got about poached chicken and a photo of us and Prisco by my husband...

Imagine... When Churches are now Pubs

2008-06-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Actually, there is really no need to imagine because it is happening everywhere, especialy these times ...

When people finds the churches boring and old-fashioned, what will happen to the religious structures that were previously constructed to bring honor and glory to God? Here in United Kingdom, they converted them into pubs or bars. Young people (ah not only the young people but of course with the leadership of the elders)thought it is far better idea. Younger generation seems not interested in going to church anymore( having always a fabulous night-out is much favored). Not all but many are. That has what happened to the structures that i am presenting now. For us who came from a religious country, what would we think? We think it is not proper? We think it is not decent? But really who cares about what we think? I had seen a church in Pampanga, very near to the pubs there (on a district across SM Mall) that is being converted into pubs, too, so what makes the difference? Anyway, i am showcasing here how the world is changing now a days. As i am here in Scotland, all i can say is that Drinking is the national pastime here, that's why there are lots of pubs. Check this out...

I showed these places to my inlaws yesterday and because they came from a very quiet, little bit conservative, rural,religious community in Canada they can only say, "is that right?" And yup, it is right. Here are some more photos ...

If you read the writings on the pub or church entrance, you might not want to go inside, but you will if you are very adventurous ( i am adventurous, but i will still not go). The writing said: "Enter at your peril." Scary, isn't it?

As for myself, i can only hum my favorite song from one of my favorite singers, John Lennon. I always love this song Imagine ....Who cares if i am little bit radical?

Imagine there's no heaven it's easy if you try
No hell below us above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today...

Imagine there's no countries it isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions i wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.

OCTOBERsuper! --- A Tag!

2008-06-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

I got this tag from my cousin and constant "tagger" LYNN. I will do this now because my inlaws are resting(that means one less tag done!)...

1.Determine your birthday month and get a word that rhymes with it or you can affix to it. Caps lock your birth month (ex: MAYday! JUNE dune, APRILicious, JULYvely, AUGUST pocus, parched MARCH…). Be unique.

2.Your birth month plus the word affixed or rhymed shall become the tag’s title in your case.

3.Get your birthday and add the digits involved. Example, if your birthday falls on the 25th of July, add 2 and 5 you get 7.

4.Whatever is the sum, write a list of the MATERIAL gifts you wish to receive, the number of which shall correspond to the sum of your birthday. For example, applying the case above (in rule number 3), you will write seven (7) things you wish to receive.

5.After your wish list, put your name and birthday in the Bloggers’ Birthday Directory, with a link to your blog/s. Note: when you add your birthday, please place it in a way that the dates appear chronological (January, February… 1, 2, 3)

6.Pass this tag meme by tagging as many people as you want.

Bloggers’ Birthday Directory:

| February 18 - Nancy| February 20 - Caryl February 23 - Jammy March 7 - Mari | April 13 - TERE | May 3 - Vannie | May 8 - joanjoyce | May 27 – Zang Caesar | August 27 - Francine, La Place de Cherie, Cherie | September 1 - Lynn, September 2 - Chikai | | September 30 - Mckhoii | December 18 - JoshuaOngYS | December 19 - Alpha | October 2- Hailey October 30 - Prily

My results:

Here's my result:

Name: Prily
Birthday : October 30
Calculations: 3
Wishlist:1.) My mom can come here on Scotland. 2.) My sisters will have safe deliveries and the babies will be healthy and normal. 3.) Good health, Good relationship, Good fortune

Anyone can try this just for fun. I just did!!!

Friday Fotos

2008-06-13T02:36:00.000-07:00

My in-laws arrived in Glasgow already and my husband is there to pick them up. Me and the kids are just here at the house waiting for them. Later, i need to bring Prisco to school and i am very sure, they will arrive after that(that is around 1 in the afternoon). From Aberdeenshire to Glasgow it is like a bus trip from Davao City to General Santos City. It is approximately 3 hours journey by car. I can not wait for them to be at our house and then later probably tomorrow show them the countryside. Here are the views that they will be seeing ...

This is one of the tourist routes here that we really love to pass. We will show this to my inlaws as well. This very nice castle-like house is very, very captivating. It is situated very, very close to nature. The trees on the summer are adding beauty and grandeur to the house. They do not actually have neighbors nearby. It is like an exclusive property on the perfect spot. The place for me is very reflective. Just so peaceful ... so calm ...But although they do not have neighbors on their vicinity, the house is just by the road). Take a look at this...

Here are some more nature photos(mostly trees and other plants) situated not very far from that house above ... I just love trees... Here they are ...Enjoy the fotos everyone and enjoy your Friday!

World of WarCraft Song!

2008-06-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

Mana Mana!!!!Mana Mana!!!My husband and my son had been humming this song for quite some time and i keep on asking them, "what is that all about?" And then, my husband had checked the youtube and showed the video-- this video to my son. Now, the melody is on my head as well and sure thing,my husband and my son called me and wanted me to join them watch the video. I want to share it here so you will have fun as well. Who really cares about this hilarious song and video? But mind you, for people who love the World of WarCraft like my husband, this video made their day! Sure it did make my day as well and my son's day who is still humming the song and saying, " Mana Mana Dooo Dooo Dooo Dooo Dooo Dooo Dooo Dooo.....!"

I asked my husband if what is mana,anyway? He told me that a mana is like a sort of energy used by magic users to cast spell, either to heal or to destroy.

World of Warcraft or in short, WOW is an online role-playing game set in the Warcraft Universe. My husband's character is Wilgore. Wilgore is a shaman. I do not know if i want to make my character as well, but probably not, i will just do blogging. But if i will gonna choose a character it will be a Holy Priest and i will name it "PRAYLE"(a name which was popular during Spanish colonization in the Philippines). Prayle means priest or friar and it is actually how my name usually being pronounced! So, i will be Prayle in WOW and i will be singing "Mana!Mana!"....

20 Questions to Know More About Me

2008-06-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

Got this tag from Anne. Thanks a lot,my friend! I want to do this now as i am in the mood for survey today. Uhmm, let me see how would i answer...

The rule : Remove one (1) question from below and add in your personal question, make it a total of 20 questions

1. What is your favorite food?-- Sea foods, veggies,fruits, breads and pastries... soo many!

2. What was your happiest moment when you were a child?-- Whenever i got a medal at school and my parents would treat the whole family for a carenderia in town. Such was very special to me already. There was nothing chic or anything about good ambiance, just the taste of good food was all that matters! What a simple life, yet, the happiest childhood memory i could think of!

3. Where is the place that you want to go the most?-- There are places in the world you want to see once or twice only and that's it(they are counted as one of the tourist attraction you had been!). But i know i would always want to go back to Cape Breton Island. Such a place i call heaven on earth! Also, Pearl Farm Island Resort in Samal Island. We had a Garden Wedding there, so that place will always be special in our hearts!

4. When was the first time that you feel the real love? Real love? -- The real love was when i met my soulmate... I don't know what will i call the other loves because i seem to forget them!

5. When you encounter a sad moment, what do you do?-- I always have comfort from my husband and i will cry... cry... cry... until i got no more tears to cry!

6. What are you afraid to lose the most?-- My family.

7. If you win $1 million, what would you do? --I will give a big party for the poor children, give scholarship to the poor but deserving students, and i would love to adopt child/ren...

8. What is the saddest moment for you last?-- 2 years ago (2006) when i lose a daughter...

9. What item do you wish you could buy next? Item???--I wonder what else i need? Uhmmm,i am cost cutting now!hehehehe! (We would really like to build a house in Canada, so, we are saving for that...)

10. How do you cope with boredom? --I blog... i call my family back home... i go for a little walk ... i call a trusted friend...

11. When was your first kiss? With the opposite sex? -- I was in Grade 4, just a very light one and i got very nervous!

12. What type of person do you hate the most?-- Fake! Great Pretenders!

13. What is your ambition? --To be a lawyer. To work with United Nation.

14. If you had one wish, what would you wish for? --To provide homes for the homeless... to be an ambassador of goodwill...

15. How did you celebrate New Year?-- Great food ... Great time for merriment... A toast of ice wine... a family group hug!

16. What has been the craziest thing you’ve ever done in your whole life? --In what aspect???...

17. What do you look forward to in 2008?-- The highlight of this year would be the renewal of our wedding vows in Canada this summer.

18. If your life is a song, what title best fits it?-- De Coloris...

19. What is your dream holiday? -- I would say holidays ---Venice ... Egypt...Jerusalem...

20. Do you have any personal habits that you would change?-- Yes, many ...

Catching up with Ate Sonia

2008-06-12T05:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday i was not in the computer and i had accomplished wonderful things and the best one? I had a wonderful time with one of my great Filipina friends in Aberdeen. Her name is Ate Sonia. Ah, with lots of catching up and excitement, i didn't even get the chance to take any photo yesterday!!! Oh well, that is okay, as i will always have more of bonding moments in the future with her.

So, anyway,yesterday after fetching my son from school, we hopped in the bus, and went to the town center. That will be where we will be meeting Ate Sonia at the Bon Accord Center in a mall called Mark and Spencer. So, we arrived there around 1 pm. What would you expect for us to do? Do some window shopping and yes, unnecessary shopping (this always happens!). So, anyway, we got really good bargains! This time i didn't buy for myself, but a really nice slacks for my mom. I want to shop again when my mother-in-law will be here as we always love shopping together. But anyway, i got some few stuffs yesterday, mostly for my kids.

So, after couple hours in Mark and Spencer, we went straight to their house and had some tea and yummy muffins. Prisco and Cameron were playing with William's (Ate Sonia's son who is already 8 years old)) toys. William arrived at 3 pm, and very,very excited to play with Prisco and Cameron, but the whole time with Prisco. He is just like a big brother to Prisco. (I realized that kids at this age are not anymore so selfish with their toys! When William was 3.5 years before the last time i saw him, no kids can mess up his toys! But wow, i saw big difference in him now!)

So, the thing is : i had really wonderful time with Ate Sonia until 7:30 pm, the time when hubby fetched us. I had dinner there as well. Sometimes, it is just nice for us, girls, to spend time with great friends. You know, share your "sometimes lonesome married life." Hey, who does not have little confrontation with their partners? If you tell me that you got perfect marriage, wow, then, you are lying! But it is good to let your burstings out with trusted friends, you know. So, that's what me and Ate Sonia are doing. We are just like sisters, you see. Each of us has our own issues in our marital domicile, and sometimes, if you just kept it in yourself, pretend that everything is alright, i believe, it is not healthy. So, that is why we have friends, that is why we have ladies' hour!

So, i spent 6 wonderful hours with Ate Sonia. We talked about the last 4 and a half years that we hadn't seen each other --- the experiences, the highlights, etc... And when i arrived home, i was in good spirit and even accomplished one major task --- organizing our travel receipts that will be submitted to the company. I swear i should have done that long time ago, but wow, smashing--- one less major task done yesterday.

I just think spending great time with wonderful people once in a while is an energy booster! Do you agree? I would agree!

Laughter is the Best Medicine

2008-06-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

Since the very moment that i gained consciousness, i am loving smiles and giggles, and laughters. They are the best stuffs of life and i cannot imagine the world without laughters! Ah, i just love to laugh and sometimes when there are really funny, funny stuffs i will laugh and laugh till my face hardened up!!!! I think this is one of the reasons also how me and my husband maintain a very good relationship --- i love to make him laugh. My being always silly will took away the shy nature of him! And he can crack jokes us well in just some spontaneous manner. Oh well, all of us need really a good laugh and we need it more often...

I am always one of the big fans of Readers' Digest. One of my favorite sections? The "Laughter is the best medicine" section. It always made my day. It is good to know that they are readily available online. RD Laughs Main offers jokes in more varied ways --- funny, clean jokes and anecdotes, humorous Stand-up Videos, Funny Cartoons, funny photo contests and more! So, if you got a funny video of just about anything, why not share it? Got a really funny photo? Share it as well. If you have some funny stories to tell, why not share it and make someone laughing today? You might even got the chance to win 100 bucks or more for that joke. I submitted one. Got one,too? Submit it as well and let us share the laughter!

Happy Birthday, Papa!

2008-06-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

Today is my Papa's birthday in the Philippines, so i am missing it. To you, Papa, i wish you good health, good fortune, good family, good relatives and goodfriends! My Papa is now 54. He had been to many ups and downs in this world but it is nice to see him happy in this photo. Here is his photo together with my Mama and us during the GrandParents Day of November last year.

Again, Happy, Happy 54th Birthday, Papa dearest !!!!

Likewise, i want to say Happy Birthday also to my very close friend and relative, Ate Babes. I miss you,my dear. Wish you all the happiness in this world! To all the June 10 birthday celebrants, enjoy your day!!!!

What is in a Name?

2008-06-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

I want to be Ichigo Kurosaki, from the action-packed Japanese manga Bleach the Movie. This name would mean “First Guardian” or “He who protects.” Soo charming!

The highly anticipated showing of this film will be this coming June 11 and 12. Bleach the Movie will be aired in the Americas, Europe and Oceania and will be aimed primarily at teens and older teens, and oh well, to everyone. Reserve tickets now as i am sure this will be full-packed tomorrow!

Spouses' Global Organization Welcomes New Ladies in Aberdeen

2008-06-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

Scotland is not all about mountains and seas. Aberdeen as one of the major cities in Europe is dubbed as Europe's oil capital. Hence, multinational people are living here, most of whom the partners are working in the oil industry.

My husband's company is called Schlumberger Oilfield Services Inc. It is an international company with offices all over the world. My husband likes working here in Aberdeen as so many hightech jobs are done here in the North Sea. This means i have to be here with him. I really prefer living in warmer countries but my husband really likes it here, so, to make the matter easier, we are here...

