Everyone, Meet my New Baby!

I know, you got curious there. But it's not really what you think. You see, I'm not yet ready to get pregnant or to give birth anytime soon. My two babies in between are more than enough to get me going through the day right now. So, sorry if I got you a bit excited there.

Anyway, what I'm referring to here is my newest blog - Phoebe Diaries. I consider it my new baby because it serves as my breathing space whenever I feel like everything (family, work, finances) is taking its toll on me. I just started it 3 months back, so it still has a long way to go. I guess as of this writing, it only has 11 posts, but I sure won't stop updating it because it's my way of preserving all those memories we have as a family.

So, if you've got free time, go ahead and check it out. 

The Baby in Between is No Longer a Baby

Yes, she's all grown-up now! She turned 5 last November, and we gifted her with a Barbie-themed birthday party.

It won't be long before she turns 6. Whew, indeed time flies so fast! For now, I'm busy preparing for her enrollment. She's going to be in Senior Kindergarten this school year, which is the first step in the K+12 program. I know, it's still a long way to go, but it's sure worth it. It's rewarding to raise a child and provide her with the education that she needs. I'm sure, all mommies will agree with me on this, right mommies?

This blog ain't saying goodbye!

Wow, it's been so long since I last posted on this blog! Yeah, I know, it was such a loooong hiatus. But hey, this blog ain't saying goodbye! Not with the page views this one got last month, even without me doing anything here.

So after seeing the number, I decided to bring this blog back to life. I know, it won't be easy, considering that I still got a full-time job and the babies in between are now all grown-up, but I would try really hard to post at least a couple of times a month. So see you around!

65 Days and Counting

As I look at my calendar today, I begin to count the days before Daddy arrives this September. It'll be 65 days more, quite short now since I haven't fully prepared the house for the house warming and the things needed for the little boy's Christening and 1st birthday party. Whew, talking about pressure, pressure, pressure! But I'm not worried, I'm positive that everything will turn out okay before Daddy comes home.

So what's my first project this July? Hmmm I'm thinking about getting those kitchen cabinets and built-in cabinets done. I already talked to the maker and I basically agreed on the price. So, I'll get the ball rolling now before it's too late.

65 days to go! Aja Phoebe!

Palawan Here We Come!

In a while, we're off to one of the most popular destinations here in the Philippines - and it's no other than Palawan. I'm so excited to see the Underground River - one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Also, I want to experience island hopping again and do some swimming and snorkeling. The last time I did this was when we were in Davao. That was almost 2 years ago, so I'm really excited for this trip.


How about you? Have you been to Palawan?

Wow! Unlimited Web Hosting and Domain Name for Only $10

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Nexx Online. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey! Have you heard about this amazing offer from Nexx Web Hosting? For only $10, you get to enjoy not just unlimited web hosting but a really cool .COM domain of your choice too. So, if you have long been searching for a web hosting site that will provide you with unlimited hosting and domain name at the same time, then this special promotion is the best bet for you.

Actually, I'm also looking for the same things. Since last year, I was planning on giving this family blog its own .COM name and web hosting. Unfortunately, piles of work and my pregnancy prohibited me from doing so. But now that I've seen such a great deal from Nexx, I think I'll grab this one.

So, what's included in this $10 Nexx hosting plan? Well, you'll get unlimited diskspace, bandwidth, and email, one free domain, 24/7 customer support, $50 Google AdWords credits, $50 Facebook Ads credits, and one-click Wordpress and Blog installations. Plus, you get to access an easy to use control panel so you can install popular open source apps like Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal, and Zen Cart. No hassle in installing these apps, with just a click of a button everything you need is installed in minutes.

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Day 6 - Nutrimeal Challenge

From Day 1- Day 6, here's the total no. of kilos that I lost - (drum roll please!!!) 2 KILOS. Yes, from 57 kilos, I now weigh 55 kilos. Not bad, huh! Imagine that's only 6 days. And when I checked my waistline today, from 32 inches, it is now 29 inches. As in, it's super amazing. So, I'm going to continue having Nutrimeal from now on. I still want to reach my goal of 50 kilos.

Day 5 - Nutrimeal Challenge

Day 5 is here. And so what's new? Well, weight now is 55 1/2 kilos. Another 1/2 kilo lost there. Wow, this is really amazing! This is the fastest weight loss I've tried so far. How about you? Have you tried Nutrimeal too?

Day 4 - Nutrimeal Challenge

I'm on my 4th day of the Nutrimeal Challenge and well when I checked my weight this afternoon, it's still the same 56 kilos. But not bad because I can already feel my pants getting a little loose, so that could mean something.

Am I starving? No, not at all. The Nutrimeal that I drink already makes me feel so full.

DAY 3 - Nutrimeal Challenge

Sorry peeps, I'm in a hurry to leave the office so I'll do this post quick. For DAY 3 guess what? I lost 1 kilo!!! Yahooo! From 57 kilos, now it's 56...Amazing! Nutrimeal really works. I can't wait to reach my goal of 50 kilos. Whew! Gotta go for now.

