I know.. I know..

My dearest blog needs updates! I mean, like posts about my family and what we've been up to lately. I've been procrastinating about it and I do feel bad that I really haven't gotten to it till now. I guess I can never use the "I don't have enough time" excuse anymore because it's already overrated. I just am so tired most of the time right now that instead of sitting in front of the computer when I get free time, I use it to get some rest. Three kids definitely are a handful! And it's even twice as hard for me during the weekdays because my husband is at work and I get no help in taking care of the little ones. I only get more extra time during the weekends when he's home because he's there to help me out, but then again, because he works long hours on the weekdays, I make sure to spend more time on the weekends with the whole family. With that being said, that leaves me with no time to write more on this blog.

I guess I just need to get really good in managing my time if I want to accomplish more in a day. I'm giving myself at least two more months to get back to how I was before I got pregnant. I want to give myself at least 6 months to fully recuperate from getting pregnant back to back to back in just 3 years. I think I completely deserve that. Anyway, I'm getting there and I'm so happy about that!

Well, I better get going. Mama duty calls ;) My husband just told me that our little Princess is already up and it's time to get the boys ready for bed. Who knows, if I don't get too tired till later, I might post another update ;) Perfect, because I have something I definitely would love to write about.

I Learned Something New Today...

I was browsing the internet awhile ago when I came across a website that offers free CPE credits and it made me ask what is it all about. I asked my husband if he ever heard about CPE before and he said no. Well, I got curious so I went ahead and clicked back to their link and browsed around. I found out that CPE stands for Continuing Professional Education and that people taking up their courses have something to do with dealing with money. Their three categories, Ethics, Representation, and Taxation, obviously, tell you right there. I might be wrong, but that's as far as I know about it right now.

I really am not a big fan of anything that has something to do with stuff like that, but I think it's not going to hurt me if I just try to educate myself a little bit by reading through all the information about CPE. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think, wanting to get more informed about things that you know nothing about and those that make you ask a lot of questions is, in fact good for you. I'd rather explore than just sit there and not do anything about the things I'm not familiar with. After all, nobody's going to help me but me. I just look at it this way: if I ever encounter the same thing in the future and somebody asked me, I at least have something to answer to that person and not actually just stand there feeling stupid over a very simple question that even a 5th grader could possibly know about. I don't want to be put in that situation, at at least not at my age now. That would be completely embarrassing.

My husband is always right when it comes to matters like this. He always tells me to never settle for anything less. If I want to know or learn more about something, read, do some research, and never ever take only one answer to my questions. He's right! I can learn more from asking a lot of people because they're always going to come up with different answers, and from there, I can come up with something better after putting different ideas together. And lastly, never be afraid to ask anything. No question is too small not to deserve a good and a right answer.

Saturday 9: Mr. Roboto

Wow, I honestly can't believe it's already almost Halloween again! It feels just like yesterday when we celebrated our first Halloween up here. And I'm actually excited this time because the kids are old enough to go out on their first ever trick-or-treating with their Papa. We already got their costumes ready and I can't wait to put them on the boys.

So much for that. I'm just excited ;) hehehe

1. Do you enjoy holidays like Halloween or is your approach more robotic?

- Yes, I enjoy Halloween :) I just don't go out in costume or attend any party, but I enjoy watching kids going trick-or-treating ;)

2. Have you ever been to a haunted house?

- I've been to a house that people say was "haunted". But I never believed in it because when we were inside, it actually didn't feel like it was haunted at all. It even turned out to be such a cool place ;)

3. What are you doing for Halloween this year?

- Probably join my boys on their trick-or-treat adventure ;)

4. What was your lamest Halloween costume ever?

- I dressed up as a Witch that wasn't scary at all. So I guess that was lame..Hahaha

5. Is handing out candy fun for you, or more of a nightmare?

- It's fun especially when I start seeing smiles on kids' faces.