Arriving at first is little bit hard --- to adjust and acclimatize and everything. It is not very hard for me because i had been here before. But, it is good to know that we have an organization called Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA), an organization composed of wonderful people who are ready to help the members settle in the new home. The SSA can give one-on-one contact to help ease worries and frustrations, while providing friendly faces to share excitement of all Aberdeen has to offer.

Last friday, SSA welcomed me and the other new ladies with a dinner and with welcome packs. I had not expected that. Thank you very much. These are some of our photos ...

More than fifty (50) ladies attended the dinner coming from Siberia to Indonesia. I had not got the chance to shake hands to them all, but i am sure i had got the chance to smile to every one and few hugs to some. I am the only one from the Philippines although so happy to met other ladies from Southeast Asia. It is nice to say, "Apa Kabar!" for the ladies from Malaysia and Indonesia. I am seated with a Canadian lady named Glenda McGill(i have photo with her), she's one of the SSA coordinators. On my left side is a lady from China and her name is Echo. Half of the time i spent with Lori, from Canada and the preggy Rachel from the US who had just delivered a baby girl yesterday. Congratulations, Rachel! ( I have pic w/ them below). Here are the multinational ladies...

The Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA) is a global, voluntary, social organisation for all local and international spouses and partners of Schlumberger employees. It aims to create and maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for all members and their families. The SSA fosters fellowship through ongoing social events and community involvement.

What I Ate Last Friday?

2008-06-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

I did go out last Friday with some girl friends. We had dinner at Aberdeen Thistle Caledonian Hotel at Union Terrace Street, Aberdeen. My new acquaintances Lori and Rachel fetched me at home and we met again some more ladies at the hotel's restaurant.

We enjoyed our dinner, plus the chance to talk to other ladies was fantastic. I met many ladies from all over the world. I will talk more about them on my next post. For this time, i want to share to you what i ate for my Friday dinner...

My starter consisted of freshly prepared courgette and pepper soup although i am also eyeing for the wild mushrooms sauteed in garlic butter served in a pastry case glazed with brie...

My main meal consisted of poached salmon steak on roasted vegetables glazed with parmesan and basil oil. I really love this...

Baked lemon tart with lime syrup and creme fraiche for my dessert...

I had tea after that meal while doing chitchat with the girls. Now, it is Monday. How quick the time flies! And i am still thinking about how great Friday was!!!!

In Laws are Coming!!!

2008-06-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

My mother -in- law and step father-in-law will be coming to see us in Scotland. They will arrive this coming Friday from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. We can't wait to see them! Please excuse me if i will not be very prompt in visiting your blog sites as i am doing lots of stuff in order for my inlaws to have a good, comfortable accomodation. My inlaws are missing us a lot plus they got to spoil their grand kids,too once in a while. I would be so delighted to see them and spend time with them. They will be our first overseas guests in our place. They will be here for over three weeks (until July 6) afterwhich we will be flying together in Canada for an exciting summer holiday. Oh well, i am counting the days...
For the meantime, enjoy your weekend, everyone!!!As for me, as usual i will have to do lots of tidying up!

Thank Goodness for Lucky Me!

2008-06-06T07:39:00.001-07:00

Here is my weakness: i am not a very good cook! I love good food, but myself cooking it? I am very sorry. I thank God for Lucky Me pancit canton. It is very easy to make. You just boil water, put the instant noodles, drain it, put in the plate,mix the sauces and condiments, hola, done!!!! It is super-duper easy!

And my husband? He loves it. He can eat almost everyday! So, i did not miss to pack lots of Lucky Me. I am just lucky my husband is not a very fussy eater(just no seaffods!). If we want elaborate style of food, we dine outside. End of story.

Math Video Lessons for Free

2008-06-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, i am not joking, this is true! There is a website that offers math video lessons in any areas of mathematics that interest you. Yes, it is definitely free! I just signed up at MathVids, a website dedicated to providing free, high quality, instructional math videos to middle school, high school, and college students. But it is not only dedicated to students in the said levels but also to school administrators as well (school principals, curriculum director,etc.). MathVids has a common goal as that of school administrators and that is wanting the students to understand math, to pass their math classes, and to do well on the math sections of the standardized tests.

This website is also very useful for teachers. I had been a teacher before and i know how frustrating it is when our students don't understand our teaching styles. If you are a math teacher, you can upload your own videos and you just create an opportunity for the students to catch up what they had missed inside the classroom. This gives students an opportunity to supplement the math that you are teaching while learning at their own pace outside of the classroom.

This site is really very useful to the parents. I am not very good at Math, my husband is, but the question is: is his busy schedule can accommodate to the demand of our kids in the future? That i cannot guarantee. So, this website is very helpful for the parents. And another thing: we can save a lot of money for paying professional tutors.

MathVids is a very good option much cheaper and easier than purchasing teaching worksheets, books, manipulatives, and other necessary materials. It is also a better educational alternative.

I am very thankful i found out this site. I really recommend this to everyone. For more insight, check this out: How MathVids Works.

The Luxury that is Sleep

2008-06-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

I learned from Kindergarten that, "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy and wise." I think i had followed that advice perfectly during my childhood days until highschool days. Uhmmm, not perfectly during college days and on my late 20's, but atleast 75% i did! But right after having a baby, forget it! Just now, i think i slept only 3 or 4 hours lastnight, not to mention the fact that i keep on waking up. The thing is when i get up on the night--- change the baby, feed him, it is very difficult for me to go back to bed again(especially now that even at midnight, outside it is still bright! and at 3 or 4 in the morning it is starting to get bright again!).

Oh well, i envy those people who can drowse so easily because i cannot really do that! My baby boy would cry on the night and i think subconsciously, i hear it and just in an instant, i will get up and appease him. So, really sleep, sleep is something a luxury for me now. I am thinking before when i was a child or a teenager, we don't have a comfortable bed, just a bamboo bed. That was very, very hard on our backs, with only a mat on it. But, wow, how sound was my sleep! Considering that we were so crowded in a bed like a can of sardines, but wow,we managed! I even experienced sleeping just on the ground (yup on a sand!)with just a mat, still i slept! But that was before when i didn't even care if a rat will bite my legs (and yup, one time or twice or thrice or more? a rat did bit my leg!). But who cares? I survived. But now, i got a very comfortable bed with the soft cushions you can imagine, but really why i cannot sleep? And with just one burst of my baby, i got up straight, and yup, cannot anymore go back to bed. Oh well, what can i say? I think life goes on... and yes, it is really true..."Money can buy a bed, maybe the best bed in the world, but not sleep!"

My Top 10 People

2008-06-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

I knew i said to myself not to make this tag right away but it's not really fun if i will make it later. Oh, gorgeous Sheng thanks a lot for passing me this tag. I really appreciate it!

The Tag: Name 10 people you can think of right off the top of your head. Don't read the questions underneath until you write the names of all 10 people.

This is a lot funnier if you actually randomly list the names first. No cheating. Repost this with the same title and tagged 6 of yours friends.

My TEN people are:

1. My husband
2. My sister Phoebe
3. My mom
4. My mother-in-law
5. Lalaine
6. Lynn
7. Jana
8. Wendy
9. Sheng
10. Amor

DON'T LOOK AHEAD UNLESS U FILLED UP THE TOP!

1. How did you meet number 9?
*** Here in the blogging world. Hoping to meet her personally,too!

2. Do you have a crush on anyone up there?
*** Yes, the first spot!

3. What would you do if you hadn't met number 1?
*** What would i do? Just still be waiting (and probably still be single) up to now!

4. What would you do if 6 and 2 were going out?
*** Going out where? They'll be fine!

5. How did you meet number 8?
*** Through blogging as well.

6. Is 2 one of your best friends?
*** Definitely!

7. Whose number 9's best friend(s)?
*** I think it's her Hubby. Right, Sheng?

8. Have you ever dated number 1?
*** Yes, dated for almost a year, now married for almost 6 years!

9. Do you miss number 10?
*** I miss our chatting at yahoo messenger!

10.What do u think of number 6?
*** She's a beautiful person inside and out. What you see, what you get. She's real!

11.What do you think of number 7?
*** She's a lovely person and a very jolly one! I really love her passion for arts and other beautiful things. I really hope to see her in person,too!

12. Who does number 3 like?
*** She's my mom and i owe her my life!

13. Have you ever been inside number 8's house?
*** Nope. By the way, she's pregnant right now and i am wishing her all the best!

14. Do you love number 4?
*** Definitely, she's a very warm person and someone who cares for me a lot!

15. Ever been in the same bed as any of the numbers?
*** With numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.

16. What about no. 5?
*** She's a wonderful, simple person that i want to emulate! I love her passion in teaching. She can budget very well,too!

17. Do you trust these people?
*** Yes, I do.

18. Would you date no. 5?
*** Definitely! We can go shopping to Petaling Street,shall, we, Lalaine or to Bangkok's flea market? I definitely would like to go out with her. We'll gonna go bargain hunting! hehehehe!

19. Love them all?
*** Oh, yes, for sure!

I am passing this tag to
Lynn,
Lalaine,
Amor
, Jana
, Wendy
and Lindsay.

Have fun,girls!

Welcome to the Wonderful Land of Scotland!

2008-06-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Summer is in the air here in Aberdeenshire. By the way, when i say Aberdeenshire, i am referring to the county of Aberdeen (but this area excludes Aberdeen itself). The county bordered Kincardineshire, Angus and Perthshire to the south, Inverness-shire and Banffshire to the west, and the North Sea to the north and east. It had a coast-line of 65 miles (105 km). The area is generally hilly( as you can see in many of my photos), and from the south-west, near the centre of Scotland, the Grampians send out various branches, mostly to the north-east.

When it is a lovely day, like today, we need to grab it(as it can get very crappy and very windy here at times!). Last weekend, we again took a short trip. What a lovely view! Me and my husband took these shots. We knew that when we grew old and gray we'll gonna look back at these photos and would say, " we'd been there...we'd done that!" And yup, we took these photos! Just a lovely dominant medley of yellow and green colors plus the blue skies! (Don't mind the red, white and gray additional!).

Marvelous Mangoes in Cans!!!!

2008-06-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

I am so glad our stuffs from the Philippines arrived. This means i have more clothes to wear, more bling blings to choose from, and more cravings to be satisfied! I am referring about my luscious craving for Philippine mangoes. I know there are mangoes here in Scotland but i tasted them before and they taste like cardboard! How i wish i can pack also the real ones? I know i could not! hehehe! But anyway, i am quite content with a real Philippine mango juice for now. This time so many cans of Gina mangoes are here to satisfy me! Ah, just really good! I better go down now and open a can...

Have a lovely Thursday my friends!!!!

Living a Plain Life

2008-06-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Witness Protection Program is a service provided by the United States Government which protects witnesses in major criminal cases from physical harm and intimidation. Among law enforcement, the program is better known as the Witness Security Program, or WITSEC. Under the Witness Protection Program, someone will be provided with physical security as well as a new identity and a place to live.

People who are under this program are living a new life --- always looking over their shoulders, getting settle in a new city, going by a new name, leaving their family behind, remembering their new cell numbers, etc... In short, just a new persona. The most important rule of the program is that witnesses must not make contact with former associates or unprotected family members. It is really an unexciting life! (or probably an exciting one for others?). Surely for me is not!

But here is a crime drama USA Network's new original series In Plain Sight that is surely, surely exciting! The series premiere was actually last June 1. It stars Mary McCormack as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal attached to the highly secretive Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). While Mary loves her job, she knows better than anyone that it's not easy leading a double life—especially since getting shot at on a regular basis is all in a day's work.

For more information about the television series, visit the website and know more about the all-new crime drama. For the meantime, here is a very plain video of a lonely, plain life of a witness. What a pity (really!).

The Fountain of Youth

2008-06-04T02:04:00.000-07:00

The Fountain of Youth is the search for a long life and many, many sailors/ explorers/ discoverers are searching for this fountain. The question is: does it exist?

Hundreds of years ago, Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer who sailed with Christopher Columbus to the New World, heard from the Indians of Puerto Rico of magical water source called the "Fountain of Youth". It was said that whoever drank of its waters kept that person perpetually young.

Ponce de Leon decided to find this secret spring. For many years, he searched for its exact location. When he was finally sure of where it could be found, the ambitious sailor asked permission from King Charles V to search for it. The king agreed, and in 1513 Ponce de Leon and his fleet sailed north of Puerto Rico. They eventually discovered the coastline of Florida - but they never found the secret gusher that would keep humans alive forever.

Does the fountain of youth really exist? For thousands of years, men and women have sought to find the source of longevity. The Greeks believed in the power of ambrosia, the food of the gods that sustained eternal life. The Hindu gods sought for a mystical nectar called amrita, which was said to be a magical elixir of eternal youth. During medieval times, many Europeans wondered about a life-giving spring said to be found in the unexplored territories of Africa and Asia.

Up to now, people are still obssessed with the idea of eternal youth. James Hilton wrote the popular novel Lost Horizon, which was eventually made in to an equally popular Hollywood movie, about a magical valley called Shangri-La where the inhabitants live for hundreds of years. More recent depictions of the theme of eternal youth include the comedy Death Becomes Her, where the aging characters portrayed by Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis discover a seductive enchantress who possesses a secret potion that makes them forever young.

Here is the fact: Longevity is just around the corner. There are lot of things that can help add life to years and not years to life! And we don't need to search for them ... because they are actually found not around us but within us.

The Unappetizing Reality

2008-06-04T01:31:00.000-07:00

How many times have you heard the quotation "you are what you eat"? So simple, so easily understood, yet so often ignored. A healthy diet is one of the best ways to keep your body fit and healthy, plus of course, the daily exercise regimen. The unappetizing reality is this : despite the availability of nutritious food, majority of people worldwide still opt for the less healthier choices. The problem is simple: majority of us still don't eat a balanced or wholesome diet. I will admit, i am one of them! Studies show that in the US alone, only 10% of people eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, going instead for processed foods like french fries, white bread, enriched pasta and tons of meat, meat, meat. (Okay, i admit again, i am one of them!).