DAY 2 - My Nutrimeal Challenge

Hi everyone! It's DAY 2 of my Nutrimeal Challenge! And how am I doing so far? I'm dying! Hahaha :D just kidding! I'm actually doing great, although yesterday was really a struggle.

For a person who is fond of eating like me, eating no rice at all since yesterday is really a big challenge. Last night, I was even telling my husband that I'm going to quit already. But at the back of my mind, something was telling me not to. So I continued with only Nutrimeal and fruits.

And know what, I just finished eating a piece of Ponkan for snacks and I felt full already. At 5pm, I'm going to take another serving of Nutrimeal for dinner. Woohoo - way to go Phoebe! And I bought 3 apples to help me get by. And oh by the way, I ate veggies too this lunch time. I'm really positive that this product will work. Whew! 4 days more to go!

DAY 1 - My Nutrimeal Weight Loss Challenge Starts Now!

Yes, after a month of contemplating whether or not to try this newest weight loss craze in the office, I've finally started it this morning - the Nutrimeal Weight Loss Challenge. Nutrimeal is a product from USANA which is composed of the following health basics: 8 grams of dietary fiber, 15 grams of protein, low in saturated fat, and low glycemic.

So, what's the difference of this product? Here, read on this info:

Nutrimeal Difference

* Wild Strawberry Free of artificial flavors and sweeteners
* Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal uses only natural flavors and sweeteners

Wild Strawberry and Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal

Fast food or no food. Too often this is a choice we’re forced to make. We know you want exceptional nutrition in everything you eat. We also know that you are incredibly busy. Between work, exercise, and a list of errands a mile long, the last thing you want to do in the morning before you run out the door is cook breakfast! But breakfast is where a healthy lifestyle begins! That’s why USANA developed tasty and convenient Nutrimeal™ shakes.

They are low glycemic meaning that the ingredients are formulated to produce only small fluctuations in blood glucose levels for sustained energy to keep you satisfied longer. Each serving of Nutrimeal contains 8 grams of dietary fiber, which can help maintain a healthy heart and circulatory system.

Each serving also provides 15 grams of soy, whey, and other proteins. Soy helps maintain cardiovascular health, diastolic blood pressure, and HDL-cholesterol levels, provided they are healthy to begin with. Soy protein is a complete protein, containing all of the essential amino acids in optimal ratios and in a highly digestible form. Whey protein, which is also easily digestible, is an excellent source of amino acids essential for building a healthy body.

Try the sweet flavor of Wild Strawberry Nutrimeal for breakfast, or any time you want a healthy meal you shake!

I am really so excited to see the result of this product. I want to be like our boss, Josephine (See her pic below). She tried using the product for 1 week and noticed a big loss of 12lbs from her 120lbs weight. No work out, no dieting, no skipping of meals, no diet pills, no lipo, just Nutrimeal. :) This is true and 100% effective.

I want to experience it myself so my nutrimeal challenge starts now! From my weight of 57 kilos and 32 inches waistline, let's see where these will go. :D

Glad to be a Part of the 1st Automated Election

Yesterday, I became a part of the 1st ever automated election here in the Philippines. Although the long queue was a bit frustrating, it was all worth it because I was able to exercise my right as a citizen of this country. But just like what the others experienced, the 3 1/2 hours of waiting was no fun and was really unexpected. The COMELEC should have done a little information dissemination about the clustered precincts so that voters were not surprised when they arrived in their respective polling places. But anyway, it's the 1st time, so hopefully the next time around will be a lot better.

Really I feel glad that I registered as a voter. At least, when the babies in between get older, I can proudly tell them that Mommy was able to experience voting during the 1st automated election.

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the proud mommies like me, allow me to greet each and every one of you a:

I Feel Great with USANA Essentials

When I woke up this morning, I knew in an instant that this was going to be a good day. And indeed it was. Although my day hasn't ended yet, I feel great knowing that God continue to bless me with good health. And I am extremely grateful for the new nutritional supplements that I'm taking now - the USANA Essentials. I feel really active the whole day and hardly feel any stress. And you know what's more amazing about this product? It's so effective at regulating my sleeping cycle and my bowel movement. Last night, I thought I wouldn't get any good sleep because it was really hot inside my friend's place. But to my surprise, I did. And when I get up in the morning, there's the restroom waiting for me to move my bowel. Really it's good that I can now do this daily. When I wasn't taking Essentials, I moved my bowel only after 3-5 days, and believe me, it didn't feel good. I felt so bloated and heavy inside and could hardly eat. But now that I'm taking Essentials, everything has changed. I feel great!

So if you're also having a hard time moving your bowel and getting a good night sleep, why not read more about USANA Essentials?

Happy Thoughts, Good Feelings

There are lots of things that make me feel good - one of which is when I see the babies in between smiling. It might be a small thing for some but for a full-time working mom like me, just seeing my little kids happy are more than enough to complete my day. And so since I won't be going home today, I'd just remember their happy faces to eliminate the negative thoughts and feelings that I have right now. After all, the reason why I'm working so hard is because of them. So no more entertaining of negative thoughts and feelings, only happy thoughts and good feelings. :D

I love you so much Guian and Gihan. You are Mommy's precious little ones!

