sofa hunt

I so want this. I am thinking of getting new sofa for our family room and this modern furniture will be just perfect! Since one of my project this year is to re-do our home entertainment wiring, it will be timely to re-do our family room too! You see, we bought our sofa five years ago from OUR HOME and it was really comfy and durable back then. Well of course, with no kids around it was built to last! But now my favorite sofa looks old and battered from Sam’s jumping craze. And the seat really need to be disposed now. Hmmm...think the entertainment center will also be a lovely addition to our family room. What do you think?

house expansion

Another good news ... As I've blogged before, we are still in constant search for the owner of the lots beside our house. We are looking into possible house expansion for our lanai and garden for yeras now and the lot next to our house will be ideal for this. Initially, we plan to build one floor extension as an open space party area. If budget permits, we can probably probably extend it with 2nd floor and have a small studio-type room for my Mom. Or we can opt not to do any major construction, but do more of landscaping and set-up basketball area for hubby. Well, these are all still draft plans. Of course, these construction plans will materialize depending on our negotiations with the lot owners. Finally, we were able to locate the owners! That is the good news. The next step is convincing them to sell their lot to us. Hah, that is the challenge! And I am really excited to start the project. It will be house construction shopping again for me. From choosing tiles, bathroom fixtures, lighting fixtures , window selection, door panels etc. , it seems starting it all over again! Really excited and hopeful will get positive result.

check out the lighting fixtures I found on the net ... lovely oudoor lighting for lanai. The subdued lighting creates a very homey feeling. don't you think so?

new sofa look

It seems most of my friends are into re-modelling or re-decorating their homes now. Although I would like to do some re-modelling too, unfortunately it’ll be quite early for me to consider since our house was built just two years ago. But, I am thinking of adding accent to bring color to my simple living room. Probably add some life or color to my existing earth shade tone by changing my sofa slipcovers. I guess this would be the most practical and inexpensive way to achieve my desired "new-look" of my living room. What do you think?

our existing sofa

vivid red suede sofa slipcover; complementing our red-walled living room

country style print design

JUNEtoon ...

Got this fun (and dream) tag from Kelly and Farah ... so timely and very appropriate, it will be my birthday next week. The husband needs to know! lol.

The rules:

1.Determine your birthday month and get a word that rhymes with it or you can affix to it. Caps lock your birth month (ex: MAYday! JUNE dune, APRILicious, JULYvely, AUGUST pocus, parched MARCH…). Be unique.

2.Your birth month plus the word affixed or rhymed shall become the tag’s title in your case.

3.Get your birthday and add the digits involved. Example, if your birthday falls on the 25th of July, add 2 and 5 you get 7.

4.Whatever is the sum, write a list of the MATERIAL gifts you wish to receive, the number of which shall correspond to the sum of your birthday. For example, applying the case above (in rule number 3), you will write seven (7) things you wish to receive.

5.After your wish list, put your name and birthday in the Bloggers’ Birthday Directory, with a link to your blog/s. Note: when you add your birthday, please place it in a way that the dates appear chronological (January, February… 1, 2, 3)

6.Pass this tag meme by tagging as many people as you want.

Name: Jacqui
Birthday: 14 June
Calculation: 5

My birthday wishlist :
1. lots of moolah to buy my wishlist ... lol!
2. LV speedy 30 multicolore
3. LV Galliera PM
4. Philip Stein watch -- RED bracelet strap please. (mukhang doable ito for my birthday!lol)
5. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust (two-toned) -- my ultimate dream watch! years and years na sya nasa wishlist ko! bwahahaha!

February 22 - Kelly February 23 - Jammy March 7 - Mari May 8 - joanjoyce May 27 – Zang Caesar June 10 - Vien; June 14 - Jacqui , September 30 - Mckhoii December 18 - JoshuaOngYS

Passing the tag to MM, Erika, Mich, Peachy and Abie.