The naked truth is this: we lack the adequate information about health, diet and nutrition. Another naked truth: we are often bombarded everyday by an avalanche of diet information and we don't know which is which? I am so happy to find out there is a website called Naked Nutrition Network . You can find out varied and credible information with regards to anything about health topics, more so about Fat Loss Nutrition. I am loving this site and i am enjoying all the articles like: What is the Best Way to Lose Weight, Fat Burning Resistance Training, and all the Latest on Nutrition Research. Now, isn't this website a very appetizing one? I agree fully!

My Son's School Nursery

2008-06-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Kintore School Nursery! This is Prisco's School Nursery here in Kintore, Aberdeenshire. This is not very far from where we live,so it is very handy for me since i don't drive. Prisco likes it here a lot! We are delighted that we find a good school for him that will make his childhood's time a positive, productive and enjoyable one. He will gonna enter primary one in August, so he will gonna be in another level. I am sure it will be a kinda new challenge for him but knowing how supportive the school is, i am quite sure that he will adjust to it very easily ( as he had adjusted from Philippine setting to British setting. That was very good we had enrolled him in International School back home under the British System of education).

At Kintore Nursery, they aim to:
=) Provide a safe and stimulating environment, in which children feel happy and secure
=) Encourage the emotional, social,physical, creative and intellectual development of each child
=) Promote welfare of the children
=) Encourage positive attitudes to self and others and develop confidence and esteem
=) Create opportunities to play
=) Encourage children to explore, appreciate and respect their environment
=) Provide opportunities to stimulate interest and imagination
=) Extend the children's abilities to communicate ideas and feelings in a variety of ways.

At Kintore Nursery, the Staff will value:

=) The individual child
=) Equal opportunities and social justice
=) Partnership with parents, families and carers
=) The importance of the community
=) Education as a lifelong process
=) Previous knowledge and experiences that the children bring with them

Kintore Nursery follows the 3-5 Curriculum guidelines and will provide activities and experiences to promote learning in the following areas:
=) Emotional, personal and social development
=) Communication and language
=) Knowledge and understanding of the world
=) Expressive and aesthetic development
=) Physical develoment and movement

When i looked around the School Nursery, i was sooo happy because even if this is a Public School, wow, very far different from where i came from(here i am again comparing, but you know, i just can't help it!). Public schools in third world countries are just in a deplorable state (not to mention the thorough corruption!) But anyway, i just want to show you how it is in UK. I hope time will come that Public Schools in my country will be like this( or atleast very close to this!) .... and the toilets/washrooms will be like this as well!....

First and Last

2008-06-03T04:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is my second tag for today and the last for today. I cannot really do all in one day! This one is from Jona Thanks,my dear!

First

First real job: Teacher

First screen name: screen name? i am not a celebrity!hehehehe! i don't have screen name!

First funeral: i cannot remember!

First pet: dog

First piercing: On my ears (can't remember when exactly, but when i was a child!)

First tattoo: never

First credit card: Banco de Oro

First kiss: my parents

First enemy: uhmmmm, do i have one? hehehehe.

Last

Last car ride: last night

Last kiss: this morning (uhmmm, let me think, did my husband kiss me before he left from work? hehehe. yup!

I am tagging my cousin Lynn. I wanna thank you for being always there! Have a great month of June!

Desperate Measures Against Boredom: A Tag

2008-06-03T03:15:00.000-07:00

Got this tag from my blogging pal, MIAH. Thanks,my dear. Let's see how will i answer these questions? hehehehe....

1. Would you forgive your best friend for sleeping with your husband/wife?
=) Nope and it will just give me a reason to cut his! ( ah, here i am getting silly again!).

2. Where were you last week?
=) just at home, doing the daily routines.

3. Have you ever seen a live bat?
=) yes, i did. So many at Hinagdanan Cave,Bohol. I think me and my husband had seen in many places in the Philippines.

4. Do you like Big Macs?
=) What is that? hehehehe. nope, not a big fan of that! But my husband does!

5. Are you single?
=) Nope, i am double and with special baggages!

6. Do you like the color orange?
=) uhmmmm, let me see, i love the orange fruit, and i think yes, i also love orange. i think i love all colors! hehehehe!

7. Do you find it in your heart to forgive?
=) Yes but it takes time....

8. Would you rather not eat or not sleep?
=) Not eat! But, oh dear, i also love to eat!

9. Have you ever seen a real redneck?
=) Not yet.

10. Do you like tattoos and piercings?
=) Not really...probably just the one that can be erased!i had tried once!hehehehe!

11. Where was the last place you got your hair cut?
=) Ricky Reyes Saloon, Davao City.

13. Do you care if people talk smack about you?
=) Ah, i don't care!

14. How long do you use the phone daily?
=) not that much!

15. Do you like snakes?
=) Nope. Although i had some photos of them, many actually!

Monday Moments

2008-06-02T13:35:00.001-07:00

My weekend had been busy and before i knew it --- it's already Monday! The household chores had been endless and i have so many things to do...

There are good things today : first, my son has no school because it is local holiday here in Kintore. So, anyway, i continue all what i hadn't finished last weekend --- vacuuming, cleaning the rooms, the kitchen --- all the odd jobs you can imagine! And doing the same routine again --- preparing meals, doing laundry, washing the dishes, etc... Oh well, what can i do? I am not a desperate housewife but these are the things i should really do.

Second good news: our stuffs from the Philippines arrive, so i really have to make space for another quantity of things. We are happy. My husband did not even go to work today just to help put our stuffs in their designated areas.

Oh, the hours just went by so fast that before we knew it, it's already 8:30 in the evening and we need to buy some groceries. Now, we just arrived and i gotta make this post just to let you know i am really sorry for not visiting your blogs recently. The household stuffs just really occupied me. Oh well, what can i do? Family first...

The not so nice thing today? I missed really good opps( three good opps!). Before i knew it, when i checked my mail, they're already expired!ayayayyyy! Oh well, my husband told me, "you don't need to grab opps, anyway, you better have rest! How much are they, anyway? 10 dollars each?" Oh well, i just smiled at him! I know he is right, but i just feel the thrill of getting and chasing some opps(even if they are 1 dollar or 5 dollars each. It doesn't matter!). I feel this excitement! hehehehe! Luckily, i still got some today and yup, i did feel sooo tired really!

By the way, wow, it is month of JUNE. Welcome to another exciting month,my friends! I hope this will be a good month for all of us!

Dominantly Dockers : Care for a Commercial?

2008-06-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Each of us has its own style...has its own fashion sense. When it comes to fashion, Dockers will never be out of style. If you love fashion, if you love comfort, if you got the passion to impress the audience with a style that is unique, that is uniquely Dockers, go for this Dockers contest at www.nbc.com/Dockers.

Dockers contest is all about making your own Dockers commercial. It provides entrants with the opportunity to create a 30-second video advertisement for Dockers. One (1) video advertisement will be submitted to NBC Universal, Inc. ("NBC") for consideration as a commercial to be shown during the June 13, 2008 broadcast of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as made available for a limited time online at NBC.com. The contest will end this 6th of June, so guys, grab this opportunity now to submit your entries and get the exposure. This is a rare opportunity.

Of the ads that i had seen already, i like the "We Speak Your Language" ad. It almost sounds the same as the "Define Pants" ad and the "Historically" ad. Just one thing: i love the sound track!

So, come on guys, tell your friends,family, and relatives and make a Dockers Commercial. Get the chance to be popular!

What I Love About Britain's Got Talent

2008-06-02T01:16:00.000-07:00

Of course, i love the fantastic judges. I love Amanda Holden's sensitivity and down-to-earth character. Uhmm, and not to mention her outstanding outifts! Just "bloody brilliant!". I always love Simon's phenomenal and spontaneous, very frank remarks and Pierce's honest, intelligent observations. The three judges are just perfect making the show a much awaited event in British social media and all over the world in general. And the hosts? They're superb as ever.

But what i really love about this show is the diversity of the acts. It's not just all about singing, or dancing, or acting,etc... It is everything you can imagine! It is fullpacked of talent that it is very,very difficult to judge who will gonna emerge as the winner. And the ultimate winner this year GEORGE SAMPSON? He's just so adorable and he really deserved it, realizing that he never even make it to the semi-final round last year. But he is the teenage boy who never left his dream unattended. He go on and just wow! What a winner! We are very,very delighted with the result. Ah, i also adore the Michael Jackson style dancers! hehehehe. They just make me happy! They emerged as second. And the other performers? I should say they are world class like the Scala. The rest of the finalists are winners in their own field. What more can i say? Just, Wow! what a spine-tingling event!

But the most important thing why i love this show? Because it is multicultural. It is not just about the dancing, the singing, the magic, the martial arts, the outfits, the stunning moves, etc... etc... it is about the spirit of unity in diversity. Look at how a Filipino or a Sheikh Muslim can perform in the British soil! What a broader idea of universality and i am loving it. You cannot find anyone contesting or complaining, "why did he participate, he's not a resident from here? he does not have a british passport?" Wow! Just amazing feeling! Everyone just wanted a good time, a good show and it never failed to deliver that message. The idea of changing the life of a teenage boy who needs money to pay mortgage because he came from a very unstable background? Wow! Just splendid!

I think that this is the essence of this show : turning the life of a person with great talent 360 degrees. It doesn't matter where he came from or what her/his color is --- what matter is the talent that he/she can present in front of the British public,in the British soil and all over world. The essence of the show is changing a life who deserved to be changed forever.

The winner will receive 100,000 pounds(8.6 Million pesos) plus the chance to perfom in front of Prince Charles in a Royal Variety Show. George Sampson together with the other finalists will be doing lots of tours nationwide. We can't wait for them to come to Aberdeen!

Madonna Didn't Make It to the Finals

2008-05-31T02:37:00.001-07:00

We watched again the last instalment of the show,"Britain's Got Talent" lastnight. It was the last semi-final round and oh, what an emotional, full of tension night. When all the 8 semi-finalists finished the performance, i knew already in my head and in my heart who will gonna make it to the finals. All my bet the last semi-final rounds had been true, but just lastnight was special. It was because...

There was this Filipina contestant named Madonna Decena. Clad in a classy outfit and dangling,glittering earrings, her rendition of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All" was not that super phenomenal as compared to the other performances of the night. Simon Cowell didn't like it and even said that "this is a show of Britain's got talent and not a show of whoever got the saddest story". Madonna had been dubbed as appealing to sympathy whenever she appeared on television crying that she participated in the show to give a good future to her family in the Philippines who are impoverished and can hardly survive.

As for me, she got good voice but she still needs lots of practice, practice and mastery. The performance level, for me, was not that excellent. You can see on the stage that she was nervous. But really, i am so proud of her for getting through to the semi-final rounds. She can again participate next year and be more prepared. It will give her lots of time to master her craft. Hopefully, the show gave her a chance to be spotted by any company who might be interested of her and provide her a great career. Twelve million people had been watching the show and wow, it makes me proud to be a Flipino by having people like Madonna Decena who got talent, courage
and "star quality".

It still amazes me that in many major, major variety contests,especially with regards to singing that there is always filipino/filipina participants. That goes on to show that if you, guys out there want to have a popular kid in the future, might as well get some Filipino blood because there will always be a chance to achieve that dream !hehehehe. Oh well, you never knew!

As for Madonna, you had been very honest of showcasing the situation in our country. That was very brave thing to do. I really like you for that. I like people who are not pretentious and Madonna just captured my heart and the hearts of many,many millions of British populace. Like most Filipinos who are here in UK, Madonna is searching for greener pastures by working hard here leaving two daughters back home in the Philippines. She said she had been missing her daughters a lot but she is here to provide good future for them. I think she is taking the right step to a very good future to her self and to her family.

Don't lose hope,Madonna! There is always another chance. By the way, here is the link to her performance lastnight. Check this video.

As for tonight, we'll gonna watch the final round. Let us see if my bet will win!

A Bit About Myself : A Friendship Tag

2008-05-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

Got this friendship tag from Bruce. Thanks a lot, Daddy Bruce. You're the first daddy who tagged me. Kudos to you and let me be the first to greet you a HAPPY FATHER's DAY!

1. What do you want for your birthday?
- A full goodnight sleep (since i hadn't had one since i arrived here in Scotland!).

2. Who will be your next kiss?
- My husband and my kids.

3. When was the last time you went to the mall?
- Yesterday.

4. Are you wearing socks right now?
- I am wearing stockings right now.

5. How did you spend your summer?
- I will spend my summer in Canada. I am soo looking forward to it!

6. Have you been to the cinema in the last 5 days?
- Nope and hadn't been since the last 5 months... Ah, it's okay, i am happy to be just at home.

7. What was the last thing you had to drink?
- Water. But if you mean aside from water, i had Nesvita cereal drink this morning.

8. What are you wearing right now?
- I am wearing a new white dress. I just bought it yesterday. It's nothing special, just a very simple dress. And what else? My gray stockings which insulated me and the "others" of course.

9. What was your last purchase?
- My white dress and my eldest son's Indiana Jones' toy.

10. What was the last food you ate?
- Roast chicken(with the skin!), rice, and a dark chocolate!

11. Who would be the person you would call if you were up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep?
- My husband. And if he is offshore? My family back home.

12. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?
- Yes.

13. Do you have a pet?
- Nope.(Can't afford to have one. And if i can afford, i will never get one!)

14. What made you laugh in the last 5 days?
- Many things made me laugh! The latest one is my conversation with my son.
Me: Honey, will you please eat now?
My son: I am not honey, honey is for Winnie the Pooh!!! hehehehe. That made me laugh and giggle!

15. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
- It doesn't matter wherever as long as my husband and kids are with me. I had been to many worst places you cannot imagine!

16. What is the last thing you purchased online?
- I hadn't shopped online.

17. One thing you hate about yourself?
- Ah, what do i hate about myself? Physically? How i wish i am taller! Others: I don't like it when i am angry( it gives me wrinkles!)! But i am just human and i have to accept my imperfections!

