A Housewife's Journal
A Housewife's Journal
safety first
News are all over the papers. There's this bus that fell from the road and caused the death of more than 40 people. This is an accident according to the bus driver.
At times like this, I can't help but worry about my brother and his family who frequently travels from Baguio going to Isabela. Since they got their pick-up truck, they travel even more. Good thing, they prioritize their car insurance which I believe is very important to every vehicle.
As I was saying, safety first should be the priority here. We may spend a little amount here but it is the best in case some accident happens along the way :p
gift gift gift
A few days from now, I need to find a special gift for my better half. I wanted to give him something really special for our anniversary. I haven't had the time to check the malls yet because of the little time that I have. Whenever we go there, either we go as a family or I bring one child with me.
Another problem is that I have no idea yet on what he wants to have. He just bought a new pair of shoes, which was my initial plan. I won't give him another shirt because he received one for his birthday. I was thinking of a laptop briefcase for him but the one that he has now still looks new 
It is tough indeed.
It is tough indeed.On the other hand, I was thinking if he'd appreciate a new watch or something that he could wear everyday. An accessory perhaps? or a new ring? Something that won't cause his skin to react again...
I have less than 10 days to decide... I hope he brings us with him on Sunday. While he works, I can visit several shops at Festival and hope that I find something that he'll like 
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blogger name
The challenge for today is - The meaning behind your blogger name.
Gwenmari1029 - This is my hubby's and my name joined together. This served as my signature not only in blogger but also in all my blogs and other networking sites... before I passed it to my daughter. We also gave this name to our eldest daughter (see how creative her parents are 
). The 1029 is the date of our wedding. I can't think of other numbers that I can associate with us so I opted to use this.
). The 1029 is the date of our wedding. I can't think of other numbers that I can associate with us so I opted to use this.
documenting life
I don't want to close my eyes, I don't want to miss a thing... as a familiar song goes. If I could only do this, I would. I wouldn't even blink an eye if its possible. My daughters grow up too fast and everyday they learn something new. As I write this, my eldest is already 1 year and 7 months while the youngest is 4 months. Everyday achi learns a new word or a new trick. She's so cute that I wanted to record and document it. A digital camcorder would be great to do the job if we have one. We have been planning to buy one since I gave birth to achi but it was least of our priorities since we get to borrow from my sis. Now that she got her digicam back, I am again thinking of buying a not so new (used/secondhand) digital camcorder because that what fits my budget. This means that I should also check the latest digital camcorder reviews on the net to make sure that I get a durable and efficient unit.
Back to documenting, baby Ani's milestones should also be documented. Her baby book needs details and pictures. Her first firsts should be noted and recorded so that when she grows up, she has something to look at. I wanted her to see how she smiles and how she grows throughout the years.
It is a necessity to have a digital camcorder these days. With the planned trips ahead, it is a must to document the family get-aways in the future too.
30-day challenge
30-day challenged which I chanced from Surprisingly Beautiful , a fellow nawies blog... here's what I need to post/write about each day for the next 30 days 
Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blogger name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Who are you?
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blogger name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Who are you?
*-*
Grab it too, if you want to be challenged or you simply want to write about something everyday for the next 30 days Enjoy...
Enjoy...
updating the links
I have to work on my links. I need to update the links on my blog since some are not that active and there are also some that I need to read from time to time. I also need to include the list of nawies with blogs since I asked to be included in theirs too. I have copied the links already but still haven't got the time to sit down and start adding it to my blog. I wished blogrolling is still active, it will surely lessen the load. Nway, I promised to work on it later today...
For the meantime, while surfing the net for nfl t shirts, I was able to read an email from Cebu Pacific. Sayang, I am a day late again. I would have booked for a flight to Bacolod for July next week. I hope next time, they won't close early or I get the email prior to the day of the sale.
me time
Pretty pretty please...
It is not that I am complaining but I think everyone needs a break. Even machines need PMs to work better so I think I deserve one too.
