It's christmas!

I've been very very busy lately.  I've been working for, I think, 10 hours a day for the past 3 weeks. Which also means a 5 minute lunch break is almost impossible. Thank God, I was able to finish my christmas shopping in between my workload. Our office was so freaking busy.  Well, just a thought, how come suddenly people just got excited to go to the dentist at this time of the year?... at winter time... when it's too cold?  I have no idea, but it was crazy!!! Done with the crazy days.. now it's time for my family and myself. I took 2 weeks off from work to spend quality time with them. That's what christmas is all about anyway.

~ ~Have a blessed christmas everybody! ~ ~

My brother is getting hitched!

Two months ago, my brother announced that he's marrying his long time girlfriend Melisa on December 2010. Finally! We've been bugging him for the last 2 yrs to get married, but that time Melisa was still in law school. From the time that I've learned that they're getting married, I've been bombarding the bride-to-be of emails concerning the venues for the ceremony and reception, and other wedding details. I think I'm more excited than her. and I really am!!

So to my Kuya and Melisa, my warm wishes for a lifetime of joy and togetherness..

~ ~ ~ Cheers! ~ ~ ~

Buy Gifts or DIY?

It's exactly 14 days before christmas. I've done my christmas shopping already, I just need to buy few more gifts to complete my list. With regards to gifts, would you consider buying one or a diy? So buying vs homemade? I would say buy! hahhaha kidding! Well, I'm not really a DIY kind of girl, not because I'm not crafty enough, because truth be told I am a little crafty. But, it's just that I really do not have the patience. On the contrary, I'd say homemade gifts will always be the winner, it would always top my list. If I receive something homemade, fancy or not, I'll keep them. Last year, I gave away 3 kinds of cookies. I got the recipe from Chipits and I packed them inside dollar store plastic containers, and wrapped them in a cellophane, put ribbons, and they were good to go. Everybody loved them. Well, it was good not only because I followed the recipe well, but I made it with more than a cupful of love. This year I'm planning to give away leche flan to people close to my heart. I would like to share some homemade gift ideas that I received from busymomtips. You can get an idea or two from this so have fun and be creative!

10 HOMEMADE GIFT IDEAS

1. Edible Treats: Package homemade cookies, peppermint bark, or sugared pecans in old-fashioned tins that can be found at thrift shops and garage sales.

2.  Painted Pots: Take a standard, inexpensive clay pot and paint in a solid color. Let it dry completely and then decorate it with your own design. Personalize it by adding the recipient’s name. Finally, plant some herbs or a small plant in the pot for an extra special touch.

3. Printable Coupons: Design (or use an online template) and print out coupons to be used as stocking stuffers or stapled into a little booklet as a gift. A few suggestions for the coupons are: Good for One Hug (or Kiss); Good for One Back Rub; Redeem for a Car Wash; Take the Night Off; Have Breakfast in Bed. Be creative!

4. Printable Calendars: Use one of the many available calendar templates or software programs to personalize a calendar for a loved one by adding pictures and special dates

5. Handprint Canvas Bag: Have the kids stamp a plain, light-colored canvas bag with their handprints. Simply paint their hands with fabric paint and then press them on the bag. You can paint on stems, leaves, or other designs or lettering (such as the kids’ names) with fabric paint or a fabric marker. Note: may take a day or two to dry so give yourself plenty of time to finish this project.

6. Message Board: Make a colorful message board by wrapping a piece of fabric around a rectangular piece of styrofoam and glueing the ends to the back. Then create a grid by wrapping strips of ribbon around the board so that pictures and messages can be easily tucked behind the ribbon.

7.  Button Picture Frame: Paint a plain wooden picture frame (remove glass first) and let dry. Glue a variety of old buttons to the frame to create an unusual and interesting frame for family pictures.

8. Marbleized Christmas Ornaments: Squirt 2-3 different colors of acrylic paint inside of a clear glass ornament, and gently swirl the paint around. Let paint dry completely before adding the topper and tying it with a ribbon.

9. Family Cookbook: Ask all of the family members to contribute some of their favorite recipes to be typed up, printed out, and copied into a cookbook for all of the family to enjoy. You can have the cookbooks professionally bound by a printer such as Kinko’s, or put inside of a report cover or notebook with your own cover design or picture.

10. Garden Stepping Stones: Decorate plain concrete stepping stones by painting your own design with acrylic paints or using the kids’ hand or feet prints. Let dry completely before applying 1-2 coats of acrylic sealer.

I would like to add a sweet treat recipe book on digital scrapbook layouts. If you're not a photoshop junkie, not a problem. They came up with a program called Smilebox. It's a  downloadable program wherein you could create scrapbook layouts and play with your pictures. It's wayyy better than Scrapbookflair. I love photoshop and I'm comfortable using them but for some people who are not patient with photoshop, this is your best bet.

Let's all be creative this christmas!

Christmas giveaway

I was tagged by a dear blogger named  Mrs. Kolca, she's the owner of utotmopink blog. I'm sure many of you will react and find the blog name a little weird, but I like it, it's very catchy. Anyway, she's giving away some cool stuffs, so let's see if we could win these babies.