18. Do you miss anyone?
- I miss my family in Philippines and Canada. Most especially, i miss my husband whenever he's not at my side and my sight!

19. What are your plans for the day?
- Ah, it's 5pm now but i still have things to do till i sleep like : tidying up(this is endless!!!!), watch my kids and feed them, cook for my hubby, watch the show - British Got Talent, hopefully bloghopping if i still got time!

20. Last person you msg’d?
- My husband.

21. Ever went to a camp?
- Yes and that was when i was in Grade 6 --- the Girl Scout Camping.(oh well, that was like ages ago? Guess i am really getting old!).

22. Are you a good student in school?
- Wow I feel old now also! Uhmm, i think i am average, but i am a teachers' pet so they keep on giving me good grades! hehehehe.

23. What do you know about the (your) future?
- This is a scary question. Honestly, who knows? Only God knows.

24. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
- Sometimes only. Some people are allergic to smell and i don't want to intimidate them. Even my husband is allergic to smell, so if ever i put perfume it should be the mildest as possible. But i do love wearing sometimes.

25. Where is/are your best friend/s right now?
- My husband and my kids are my bestfriends. They had seen the worst and the best in me. I have many great, loving friends back home in the Philippines that i am missing a lot though!

I am passing this tag to my wonderful friend online Wendy. I want to congratulate you and your hubby for your pregnancy! Take good care!

The Priest of Notre Dame

2008-05-30T05:19:00.000-07:00

What made Notre Dame Basilica so famous? Mainly because of its unique architectural design. It is dubbed as the "Jewel of the Gothic architecture." But i don't want to talk about this very grand tourist attraction of Paris, nor its history, nor its relevance with Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of NotreDame" story.

I want to share my own reflective emotions while i went there(with my husband and Prisco and my two sisters Phoebe and Babylonia) between October to November 2006. At this moment of my life, i was so down. I had seen many, many beautiful things, yet deep inside, i felt so low. But i looked around and found out that the world is still turning around... it never froze even just a second because of my sadness. I just lose a wonderful, beautiful baby and my husband had thought that i might need a time for a break ... a time to reflect... a novel place...and he thought of PARIS.

Okay we climbed the Eiffel Tower, dined at the highest building of Paris called Montparnasse Tower, spent enjoyable time at EuroDisneyland, went for a River Seine Cruise and other many, many things, yet the most unforgettable for me is my conversation with the Parish Priest. I forgot his name and he don't know my name, but i remembered our conversations about life and about death, about rewards and about punishment.

I asked him if i am being punished by God and gave me this pain? He said no and he said i should not think about those things. All the things that happen has its reason. I know that, but isn't it that sometimes life is unfair?....

The best thing that happened was that the Parish Priest gave me great blessings and great prayers(Now, that really made my trip to Paris sooo memorable).
But he also made my eyes so red because i cried and cried and cried... Ah, you can see in my photos how tearful i am(but still i was happy because i had been filled with spiritual happiness and there's just this surge of energy emanating from a powerful source).

And the art of crying which i think i had mastered? Tell me, who hadn't cried? But really, sometimes we just need to cry and cry and cry ... or shout if we must! You will never know what is real happiness without feeling sadness. Life should always be a balance. In Taoism, they call this "Yin" and "Yang".

As for myself, i should say: there is no life in fear. If you are in fear right now, like fear to try again because you got a miscarriage or any other mishaps... don't ever lose hope...

After my trip to Paris, the following month, i was pregnant and each day, i would pray, "oh, please, God, give me a healthy baby...help me with this pregnancy..." God answered my prayers.

To the Parish Priest of Notre Dame Basilica de Paris, i want to thank you for your blessings to my family and for your ardent prayers. I believe that God chooses instruments on Earth whom people can rely and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God chose you as his faithful follower so you can bless the life of other people, especially those people who needs healing, physically and most of all, spiritually and emotionally.

Above all, i thank the Lord for healing my pain and for giving me a wonderful baby and a wonderful family and wonderful friends. God bless us, everyone! Enjoy your weekend!

Be Religiously Inspired...

2008-05-30T05:03:00.000-07:00

I would admit that i am not a very religious person, but i am raised with Christian faith and devotion. I value that. But living now in a different country, in a fast-paced lifestyle, i admit i could not go to church every sunday, not even once a month. I am here for 7 weeks now and oh dear, i hadn't been to the church!

Good thing i found this website called PreacherTV.com.. This site was created to unite ministers and preachers with the online community to spread God's word and God's love. In this site you can upload sermons and of course, can watch sermons online, anytime you want. Check this out, my friends!

Me and My Kids

2008-05-29T01:46:00.001-07:00

There are no other most precious resources in the world than our children. They will be the future parents, the future leaders, the future bearers of the world, the links to the future. Hence, no matter how naughty they are sometimes, they are ours and they deserve all of our love and our attention.

I had delivered three children, but only two thrive. The loss of our precious girl, Priyala showed me how fragile the world is. It showed me how bad luck can happen to good people. It showed me how precious life is and even the simplest of all the simplest things needs to be appreciated. But things happen for a reason ,i know. We have two wonderful boys --- Prisco Samuel who is now 4 years old and Cameron John who is 10 months old.

Anyway,so much of the drama, hehehehe , here goes my photos(and the corresponding story of each) of me and my two adorable boys....

I. Chilling at Strathburn Park, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

We were having a chill-out time in the grass. Ah, it is not all the time that grasses become dry, so we grab the chance to enjoy its smoothness and dryness on a sunny day. We did enjoy it! I have just to be very careful with Baby Cam because he will eat just anything --- and he would even like to eat the grass!

II. Bedroom Silliness, Manila

We had been so tired from the trip and when we arrived in our hotel room right after getting little bit comfy, we went to the bed and dad took a pic of us still with our shoes! hehehehe! It is one of our silly photos(but we never slept with our shoes!hehehehe)!

III. Buying Baby Cam's High-Chair , Aberdeen

It is me and Baby Cam shopping at Mothercare World, Aberdeen. In this section of the store we bought his high-chair. I am sure he's happy with our choice!

IV. Mom and Prisco at Louvre Pyramid, France

It is me and Prisco with one of the celebrated architectural structures in artistic world --- the very famous Louvre Pyramid of the Louvre Museum, Paris. Baby Cam obviously was not been conceived yet and i am still on the stage of getting over my fears whether i'll be getting pregnant again or not after the loss of our baby girl. Prisco had been the one who always cheer me up. I cannot imagine how would i cope up this loss time without Prisco. Thanks,my son for the joy and comfort you gave to mommy!

I wanna thank my friend Jona for tagging me. Just wanted to let you know i appreciated your efforts of remembering me. And for those other tags of my blogging buddies that still hadn't been done, please excuse me. hehehehe. I can only do little tags everytime. I hope you understand! Cheers,my friends!

~Begin Copy~

Rules :

1. Start Copy from "Begin Copy" until "End Copy".
2. Choose the photo(s) of you and your child(ren) that you would like to share in your blog, with a small story/explanation about when and where the photo(s) was/were taken.
3. Add your blog name and url blog, then leave your url post in here. And I'll add you to the Master List.
4. Please help spread this tag by tagging your friends as much as you can.
5. Please come back again to copy the update of the master list, often. This process will help new participants to get the same gains as the first participants.

Masterlist:

1.) Juliana's Site 2.) Moms.....Check Nyo 3.) Pinay WAHM 4.) Residual Matters 5.) So Cute 6. Pinay Mama's Diary 7.) Beauty of Life 8.) Portia Speaks 9.) Capturing the Moments 10.) Your Spot

Now, i am tagging my blogging pals Lynn-Chic , Aidisan and Mylou. I really want to see your bonding moments with your child/ren captured in photos.

Baby Cam at 10 Months Old

2008-05-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Baby Cam is 10 months old today and he weighs probably 10 kilos. At 10 months, he is an official crawler, an official grabber of things, an official eater of solid foods, and he can stand with the use of support. He can mumble little bit, but that's just it. He can giggle really loud and will give you the smile that you really need at the end of a tiring day.

Babies are different with each other. I will not rush my little baby to grow up that fast! I will not rush him to read or write! I heard some gifted babies who can read or write at a very early age,but oh, dear, aren't they babies???? Good for them! Do we have to let them grow up soooo fast? As for myself, i want my kids to have really normal childhood. I cannot imagine my kids singing and having a concert at 9 or 10 years old like Michael Jackson, or acting job at 2 or 3 years old. I love my kids to be kids --- to make mess, to play around, to throw things, etc... etc...

Here is my 10 month old baby... He is just doing some hopping around, standing around, and flexing around! Better took picture of his baby-gro... It will be the last day today he will wear it. He's really grown up most of his baby clothes! It is amazing how they grow up sooo fast! Before i know it, they'll be taller than me... But before that happens, i'll gonna spoil them to bits first and give them all my loving, hugs and kisses!

HAPPY 10 MONTHS OLD, BABY CAMERON JOHN!

STD Testing Made Easy

2008-05-28T10:43:00.001-07:00

All professsions in the world need STD testing. I know it sounded so abrupt but honestly, before me and my husband saw each other we made a deal to undergo sexually transmitted diseases testing. Of course, we believe in a monogamous relationship and there is really nothing to be afraid of, but i am always a woman who "just wanna make sure!" But how about those people who are afraid to take the test? But we know already that even though everybody knows the risks posed by STDs, it is not unusual for people to engage new sex partners without getting tested. Why? Because STD testing has been embarrassing, time-consuming, and unreliable. Check this
STD testing website that offers a private and confidential service.

MY DISCLOSURE POLICY

Hotel's Weirdest Lost Item

2008-05-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Okay first of all, i am a forgetful person. I would accept that wholeheartedly. Many, many times, i forgot something in the hotel room. I will only realized after sometime when i reached my destination or when we left the hotel after sometime, and yup, there's just no turning back. My husband will always tell me every now and then whenever we'll be checking out, "had you checked and rechecked if you left something?" I said, yes... hehehe... But i will share to you how i remembered leaving many things...

1. When we were in Brunei i left all of my Neutrogena products in one package --- lotion, shampoo, conditioner. I never bothered. What will i do? Although they were new and with full content, but it is just impractical and time-consuming to get them back. Lucky those who kept it!

2. When we were in Kuala Lumpur, i left my Victoria Secret perfume and lotion, still new i bought from KLCC. We called the hotel, they said they don't have it. Am sure i left it! (Location, Crowne Plaza -Mutiara Hotel-KL)

3. I left dress, swimming attire (Sheraton Hotel - Labuan)... but they gave it back to me!

4. The weirdest thing that i left that i really wanted to get back???? My underwear! We were in Cape Breton Island and we booked on the Keltic Lodge. We checked out, and an hour after we left the hotel, i remembered i left my Triumph new under wear!!!! I told Scott who was driving as we were heading back to Nova Scotia. He said, "what we can do? Call the hotel and tell them to mail the underwear?"hehehehehe. Of course, we did not do anything. There was no turning back. But i just miss those underwear. They were pretty!

Okay i may had left these things and any other minor, minor things, but not this one: a 4 year old boy! Can you believe that? No matter how tired i am or how stressed i am in traveling, my kids will always be my greatest and most precious cargoes.

Here is a story in Edinburgh, Scotland last January 3, 2008--- The boy was left at the Travelodge in Edinburgh in the midst of chaos caused by his parents' rush to attend a family party, the (Glasgow) Daily Record reported. They did collect him quickly but he is still counted as the strangest item of lost property in the hotel. Other Travelodge locations also reported their most bizarre lost items . One Scottish location reported a suitcase full of wigs and glasses was left behind by a guest while other European locations reported an urn of ashes and a living Persian cat, the Daily Record reported.

Oh well, i don't know what will i do if i will leave my kids. I will gonna be soooo panicky! I don't mind leaving a suitcase full of underwears!!!

What We Should Know About SugarCRM

2008-05-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

I heard about Corratech before. It delivers integrated, scalable, enterprise-class open source software to organizations of all sizes. But what about SugarCRM? It is a product that is installed,maintained and managed by Corratech, which is an open-source software consultant. It offers offers different features sets in each of their three editions, Sugar Community Edition, Sugar Professional and Sugar Enterprise. These editions differ in features and functionality, as well as in license and cost. For more information, visit the website now!

Daddy's Corner

2008-05-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

Today i wanna brag and blog about my husband. I know he is a very busy guy but at home he is a very simple, very cool daddy. I chose four photos of him and our kids which definitely brings out the affectionate daddy on him. He's a great disciplinarian to his kids. He's a very calm person who can definitely made me "shut-up" when all the others cannot. A great provider and a person who has lots of love to give. I thank God for giving me a lifetime partner who definitely complements me. He completes me. And our adorable kids complete us as a family. To my soulmate, you're my SUPERHERO! Thank you so much, my Sweetie Pie! You're definitely amazing!

I wanna thank my constant blogging buddies Juliana and Sheng for this tag.

{Start Copy Here}
Started by Michteryosa

Rules:

1) Copy from {Start Copy Here} to {End Copy Here}.
2) Blog 'Brag' about your husband - yes, the father of your child/ren. As I’ve said singles may also join by bragging about their own fathers, or even grandfathers. It doesn’t matter! Of course, Daddy bloggers themselves may also join, but you have to blog about your fathers and not about yourselves, deal? Okay. Good.
3) Add your blog in the master list below linking to the post that you just made. Or if you wish, do it as how I’ve done it in my other blog by adding a new page.
4.)Leave your comment here and don't forget to leave your link so you can be added on the masterlist. Yup. Here.Thanks.
5.) Let's not forget Peppermint Creative
for the corner border I used for the badge.