I need to have a haircut. A salesman won't believe that I own the house that we are living; another kept on looking for my boss even after telling him that I am the boss. I look losyang with my uneven hair (when I thought this is a wash and wear cut ).
).I need to shop on my own pace... without any toddler hanging on my hips or running and shouting for me. I need to look for new utensils for the house so I need to look carefully. I do not want spending for expensive items that I am not satisfied with its quality.
I need to go to the grocery. My store is almost empty and it needs refilling. I need to buy for two weeks' supply. I need to lessen the weekly travel to the store (so I can earn more :p)
I want peace and quiet time. I want to eat and enjoy my food.
Maximum requested me time - - 3 hours will do and I'll be ready to keep going again.
next month
September 2010, we will be celebrating our 7th year together. Yes, it has been that long since we promised to love and to hold each other till death do us part.
Looking back at what happened that day, I can't help but smile with the things that we've been through. It was a simple day but memorable one. It happens to be Mama Mary's bday too, which makes it more memorable. That day, everything went fast but I still remember everything. We capped the day by eating at Kenny Rogers. No frills, no decors, no cakes not even wedding cake toppers for it. We just have friends who stood with our decision.
Now, I am still happy with what we did. We have a growing family... and we will always be happily married.
next move
Now that we are done with Ani's baptism, we can now concentrate on our house renovation. I made sound like a broken record here but I really want to remind myself that we already need to do something for the house. We'll be celebrating our 2nd anniversary here but there has been very minimal changes since we moved in. Note also that it already needs to look like a comfy home. though it had been a home since we moved in.
We plan to do the general cleaning next weekend. By then, we will turn the house upside down (they pala, since I'll look after the kids while they clean the place). G is leaning to sell the junks and turn it to money on that weekend too. He may not need to have the prenate dha for the meantime since his cleaning will serve as his work out and it would mean many pounds to lose. I wish to add the dividers by then but it is still out of the budget... next month maybe.
weekly blessings
I am thankful for the many blessings, big and small that comes to our family.
* Done with Ani's Christening. Though it rained that day, we are still thankful that important people close to our hearts took the time to come and join us. Ninongs and ninangs were present to stand by their duties for Ani.
* SS loan which we are allocating for the house renovation was sent on time. It is already on hand and we will just have to look for people who will do the job.
* Good health for the family. The kids have been sickly the past week. Good thing they are feeling better now. I hope that they don't get any virus for now despite the unpredictable weather.
* Cousins helping in the house. I have two this time. I hope they stay longer... even until December only.
* Being online. After several weeks of trying to stay online and write, finally I already have the chance to sit down and edit entries. I was even thinking of having to sell textbooks online as part-time work but with the schedule that I have now, it will have to take the backseat first. Aside from this, I also wish to try doing the transcription work online.
* Being back to regular programing. Eating breakfast in the morning and enjoying the 5-minute afternoon nap.
and then
And then...
What's next after 3 months of giving birth... I think it is the time to start being myself again. Not that I lost part of me or something but I guess it is just right to take care of myself again and start being presentable to other people :p
I have to let go of the quick and easy weight loss because I am breastfeeding. It is so great that I can eat anything that I want and still not worry about being fat. I am still eating for 2 that is why it is still okay to eat more than usual. As long as I eat healthy, I can eat whatever I want.
I will just have to have the trip to the parlor again. In time for baby Ani's baptism. I need to have a trim since my hair is growing fast. I hope to have my eyebrows thread too, or waxed perhaps? (I still don't know which is better). I need to shop for our 'get-up' too. G wants the family to wear green but I think there will still be changes till the day before.
and then, I still need to prepare for some details for the baptism. I haven't started with my projects yet. In fact it is G who's doing most of the preparations. He has more time and he is more flexible in doing these preps.
changes
There are a lot of changes lately.
While looking at myself in front of the mirror, I can't help but notice the lines around my eyes. I am not getting any younger. Are those wrinkles, I hope not :p (in denial pa rin). So its time to change too... I used to be 'not so kikay and vain' then but now I need to make do emergency procedures (OA :p). I need to look for creams or moisturizers or whatsoevers that can help me reduce those fine lines. I hope to find good reviews on products over the net.