To join, simply do these:

-Follow utotmopink.com
-Add utotmopink.com to your blogroll and or link list
-Grab utotmopink.com button/badge to you sidebar
-Blog about this contest by posting the giveaway image & answering the following questions:

a. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you? If yes, write about it.

my shirt. It was given to me by hubby's aunt. I love it!

b. Who is your favorite Hollywood actress or supermodel younger than 30?

I'd say Natalie Portman. She's intelligent. She's pretty. She's a freaking Harvard graduate with honors. She can act. A real talent. 

c. Choose one. Shoes? Bags? Clothes? Or make-up?

I'd say bags. or shoes. or clothes. or makeup. It's hard to choose! 

d. What is your favorite sleepwear?
my jammies! 

e. I joined this contest because_______________.
Because I'm joining the contest of one of the coolest blogs that I know.

-Lastly, leave A COMMENT* together with the link to your blogpost and your email address

♥This giveaway is open internationally♥

♥The owner of my MOST FAVORITE BLOG wins the 1st prize♥

♥The blogger with the MOST CREATIVE POST will get the 2nd prize♥

♥The COOLEST COMMENTER will receive the 3rd prize♥

♥Winners will be notified through email♥

♥Contest ends before the clock hits 12 on December 31, 2009♥

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas

 Every single day, as soon as the month of November kicked in, my parents would adorn my front yard with christmas ornaments and christmas lights. Two days ago they hung the parol that they made out of papel de hapon. I got the papel de hapon, also known as gift wrapping tissue, from the Dollar store.

Parols are ornamental star-like Christmas lanterns from the Philippines. They are traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes, shapes and designs, however its star-shape façade and basic design remains dominant.

Its shape is said to be inspired by the star on the Nativity of Jesus that guided the Magi to the manger. It also symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos' hope and goodwill during the Christmas season. SOURCE

I don't really decorate much for christmas. I usually just have a wreath for outside, and inside the house will be a 7' 5" christmas tree with red and gold ornaments, santa's socks, plus a garland to decorate my stairs and that would be all. When my parents hung the parol, I got so excited that I thought I have to take a picture. I just hope that the upcoming snowfall would not rip the paper or I'd feel so so bad.

Then last week we went to see the Santa Claus parade, which is a pretty interesting experience for all of us. My son had his face painted, which was also a first. He never liked having his face painted that's why I was surprised when I heard him say "I want to have my face painted".  I wanted him to be a dog, or a tiger, but he didn't want to, he said he wanted to be a clown, so be it. I don't  know where and how he got the idea but.. okay! There was a long line, so we waited for almost 2 hours to have his face painted but it was all worth it.

The Santa Claus parade is very nice, but it was sooo dragging. After 30 minutes of watching I felt so tired and bored. The parade itself lasted for 1 1/2 hour, I think. If they made it more like the "disney way" I think it will not be that boring.

Tomorrow, November 29,  we are going to see Santa again arriving by a helicopter in Galerie des Sources. We went there last year and I have to say that my son and I really enjoyed it. I love the sight of the dancing fairies calling out on Santa to come, saying these words "Pere Noel! Viens ici!" Then out of nowhere you'll see SantaClaus coming down through a helicopter. So effective and so magical.

Shopping centers are starting to be filled up with busy shoppers, which also means it's getting harder and harder to find a parking area, ulk!

Weather forecasts that snow is starting to fall on sunday night.

I've started putting up my tree.

I've started buying christmas presents.

It's definitely beginning to look a lot like christmas...

State of Emergency Declared After Flooding on Vancouver Island

Another breaking news that I heard from CTV this morning.The full story plus the video is available in this link

About 300 families have been forced from their homes on Vancouver Island about 50 kilometres north of Victoria.Up to 155 millimetres of rain fell within 24 hours causing two rivers to spill over their banks and flood homes.The affected area includes the region around Duncan and North Cowichan. A local state of emergency is now in effect in that area.Water in some homes was as high as the doorknobs.  SOURCE

What's happening to the world...

Santa Claus' Parade

Santa Claus is having his traditional parade in downtown Montreal on November 21st at 11am.

Weather forecasts that we will have a not-so-bad day tomorrow with the high of 8°C sunny/cloudy. It's going to be a chilly day but at least it's not raining. It'll be a first for all of us (me, hubby, son and my parents), that'll be fun! I'm thinking of bringing some knick-knacks, some drinks, and extra blankets.

Helpful links:

Santa's route

Santa's tips for his favorite kids

Everything you need to know about Santa's workshop

What's happening today?

I've been very busy the past few days bringing my parents to some places in Montreal. Now it's Friday. TGIF! yay! I've decided to focus this day pour moi. So, today will be my hair salon day, electrolysis and shopping day! I already booked an appointment with the salon, and Shahla, my aesthetician, just called to book me an appointment for an electrolysis follow up, so I guess I'm all cool. One more thing to be excited about is the 50% sale on previously marked down prices in Old Navy starting today.

Also, NEW MOON showing today! yes!

Random thoughts

A lot of things are happening nowadays

Jon and Kate plus 8 is finally ending. The series finale will be airing on monday November 23. After all the chaos, all the circus, all the drama, yup it's about time.The kids deserve to regain their privacy.