Masterlist
1. When Silence Speaks
2. Everything About Deye
3. Etc Atbp
4. Pinay Mommy Online
5. Coffee Cup Princess
6. Everything That Has Breathe Praise The Lord
7. A Mother of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
8. PinayMama's Diary
9. Kate Ashley
10. Top Form Secrets
11. Marilyn
12. Anything and Everything in Between
13. Can of Thoughts
14. No Place Like Home
15. Pinay WAHM
16. Sheng's Simple Thoughts
17. Portia Speaks
18. Capturing The Moments
19. Your Site

{End Copy Here}

Now, i am passing this tag to my blogging pals Amor, Lynn, and Tricia.

Manic Monday

2008-05-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

Woke up at 6 am today, had a shower.Just right after my shower, my baby boy cried and he's wanting a feed. So, i gave him his milk. Prisco was still sleeping. He slept past 10 lastnight. I got dressed up and before i knew it, Baby Cam was already in my knees. Got to pick him up, brought him downstairs and prepared his breakfast. 7:30 am already and Prisco was going down. He wanted his breakfast. So, while Baby Cam was having a little bite, i went to the freezer and took Prisco's fishfingers out. Yup,fishfingers for breakfast. Preheat the oven and while doing it feeding Baby Cam. Later, time was right to put the fishfingers and waiting for 14minutes until it will be done. So, around that time, got to feed Baby Cam while cuddling Prisco. Timer stroke, fishfingers were now done and i got to serve to Prisco. After Baby Cam was done his breakfast and Prisco taking his, i had my breaky as well. Mine was a Cabdury dark light chocolate drink with croissants--- 4 pieces. (I know it was not very healthy but those were available this morning and i love it!). Before we knew it, the time was already 8:20 and got to prepare my son to school. Not only that, i also got to prepare Baby Cam also because he will meet his playgroup today at public hall also. Around 9am, we're rushing to leave the house and just got ontime for Prisco's school. So, i dropped him and oh, well, took a deep breath upon my way to the public hall which is 5 minutes from Prisco's school. And yup, spent 2 hours in the playgroup. Baby Cam played while i had chitchat with other moms and dads that were there. 11:15 strikes and got to rush again putting Baby Cam on his buggie and fetch Prisco from the Nursery. Picked him just ontime and at 11:45 we were already home. Upon arrival, i fed Baby Cam, Prisco ate his left-over fishfingers while i am cooking my lunch(mung beans with spinach). Hubby called around 12:30, just the right timing for lunch.hehehe. So, anyway, talked to him and told him everything this morning.
Now,it is 2 in the afternon, and i am still thinking --- there are some dishes in the sink, dirty clothes to be loaded in the washing machine, clean clothes to be ironed and arranged, dirty floors to be vacuumed, bed to be made, toilets to be cleaned, trash to be segregated and thrown on the bin, appointments to be made for Baby Cam for his health visitor and Prisco for his dentist, Enrollment/Registration for Prisco for Primary 1 this August, arranging some things, etc.. etc...

Thinking about these things made me sooo manic and panicky....What will i do first? Oh well, Prisco now is watching television, i am typing this entry and Baby Cam is on my toes...I think he needs to be changed now and probably i will put him to sleep...Hopefully, when he'll have a nap,i can do some blog hopping....

For the meantime, i am just humming this Bangles' / Madonna's Manic Monday song. I can't let it out in my head because i am having a manic monday today.....

Six o' clock already, I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late cause then I guess I just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday
Cause that's my fun day, *I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday

Have to catch an early train, got to be to work by nine
And if I had an aeroplane, I still couldn't make it on time
Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train, but the boss is already there

It's just another manic Monday, wish it was Sunday
Cause that's my fun day, *I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday

Out of my nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night to get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast when you're having fun

It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday
Cause that's my fun day, *I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday

2008-05-25T04:55:00.000-07:00

One Million Pounds Wedding

2008-05-24T03:09:00.000-07:00

I was astounded when i heared about this lavish wedding of a Scottish millionaire golfer Colin Montgomerie and furniture heiress Gaynor Knowles. The wedding venue was held last April 19 at the captivating Loch Lomond Golf Club here in Scotland. That wedding was a smashing 83 Million pesos or 2,075,000 US dollars! Both are millionaires on the making. Montgomerie's fortune is worth 25 million pounds while Gaynor, who is really extremely wealthy on her own right owns a £2 million Perthshire home, a villa in Majorca, a £1 million collection of classic cars and a £20 million fortune.

Montgomerie admitted that he wrecked his 14 year-marriage to childhood sweetheart, Eimiar due to his obssession to golf. Monty was captivated when he first met Gaynor in 2006 and his brief dalliances with a string of beauties, including Spanish model Ines Sastre and ex-Miss England Dr Helen Westlake, came to an abrupt halt. Indeed his golfing ambitions seem to have also waned as his ardour for Gaynor has grown.

Let us wish goodluck to this marriage considering the idea that Gaynor has not that slightest interest in the golf game. She wants Montgomerie to spend more time with family and with her. Let us see what will happen....

I was laughing when i learned that On the very morning of his wedding to Gaynor Knowles, the widow of a furniture tycoon, Montgomerie played a round with many of his 340 guests at the prestigious Loch Lomond golf course in Scotland. hehehehe. Funny! For more of the story, click here.

Month of May Awards

2008-05-23T07:57:00.001-07:00

I wanna thank my blogging friends Shiela for the World's Greatest Mom Award and new blogging pals Vannie and Jenn for the Arte y Pico Award. You had made my month of May a motherly exciting month!

The month of May this year had been another memorable month for me. I am now blogging for three months and meet exciting, new people. I am now in my 6th week here in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and i had been making fantastic progress, socially. Yes, i recently joined in Moms' and Kids' Group in our Kintore Public Hall where we meet every Monday and Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. So, i am meeting new people in the real world as well. I met a Nigerian lady named Tamy who lived in the next road from us. I met a Scottish lady also whom i first befriended in the moms' and kids' session and she lived in same village as well. Her name is Caroline. Finally, i met our neighbor next door in the public hall today and her name is Kerry. So, here i am finally really settled in our friendly neighborhood. One thing that i am really looking forward this month is for our stuffs from the Philippines to arrive. How i wish it will arrive soon as it is already 9 weeks since it was being packed by the movers. I don't understand why it took so long. Supposedly at this time, it should be here already. Oh, well, i just wish it will arrive soon this month of May.

One more thing, before i will close this post, i want to greet Happy Birthday to my husband's Step Dad, Popsy Robbie last May 21. We wish you all the best. We love you very much.

To all my blogging friends, especially, the mommies out there, i will share to you the above awards as well. May the coming June will bring us lovely, lovely sunshine. They always say, the moon in June is a big balloon...hehehehe... we will see that in June. Have a great time, everyone!

Friendship Tag : Blood Type

2008-05-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

Got this interesting tag from my constant "taggers" Mylou and cousin Lynn. Thank you, girls!

According to a Japanese institute that does research on blood types, there are certain personality traits that seem to match up with certain blood types.

TYPE O
You want to be a leader, and when you see something you want, you keep striving until you achieve your goal. You are a trend-setter, loyal, passionate, and self-confident. Your weaknesses include vanity and jealousy and a tendency to be too competitive.

TYPE A

You like harmony, peace and organization. You work well with others, and are sensitive, patient and affectionate. Among your weaknesses are stubbornness and an inability to relax.

TYPE B

You're a rugged individualist, who's straightforward and likes to do things your own way. Creative and flexible, you adapt easily to any situation. But your insistence on being independent can sometimes go too far and become a weakness.

TYPE AB

Cool and controlled, you're generally well liked and always put people at ease. You're a natural entertainer who's tactful and fair. But you're standoffish, blunt, and have difficulty making decisions.

How do i rate mine?

My blood type is "O" and some of the traits associated with my blood type are actually true. I am smiling at my weaknesses. hehehe. Vanity? Jealousy? Let me think about them. And the tendency to be competitive? I would agree more on Vanity! hehehehehe!!!!!

I wanna tag my blogging pals Shiela, Virgie , and Vannie.

Boys' Group Hug

2008-05-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

I really love this photo of my three very precious boys hugging each other. Aren't they so sweet??? Guess what is baby Cam's most favorite toy? It is obvious: his dad's eyeglasses. He always take a hold of that one whenever he is near his dad. My two boys are missing their dad for so many days now. But we got to talk to him on the phone everyday and Prisco is always reporting to him what we are doing each day. Also, i am reporting to his dad his naughtiness. Yup, he can be very naughty and sometimes it is driving me nuts. But no matter how naughty he is, he is always my precious, precious, sweet prince. These three boys always determine my mood. i love them so much!

Leading Advocate of Open Solutions Alliance

2008-05-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, let us know this man who is a leading executive in the open source software industry. He is none other than Ronald Bongo . He is very famous guy in his own field. Presently, he is the CEO of Corra Technology, known in the industry as CorraTech. Ron Bongo brings two decades of diverse experience, to his position at CorraTech, during that time, he honed his expertise in technology, management consulting and finance. He manages CorraTech's corporate strategy, directs its management team and builds key business and strategic relationships for the company.

My 100th Post!

2008-05-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is my 100th entry! I am thinking of writing a special post but really i cannot think of anything. What i can randomly think now is the number 100. I am just thinking if me and my husband would reach that age? What will happen to the world 100 years from now? What will happen 100 months from now? What will happen 100 hours from now? What will happen 100 minutes from now? What will happen 100 seconds from now?... No one would ever know.

The many calamities that happened --- the one in China, in Myanmar, or any other strange and horrible events that happened in different areas of the world --- are these events been forecasted? No one would ever know.

This is the essence of my blog - Capturing the Moments. I took photos whenever i got the chance. Tomorrow, all of us will gonna grow old and what would remain will be image of the past. Today is what really matters.

Today, as i am making this 100th post, me and my two boys are away from our families and we are missing them. My husband is away working hard to support us. Our one family is in the Philippines and our other family is in Canada. We both miss them so much. I feel nostalgic now making this post. How i wish they are here? How i wish we are there? But this is the expatriate life and this is the disadvantage --- being away from our dearest relatives.

For my 100th post, i wanna put this popular saying that me and my husband really love. This is really our favorite. Whether we will reach a 100 year old or not, it really doesn't matter as long as we are Capturing The Moments knowing that the memories of these moments will gonna last forever.

Dirty Rice, Anyone?

2008-05-21T05:02:00.000-07:00

The best thing about buffet meal is you can find many assortment of dishes. For an adventurous eater, this is a real advantage. The disadvantage will be when you could not find anything that you like. In buffet, whatever is there, that's it. For a picky eater, it might be difficult!

Like for this dish called Dirty Rice Salad. I asked the chef, "are you sure i can eat this? This is dirty!" Of course, i am just joking! For a picky eater like my husband, this "dirty rice" is a big no no. He is not an adventurous eater. For me, i tried the other dishes first and might try this one if there is still some room on my belly.

I really needed to know why it is called dirty rice. Good thing Wikipedia is very helpful. It is said that Dirty rice is a traditional Cajun dish made from white rice cooked with small pieces of chicken liver or giblets, which give it a dark ("dirty") color. The cooked livers tend to be dry, but carry a very mild flavor. Similar to a pilaf, it also includes green bell pepper, celery and onion (the "holy trinity"). Parsley and/or chopped green onions are common garnishes. Dirty rice is most common in the Cajun regions of southern Louisiana and Mississippi; however, it can also be found in other areas of the American south. Of course, it is here is Scotland also.

According to WiseGeek"from its inception, dirty rice was a good way to make the most out of killing a chicken — or buying livers and gizzards cheap — feeding a family and doing it for pennies, all in the bargain. Rice was inexpensive and the chicken liver and gizzard, along with the “Holy Trinity” of Cajun cooking — onion, bell pepper and celery — extended the meal. Dirty rice, then, was often eaten as a main dish. Dirty rice gets its name from the color the liver and broth imparted to the white rice.In these more health-conscious days, liver and gizzards are not used as often. Instead, small amounts of ground pork or beef are used, but the trinity and spices remain the same. Some cooks also throw in a little bacon grease for extra flavoring. The meat is first browned, and then the vegetables, including fresh garlic and green onions are browned together until the onions are clear. All is drained and then the rice and spices such as salt, pepper, cayenne, pepper sauce and paprika go into the pot. The cook adds water, brings it to a boil, adds the vegetables and meat back into the saucepan, covers it, turns the heat to low and waits for the rice to cook. Beef broth or any other available broth may be substituted in place of part, or all, of the water. When the rice has cooked, it stands, covered, away from the heat for five to 10 minutes before serving. Dirty rice can be served with a salad as a main dish, depending on the amount of meat, or to accompany jambalaya or gumbo. Dirty rice is easy to make and a cook can alter the recipe to suit his or her tastes, and the family’s tastes. That, after all, is a Cajun tradition."

Another interesting rice recipe i found is called Jambalaya rice. Just like dirty rice, Jambalaya is a traditional delicious Louisiana Cajun or Creole dish. The main ingredients of Jambalaya includes meats, vegetables, seafoods and rice. These ingredients are prepared together in one pot adding one after another. Here's what it looks like...

What reminds me of Jambalaya Rice is the 1952 country song called Jambalaya(On the Bayou) by Hank Williams. On 1973, Carpenters made another cover version of the song. It is a very popular song and i can even memorize it! Of course, the song is named after this Creole and Cajun dish.

Good-bye, Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou.
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

(Chorus)
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

(Chorus)
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

Settle down far from town, get me a pirogue
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
Swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

(Chorus)Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

I think i had tried the little of this Jambalaya Rice(probably because i love that country song!). As for the Dirty Rice salad, i got no more room for it! As for my picky husband, nope, he didn't even look at them!

I Signed Up for Social Spark!

2008-05-21T02:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe i have goodluck today! My blog in SocialSpark,a social Marketing Network that connects advertisers and bloggers through an online advertising marketplace was approved! I was delighted! Now, i would not keep on chasing and fishing some opportunities in many other sites. It was so time-consuming and not practical at all! But since i am approved in SocialSpark, this means more opportunities for me to grab, and means, more bucks would go to my savings!