6. Do you buy trick-or-treat candy and end up eating it yourself?

- We buy and eat some at the same time. Hahaha. We just can't help it. They're way too good to resist!

7. Did you carve any pumpkins this year?

- As a matter of fact, we haven't carved any pumpkin yet and I don't know if we are going to or not.

8. What was your favorite costume as a child?

- I never got the chance to wear a costume when I was a little kid. But I did wish to be Belle of Beauty and The Beast once, as a little girl.

9. What is your biggest pet peeve about trick-or-treaters?
- I don't think I have any at all...

For more Saturday 9 posts, please visit:

A Close Call

When I was in labor with our first born, something happened to me in the hospital that almost caused me my life and our child's. I was already almost 9 hours into labor when my temperature and blood pressure started to elevate. They immediately administered antibiotics via IV infusion to help me and the baby fight against possible infection and to keep the baby from getting stressed while inside the womb. I remember that time, I wasn't even concerned about the pain anymore. I was too worried about the baby that I completely forgot about myself and what possible danger I was faced with. When I was told that I had pre-eclampsia, I got scared. I know what it is and the harm it can do to the baby. Pre-eclampsia is a symptom that has many causes for the condition. More than likely, there are substances from the placenta that can cause some endothelial dysfunction in the maternal blood vessels. I felt so helpless at the time. I even came to the point where I asked myself what I've done wrong that led me into that situation. All I could remember was me praying that if anything was bound to happen, save my child instead of me.

As the labor progressed and I was ready to push him out, things got even a little worse. I couldn't push him out of me and the doctor already told me that if I didn't get him out immediately, they'll have to do emergency C-section because the baby started going in distress and that was the thing they were doing their best to prevent from happening. Although, I was so weak and could barely feel the lower half of my body, I started pushing with all of my might. And I can only thank God so much that after a 13-hour long labor, he finally came out - a healthy 7-pound 4 ounces, 21 inches long baby boy, and we named him, Skyler!

That experience changed my life completely. Things got out of the way and I had to fight for my life and for our son's, definitely not the kind of first delivery I hoped to have. But amidst all that, I wouldn't have it any other way. It transformed me into a better person, and above all, the joy of knowing that I brought a new life into this world is far beyond compare. That day wasn't only the birthday of our son. It was on that same day that a brand new person was born as well - it was me, as a first time Mother.

I Got Two!

My husband gave me two engagement rings, the first one was sent to me when I was still in the Philippines, and the second one was a gift he gave me on our second wedding anniversary. Well, I wasn't supposed to get another one, but because the first one, unfortunately, was too big for me and I never really got to wear it, he went ahead and got me a new ring. I kind of felt bad, though because I actually liked the design of my first engagement ring, but because of its size, I had to put it away.

My ring has six heart shapes adorned with thirty (30) small cut diamonds. It's almost like one of those vintage engagement rings that's why I love it! I love anything that's vintage-looking because of its unique, classy look. I still wear my ring sometimes but not on my ring finger because of it being too big. I do that because I just don't like letting it sit in the jewelry box when it's suppose to be worn. I mean, it's my first engagement ring and I do feel sad I couldn't put it on right now. My husband already said we'll get it re-sized but due to me being pregnant and gaining weight at the time, we held off. We wanted to make sure I'm back to my normal weight and size first before doing it so we don't have to re-size it more than once. I honestly don't like the idea of getting it re-sized, but I have no choice, haven't I? If I want to wear it, I got to make a little sacrifice, though the thought of getting it altered is not making me feel happy at all. It's either that, or, not get to wear it at all.

It's a good thing that he got me a new ring when he did. At least I have something to go with my wedding ring while waiting for the other one to get re-sized. I love how simple it looks. It's plain but it has eight (8) diamonds that stand for the eighth month of the year, August, which is my birth month. That's what made it stand out from the rest.

I do feel so thankful for the both of them. And when I asked my husband why he wanted to get me a new ring that time, he told me I deserved it. It was a gift to show his love and to thank me for giving him a healthy baby boy and another one on the way. That, right there, made me speechless.