Another concern is adult acne. I used to have it back then but eventually those acne got tired of me... but it can go back, right? Especially now that there are times when I can't get decent sleep since I sleep between an infant and a toddler who alway look for their nanay even in their dreams :p
I need recommendations. Please note that I have oily skin... or better if I have a derma look at my face?
baby's health
I just noticed that my hair has started falling again. For my first pregnancy, this also occurred around the third month after I gave birth. This 'event' coincided with baby's falling hair too. If I remember right, this will last until our 8th month or so.
While looking at baby Ani, I can't help but wish that our 'saga' ends soon. Her thick hair is slowly thinning, the same thing that happened to her ate's hair before. The only difference is that Ani didn't experience cradle cap or other form of baby eczema. It is normal for babies to have it but it is still better if they don't experience it.
Aside from the falling hair issue, I hope that Ani as well as Gwen will not acquire any sickness in the future. It is very difficult for them since they can not tell how they are feeling or what pains them.
budget woes
It is not easy budgeting a little amount of money. It is always the 'PRIORITIES' that needs to be taken cared first. These are the things that needs to be paid regularly or else big problems will occur with it.
Among our expenses are the following: PAG-IBIG - this is for the house payment. We availed of this to be able to get our house. Now we are already paying through the bayad centers for it. Another expenses, the electric bill. It is not that fix since there is an increase/decrease on the pricing almost every month. Then there's the water bill and the Internet bill. With regards to the family expenses, the kids' expenditures is also big, almost as much as the food allowance of the adults. I'm happier now since little G doesn't wear diapers as often as she used to be... and baby S doesn't consume as much formula milk as her ate. Then hubby's allowance for the month and our doodads.
With the construction going on, we also tend to look for wholesale liquidators where we can look for much cheaper items. We prefer quality over quantity though. So far, we are satisfied with our finds. Our tip, make sure that you know what you are buying...
100 posts
While looking at my entries on this blog, I realized that I am not that active in posting as I used to be. If I remember it right, I hit the 100 posts only in the span of three months. This was by the end of March 2008, more than 2 years ago. Now with 2 daughters to look after, I can only manage to write 100 posts for a year .
This blog used to be about being a stay at home wife then turned to a first time mom, now to a mother of 2. All in all it is still about being a housewife but with MORE responsibility to it. It is not just about husband and the house but more of making the house a home. With the responsibilities, I tend to spend less and less time in front of the computer. But with the time that I have, I always make sure to update the blog with what's happening in our home.
Speaking of which, we are now in search for a nice design for the patio. We are thinking of adding patio cushions since we love eating outside (for more refreshing ambiance). The set similar with the picture that I got from the net.
alive and kicking
My family has been sick the past week. Little G went first, then G then little Ani. It is tiring taking care of sick kids specially. It is also a challenge for me to make sure that the other child won't get contaminated.
Now, I am enforcing that multivitamins be taken by everyone. Aside from having extremely clean environment, I also make sure that we have good and balance diet. It is not easy for me to have a full sleep but I also make sure that they get it.
I hope from this day, we will be healthy and kicking again. No cough, no colds, no flu or whatsoever. If this could last for the whole year, the better.
Now, I am enforcing that multivitamins be taken by everyone. Aside from having extremely clean environment, I also make sure that we have good and balance diet. It is not easy for me to have a full sleep but I also make sure that they get it.
I hope from this day, we will be healthy and kicking again. No cough, no colds, no flu or whatsoever. If this could last for the whole year, the better.
vanity
I am not a fan of make up and other beautifying products. The only thing that I do with my face is to wash it with a facial wash and water. When we go out, it is something when you see me with powder on my face and lipstick on my lips. Though lately, I feel that I already need to some help on my face.