(Baby Gihan)

(Ate Guian)

A Journey to a Healthy Me

Oh I miss blogging so much! I know a lot of my readers here are wondering where I've been these past months. Well, to tell you honestly, I wasn't anywhere. All this time, I was here in the same old desk, doing my everyday task as a full-time employee. I really did not intend to forget this blog, it's just that my health was deteriorating so I had to set aside some usual things that I do like maintaining this blog.

So why a journey to a healthy me? It's because from this day on I want to shout to the world that "I am going to be healthy and that this hypertension will not get the best out of me!" Yes, believe it or not, at the age of 29, I was diagnosed with Hypertension stage 2. It all started with the feeling of nausea and vomiting and a different throb at the back of my neck. And when I asked our company nurse what could be the problem, she immediately took my blood pressure, and there was the shocking truth - a blood pressure of 140/110.

When I consulted a cardiologist about my condition, she confirmed that I was hypertensive and will continue to be if my cholesterol level will not go down. So she advised me not to eat too much meat, salty foods, sweets, and more. Also she told me to change my lifestyle, at least to have exercises, and have enough sleep everyday.

I no longer eat a lot of fatty foods but I do take 30 mins. to 1 hour walk everyday. And as far as sleep is concerned, I make it a habit now to sleep at least 6-8 hours a day. But in spite of these all, I felt something was missing. So when a friend of mine recommended a nutritional supplement called Essentials, I got curious in an instant.

Essentials is a product of USANA, one of America’s leading companies in the field of health and nutrition. Actually, USANA is operating for almost 18 years now, and in 14 countries including Philippines. Essentials is a vitamin & mineral supplement for adults which is a combination of two products: Mega Antioxidant™ and Chelated Mineral™. Together, they provide a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and other plant nutrients that form the foundation of USANA’s nutritional system. They also have the advantage of USANA’s patented Olivol™ olive fruit extract that provides the nutritional benefits of the Mediterranean diet. And if I am to compare these products with other vitamins around like Centrum and Kirkland, USANA's Essentials are way more reliable because they have higher absorption rate.

Need I say more about Essentials and USANA? Well yeah, I'd definitely talk more about them here as I start this journey to a healthy me. It's really high time that I take really care of my health now. Being hypertensive at the age of 29 is not fun and is no joke. So with USANA here with me, I'm sure gonna beat this thing!

A Movie Review: Avatar

Last week, while having our usual breakfast, I found myself so out of place when my friends talked about the movie Avatar. Yes, I was OP simply because I was the only one in the group who haven't watched it. So, last Friday, before going home, I decided to get a clear DVD copy of the said movie and scheduled a movie marathon Sunday with the kids.

When Sunday came, the kids were more excited than I am to watch Avatar. I even recalled Baby Gab saying, "Momo..Mommy Momo.."(which means, Mommy monster) while looking at the Avatar DVD cover. She's a little scared of that blue creature in the movie called the Na'vi.

Anyway, moving on, when the movie started, I couldn't really focus because the kids were constantly bugging me. Good thing the DVD copy that I got had a subtitle so I was able to catch up. Honestly, at first, I was having a hard time understanding what the movie was about. But as the story went on, I got the clear picture.

I don't want to elaborate here my view on each aspect of the movie. But overall, I'm not really that satisfied, it seemed like I expected too much from it. Well, the special effects are excellent, but the story...It was so predictable. It does not even exceed my liking for Titanic and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. If asked which movie I'll watch again, my answer would definitely be The Lord of the Rings, especially The Return of the King.

Image source: wikipedia.org

Charter On Demand - Starting the Month Right

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter. All opinions are 100% mine.

My kids love watching cartoons and I love watching sci-fi movies. In the morning, the kids make sure that they remember the schedule when their favorite cartoons will be played on TV. While myself, I either download one from the Internet, wait for the movie to have a DVD release, or settle on what the TV has to offer. The kids don't really mind watching on schedule, but me, I'm not that patient. So, I'm really glad that there's now Charter digital. Because if there's Charter digital, On Demand is also free to access.

It's really great to start the month right with Charter on Demand. If you also want to have access to movies and TV shows without the wait like me, you should also go for Charter digital. It allows any user to have access to over 6000 movies and TV shows anytime he wants. Yes, no more waiting for schedules and DVD release. With On Demand, all our favorite TV shows that are aired on TV will be available at Charter the next day.

So, why don't you also start your month right with Charter On Demand? It's free to access, so no worries about any monthly bills to watch your favorite shows and movies. Anyway, here, why don't you learn more at charter.net/ondemand? It'll help you understand On Demand better. And if you are a Facebook user, you can also get updates and fun extras on Charter’s Facebook page.

Look At Her Now

I know, it's been so long since I last put a picture of the baby in between here. So, I decided to include some in this post. She's changed a lot. Actually, I was thinking of changing the title of my blog now to The Toddler in Between :D Lol.

My Baby Gab is now 2 years old. She talks a lot. Plays a lot. And she loves her baby brother so much. Anyway, without further ado, here, better look at her now.

(she's all smiles)

(Gab's version of Korean pose and upong-dalaga)

(the babies in between)

(Gaby and me)