What more can I ask for?

A Good Keepsake

Every single thing I consider as a keepsake of my kids is stored in a place that's just for their stuff; from the Printable Certificates where they wrote their names on together with their first footprints, to the crib card, hospital wristbands, even a piece of the first clothing they put on them. For me, they're stuff that I could show to them when they get older as I tell them the story about the day they were born. They may just be small things and some may consider them as "useless" and are nothing but pieces of junk, but to me, they will always play a big part of something that holds a certain story about a very important even in my kids' lives. Don't worry, I didn't go overboard as far as saving stuff that has something to do with them. I still made sure I only saved those that are important.

When I get enough free time, I will make three customized boxes for each of them and I will put their stuff in their own boxes and give it to them by the time they're old enough to understand the whole story that lies inside each box. I already have ideas in mind as far as the design and what kind of things that will go in those boxes. But one thing that for sure will make it in is, their "firsts". First haircut, first time they got their nails trimmed, photos of their first baths, and stuff like that. Anything "first" within their first 5 years of life. I think by the time they get older than 5, they'll be old enough to at least remember things. I just want to make sure both the kids and us won't miss any milestone as they grow up. It's not much, but I believe it definitely is going to be a good keepsake that will hold our memories for a long period of time.

GT: My Dream Kitchen

Kitchen is one of my favorite rooms in a house and probably one of which I would gladly spend a lot of money on as far as making it look really beautiful. The photo below is the closest design I could find to my dream kitchen. Both my husband and I love a spacious kitchen with an island, a breakfast nook, lots of storage spaces, and a pantry. And of course, a window by the kitchen sink. I'm such a big fan of that! I love doing dishes and being able to look outside at the same time. Just gives me that different boost of energy and keeps me in the working mood. And since I love to cook and bake, a kitchen this big would be perfect for me.

And of course, a kitchen won't be complete without the dining area. This is how I want our formal dining area to look like. It looks so sophisticated, but you can tell, the design and furniture used are simple. That's my kind of thing - sophisticated, yet simple. I don't like putting unnecessary decorations because eventually, they can turn into eyesores. And I love this type of dining area because of its bright color and the two huge windows giving natural light to the room are just really beautiful.

If we do end up getting our own house, kitchen is definitely going to be in the top list to get a total make-over.

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What About Something Different?

My husband and I will be celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary next month and I still don't know what to surprise him with. It really isn't a big help when I cannot go anywhere to buy something without having to ask him to drive me around. And what's the point of surprising him if he's with me all the time?

I've been checking on stuff online that I want to get for him for the past few days now. And the other day, while I was in the middle of doing my "little assignment", I came across a website that sells sexy outfit for women. I was kind of taken aback because I still consider myself as a conservative person, well, in some ways. Looking at those pictures made me a little uncomfortable, but gave me a little "funny" idea in return. At the time I was thinking, what if I try something different? Like something I haven't done since we've been together. Why not just play around for fun wearing something like a cupless chemise? The thought just makes me want to disappear in front of his very eyes. (Hahaha) Well, I'm just kidding. But, it's a thought, isn't it? A funny but somewhat a sensible one to begin my assignment with.

Thank you, Reward Card!

I'm honestly glad we signed up for a reward card at a toy store when we did back in California. With the reward card, we're able to gain points that we could use later on if we need to buy something that's not within the budget. It's really cool when you buy and earn credit at the same time.

We haven't really done anything with our card yet and I think it's about time we make use of what we've earned all this time. We could use it to buy presents for the kids since it's already almost Christmas. Might as well so we don't have to spend too much in case we end up "splurging" on kids' stuff.