One time while I was washing my face in front of the mirror, I noticed that there are some fine lines near my eyes already. Are these what you call wrinkles? At my age, I was in denial. Reading through the net made me realize that these beauty products are not really ONLY for vanity. It is something that we need to help us prevent unwanted 'marks' on our face. So finally, I decided that I need to look for age spots removal product that could help me. I need something that is natural, safe and not so expensive (talking note of the last requirement most). I plan to use it before the christening and maintain it as long as I can.
One time while I was washing my face in front of the mirror, I noticed that there are some fine lines near my eyes already. Are these what you call wrinkles? At my age, I was in denial. Reading through the net made me realize that these beauty products are not really ONLY for vanity. It is something that we need to help us prevent unwanted 'marks' on our face. So finally, I decided that I need to look for age spots removal product that could help me. I need something that is natural, safe and not so expensive (talking note of the last requirement most). I plan to use it before the christening and maintain it as long as I can.
half-finished
Our kitchen is already half-finished. The walls are up, the roof installed and the floors cemented. This was made for 2 days only. The next to do includes finishing of the walls and the floor. We have no budget for the tiles yet but hopefully before the month end we could allot for it. We also need to transfer the sink and lavatory outside. Position the stove area and set-up the cabinets, purchase faux wood blinds... everything before Ani's baptism.
father's day
We celebrated our second father's day at home... with the simple reason that my family is sick.
G is still complaining of his back muscle sprain, Achie has on and off fever while Shobe is has cough and colds. Instead of going to the mall and eating out, we opted that they rest and we eat at home.
To make this day a little memorable, I bought G his cake and we feasted over Inihaw na Tilapia and a little veggies with RC and the cake as dessert. We'll just postpone our celebration when everyone is well already, perhaps next weekend.
As for our gift, we have a card which we haven't written our greetings yet... and a supposedly personalized shirt which I haven't got printed yet. Everything that I planned failed I was supposed to have it printed on the mall but I haven't got the chance to buy a shirt for it. I was hoping to find a polo shirt on sale but was too tired to do so.
Nweis, I hope to make up for it. I'll definitely go out one of these days. I will have to find a gift for my inaanak Nikolet.
G is still complaining of his back muscle sprain, Achie has on and off fever while Shobe is has cough and colds. Instead of going to the mall and eating out, we opted that they rest and we eat at home.
To make this day a little memorable, I bought G his cake and we feasted over Inihaw na Tilapia and a little veggies with RC and the cake as dessert. We'll just postpone our celebration when everyone is well already, perhaps next weekend.
As for our gift, we have a card which we haven't written our greetings yet... and a supposedly personalized shirt which I haven't got printed yet. Everything that I planned failed
I was supposed to have it printed on the mall but I haven't got the chance to buy a shirt for it. I was hoping to find a polo shirt on sale but was too tired to do so. Nweis, I hope to make up for it. I'll definitely go out one of these days. I will have to find a gift for my inaanak Nikolet.
home improvement
There are changes at our home already.
* We have redirected the septic tank. Another hole was made for the transfer. They made the traditional septic tank that are usually found in homes. G was not satisfied with the drumlike septic tank that was set-up in our unit so he had to have a new one. This initialize the renovation of everything.
* We have our extension kitchen made. The land was cemented and structures were made. The finishing will happen next weekend.
* The front area was also cemented. The only part left was the store area. We hope to have it finished before little S' baptism.
* Next renovation will include the perimeter fence.
Budget for hip hop clothing will have to wait since the renovation is our priority for now. Christmas time is just around the corner. By then, we will finally have more budget for shopping.
* We have redirected the septic tank. Another hole was made for the transfer. They made the traditional septic tank that are usually found in homes. G was not satisfied with the drumlike septic tank that was set-up in our unit so he had to have a new one. This initialize the renovation of everything.
* We have our extension kitchen made. The land was cemented and structures were made. The finishing will happen next weekend.
* The front area was also cemented. The only part left was the store area. We hope to have it finished before little S' baptism.
* Next renovation will include the perimeter fence.
Budget for hip hop clothing will have to wait since the renovation is our priority for now. Christmas time is just around the corner. By then, we will finally have more budget for shopping.
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