But what is this new social marketing network? How does it work? This is how it works fundamentally, Advertisers are able to target blogs based on conversational topics and make cash sponsorship offers to the bloggers who publish them. Bloggers can make money by either placing display advertisements on their blog or by writing sponsored content. The sponsorships offered through the SocialSpark marketplace allow advertisers to build buzz, generate traffic and maximize social media exposure.

This would mean advertisers and bloggers are on the equal playing field. For the bloggers like me, the advantages would be : 1.) Standing out in the crowd - we create profiles and tag ourselves so advertisers can find and engage us. 2.)Shake Your Money Maker - we get paid to write sponsored blog content on a per post basis, or have advertisers pay per day to sponsor your blog. 3.) Engage the masses - promote ourselves, our blogs and the individual pieces of contents we create. And 4.) Create a Universe - make new friends, discover new blogs and interact with other users. If you are an advertisers, you can : 1.) Handpick Your Bloggers - create a profile and tag yourself so bloggers can find and engage you. 2.) Establish your Army - Create Street Teams of online advocates that can be activated at any time. 3.)
Sponsor Blogs - Have bloggers create sponsored blog posts or run display advertising about your company. and 4.) Assess Your Success - Track your social media spend unlike ever before.

This is really great news for both bloggers and advertisers. So, signed up now. I f you are a blogger, keep on trying to be approved and don't lose hope if you'll not be approved right away. I had been submitting and resubmitting my blog, until they got tired and finally approved my blog! hehehehe! So, guys, try SocialSpark. I am so sure we will gonna like it and be hooked to it!

The Red Rose

2008-05-20T03:09:00.001-07:00

A rose is a flowering shrub of the genus Rosa. It’s the classic expression of love because a rose flower pours forth your innermost feelings to your beloved in the most beautiful way. So give a rose to your loved ones and friends and make anyone’s heart bloom with joy!

My lovely cousin Lynn gave me this lovely red rose. I am flattered and it made my day!!! Thanks, my sweet cuz and super supportive blogging buddy.

I am giving this rose to my newly-found blogging buddies namely:
Jenn, Mikaella, Kiscy. Nice meeting you online, girls and may we have good blogging friendship all through the years! Cheers!

Impact of Marrying Foreigners:A Personal Experience

2008-05-20T01:15:00.000-07:00

Whenever i am blog hopping,80% of the blogs i will be spotting will be by a Filipina married to a foreigner. WOW!!! I have this great feeling of excitement that ,"hey there are sooo many of us!" There will be more and more since the impact of internet on interracial marriages is sooo dramatic, widespread and powerful.

When i was a little girl whenever i heared a Filipina married to a foreigner(Australian,European,North American,etc...) i got sooo excited. My mom originally is from Negros Oriental and my dad from the Cebu Province. Whenever we went to these places --- Cebu, Dumaguete, Tanjay, Bais, etc... etc... usually the bigger houses on the community are owned by Filipinas married to foreigners. For example, The La Hacienda Hotel in Tanjay, Negros Oriental is owned by a Filipina married to a British --- a Filipina who once was a very poor girl whose parents can't even afford a small lot now owns a huge hacienda. Whether we accept it or not, that was possible because of her marriage to a British.

Now, let us be honest here : why do we marry foreigners? Okay, of course, LOVE,LOVE,LOVE. What a sweetest thing in the world! But is it just it? I mean, come on, look at our country! Look at that old man in the airport who can hardly even walk who got a 20 year old wife and he's more than 80! Come on, let us be honest!

Of course, there are really lucky ones who married because of true love, but honestly, there are others who married because they saw it as the only way out in a country where extreme poverty is prevalent. Take for example: I'd known a native woman(a B'laan tribe) who can't even speak a word of English and married to an English. Now, okay, you tell me action speaks louder than words, but oh, dear, can you live in a country very much different from yours with a person whom you can't even understand the word he speaks???? Okay, of course, she had survived. Little by little she learnt. And isn't that amazing how strong our coping mechanism is? We need to because there is no real hope for our country! For her, better to marry a foreigner than being a domestic helper (sometimes the working agency will trick you and only get your placement fee!) or being a wife to a Filipino who loves cockfighting and treats his roosters as more valuable than his wife! (Ah, i know, i know, i am just being real here, i knew lots of Filipino husbands who love cockfighting! Asked Manny Paquiao if he loves his fighting cocks more than Jinky? Probably? Ah, Sorry i am out of the topic now!!!!).

There is big impact on marrying a foreigner. Personally, it is a great impact. Okay, i had finished my education and probably would land a good job and probably had married any of my former Filipino boyfriends. But i might not got the chance to go to Paris or any first class travel destinations. Okay, we might got the chance to go but not when we are 27 or 28 0r 30 years old? probably when we will be 50 or 60? or probably not at all? I don't know, i am just only guessing. And i am only speaking in general.

But anyway, I think God had answered my mother's prayer that i will marry a foreigner !(I knew she always looked happy whenever i broke up with my former Flipino boyfriends!). It was a long-time dream of my mom for me to marry a White Guy. I really understand why. The rate of unemployment in the Philippines is too high. With one available job there might be 2000 applicants, and don't apply if you got no back-up!!! And with a population that is surging so high every day, resources are not enough! My mom also knew that by me marrying a foreigner the chances of having a good, comfortable life is higher than being married to a fellow Filipino.(Now, Filipino guys don't get mad at me!!!! I am only telling the truth!). I always believe that MOTHERS KNOW BEST! So, as a good daughter, i heeded my mom's advice. But really, it was the best choice i made in my life!

I still believe this is FATE. I still believe that God has plans to each one of us. My personal experience had been truly amazing and the impact is quite impressive. For more of my personal experience, you can read my Cinderella Story.

Probably the greatest impact i can give in marrying my wonderful, white husband? The mixed kids that we have. The "mestizo" children are the greatest impacts of all! And if you ask me if i married my husband because of LOVE? Big YES. And did i marry him for me to have a good, secured future? BIG, BIG YES! But most of all, because of love!

Pair's Paintball

2008-05-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

This is definitely our first paintball experience. We both love it. I don't think we'll gonna be into it since we have kids with us. I am not really good at it but i tried though. My husband is really very good. I would love to see a challenging paintball. I am very sure it is a delight to watch. For the meantime, just watch these photos that we had ...

I know that this is pretty elementary to play paintball, but we enjoyed it!

Friendship Tag:To Do Things

2008-05-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

My blogging friend Mylou tagged me about my To-Do-List. Honestly, my friends, i got many things to do, some of these are kinda routine and if i have to put it here one by one the list would be endless. So, i will concentrate on the most important ones:

1. Organize...organize...organize...
2. Gather the many receipts and sort them out.(We need this to be submitted to my hubby's company).
3. Blog hop...think of good entries... make reviews/ comments.
4. Chase some opportunities.
5. Answer/read mails
6. Call my old friends here in the UK.
7. Wanting to be prompt with the tagging!(sometimes i am real slow!).
8. Household chores --- endless(laundry,ironing,washing the dishes,vacuuming,recycling/throwing garbage,cooking,etc....etc...)
9. Parenting (feeding,bathing,playing, changing,etc...etc...
10. Time for myself!Time for my husband!
11. Time for others.

Sometimes number 9 comes first or number 10 or number 8. It just depends.
I am passing this tag to my pals Wendy, and Lynn, Portia and Lindsay.

Hiking on Land of the Viking

2008-05-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

First of all, i wanna thank my son Prisco for suggesting to me that title. I originally want the title simply as "Land of the Vikings" but then he told me, Hiking and Viking goes well together!". So, i agreed!

I remembered when we went to Canada last December 2006, when my father-in-law fetched us at the Halifax International Airport with long whiskers. I told him, "Hi Dad, you look like a Viking!" And he said, " I am indeed!". And so he told us about this Viking movie in which he is one of the casts. It is James Caviezel that is the main character. I am very proud of my father-in-law to be a part of the movie and the main thing that i am most proud of, this movie is even filmed on his own land. No matter if this movie will be a blockbuster or not, it does not matter that much. What matter to us is the pride that wow, Nova Scotia will be famous again. And we are more proud for the fact that it is filmed in our own backyard. The feeling is just fantastic.

I will show you the photos on the morning hike that we had . My father-in-law was very keen in showing us around. There was no shoot on that day and of course, hiking will not be allowed during shooting. So we went on the right time...

When i am showing Prisco the photos as i am uploading, he thought that the rocks we were carrying are really very heavy. You'll be surprised how light they are as light as plastic cups! Hehehehe! Surely when we will see the real movie, with too much editing and with the addition of lots of cinematic effects, the real beauty of my dad's place will not be the same anymore. So, i am posting these photos exposing the natural, unexploited land of Our Father...

Goodluck to the movie OUTLANDER! Thanks a lot for choosing the village of Nine Mile River as the main shooting spot. The people there are really looking forward and very anxious waiting for this movie including me to come out this year... We will surely buy a DVD of this one as well. You would do the same if you are in our shoes!

Internet Hoax

2008-05-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

While waiting for my chatmate in the receiving area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport last 2000, the airport security guard chatted with me and said, "who are you waiting for and what flight?..." I told him i am waiting for my online friend(who definitely is my boyfriend before we even physically met each other. The physical meeting was just a confirmation. I am referring to my husband now). The security guard told me, "are you sure he is coming?" I said of course! But really i was stunned why he asked me that. So i asked him,"why you asked that?" So, he told me there were lots of Filipina girls crying and endlessly waiting in the airport and that nobody arrived! In other words, they had been bluffed and fooled by their so-called chatmates.

I can't understand how those buggers feel that they had fooled somebody. Probably they were feasting and feeling like conquerors that they had fooled Asian ladies? Or had they also been fooled before because some Asian girls also asked them money? I can't really answer. In the internet world, i am very sure there are lots of imaginary things, there are lots of stories being made, and of course,mostly are not true. Things like their chatmates died, etc..etc... Oh well, just really bad.

Here is a case in California wherein a mom was indicted in deadly Myspace hoax. This Missouri woman was indicted Thursday for her alleged role in perpetrating a hoax on the online social network MySpace against a 13-year-old neighbor who committed suicide. Lori Drew, of suburban St. Louis, allegedly helped create a MySpace account in the name of someone who didn't exist to convince Megan Meier she was chatting with a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans. She was charged with conspiracy and fraudulently gaining access to someone else's computer.Megan hanged herself at home in October 2006, allegedly after receiving a dozen or more cruel messages, including one stating the world would be better off without her.

Salvador Hernandez, assistant agent in charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, called the case heart-rending."The Internet is a world unto itself. People must know how far they can go before they must stop. They exploited a young girl's weaknesses," Hernandez said. "Whether the defendant could have foreseen the results, she's responsible for her actions." Read full story here.

I can only agree what Hernandez had said.

Officially Three

2008-05-17T03:25:00.000-07:00

You got it right, i had been officially blogging for 3 months now! Made some few paid posts which i considered as fillings (just like a sandwich!). Not too bad actually to earn a little bit. I still got no Page rank(PR)and still envious to some who have! But i am soo happy for them, especially for those gracious ones who still added me even if i still hadn't got a rank. But who knows? Someday?... And to those who are selfish enough to add the others who got no PRs? You will gonna lose yours one day! hehehehe. How wicked of me!!!!

The truth is: i am enjoying blogging. In a quiet place like Aberdeenshire where i hadn't even known even one neighbor for 5 weeks that i am here, blogging is a great outlet, or outbursts, whatever! I made really few great, interesting pals in blogging. These people are very special people who i might never got the chance to meet in the real world... but thanks to blogging and thanks that i am doing blog hopping!!!!

Somehow i hadn't still graduated from being a neophyte. There are just too many things to learn and everyday i am just bombarded with the avalanche of information and somehow i can't manage to understand some of them! Each day there is new style, new trend, new code, new widget, etc.. .etc...Hence, for an old-fashioned person like me who is not really technologically savvy, somehow, i am culturally shock! There are just too many things to do here that are deemed unimaginable!

By the way, before i will end this post i wanna thank my Scottish friend, Jennifer Giles for visiting me,uhmmm, 3 weeks ago at our house. She was my first house guest. I was delighted to have her even just for few hours. Jennifer was our closest neighbor in Kemaman, Terengganu,Malaysia and how small is the world, we see each other again here in Scotland!

She brought me some lovely,lovely tulips... and i love tulips... I even wanted to go to Netherlands, the so-called land of the tulips to see and have photos with thousands of blooming, gregarious, well-manicured tulips and to see lots of windmills and other amazing things.

Here are some photos of me and lovely flowers and my beautiful friend Jennifer with the kids--- BabyCam, Prisco and Gaby (Jennifer and Kevin's daughter. Gezzz, look at her, she was still a baby when i saw her in Malaysia. Wow! Now, she's so independent and very active really!)...

Hog Roast and Other Scottish Produce

2008-05-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is the Scottish Hog Roast--- hot, crispy and succulent, much like a "lechon baboy" in our Philippine setting. The difference? We did ours in a very traditional way, in an open air with two people keep on tossing and tossing the big pig over the burning charcoal and another main difference? We didn't cut the head! In Scottish manner, not cutting the head looks unethical. And for them tossing and tossing is too much of a hassle and unpractical, a machine is better like that one in the photo! hehehehe! Oh well, culture is relative...
And other food? Barbequed Langoustine, Crawfish Chowder and Chunky Breads, Aberdeenshire Ribeye Steak and Sweet and Smokey Baby Back Ribs to name a few, plus various treats as well as refreshments, all made from local produce. Not to mention the all day wine and spirits. Me and my husband are not really fond of alcohol, we love wine , but that's not always!!!
I had been contented with Crawfish Chowder( something similar to Tomyam soup although the Thai's tomyam soup is stronger and spicy!) and some Jambalaya rice. My husband and Prisco devoured some steaks while Baby Cam was contented with sandwiches and bit some chunky breads.