It's Time To Get Our Own Appliances

Last week, John bought a two-door refrigerator at a very affordable price. That's probably the biggest appliance he bought so far since we've been together. We lived in an apartment before and it came with stove, refrigerator, and washer and dryer so we didn't bother to get us our own home appliances. But since we live in a home now, both him and I decided that it's about time we should start buying our own appliances so the next time we move, we won't need to worry about getting us a place that, if not fully furnished, at least has the basic appliances in it. We can just focus on finding the best place for the whole family.

Yesterday, he came up to me showing me a photo of a washer and a dryer that a person from his work is trying to sell because he's soon leaving for Japan. The price is reasonable for the two that, although aren't brand new, but still are in good condition. He said he sent the guy a message telling him he's interested and would like to take a look at them before making the final decision. He asked me if I won't mind getting a second-hand washer and dryer for right now, and I told him I don't mind at all. I can go with anything used as long as they're still in good condition. I think that's a wise thing for us to do right now considering that we'll be relocating again in less than 2 years and I'm kind of worried that if we buy new stuff, they might end up getting damaged or scratched from the move. I honestly am thinking it would be better to buy brand new things for the house if we actually already own the place. I don't mind us buying new smaller items for now because they pretty much can fit inside the box where they're more protected from serious damages and being scratched up. But the bigger appliances? I don't think so! I'm not about to sit here and have us spend a huge amount of money to buy brand new appliances and then they end up getting broken or something. It's just not worth it at this time. But regardless, I'm still up for getting us our own things one at a time. We just have to really decide on which ones we absolutely need right now and hold off on the things that can wait. A refrigerator was a big start. Now, we'll just have to cross our fingers and pray that we get to buy the washer and dryer because we do need something that's newer and better than the ones we're using right now. We won't find out until Friday, I think. I really do hope they're still up for sale and that no one has bought them yet because with the price and everything, we've got a really good deal on those ones.

Poor memory

I probably have the worst memory of anyone I know. Well, at least of anyone I can remember. I find myself forgetting everything. I will go to the grocery store and forget what I needed to buy or go to the drugstore and forget my prescription. I think I have too much on my mind. I have started writing everything down and I mean everything. I wrote down my entire grocery list to take to the store. I wrote down the entire directv channel guide, so I could find my favorite easier. I even wrote down my cell phone number. I need to look into taking some vitamins or working on some memory tricks. When I was in school and had to remember things all the time, I was wonderful at it. However, I think the memory portion of my brain has been inactive for so long, it has forgotten how to work. I am sure once things slow down; I will have an easier time, but right now I will have to stick with my lists.

It's late .. but still wide awake!

Geez, it's almost 2:30 A.M. now and I'm not tired yet! I just got done preparing food for my husband to take with him to work and I am still in the mood to do work. I don't find this very helpful at all considering that my husband asked a favor from me to wake him up before 6 A.M. just in case he didn't hear his alarm going off. Instead of going to bed, I'm here in front of the computer thinking of something decent to write about. The problem is, I couldn't find the right words to begin with, in the first place! I just am not yet sleepy and I don't want to lay in bed and play with my phone or games on the iPad because my husband is already sound asleep and I don't want to make any movements that might wake him up because he needs to wake up early. I do know that I need to delete contents off my old iPhone so we could send it back to Apple for recycling and get a $60 worth of gift card from iTunes, but instead, I'm here, doing nothing. (hahaha). I know, I know... I better take care of it before I get too tired and forget about it. I don't want to do that because we really need to send it off by tomorrow. I've been procrastinating for two days now, and it needs to stop. So, I guess that'll be it for right now.

Oh, just so you know, I do feel sad that I have to send the phone back because it's my very first phone here in the US. I'm just saying, you know. It kind of has a sentimental value. But since I am not using it anymore, I guess might as well have it recycled and get something in return. I just feel saddened by the idea of it.

Missing Posts...

Wow, when was the last time I actually posted something personal on this blog? I mean, like updates about me and the family. I know it's been like ages and I should be working on catching up with the times I missed posting personal updates here. I will make sure I set aside time just to do that. I also need to finally get the "Campbell Family" corner done which I've been procrastinating on doing for quite awhile now.

