Jakie and the Beadstalk

Have you ever caught yourself with a "nakatulala look"? Me, countless times already. It's my relaxation technique. All of us are so pressed for time, pressured with deadlines, stuck with commitments, that our minds go on overdrive. When that happens, our body feels the stress, and that's when we start feeling sick, and really getting sick. When I look at my kids eyes, all I see is innocence and contentment. No pressures, no problems, no stress. Childhood is a bliss.  And you know, letting go of everything that's bugging my mind really helps, and I do that with my "tulala" look (sometimes with mouth hanging wide).  Oh, sleep is a better alternative. But when you are in the office, and you're swamped with work, a few minutes of being "tulala" can help. A few minutes or so of that, and my mind feels refreshed.  Don't ask me the scientific reason behind it, because I don't know. I'm just saying it works for me. Try it and...

This is a short one. My Mama assisted our Parish yesterday for the Baptism of many, many babies (since it was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception).  She went home with this funny (funny weird, not funny ha-ha) anecdote.  A child was going to be baptized with the name of Cellphone.  According to the mother, it's a combination of the kid's parents' names. The mom is Cel, and the dad is Ponciano; hence the name Cellphone. Another child was baptized Charger. Again, another combination of the names of the kid's parents.  This time, it's the dad's name first: Charlie, and the mom: Gertrude. The priest wanted to get angry, but in order to preserve the solemnity of the Sacrament of Baptism, he just shook his head and moved on with the rites. I get the name combination thing, but can't they think of  a better name than that? Surely, there are a gazillion names out there. These names could have been used as pet names/ nicknames, but not the ...

Photo credit: www. tupperware brands.ph Dear Tupperware Brands Philippines, I would like to thank you for the rare opportunity for being chosen as one of this year's Tupperware Women of Confidence. This is not only a great privilege, but the status is a humbling experience for me - humbling in the sense that I have neglected to appreciate how people have looked up to me because of my confidence story. Thank you for making sure that Nanay Remie, Dollu and I were well-fed all the time. Thank you for the beautiful flowers. It was my first time to receive flowers like those (Swear!).  Thank you for the nice hotel accommodation. Thank you for making sure that we got home safely by ensuring that we have transportation fare. Thank you for the massage.  It was my first time to have a massage in a hotel since it's more expensive that the usual spas or salons. Thank you for the plaque, it's so beautiful. Thank you for the bag. This may seem over-reacting to you, but honest...

Without batting an eyelash, I will give this to my Mama. That's my Mama and her signature "tawa". My Mama grew up in the province with very little in life - she didn't even know who her real mother was, until she was a teenager. She has no dad.  Life for her was working for other people (some were relatives) in their homes, washing clothes, cleaning houses, and scrubbing away pots and pans until kingdom come. She is naturally beautiful and sexy, but having very little in life meant that she had to forego all those beauty regimen to maintain her beauty.   While I was growing up, she would always tell me to take care of my skin, which I stubbornly neglected until recently. I remember, when I was still a kid, I shameless asked my Mama this question, "Ma, bakit puro butas-butas and mukha niyo?" Imagine, such a tactless question from a child! I am so ashamed to recall this, yet I have to share this. (Well, I actually thought they were scars. It turne...

My bestfriend and I had lunch one time at Secret Recipe (Fourth Floor, Robinsons Manila- or was it Fifth Floor? I am not sure, I sort of got lost!) since she was craving for a very spicy soup. She claims that Secret Recipe has one of the spiciest soups she had ever tasted. Since the serving is too big for one person, she shared the bowl with me, while I opted to avail of their promo: For P99.00, one can order any hot beverage of my choice and a slice of their featured cakes.   Bestest ordered the Noodle in Tom Yum Kung: flat noodles in very spicy sauce with king prawns "daw".  It was spicy, not super spicy, but it also was sour. There were a two cauliflower florettes and two pieces of shrimps - not prawns. It was okay while it was hot, but once the temperature went down, I could no longer finish my soup. It wasn't yummy anymore.  It's a bit pricey for P280 though. Noodle in Tom Yum Kung  My order - Chocolate Idulgence ...