For the desserts(icecream, cakes, tarts, pies), i will show you some. I really don't know how to call the others although i comforted myself with these! hehehehe....

I could not post all food photos here as i even failed to take all pics of all the foods! It had just been too much and there were lots of food stalls that we didn't even got the chance to go at all. Oh well, we had fun and the food was only secondary. For the meantime, i am really missing my seafood tomyam and other delicious Thai delicacies!!!! We definitely should go to a Thai restaurant here once my hubby will come back!!!!

DigiScrap From a Friend

2008-05-16T02:45:00.000-07:00

I wanna thank my blogging friend Jana for exerting effort in making this beautiful digiscrap. I was stunned and surprised. I can't believe somebody would do that for me! Ah, she was sneaky as i don't know she'd been viewing my friendster photos and got this one and turned it into a beautiful digiframe! fantastic job!!!! Thanks a lot, sweet friend and goodluck to all your endeavors!!!

We Don't Wanna Miss The Crawfish Carnival

2008-05-15T04:44:00.000-07:00

My husband was away again. He went around 5 this morning (sigh). Oh, well, what can we do? We need means to live and if that would mean few weeks that he's away, that is okay. I had been so used to his offshore jobs. If you had seen Ben Affleck on the movie Armageddon, the job is seem like it, but right now he is more like Bruce Willis as he had been training new engineers for sometime now( although his face is more that of Ben Affleck!hehehehehe! Ah, how i wish i can be as tall and pretty as Liv Tyler! But since i can't be, definitely it's okay and had accepted that this is me).

Oh,well, speaking about Armageddon and the beautiful soundtrack by Aerosmith on that blockbuster movie, whenever my husband is onshore, we need to see to it that we don't miss great, quality, family time together. Hence, last Mom's Day, together with the Castle Walk, was another surprise --- A Castle Extravaganza or more particularly, The Crawfish Carnival that is just right within the grounds of the Castle itself. This Carnival is exclusive for my husband's company employees and their families. There were just many things to do and see and Prisco had so much fun. Some of the oldtime favorites for everyone to enjoy were Archery, Quads, Bucking Bronco, Climbing Wall, Paintball and Trampolines plus new activities; Golf Simulator, Adrenaline Maze and craft making in a traditional Native American Tipi. There was also "Show Time" in which a professional drama group worked with the children. There were lots of singing, dancing and acting. We were just content watching them! Prisco was more interested with slides and trampolines. He must had went a hundred times! And what about the food? Oh, it was too much and just all buffet style. I better make an exclusive entry of the food.

For the meantime,here are some of the fun photos....

Real Property Maintenance

2008-05-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Do you wonder how much it cost to maintain a very big property? I mean, you pay real estate taxes annually, the electricity and gas bills ( or air conditioner if it's in warm countries), the ground maintenance (cutting of the grass, maintaining the gardens, etc... etc...). No wonder very rich people in the Philippines who have vast tracts of land and big, palatial mansions can have more than 40 servants (it is a lot but it is true,i.e. the Madrigals, etc..). Really, money is nothing for them and to have 40 or 50 servants are nothing for they made a really vast income unimaginable!

When i took a look at castles, like this one recently --- the Castle Fraser in Inverurie, Scotland,(you know how silly i think sometimes) i am thinking how many servants had they got before? How many gardeners maintaining the over 300 hectares of farmland and open woodland, including a walled garden and two forest trails. And the castle itself, realizing that there is no elevator or lift to bring the servants to and fro the high stairs, it is a tough job(but i am sure it was enjoyable. No wonder the governess of the castle was really so thin in her photograph!).

But anyway, take a look at the huge estate. I just love the big, big, green lawn and the tall, multicolored trees that abound the area. The place is really a great scenery. Castle Fraser has recently been used as a backdrop for some of the scenes shot in the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award winning film "The Queen", starring Helen Mirren.

I took these photos at the very top of the tower. What a very breathtaking view out there. I can still feel my "conquering spirit" after the climb!

A Baronial Castle: Its Legend

2008-05-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Recently, i had been reading about this grand castle. I found out that there is a legend and it is somehow scary. How i wish they allowed us to take photos inside the castle, but sadly, nope, not allowed. I only got this one dining room photo online, but really no other photos of the room available. There is this Green Room, Pink Room, Red Room, etc, etc,...
Anyway, the legend goes this way...
Legend has it that a young princess was once staying at the castle when she was brutually murdered while asleep in the 'Green Room'. Her body was dragged down the stone stairs, leaving a trail of blood stains. As hard as they tried, the occupants of the castle could not scrub out the stains, and so were forced to cover the steps in wood panelling, which remains today. It is said she still stalks the halls of the castle during the night. Numerous sightings were reported by former Property Manager, Eric Wilkinson, and piano music was said to be frequently heard in the empty castle by its former owner, Lavinia Smiley.
I probably would not go to this castle on the night! hehehehe!

Mom's Day Castle Walk

2008-05-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

My husband knows exactly my weakness --- that i love walking along scenic routes! So, he brought me to a lovely, lush, green, charming Castle Fraser this Mom's Day. Ah, my boots that are made for walking is perfect for this day of walking.hehehehe!

This grand Renaissance castle , the foundations of which date back from the 1300's is the largest and most elaborate of the Scottish castles. It is not very far from where we live, probably 20 minutes drive. Wow, such a fairylike view!

Our family picture with the castle at the background. We'll be climbing out there, right to the very top! We had been to few castles before so i expect there will be lots of stairs and secret passageways. But this will be Baby Cam's first castle adventure. It might not be sooo exciting for him, but for Prisco, it is...

This is the little knight in a shining armor! hehehehe! Prisco is very excited to wear his battle paraphernalia, ah, just in case there'll be a medieval battle!hehehehe! But since there will be not, he'll just pretend there will be....hehehehe!

These are our preliminary photos. The next entry i will show the greenery around the castle. Isn't it that life sometimes is a fairytale? Ah, i believe it is so, especially in moments like these.

Sneaky Surprise

2008-05-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

We are having our breakfast, me and my buddies -- Prisco and Cameron(Baby Cam is feeling so much better)when suddenly, out of nowhere a figure came out --- my HUSBAND!!!!! Right in the middle of our kitchen door!!!! He is so sneaky i hadn't even hear any sound at all!!!!!! What a lovely suprise and the best gift for Mother's Day.

My husband loves to suprise me and he loves the surprise expressions on my face. He's a very spontaneous person, just like me and the fact is : we just don't realize when that spontaneity will occur. Ah, he is just sooo sneaky. Who would ever expect??? He had been offshore for over a week and that chopper schedule is just not guaranteed, plus, there are lots of priority passengers before him...Ah, i don't know what he did just to come back home just perfectly....

He is not usually with me on Mother's Day. His presence on this year's Mother's Day is a great gift. The past years that he was not with me, he'll do many suprising acts, like this one.... There'll be knock on our door and when i opened there'll be entourage of flowers....I can only cry and i will asked the guy who'll deliver, "Are you sure these flowers are for me???? And yes,it was for me as i will sign the delivery receipt and it was my name writen on it!...Or, if we are together on some Mother's Day, he'll ask me, "when do you usually go when i am not around"? On that time, he heared from my sister that i usually go to this jewelry shop. So, i said, i do some window shopping on this shop. And then, he'll say, "okay, show me!" So, off we went and then he'll do chichat to some salesgirls and then, one salegirl will say to him, "yes, sir, she told me she likes this one!" And then, he'll say, "i'll get this for her!!!!"....Then, here i am saying, "oh,no dear, we don't need this one... i just love the design, etc..etc.... Anyway, he'll get it for me! All i can do is give him a very big hug and he don't want that i'll say thank you....He wants me to say "I love you!".... That's my husband!

But this Mother's Day, he'll have a great family surprise to us.... He said i can have a goodnight sleep as he'll be the one taking care of the baby...Uhmmm, that's more than enough...But he said, we'll gotta get ready soon as we are going to see a Castle....

That's where we are heading for this Mother's Day....and anyway, here's the sweetness photo again before the castle extravaganza...

Thanks to Mom's Day Friendship Tags

2008-05-12T02:51:00.000-07:00

I got this friendship tag from my friend C.A aka t'que. I highly appreciated your efforts of including me in your tag. There are few mother's day friendship tags that i really wanna do but time will not allow me to do it. I want to let you know, my friends that i greatly acknowledged your efforts on putting my link in your tags. If i didn't do your tags, it doesn't mean that i am not interested to do your tags, it's just that there are so many tags being lined up and the theme of those tags are just the same.
Hence, i wanna thank the following for including me in their tags for Mother's Day:
1. Lynn
2. Juliana
3. Kerslyn
4. Marites
5. Earth
6. Portia
7. Aidisan

As for the other tags that are still pending, i'll be doing them in the future...I'll gonna make time for them. Again, thank you,my beloved friends!

May Malady for my Baby

2008-05-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

We know that one of mom's maladies is when our kids got sick. We even hope it's us that are sick and not them...

I got panicked last Friday when i found out that Baby Cam got some red rashes all over his body. I knew he got fever but rashes? This is not right! I noticed these little rashes last Thursday but not a lot. Now, it's very visible even on his faces and on his head!

So i immediately phoned the medical center and they said they'll call me back. What a fantastic quality service they have here in Scotland with regards to many things especially health care. I went down to the kitchen to have a little bite when suddenly the phone rang, it's the doctor. He asked me about Baby Cam and everything. Oh well, i told him the same story that i went to the clinic the other day and baby got fever and now he got red rashes, blah blah blah...! Anyway, the doctor told me my baby got viral infection, a kind that is very common for the kids under 2 years old. So, i asked him if i can go to the medical center right away and if he can take a look on it. He said i can get an appointment around 11:30 am . I called around 9:00 am). I asked him if there is a need for me to bring my baby to the hospital? He said nope. I asked him if he encountered lots of cases like this? He said yes,many times.

So, i calmed down and got something to eat. My poor little fella was crying on the phone while i am talking to the doctor. No matter if it's only a fever, colds, cough, we,moms, normally got worried. We just don't know why our babies have those. And rashes? Oh well, i am pretty sure i am very up to date with regards to my sons' vaccination. I am still thinking where did he get this virus? Since this is airborne, i am just thinking if from the plane?from school? from the shops ... Ah, it doesn't matter...It is very hard to traced and nothing i can do about it!

But anyway, we got the appoinment doctor told me the same thing what we talked on the phone. This viral infection is very common. First there is fever and colds and then after few days rashes will come out. But he assured me, rashes will be gone gradually...I will just have to give my baby, lots of fluids and???Again, babies' bestfriends --- Calpol or paracetamol infant drops!

Lastnight, oh, thank God, Baby Cam's fever diminished. Doctor is right! Rashes are not so visible...and he slept pretty good compensating his lack of sleep and discomforts for the past nights.

Getting sick is a tough business for little fellas. When i see children that are not well, i always feel sad because wouldn't it be nice just to see their happy faces??? But the reality is, they, too got to have lots of health issues to be coped up. Different kids, just like any individual had various coping mechanisms and we,moms are the same. Think of my situation here : i just arrived in a community that i hardly know anyone (okay i know some but they live like 30 minutes drive away and that these people are also busy and it is my attitude not to disturb the privacy of people, except if there is really a need to!), baby got sick, husband is away, my family is away, i am struggling with 2 boys... It is tough, i know, but thank God, i handled it unbelievably well. Being worried is normal, but at the end of the day, worries never help and most of the things we worry are not even within our control. So, well, i gotta stay as cool as i am. I am just thankful now, my baby is sleeping soooo well...I hope he will be completely fine tomorrow... I can only hope and pray.

My Japanese Name

2008-05-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

Got this tag from my cousin Lynn and can't wait to find out what's my Japanese name. I hope it is not soooo funny??? We'll find out now....

For the instructions: add your name on the list and simply spell out your name using the given Japanese letter- translations below. Tag six of your friends and inform them of the tag (Please excuse me as i tagged more than 6.hehehehe!). Have fun!

TRANSLATION:
A ---> ka N ---> to
B ---> tu O ---> mo
C ---> mi P ---> no
D ---> te Q ---> ke
E ---> ku R ---> shi
F ---> lu S ---> ari
G ---> ji T ---> chi
H ---> ri U ---> do
I ---> ki V ---> ru
J ---> zu W ---> mei
K ---> me X ---> na
L ---> ta Y ---> fu
M ---> rin Z ---> zi

1. OSWALD - moarimeikatate (sounds like american and states har....har...har...)
2. JUNELLE - zudotokutataku (Thank God I’m a Filipino! sounds like sadako. nyay! hehehe)
3. JACQUELINE - zukamikedokutakitoku (Ayay!! Unsaman ni perti mang taasa..wa ko kasabot nyahahaha)
4. LERMA - takushirinka (I’ll use this name if I’m in Japan!)
5. BREGIE -tushikujikiku (Wah....ang sagwa hehehehe)
6. SHENG - AriRiKuToJi (forget it! LOL!!!)
7. LYNN - TaFuToTo (Hahaha! It sounds like... Are we thinking the same thing? Hahaha!)
8. PRILY- Noshikitafu(hehehehee....ah, not bad! it's probably like saying "are you inlove with me????...hehehehehe!)

I am passing this tag to my friends Jana, Lucille, Mira, Portia, Kate, Amor, Wendy, Bernadeth and Mylou. Have fun doing this tag, girls!

Five Star Blogs

2008-05-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Maintaining one very good quality blog entails lots of passion, lots of workmanship, lots of creativity, lots of perseverance and lots of hardwork. How much more for maintaining four very goood quality blogs?

David got four fabulous blogs that are all must-see by fellow bloggers. I fell inlove with his photographs, the way he made the title for each post, the way how his photographs can be a story on each own, and the way he puts his words. They are just enthralling. I am still amazed how he did those!!!! In simple sense, just very pretty!