Anyway, I have lots of stuff to do right now and I still am waiting on my new blog's header that I had a professional blog designer do for me. I am so excited about it as well because I know she does a really good job when it comes to layout designing. She also did my signature, which I really love because of how cute the design is. I'm talking about the Wahmaholic Designs and I really am so happy I did let her do my signature and now, my blog header because her works are definitely worth the price! So, if you're interested in doing a blog make-over or something, she's the one you definitely need to contact. I wouldn't recommend it if I, myself wasn't satisfied with her work.

I'm expecting the header anytime now and I can't wait to put it up and see how my blog would look with it. I'm just so excited!

Well, got to go for now. I will be back to do more updates in a few.

Wish They Already Had It During Our Time

Before I took up Nursing, I first studied BS Medical Technology. Oh, how I loved that course and how I enjoyed every minute of it, especially the Anatomy and Physiology subject. I have this passion for learning and discovering how amazingly our human body works. My favorite class activities were dissection, and of course, activities which involved using microscope. That's why how I wish we had digital microscope during that time. I'm sure it would have been a lot better and easier identifying parts and objects that aren't visible to the naked eyes. It would have been great if we could have used those especially during examination where we had to look thoroughly into at least about 10 microscopes to identify the parts that the needles are pointed at, like for example, parts of the cell.


Looking back to those memories, I just can't help but smile from ear to ear. I can still vividly picture in my head how our laboratory room looks like, where I used to sit, and who I would always sit next to. And most of all, I smile when I recall all the fun we had while learning and discovering amazing things about our human body and at the same time, enjoying the company of the whole class, and yes, that includes our very nice Anatomy and Physiology Professor.

Rent Apartments Online!

One of the things that I was thankful about was us finding a house for rent online before we had the big move last year. It is really tough to move from one place to another and a lot more tougher to find a new place in an area that's far from where you live in. And if you don't want to spend extra money to fly in and fly out just for that, then what better and easier way is there than to find houses or apartments for rent online? It saves you time and money especially when your budget is already tight.

If you happen to be looking for places in Edmonton area, you may check Edmonton apartments for rent online without having to leave the comfort of your home. It's the same thing that my husband did when we were looking for a house for rent that we could move in. We were in California at the time where he was stationed at and when he received orders to change duty station, he decided to not use his days off to look for a place and leave us all by ourselves for a couple of days. We looked for houses together on the internet and it really helped out a lot that way. We saved money and above all, he got to stay home with us.

Because They Deserve It As Well....

Growing up, I've always had help around the house whenever, wherever, like almost all the time because we had two house-helpers. They've been with us for so long as I could remember. And because of them working for us for that long, they never were treated as "servants", rather, members of our household only that they were paid to do chores around the house.

Treating house-helpers like family members is, a very common trait you'll see in most Filipino families. It's something I can say I'm proud of. Just because they're working for us and we pay them for their service doesn't mean we are above them and that they deserve less respect and appreciation. Like us, they are individuals as well who demand respect especially when they're the ones busting their butts off just to do things that literally, we all could actually do on our own, but because not all of us have all the time in the world to do extra works, they're there to do them for us. And to me, what they do is such a noble job and it irritates me when I hear people talking down on them and mistreating them just because they think "they have all the power to do so". Like a few days ago, I was watching news on TV and they featured a story about a house-helper who filed for complaints against her employers because of mistreatment. She said on her statement that she was always told to do extra works, basically like making her work overtime and not getting paid right, and sometimes, not even on time. For me, that's really sad that there are people who would take other people's misfortune to their own advantage. I think, in my opinion, whoever wants to apply for a job as a house-helper must know about wage laws so that they're aware of their rights and for them to have a chance to stand up in situations where they're already being mistreated. It's a shame when some don't know that they're already not being treated fairly because they're unaware of their rights. Because not paying them right and on time is already a type of mistreatment and that needs to stop. They deserve to be treated fairly and respected because if not for them, who would do the things that we're not too accustomed to because we've grown too dependent on them doing chores for us?