In search for a new laptop luggage

As I blogged here, I already got my newly issued IBM T61 laptop two months ago. I was extremely happy when I got my new baby since my old IBM Think Pad laptop needs immediate replacement.

Don’t get me wrong, I so love my old IBM Think Pad. I got this about five years ago and it served its purpose very well. Really reliable and durable! It withstood several accidents and it never bogged down. But sadly, due to limited memory capacity, I need to upgrade my laptop to a much higher version.

Thus, with the new IBM Lenovo Think Pad T61 I got, I am in search of the perfect luggage to hold this delicate baby. I am thinking of getting durable bag like Samsonite and Victorinox, and I just found the perfect web site for my luggage needs. Thanks to luggagesource.com, finding the affordable and stylish laptop bag is just within the reach. Do check it out… it offers great discount prices and speedy delivery.

package from New York

Wooohooo!! Received my first batch of online orders from hubby's aunt in New York. Like a kid receiving her early Christmas gift, I was very excited when I opened the balikbayan box. All the Dora items ordered arrived just in time for Sam's schooling. I was able to buy her Dora the Explorer tin can lunch box, insulated bags, sippy cups and utensils from allaboardtoys.com at a discounted price. The package arrived last Friday together with some of our online orders such as kirkland vitamins for kids, acne treatment medication for my son, Bath & Body hand lotions, perfumes and cosmetics for MIL. Truly a delight receiving these knick-knacks from my aunt. :) I can't wait for my next shipping box this July. This time, it'll be mostly clothes for Sam I ordered from Old Navy and Gap... oh, at a great discount price too! Really, really happy!! Thank heavens for online shopping! :)

securing the future ...

Being the eldest in the family, I designated myself as the financial advisor of my Mom. My brother thinks it is also a wise decision that I hold on and invest my Mom's money than allow her to manage her finances on her own. For one, my Mom is very much naive (and trusting!) with all the scams available in the market now. You see, my Mom fell into some "quick-rich" money scam years ago and it saddens me to think she lost quite a sizable amount by investing on gold coins as well as into multi-level marketing scheme. Too bad she hid these risky-investments from us thinking her money will return thousand-folds in less than three months. Too good to be true, eh? At first, she was able to get good money as "interest" or revenue from her investment. But sadly, the company folded, ran with the invested money and never returned. The worst part, it was one of my Mom's closest friend who lured her into this quick-rich scams. She too can no longer be found!

Because of this, my Mom learned her lesson. Never to invest on something unknown, never to investment on quick-rich scheme, heed the advise of others, and she need to be transparent with the family should she wish to invest on something.

I told her to consider securing her future instead. She's not getting any younger. She needs to re-think how she wanted her life to be when she reaches her prime years. Getting a life insurance for one is a good option. It does not only secure her future, but she can also help the family she will leave behind. Or probably she can invest her money on secured negotiable financial investments such as T-bills and stocks. Interest may be low, but will give security and peace of mind. Or probably invest on a parcel of lot that will yield high appreciation value especially for developing areas. With all these options, I am helping her secure her future without the risk of falling into scams again.

Well, I just hope my Mom listen this time ... yes, I think she will. After all that happened, she learned her lesson. Just the hard way, though.

boys poker night game...

Just received a call from hubby, asking me if we have something (party or date) to attend tomorrow evening. Since no definite plans made yet, I said nothing but I told him I am open for a movie date to watch the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the crystal skull . That is ... if he has no Friday plans at all. Apparently, he was invited by his former telco-mates for a poker night in Makati and asked my permission if he could go instead. Well, how could I say no..he rarely see these guys! I immediately said yes and told him to join me instead on Sunday at Rockwell for our company's special Indiana Jones screening. After putting down the phone, made me wish we have our own poker tables too. This way, I can host poker night games of the boys and get to spend time with hubby's friends too! Another wish list for me!

Macau trip postponed ... hubby to ITW?