  I've been in a lot of interviews before. When I first got interviewed for my first real job, I thought I babbled a lot. I was not just nervous, but I also felt that my energy was being drained out of me while the interview was going on. I couldn't explain it, but that's how I felt. Over the years, I felt more confident with my interview. I envy people who exude confidence (but hate it when it's over-the-top).   For some people, an interview could be really stressful. Imagine how an introvert must feel with an interview. So Best Masters Programs came up with the following tips for an introvert who is looking for work:   Don't apologize for being shy . Soft-spoken people are generally considered more trustworthy and showing a timid side won't put off an interviewer.   Focus on successes during an interview, in your head and out loud. This will help boost your self-confidence. Make sure to rehearse before an interview , in a mirror or a webc...

Each of us is different: loud, quiet, aggressive, passive, short, tall, and each of us have a space in this tiny planet. And just because one is an introvert doesn't mean that that person wouldn't succeed in life.   I once posted a blog about introverts. It was from an article from Huffington Post that I chanced by online.  Because of that article, I realized that I am an introvert. Cara Delany then saw my post and suggested her infographic page to understand more about introverts. So I'm sharing this with you.   Take a look at this infographics prepared by Best Masters Programs : QUIET: INTROVERTS AT WORK Not everyone is cut out to be an aggressive sales person or advertising executive. Certain jobs require certain personalities, often people who don't mind being in the limelight and speaking up. But introverts shouldn't be discouraged, as there are plenty of careers suited for them. Let's take a look at some interesting facts regarding int...

The text craze has invaded the food manufacturing industry! The other day, hubby and I were in the grocery. I was browsing one shelf for my little one's baon and I saw the yummy-looking picture of a Regent product. It looked Sandwich Cake from afar. It says, "with Chocolate Cream Filling". Hmmmm... So I bought a pack (P60+, me thinks). I took one with me this morning for my breakfast in the office and I laughed aloud when I saw this: Yep, it's spelled Sndwch Cke No wonder kids these days have trouble in Spelling.  The way people text influence how they spell outside the cellphone and the food they bring with them are spelled "text-wise" too. Arrgggghhhh!!!! I'm reconsidering giving this to my little boy. Good thing, I just opened the pack this morning.   Oh by the way, about the taste: imagine toasted mamon? Put a filling in the middle and that's what this tastes like. Not too sweet, not too crumbly.  It's good, ac...

My sister, Momi G., bought vouchers from Metrodeal for another trip to Kinder Zoo. Since she and Kuya weren't able to come with us, it was just hubby, the little boy and I who went there last Sunday. We didn't visit Manila Zoo anymore but went straight to Kinder Zoo. At first, the kid got scared again because maraming nakakalat na Kalaw birds . They aren't friendly-looking birds - they've got big beaks and big eyes that seem to say, "Try staring at me again of I'll bite you". But once they start hopping and trying to untie your shoelaces, you'd find them really funny. But the little kid had fun in the Wall Climbing Section (Voucher is P99 pesos, plus two activities which a guest can choose from any of the following: Zipline, Wall Climbing, Swimming, Butterfly Catching, Bird Feeding, Animal Feeding and Horse Back Riding) There was no Fish Spa at the time we visited and I forgot to ask why, but it should have been part of the activities that one c...

Hubby, the kid, and my bestest, Caru, went to have lunch at Tong Yang after the kid went trick-or-treating in the office. It's my second time there, the first time, when Caru and I celebrated her birthday in advance. Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu and Barbecue Restaurant offers eat-all-you-can for P399 (all-in), no service charge.  It already includes drink-all-you-can (beer included).  (As if it is possible to eat as much and drink as much in a span of a couple of hours! I'd be immediately dead if I do that) Kids rate is P200.  Soup on the left, grill on the right Here are my observations: Smiley Faces: 1. The place looks clean.  The raw section. On the far corner are the cooked dishes. 2. We were welcomed by a friendly receptionist. 3. There was a good variety of choices to cook over the grill. 4. The price was reasonable. 5. The raw food are fresh.  The fresh seafoods available for grillin'. I didn't take photos of three more sides...

I never bought any pair of Skechers since it's too expensive for my taste. Last year, Tita Lena, my former officemate,  saw me dragging my foot and she asked why. I told her my shoe just disintegrated and I had no extra pair. She said, come to my office, and I'll give you a pair. And she gave me one of her favorite pair of Skechers. Yey!!!!  Though it's a little tight, I love it and I wear it as much as I can. (Thanks Tita Lena!) Last Sunday, while strolling in the mall, I saw a sign outside Skechers' Shop: "Sale up to 70% off".  Sucker as I am to sales and bargains, I told my sister-in-law, Donna, to check it out. And we were so flabbergasted because some shoes were on sale and get this, at a marked down price of 795 pesos (P795)! Weee!! So we were off to find a pair that would fit us and I am so proud to tell you that I bought two pairs (both at P795 each)! Har Har Har!!!  Here they are. Drum roll please... Tadaaaaaa!!! Original Price wa...