Take A Peek at My Christmas Wish List

Oh, yes, let's not forget about our Christmas wish list! We've only got like a little over two months left to save more for stuff we'd want to buy for Christmas. Have you made your wish list yet?

This will be my very first time to make an actual Christmas wish list. Unlike before, I'd only write things down as I remember them and never went through each of them again like I should have. That's why every time we went out to buy something for the kids, it was always chaotic because we forgot the things we needed to buy and most of the time, we'd end up buying something that was never on my list. I don't know if it was a good thing or not, but when I think of it right now, I wish we never really spent more than we were supposed to just because we never really thought about it thoroughly. That was definitely a lesson learned for both my husband and I. So now, whether we absolutely need something or not, whatever pops into my head goes on my list. It doesn't matter putting anything. I'll just cross out whatever we won't need as we go along.

Anyway, I don't really have much on my list for this year, but there are three things I would love to have for Christmas. One of them is, palm tree lamp for our bedroom (I would like to replace the old lamps we have on our nightstands). And, since my husband loves his palm trees, I think those lamps are going to be perfect for our room. We'll just have to buy other stuff for our bedroom to match with the lamp.

The other one is, pink comforters for our little girl. Here soon, she'll be old enough to use one and I would love to get her a set of comforters and other cute stuff for her room. I fell in love with the set of comforter shown in the picture on the right side. I love the flower and butterfly design and the yellow and green colors just made it more appealing.

And of course, for our two little guys, one of those cute round wall mirrors for their room as well. I've been thinking of going for a tropical/beach theme for their room and this beach-designed mirror will perfect for a decoration. I will just have to wait till they're a little older to put it up because for sure, if I do it like right now, they'll go crazy over wanting to take it off and play with it. (Hehehe)

Those are just a portion of my wish list. I still have more but of course, regardless of how bad I would love to get all of them, in the end, only those which are really important will make it under our tree where they will stay till the morning of Christmas. I think it's not about how many or how big the gifts are under the tree. Above all, it's still all about giving and showing love, joy, and the celebrating the true meaning of the season with loved ones.

Plan for Our Little Girl's 1st Birthday

Our little girl just turned 4 months a few days ago and it kind of saddens me that she's grown so fast already. A little less than 8 months from now and she'll turn one year old. And with that being said, I don't think an early planning on giving her a special birthday party is bad at all, isn't it?

We're not planning on having a really huge party since we don't have a lot of friends and family members around that we could invite to attend, but we'll make sure it's going to be something special for our only girl - absolutely something she'll never forget, though she's not going to remember anything anyway - but pictures will tell her later on when she's older.

I only have one problem. I haven't thrown out a party in my entire being and this is going to be a challenge. I can only hope my sister would share some tips and help me with some detail as far as picking a cute design for invitation cards, what food to prepare, the cake, her outfit, games, and of course, cute birthday party supplies. Can't have a party without those, now, can you?

It's still more than half a year away but I'm just so excited, I guess, that I'm actually starting to visualize in my head how I want her party to be like. Of course, because she's our little and only Princess, it's going to be a Princess-themed party. I really am so excited about this and it's actually good that we've got ample time to do all the planning. In this case, we won't miss out on anything that could potentially ruin the whole event and turn our dream birthday party for our baby into a complete disaster. That's something I would never even want to think about. But I guess it's all going to be fine. I mean, as far as tips, ideas, and all that, aside from my sister, there's a whole lot of great ideas I can always find online. I just have to dedicate more time and be resourceful if I want everything to turn out just the way we planned it to be. It might require a lot of work and time, but for our little girl, it's definitely worth it.

Customed Shirts for Our Holiday Family Portrait

My husband and I are planning on getting a family portrait for Christmas so we can send them to our relatives here and in the Philippines. It's going to be our first ever family photo so I want it to be special. We've been planning to get our photo taken but I was always pregnant so we decided to put it off and wait for the baby to come. And now that we're finally complete, I think it's about time to make it happen.