Take a look at these blogs....(Ah, how i wish they are mine!)....

1. Virginia Breeze

2. A Photo Link With Love

3. Shoot The Virginia Breeze

4. Newslink Briefs

The pictures alone will take your breath away. I was in awe when i visited these sites. It's like i am brought in a heavenly place. His news blog is just tempting with a tinge of humor and delight. I had really an enjoyable time during my visit! Thanks a lot, David for sharing your treasured photographs to the world. Thanks for sharing your talent to us. Your places in the blogosphere are just fabulous and are all with Five Star Ratings. More power to you! What a very good job!!!!

To you my beloved friends, try to see these blogs yourself. As i said, how i wish, they were mine!!!

Toughness of Teething

2008-05-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

For the past days my baby had been having fever and little of diarrhea. I had been panicky but there's no use to it. I went to the doctor two days ago and doc told me that i will just keep giving Baby Cam the legendary Calpol. Oh well, he said everything is fine. Since, Baby cam got colds , fever will likely occur as well. The past nights had just been tough. If the baby got no sleep, so is the mom. Baby Cam is really feeling the discomforts of teething. I know that the feeling of pain in teething usually comes and goes but really this time his pain is tremendous. All i can do is the thought that this pain will soon be done...
Right now he is having a nap but i also know that soon he'll wake up and cry again. He's also being fussy now and refuse food. Oh,dear,dear, i hope his teeth malady will soon be over. Oh, well, my baby, be strong... Ah, i am still worried actually. This teething business is not easy!!!

First Swingperience

2008-05-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

We are always proud of our kids' milestones because we feel that we are sole part of it. Their milestones are our milestones and each first experience is always a thrill to us.

A day in the Strathburn park of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire last April 27 is the official day Baby Cam had his first swing experience. At first, he cried, you can see the little tears on his solo pic...but then with that tears accompanied the smiles, being so thrilled with the new and exciting thing.

Here's the little fella...

Mommy is putting baby Cam in her lap after that first swing trial. You can see on his face that he is still eyeing the swing...

So definitely he,ll go back to the swing again and Daddy is with him...

It was a nice day and a nice experience for a nine month old baby!

Article Writers Wanted!

2008-05-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here is the good news : Get Paid For Writing.

Encyclocentral is currently seeking article writers. Requirements for submission are as follows:

1. All articles must be original work. Submission of any article content with even any content plagiarized will result in that author being banned from this program and full payment withheld. This is a zero tolerance policy, no warning will be given.

2. We will provide you with common "key phrases", but you need to developed those phrases into titles. All articles must have a clear and descriptive title. The title should contain a minimum of 5 words, preferably more. The first letter of each word in the title should be should be capitalized. Only letters A-Z should be used in the title, no other characters.

3. All article content (including title) should be spell checked according to the English language. This includes a grammar check. Basically stated, you are posting into a live database, your submission will most likely be reviewed by us after it has posted live onto the site. (the site is cached, it may take 24 hours or more for your article to post live) Any mistakes that you make will be permanent. Therefore, it is very important that you post correctly. Use of foreign characters such as "á or è" is not allowed. All articles should be 350-500 words. Proper use of paragraphs is required. All articles should end with a link to an informative site on the topic, such as to the topic article on Wikipedia. All articles need to be informative and make correct sense. No article should contain meaningless "filler" contain or article "spinning".

4. Articles submission is done through our online platform. The submission process contains three text boxes; The Title, A snippet and the main article text. The snippet should consist of the first 2-3 sentences of the article. The remainder of the article should be posted in the main article text. There is also a check box for the article category. The key phrases that we assign to are already labeled according to category, however, from time to time they might be better suited for a different category. If you happen to see that a key phrase is better suit to a different category, please use your best judgment and put it in the correct category.

5. Payment is $5.00 USD per article. Payment is made via PayPal on the 5th of the month for all article submit the previous calendar month. If the 5th of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal USA holiday, the payment will be made the first business day after the 5th.

A Day in the Strathburn Park

2008-05-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

The weather here is really getting nicer and my Scottish friend even sent me an email saying..."you must have been bringing the sunshine with you!"... i was laughing because i know that it is just timely that we arrived in a better season of the year and i know also that weather is so unpredictable. So, while the iron is hot... i mean while the weather is warm, we have to visit some parks and be kids again...
Before my husband went offshore, we went to Strathburn Park in Inverurie. Our boys were delighted as you can see with our photos. Not only our kids but us as well. Look at how we become kids again with our kids!
Welcome to the Strathburn Park --- free for everyone--- to all the young ones and the young once!

Our first family photo since we arrived here! (Ah,it is very difficult to ask somebody sometimes, but this time, thanks to the dad who took our pic!).

My boys had fun on this tanker...

Prisco and Scott on the seesaw...

Look at the monkey in here...Hehehehehe!

That's all folks! Tata for now!

Ron Bongo - Leading Open Source Executive

2008-05-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ron Bongo is a leading executive in the open source software industry. He is presently the CEO of Corra Technology, known in the industry as CorraTech. Ron Bongo brings two decades of diverse experience, to his position at CorraTech, during that time, he honed his expertise in technology, management consulting and finance. He manages CorraTech's corporate strategy, directs its management team and builds key business and strategic relationships for the company. He is active in numerous Open Sources standards and industry associations.

Brioche Rolls --- love it!

2008-05-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

I always buy brioche rolls here in Scotland and i just love this. I can eat this everyday. It is buttery, milky, ah, just yummy! Just one of life's great pleasures! Although imported from France, i am happy this is readily available now here in Aberdeen. I remembered my husband brought me brioche from one of his Paris' client meetings. That was like 5 years ago and now, yes, many Scottish like this as well, and so, fantastic i can buy it here now everywhere!
BRIOCHE is a highly enriched French bread, whose high egg and butter content give it a rich and tender crumb. It has a dark, golden, and flaky crust from an egg wash applied before and after proofing. Ah, i just love it!

Look at how the French served their Brioche during special occasions...

Typical core ingredients for brioche dough are: Bread flour, eggs, butter, sugar, milk, yeast and salt.

SocialSpark Sparkling as a Sun!

2008-05-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

Everyone is excited upon hearing that a new site is offering new and exciting opportunities to bloggers like me. Yes,SocialSpark is shining, sparkling as a radiant sun beckoning a new day to many bloggers in the blogosphere. This is another offering from Izea and everyone are invited to join.
If you love to blog, if you love to write and get paid doing it SocialSpark is your place to be. You can write about websites, products, services, and/or companies and earn cash for providing your honest opinion and valuable feedback to the advertisers. And because this is a social website as well, you can actually make friends while earning money. Very cool, actually!

I joined myself under the profile name as Priscocam although i would admit that i have lots of exploring to be done in this new site. I am so thrilled upon learning that it is becoming so popular now. What an impact! I picked up Priscocam because that is me and that i enjoyed blogging and that SocialSpark i believe will offer me unique and distinct opportunities i had not found in other sites. Oh well, i know my profile is somehow new and i had not put my photo yet, but slowly, slowly, dear friends. I will soon sort it out. How about you? Had you made your profile already? If you haven't already done so, go ahead and create a profile. Join me now!

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by SocialSpark.
Disclosure Policy

My Hot Men?...

2008-05-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Got this tag from hot-mama, Sheng. Probably, my husband would agree with these hot men i listed here. hehehe! Don't worry, sweetie, you're the hottest for me!!!!
Here is my list...tralalalala....

1. Immortal Mortensen

I know he is no George Clooney or Johnny Deep.... He is no Georgie Porgie or Jack with Jill...hehehe...but he is not only the "king of Lord of the Rings Trilogy", but more so the king of hotness. My husband once told me, " If i have to have my wish granted who i will be, i wanna be the Victorious Viggo..." Oh well, i can only agree! hehehehe. There's no harm in dreaming and it is free! he is not only a versatile actor but also a poet and a painter. What a great package!

2. Diamond in Damon

This hot guy is very down-to-earth. I like him a lot when he told his bestfriend Ben Affleck to cancel his engagement to the bitchy Jennifer Lopez! What can Ben Affleck do? Of course, follow Matt. He knows he is the best and that he just gave the best advice for his good. Awarded as the Sexiest Man on the Face of the Earth last year, the humble Matt would even hide his face and would say he didn't deserve to be as such. But even George Clooney( who once became the Sexiest Man himself) acclaimed that no other men is more deserving than him. You're just priceless as a diamond, Matt and you are never a fake. That's why you're just as hot as ever!

3. Gosh...Josh????

When Josh had been filming a movie in Davao City last year, i said to my husband, "Can't you believe that Josh is here at Davao?" My husband could not believe either. He is filming "Coming Out In The Rain" in the goldmine place of Diwalwal. Ah, how i wish i saw him in person(but of course, i cannot, i am sooo pregnant and it is very dangerous in Diwalwal. hehehehe! Just like the goldmine, Josh is just a jewel. What a sweet guy, so down-to-earth and he is just so plain and simple when interviewed in the local television. What a charmer! Look at his smiles....those eyes... all ladies' hearts will be melted. Seen him the first time in Pearl Harbor, and just like pearls, Josh has been one of women's desires!

4. Blooming Bloom

He is just hot as in hot and hot.hehehehe. Handsome, very good actor, very versatile. Just like Viggo, he is immortal as well. His career is always so blooming and it is always reflected on his surname... He got charms, talent, intelligence and everything!

I only wanna elaborate four although i do like the Titanic guy, Leonardo di Caprio as well. What a really, really, really good actor. But, i think four is enough.

I am passing this tag to my hot cousins Lynn and Portia.

Are you a Frequent Caller?

2008-05-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

How many of us live far from our families? How many of us are working abroad seeking for greener pastures? How many of us are missing lots of important milestones of our family life just for the sake of being international and for saving for good future of our family members whom we left in our mother country? There are many of us. But no worries, our families are just a phone call away and phone cards that are cheap and reliable are now available online.

We know phone calls can be very expensive. I tried so many phone cards and really some of these phone cards when we got connected, sometimes we can't even communicate very well because the signal is just horrendous. Some phonecards could not even get connection at all and always send busy signals. Yes, i know this is really tough and frustrating. But here's the answer for this problem. I found this cheap phone cards provider and really we can save a lot of money allowing their customers save as much as 80% or more over regular long distance providers. I am so glad i found out about this. Now, i can talk to my family longer with the best voice quality and of course, the best value ever. What a great bargain! Try it yourself! Imagine only 4.9 cents per minute to Philippines? 2.5 cents per minute to India? 1.4 cents per minute to Nigeria? 0.8 cents per minute to Mexico? etc..etc...Ah, they have the prepaid phone cards suited for any country. And yes, cheap...cheap..cheap...but the quality is not!

So why do we choose Phone Cards Avenue - Prepaid Phone Cards? Here are the ultimate reasons: 1.) lowest rate calling cards plans ; 2.) best variety of phone cards ; 3.) secure online purchase ; 4.) instant delivery, no waiting ; and 5.) online account management. Undoubtedly, Phone Cards Avenue provides the best international calling cards online! All our phone cards are delivered online instantly so you can make the call right away. Buying phone cards online has never been this easy! Go ahead and start saving on long distance now!

May Day in UK

2008-05-05T01:03:00.000-07:00

There's not a budding boy, or girl, this day,
But is got up, and gone to bring in May.
-Herrick,17th century English poet

Whilst first day of May is a recognized International Holiday(Labor Day) in many countries, here in UK, they are never bothered about it. They have their own first day of May which is the fifth of May this year. They call this day May Day. This is for the convenience of the general public, making this Monday a bank holiday, a day off from school and work ( not for my husband who is off to work offshore!*sigh*). But,well, Prisco has no school today and we are just here in the house doing the daily routine ( and Prisco will be watching his "Lazy Town", "Bob the Builder", etc.. today. We had finished reading our storybooks last weekend which we had borrowed from the library!).

What is May Day anyway? Historically, May Day originated from a Pagan Fertility Ritual filled with periods of sexual licence. People were known to go off into the woods in search of a tree for the Maypole, and whilst there indulge in various temporary sexual encounters. That is not very tamed way of celebrating May Day! hehehehe! Because of such unacceptable behaviour of sexual frivolity or unacceptable, untamed sexual practices towards May Day, the society drastically changed it and made a celebration that is more acceptable to the public. Hence the practice of MayPole Dancing ( ah, this is more acceptable form of celebration!). I hadn't personally witnessed a MayPole dancing but i researched and it is something like this ....
In Maypole dancing, the dancers dance in a circle each holding a coloured ribbon attached to a central pole. This is good, not very difficult dance! I might probably participate in the future!heheheh. It's as easy as "Going around the Mulberry Bush on a cold and frosty morning!)...

There are lots of celebrations on the month of May. Eventhough most of the celebrations are pagan in origin, May is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.

Hopefully, the month of May in Scotland will be merry and warm. I am really looking forward to it!!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Queen at 23 years

2008-05-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

April 20,2008. The 23rd Wedding Anniversary of a lovely couple that we had been very close in Scotland --- Derek and Aniceta Queen. They are Prisco's primary godparents. We are so blessed to be with them during their wedding anniversary this year. They are very good people and we love them. They are always a call a way when we need them. They are a family to us. A day after i arrived in Scotland i went to the place where Ate Annie works, and upon seeing me, she got very excited that she actually stumbled a little bit in that little step in her workplace !hehehe! All because of her excitement that i am here in Scotland.
To you, lovely couple --- Cheers to that undying love and wishing your family circle good health, good friends and good fortune!
And, by the way, i love your Butterfly cake with flower muffins surrounding it. Great choice! Butterflies are real goodluck and we are wishing you the same.

Niagara Region Chopper Ride

2008-05-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

I remember this chopper ride we had when Prisco was three years old in Canada. We hired this chopper and took a ride along the Niagara Region down to the border of New York. That was so nice and so damn unforgettable!!!!