Ironing day

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Sunday night, right after I tuck RJ to bed and he's already sound asleep, is when I iron all the newly washed clothes needed for that week. I used to iron our clothes as-needed. But because of the high electric rate, ridiculously high compared with other Asian countries, I now try to iron our clothes once a week. I have this foldable ironing board, as huge and look like a snow board, that fits well on the side of the cabinet in our small condominium space.

There's no significant decrease in our electric bill but a few peso decrease is good enough saving that can be used for the next month's utilities.

PhotoHunt: Wet or Rain

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Our front porch after raining the whole day…

kitchen chair cushions

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RJ has asked me, probably a million times already, to put cushions on our dining room chairs. He complains that his behind gets very painful with just a few minutes of sitting on the said chairs during meal time. 

My mom asks a seamstress to go to our house, me and RJ are on vacation here in the province, whenever she needs to have something sewed. We have a sewing machine here because my grandmother, bless her soul, used to be a seamstress. 

My mom bought new fabrics a few days back. The seamstress, Nana C, was called to sew curtains, chair covers and to alter some clothes. If I only knew she’s working here today, I would have bought some fabrics and have her make kitchen chair cushions similar with the one that I saw online.

I’ll go with my mom next time she visit the store where she buys her fabrics. I have to buy the materials, needed to make the cushions, so that I’m ready next time my mom calls Nana C to sew some things for her.

queen of multitasking

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The picture below is yours truly everyday. I know most stay-at-home or work-at-home moms can relate with me. I don't have a helper or yaya in the house. I do everything.

plus blogging, eating, washing the dishes = ME!

I can definitely say, based on experience, that working at home is much harder than working in a regular working environment. Especially with no maid! But the former is definitely more fulfilling than the latter.

annoying presence in my life!

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I was busy writing a blog review when I saw a cockroach running from the kitchen to where I was sitting in the dining room. Yes, I was working in the dining room and I wasn't eating (munching, chewing, call it whatever you like, I wasn't doing it -defensive,huh?).

The nerve of that cockroach! It wasn't at all scared of getting stomped by my heavy feet. This breed of cockroach is on the thin side and lighter in color. And they surely move so fast!

I sweep the floor, dust the furnitures and make sure the kitchen sink and the bathroom are always clean. I regularly use insect spray, almost everyday even. Although I make sure our house is clean, I still see one or two of this annoying insect every single day. This is the downside of living in a condominium. I may have a clean condo unit but if my neighbors are not -then the whole building will always have these annoying insects.

what's inside your refrigerator?

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Most of the items on my weekly grocery list are fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat.Seldom do I include canned food. My refrigerator is not that big, so I am thinking of replacing it with a new one. I have been using it for 6 years so it has served its purpose. I now have to move on to a new, bigger refrigerator! A refrigerator that is sturdy and reliable as my new computer's external hard drive.

                                                                                            lancaster

I am dreaming of a no-frost ref. I have to work doubly hard to buy one that can make limitless ice cubes and icy-cold water. And yes, a top of the line ref that won't melt my ice cream after just a few hours of opening it.

lazy me on weekends

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I would love to do nothing else, except to just stay in bed reading a good book, on weekends. But my laundry day is scheduled every Saturday and church on Sundays, so I can't be lazy and not get out of bed during weekends.

                                                            apieceintime

Speaking of laundry day, I need to buy a laundry line as strong as pull up bars. Laundry shops here can't be trusted to wash clothes thoroughly.

a must in every house

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Everyone's home should be child-proofed even when a child is yet to be born. A toddler touches and plays with anything and everything. I thought our house was child-proofed already. Not until I got into an accident. My craft materials were kept in a place that RJ can't reach or even see. But I can reach it.

I was using a box cutter one day and at the same time telling RJ not to go near me. The second I lost concentration of what I was doing, the cutter cut the top of my thumb. I only felt the pain when I saw lots of blood gushing out of the deep wound. I panicked and shouted at my sister to help me. Thank God my sister, a registered nurse, was so calm and patient with me.

Specially designed safety cutter for precisely removing cardboard box tops

which includes a revolutionaly EDGE GUIDE that allows for precise cuts along the box edge.

A must in every home? Don't just child-proof your house, make it "accident-proof" for everyone.

so depressed...

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...yesterday. I didn't go online at all.

Yesterday was my Grandmother's first death anniversary. I wasn't able to go home, in the province, because RJ's quarterly tests were scheduled this week. Helping RJ review for his tests distracted me from thinking about my Inay (Filipino word for mom) for awhile. But RJ had to go to his Chinese tutor so I was home alone. And I was not able to stop myself from feeling sad and blue.

When I saw the pictures, that my sister posted on FB today, I became more sad and homesick. I miss our house in the province. Look at our living room with its rustic furnitures. Doesn't it look so homey?

I will definitely spend Christmas and New Year with my family.

what to ask your real estate agent

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I am not a guru when it comes to real estate*. But living in a condominium, and transferring in a new one for the nth time, the last 10 years of my life makes me a guru on "things to ask your agent".