Though, it's going to be a holiday portrait, I'm thinking of not using an all Christmas-themed setting. I think a background with one or two Christmas symbols would be enough because I'm already planning on getting us holiday custom t-shirts and I don't want it to look too Christmasy(?). I just want our photos to look really great, but simple.

The photo will be sent to our loved ones together with a Christmas card. We'll make sure we send them in a decent size so they can frame them if they want to. And if we ever get the whole portrait package where they include wallet sizes, too, we'll send them photos in that size as well so they can also have something they can take with them anywhere. But above all, I want to send something extra special for my Grandmother. I'll make sure she gets the biggest size and photos of just the kids (her great grandchildren) because she's been wanting to see them so badly. I know for sure that she'll love it and just thinking about how she'll react, already is making me want to cry right now. She hasn't seen any of my kids in person yet so I know she definitely will love our little Christmas present for her.

Just A Thought...

The other day, I watched one of my favorite shows on TV, Trauma: Life In the ER. One of the patients they received had multiple gun shot wounds. I've watched a lot of the emergency cases already and yet, until now, it still amazes me how all of the modern medical equipments do wonders in saving people's lives. That person was admitted and immediately given treatment, and if it wasn't for the best Doctors, Nurses, ER staff they have there, and the modern medical equipments, I doubt if that person would have made it alive. From the X-ray done to determine the distance and depth traveled by the bullet into the patient's body, to check if there were major organs damaged or any signs of internal bleeding, to the tools used to insert chest tube to prevent pneumothorax, and to checking and maintaining good vital signs, were just amazing! The team and what they used to perform all the necessary medical procedure saved the man's life.

But how do they take care of hospital equipments like that and how do they make sure they are always in good condition and that not a single one of them will malfunction in the middle of a medical procedure? I did a little research online to feed my curiosity, and I found some answers and some of them involves something like Facility Management Software. I don't know much about that but based on what I've read, it helps prevent and predict equipment failures. They use it to keep track on every equipment to make sure everything is working and are up to date and if something needs immediate attention, they know which one needs to be taken care of and what type of work needs to be done and if the job has been done on time or not.

I just thought about it while I was watching the show because those equipments are vital to us and it just made me ask myself, how do we take care of things that are now keeping us alive longer? You know, just a though.

In Times of Need

Many of us nowadays are hurting financially. With the economy still contending and more and more people losing their jobs because of it, money has become an issue especially to those who survive paycheck to paycheck. Making ends meet can be tough and most of the time, we are left with no choice but to sacrifice even those that are important, just so we can tend to our other needs that are of priority.

Coming from a third world country as they call it, these scenarios are not new to me. In fact, some people, actually foreign nationals take advantage of the situation by getting into business like cash advance lenders. They let people who are financially struggling, borrow money with interest and they can pay based on what they've agreed on; weekly, every two weeks, or monthly basis. It's actually is a big help especially to those who are in dire need of money, and another good thing about it is, they are given ample time to pay their debt off. No rush.

Well, I'm just glad to know that there are cash lenders available now in case we might need it one day. I mean, we'll never know so it's always good to know that you have other options in times you'll be needing help from a different source. Like what I said, you'll never know.

If I'll Be Given the Chance To...

Writing is one of my favorite pastimes. I love to write just about anything, especially when it comes to expressing my deepest thoughts and feelings. Most of the time, it's actually a lot easier for me to write down what I want to say than actually do it in person. It gives me enough time to really think deeply on what to say and choose the right words to use. It's like, I feel free when I am writing!