I like to keep my hands busy. One of my passions is making accessories (and source of income too- albeit, very, very, very small income). It's also a stress-reliever for me. And yep, baking, though I am not too keen in making frostings/ icings, since nobody in the house eats them anyway... If there is one thing I am very thankful for (aside from my family and friends), it is the ability to create things from scratch with my hands.   What are your hobbies?

Last Saturday, I was so lucky to be given a chance to attend Foton's Big Show 2013 at the World Trade Center, which I blogged about here . Thank you Nuffnang and Foton, for choosing me as one of the 11 winners of GC's from Foton (Sayang, I didn't win the Ipad Mini) but still, I'm blessed. Anyways, when the doors were opened officially declaring the start of the event, who would welcome the guests but the NU Cheerdancers who were the recent champions in the recent UAAP Cheerdance Competition.  And some of them were my former students!!  And what's nice is that they performed at a very close distance!!! It's such a visual treat to watch them! And I'm so proud too! So, I made sure I took a video of them and I had a picture with them (Kahit blurred!). With the cheerdance stars! Ang lapit diba?                                       I would have wanted to upl...

Kit has been with us since 1996.  She's our family car: a red and silver Lancer GXL then. She's fully automatic and she looks super cool.  When my siblings and I started to have our own families, Kit no longer functioned properly.  She gulps gas like a camel gulps water from an oasis in the dessert. Her windows no longer open, and her airconditioning goes haywire when you start driving.  The aircon works properly only when Kit is in neutral gear.  Imagine the torture when you ride her, without any windows opening, and with no airconditioning: yep, slow death.   We've been looking for a good family car since Kit started showing signs of old age in the middle of 2000.  Sadly, we have been unsuccessful because we were looking for the following in our future family car:    1. Affordability It should not be prized like a luxury vehicle, because we have to take into consideration the needs of the family first (the child is th...

My kid was bitten by a neighbor's dog yesterday.  He was bitten on the left thigh and he had scratch marks on his right leg. He said that he and his playmate were outside the house, playing, when the dog suddenly bit him.   Hubby and I were so p*ssed when we saw the wounds on our little boy. He immediately looked for the owner of the dog.   After a few minutes, we were ready to go to the hospital. We looked for an Animal Bite Center nearby where the little boy was given anti-rabies and anti-tetanus shots (for a whooping price of P2,400 for the two shots).   I learned a few lessons from this incident:   1. Do not panic.  While I pacified the little boy, hubby was the one who "hunted" for the dog's owner. I brought the little boy to our room, dressed the wounds, changed his clothes, and told him to wait for me while I take a quick bath and get ready to go to the hospital.   2. The City Hall has an Animal Bite Center. They c...

I love chatting.  It's a perfect venue to meet new friends and to connect with family and friends whom you don't see or talk with very often.    I remember in the early 2000s, when I would have to buy internet cards with a P30.00-value, which is good for an hour, and the connection would be erratic. Sometimes, I am in the middle of having an engaging conversation and the card would run out, so I would have to log in again, and sometimes, I won't be able to log in anymore, notwithstanding that I'm using a new card, with a brand-new load.  By the time I've logged in, my "kausap" has already logged out. So, it used to be that chatting or connecting with the internet really cost a lot, but with the advent of technology, and the awareness of the networks to the people's need to communicate with family and friends, this had been made cheaper and a lot more affordable.   Also, with the advent of smartphones, chatting is made much e...

Around this time last year, I was looking for promo tickets to Boracay since I got a free accommodation there for three days. My kid hasn't been there yet and hubby and I were so sure that he would enjoy the sea and the sand.   So for our trip next year, hubby and I came up with a wishlist of  our top three (3) domestic destinations from Manila:      1.Puerto Princesa      2. Davao      3. Kalibo (Boracay)             Why? 1. Puerto Princesa Hubby and I both hadn't been there, and so is the little boy.  I had a few friends from Palawan who regaled me with stories about its beauty, pristine beaches and amazing people.  I have tried many times to go to Palawan during my unmarried days, but the budget did not always seem to fit in my pockets!  It's also where the Underground River is, designated as a World Heritage Site right here in the Philippines, so who wouldn't want to vi...