1. FA - It is very important to know the floor area for comparison of other condominium units that you have yet to visit. As well as for the computation of association dues.

2. Association Dues - This should cover the security, maintenance, janitorial and administration people's salary.

3. Occupancy Rate - Who wants to live in a building "half-full"? That says a lot about the "popularity" of the condominium.

4. Amenities - Swimming Pool, Gym, Sauna, Playground?

5. Emergency Power Source - If ever there's a sudden power failure, does the condominium have a generator. What areas of the building does it cover? Elevator, hallway, individual condo unit outlets?

Not all condominium unit has a terrace or a balcony, so don't bother buying an outdoor furniture, especially if you'll just get a studio-type unit.

I hope my few tips will help you find a new place to call "home".

*condominium unit in the Philippines

create custom made swing sets for your backyard

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El Nino is at its peak here in the Philippines already. The scourging heat of Mr. Sun can be felt even if one is already hiding under a tree. Combined with very humid air, taking a bath 10 (ten) times a day is not enough to stay fresh and clean. The horrible punishment of Mr. Sun ends late afternoon at around 5pm. I am planning to have swing sets installed in our backyard, more relaxing to sit on one than on a garden chair.

Kid's Creations, a swing set builder for residential use, lets you custom design your own swing sets with a 3D building program. The designed swing sets can be viewed from every angle. Structures can be added, deleted or changed. Once the basic framework is complete, the real fun begins. Accessorizing is what will make a backyard swing set different from others in the market.

My son will surely love doing the design especially adding the swing set accessories! Accessories are different for toddlers and big kids. The following accessories are available: tire swings, draw bridges, glider swings, wave slides, climbing rock walls, trapeze bar and monkey bars. Fun, fun, fun!

Did I also mention that they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and a LIFETIME warranty? Not yet? Well, they do!

I am imagining myself sitting on my newly installed swing sets and enjoying the cool afternoon breeze while reading a good book. My son enjoying the swing set plus accessories that he himself designed. Or maybe enjoying a glass of mango-strawberry shake while playing chess with my son.

el nino? not yet where we live

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This is what I usually see as soon as I wake up. This is the parking lot of a famous golf course which became more popular during the ZTE scandal. We chose to live in this part of the city because the neighborhood is very safe and "un-noisy".

Fireworks display can be seen most of the time during the night. PAGASA said that the Philippines is at the peak of El Nino right now. Believe it or not, we still don't use our air conditioner. With all the trees giving out fresh and cool air, who needs artificial comfort during this hot weather.

email or snailmail?

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I prefer the old fashioned way of sending and receiving letters---snailmail. Why? Handwritten letters and messages are more personal. I am more excited in finding a letter in our mailbox than in finding emails in my inbox.

Mailboxes in our neighborhood are pretty much old fashioned as well. I am thinking of looking for mail boxes that can be purchased online. I will also suggest it to our neighbors. I prefer wall mount mailboxes because it won't take up too much space in front of the house. And it is a good accessory in homefronts also. I will look for a colorful one that won't clash with the color of the house.

what? you didn't fix the bathroom sink?

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We are renting a condominium unit for six months because we have a problem with the unit that we bought in another condominium. The owner though didn't fix the glass sink in the bathroom. A week before moving in, I already noticed the leak. The unit owner promised to have it fixed and have all the other glass sinks checked as well. I called her a few days before we moved in and she said that everything in the unit is working well. She hired a plumber and electrician to fix everything that needs to be fixed. She asked her housemaid to clean the unit from ceiling, cabinets and have the floor mopped with disinfectant. She even removed the carpet because I told her that my son is asthmatic.

Fast forward to the present, I noticed that the glass vessel sink is leaking again. She should have bought a replacement glass sink from MR Direct Sinks because they have superior quality product at an affordable price.

I hope she replace the broken sinks as soon as possible.

need high-quality windows, any suggestion?

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I have been looking for replacement windows for our house. I need one that will make me feel safe when I am in the house with my family. I need one that is not just attractive but will also give the best security in the morning or when we are asleep at night. I need one that will keep us unharmed from burglars and other harmful people passing in our neighborhood.

While searching online, I found the website of Penguin Windows. It is the 8th largest replacement company in the US. THe company's main office is located in Washington state. Penguin Windows are currently available in Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine.

Started in 1984, the goal of the company is to sell high-quality replacement windows to homeowners who want to make their life (particularly their home) safer.

The company offers a variety of products, including vinyl siding, roofing, and sunrooms. As the business evolved, so did the company’s focus. The company primarily focuses on  residential replacement windows. They offer the most energy-efficient windows in the industry, which guarantees at least 40% energy savings. They employ AAMA certified installers so that they can offer a 100% full service warranty on their windows as well as their installation.

Do you think I found the right replacement window company? Will it make my home safer, more attractive and energy-efficient