This reminds me when I was still in high school. I used to write poems and short stories. I know I'm not that good of a writer or anything of that sort, but every time I'd recall how my classmates enjoyed and loved what I've written, makes me wonder what if. What if I tried publishing a book I wrote even just for once? What if I actually joined in one of those writing contests where they ask you to write a story and if they chose yours, you'll win a cash prize and above all, your story gets published and everyone can read it? I wouldn't care if ever I didn't get picked as long as I gave it a try, that's all that would have mattered. Clearly, you should grab an opportunity the minute it knocks because you might not get the same chance ever again. Take it from me because now, I honestly am living a life that has a lot of questions - forever questions, because I already let the chance of finding the answers pass me by. So sad, but true. But I am not losing hope that one day, just maybe one day, the same opportunity will knock on my door again and this time, I'm never letting it go without giving it a shot! Who knows, that might actually open doors for me to find more opportunities out there.

Translation Made Easy

I love being able to speak different languages. I actually know how to speak, write, and read five (5) languages; three of which are my native Filipino dialects (Tagalog, Waray, and Bisaya). I still want to learn more, and if I'll get the chance to study foreign languages, I'll grab it in a heartbeat.

With the internet and all that nowadays, it seems like learning how to speak a different language has been made as easy as typing and clicking because of so many online translators available. You can basically type in anything you want and pick the language you would want to translate it into, and you'll get it in a matter of seconds.

I find that awesome, to be honest. I sometimes use online translators if I want to translate something just to see how it'll be like written in a different language. I've tried Polish translation(s), French, Italian, Spanish, and German. I love reading them and I find the way they write words in their own specific language, interesting. I think the very first words I translated online were, I love you. I mean, that's probably one the first ones people would want to know anyway. I got curious about how other countries say I love you and when I got the translated words, I got more eager on wanting to learn more languages.

To me, being able to speak five language right now is something I am proud of. My husband even told me that I can use it if I want to apply for a job that requires such ability. I liked that thought that's why here soon, I am going to check online if there are schools here that offers such course. I am not just going to let it go to waste. I mean, to me, it's a gift, a special skill that I know God has given me for a reason. And if you know you've been blessed with an ability that you know you can use to further better yourself, use it. He wouldn't give it to you if He didn't think it'll benefit you at all.

Getting Ready for The Cold Season

Cold season is definitely here again. Well, it's already Fall so I am not that surprised anymore about the sudden drop in temperature. I just am not that happy that it's getting colder and colder again because that means we'll be spending more time indoors than outdoors, which can get really boring. And because winter is fast approaching, too, might as well start putting away summer outfits and take the warm clothes out of the closet, and of course, start getting the house ready for the long and cold winter season.

About a month ago, we already got our heater fixed so that's good to go. We don't want to experience the same thing we did last year when the heater stopped working and the kids and I sat in the house for hours in a 49-50 degree Fahrenheit temperature. My husband had to leave work just to buy a space heater and bring it home for me and the kids. It was really tough because I was also pregnant at the time and I literally almost got sick because of that. I'm just thankful to God that we don't have to worry about the heater getting broken this time around!

This year, we already planned on getting some stuff for the house to use for the whole winter season. I made a short list of things I would like us to buy so we won't forget what things we need to buy. I added a couple of shaggy rugs on the list that I would like to put in the living room and kitchen dining area. Both rooms have no carpet so they tend to stay colder than the rest of the house that are carpeted. And since we spend more time in the living room, we want to keep the whole area as warm as we can so we could still relax and enjoy without having to feel really cold. It's a big help when the floor stays warm as well.

We also want to get new drapes for the living room and kitchen windows because we haven't changed the ones that the former tenants put up before we moved in. Plus, they're kind of short anyway so they definitely need to be changed. We plan on getting longer, light-colored drapes, and probably a little thicker than the ones we're using now that would hopefully help prevent warm air from leaking out while the heater is on. That can help conserve energy, too. Just one of the many things we need to watch out as well - bills.

There are still other stuff we need to take care of, but for now, we'll get the most important ones ready first. With all we've been through last year's winter season, this time, we're not taking any chances anymore. There may not be any guarantee that you'll prevent things from happening, but it's always better when you know you're ready for anything.