I posted few months back about our supposedly trip to Macau as our sales incentive for hitting our 1stQ 2008 quota. Sadly, the sales trip incentive will be moved to September instead of June this year. Due to some unavoidable circumstances in the company now, the sales incentive trip will have to wait. Oh well, I've been planning for this trip as a splurge birthday treat for myself but I guess my birthday treat can wait as well. Besides, I don't know if I am financially ready yet to buy another big treat (eerrr... bag again!) after buying my Gucci bag on sale last month. Hehehe! Too fast and too much I would say!

Anyway, It seems hubby is bound to leave this June for US. He got an invitation to attend the International Telecoms Week (ITW) at Washington, DC this coming June 2-4 as a replacement representative of their company. His boss can't attend the conference and they are thinking to send hubby instead. Very short notice, haven't planned my shopping list yet! Hahaha! Nevertheless, need to prepare his US itinerary. I heard there will be NOC tours also to be hosted by AT&T and TATA Telecoms in NJ. Thus, domestic plane tickets and rental cars need to be prepared, together with his travel insurance in a rush. Let's wait and see final confirmation by end of the week.

seeking for help

It simply saddens me to hear that some young kids had gone astray and sought companionship and help from wrong kind of peers. Because of problems at home, lack of attention, loneliness, or simply out of rebellion, kids seek help outside the family. Worst they seek help or belongingness from friends on the wrong side of the fence. Take the case of hubby's cousin, who came from a very well-off family, who never thought they will be forced to place their son in a drug treatment center. All they ever wanted was to give the best for their son. Good school, comfortable and sheltered life. But I guess their over-protectiveness made their kid even more rebellious. In this age, wherein we live in a fast-paced life, we think that giving our kids with comfortable life means giving in to their material request and demands. We sometimes forget that not all new gadgets and fashionable stuff may replace the tender loving care our children need. Sometimes parents like me need to do some reality check. Have we spent quality time with our kids lately? Did we listen with our heart to their needs? I am sometimes guilty of listening without understanding...guilty of just giving in as convenient (and faster) thing to do than arguing. Oh well, it's never too late to do the right thing. I must act now.

home tools

Despite moving in to our new house two years ago, the house construction is still far from over. There are days we feel that the house needs some re-modeling or improvements especially the garden and lanai area. After the house was constructed, our funds were almost depleted and we cannot afford to start another house project. Not this soon, yet! Hence, I lovingly suggested to hubby to reconsider doing small home improvements by starting slowly in our lanai garden. With the high cost of materials and labor, I think it is wise to invest on festool to start our lanai project. This way, we can do minor renovations on or own without outsourcing labor from pricey home contractors. Nice idea, right? Just hope hubby can finish the job before our daughter's birthday. It will be lovely to have a new lanai for her party area.

shopping for baby

They say 2008 is the lucky year for marriage and birth ... and I can't believe most of my friends heeded this advice. We even call it baby boom year for some of my blogger friends and colleagues. As early as January, I already got several text messages from my friends sharing their preggo news and was even invited to number of baby showers here in the office. To date, I've attended four baby showers already, and more parties to attend by third quarter of this year! Awesome baby making year, huh! Because of this, I've been busy organizing surprise party for my close preggo friends in between gift shopping for toys and baby clothing. Really happy and excited for them! And I just can't wait for my turn this year. I do have preggo plans, you know...that is to become preggo too by last quarter 2008! Wish me luck!

need acne treatments

Lately, I am having problems searching for the right acne treatments for my son Ico who is now on his pre-teens stage. I've tried buying several on the shelf medications such as Ponds, Eskinol for Men and Celateque but the acne problem still persists. Much to be blamed on his love for oily food like chicken skin, peanuts and chocolates, late night sleeping habits and laziness to start a cleansing regimen. As my son would always say, using facial soap and visiting a dermatologists too sissy for big boys such as him! Aaahh... boys! I can't wait he becomes conscious of his looks by the time he's a teenager... and that would be two years from now! I bet, the sissy facial regimen as he claims shall now be basic and neccessary good grooming ritual!