Oprah is ending her talk show on 2011. WHAT! Reports say that it'll bow out around September 9, 2011. I just can't imagine my weekday afternoons without Oprah.

Then women were adviced to delay the mammograms until they're in their 50s.. MORE

this is just way too much.

I need a coffee..

Obama bows

November 13, 2009, President Barack Obama arrived in Tokyo Japan on the first leg of his Asian visit.

Apparently, this gesture brought controversy. Full story in HERE. Some people think it's more of a submissive gesture.Some people think that this is Obama's way of kissing other leader's a**. Okay, people! stay focused! Well, in my humble opinion, this is a sign of respect for somebody else's culture. Hats off to you Mr. President!

... and he made history

After the much awaited Pacquiao - Cotto fight last November 14 in Vegas, our beloved Pacman placed our country back in the world map again.

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao!

24 hours after receiving the vaccine...

I have to edit my post on H1N1 vaccine. Exactly 24 hours after receiving the vaccine I got awfully sick, with chills, nausea, muscle aches. Fever? naaah! But I felt feverish though. Prior to getting the vaccine, the nurse told us that we might experience the flu like symptoms, I didn't believe that because I was okay until around mid afternoon yesterday. My two boys were having muscle aches and chills too, but they were fine compared to what I felt. Anyhow, I'm much better now.

Got the vaccine! Finally..

After all the hype and the scare of getting the Influenza A H1N1 Vaccine, I finally got it last night in Allancroft School. The vaccination clinic in Allancroft is open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.*
The coupons or tickets are available from 6am to 11am. The time that you need to come back is specified in your coupon. I went there around 6:45am, then specifically asked for a 6:30pm schedule so my husband can get it too.

The process goes like this: Go to Room #1, a person will hand you a number, then when your number is called, you have to-> #2 line up on the corridor -> go to Room #3 , to register with your medicare card, then you will be given a form to be filled up. The form is basically a consent form plus basic medical questionnaire. -->Go to Room #4, the interview room. A nurse will ask you about certain medical conditions that you might have and tell you about the possible side effects of the H1N1 vaccine. --> #5 Line up on the corridors outside Room #6, which is the vaccination room. After the vaccine, you will be asked to go to Room #7 to wait for 15 minutes. You will be asked to wait for 15 minutes to see if you have any allergic reactions, e.g shortness of breath, rashes, or headache after receiving the vaccine.

On top of that, the way they organized the procedure is actually great. The place didn't look crowded, and the nurses were very accommodating, well what can I say, they're Canadians!

Possible side effects of the H1N1 flu shot
The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are:

* Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
* Fever (low grade)
* Aches
* Nausea
Credits from SOURCE

The vaccine itself didn't hurt at all. I got scared for nothing, LOL. My 4 yr old son didn't even cry after receiving the vaccine. He was just telling everybody that the man put a hurting crayon in his arm hahahha. The next day, my arm feels sore but that's about it. No fever, no chills, no nausea, Thank heavens! Please refer to post

*If you're from the Montreal West Island, please refer to the schedule, it has to be respected or you will be turned away.

Pinoy Smile

Please vote for my friend's little princess Marian Jaeniel C. Pascual in

http://www.pinoysmiles.net/2009/11/november-smile-of-month-contest.html

She's adorable isn't she? so please vote for her until November 30. Thanks a lot!

An apple for an apple

Weeks after our apple picking, I have noticed that we still have one bag full of apples left. I gave away most of the apples that we picked and we still have one bag of apples left, imagine! Thank heavens for google that I could get recipes within my fingers reach. Don't you just love the cyberspace generation?!

Last week I made an apple cake. Credits to Pastry wiz.

Easy Apple Cake
Yield: 5 Servings
4 x Apples, peeled and sliced
1/4 c Sugar
1/2 ts Cinnamon
1/2 c Sugar
2 tb Soft Butter or Margarine
1 x Egg
1/4 ts Vanilla
1 c Flour
1 ts Baking Powder

Preheat oven to 350 deg F. Mix together 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon. Place a layer of apples in greased baking dish (approximately 5" x 9" x 3"), sprinkle with half the sugar-cinnamon mixture, cover with remaining apples and cover with remaining sugar-cinnamon. Cream 1/2 cup sugar and butter. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Stir in flour and baking powder and spoon over apples, spreading it as best as you can. Bake 30 minutes Best served warm, with vanilla ice cream.
Just a little note:

* I got great feedbacks from this recipe but I find it too sweet. Maybe it'll be perfect if you could lessen the sugar.*

Today, I made apple muffins with my little boy. Credits to Natrel

Apple Muffins
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 12 muffins

Ingredients

1 cup (250 ml) rolled oats
1 cup (250 ml) milk
1 cup (250 ml) brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup (50 ml) vegetable oil
1 cup (250 ml) all purpose flour
1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
1/2 (2 ml) tsp salt
1/2 tsp (2 ml) baking soda
1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
1/2 cup (125 ml) fresh diced apples

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375º F
1. Put rolled oats in small bowl and cover with milk.
2. Let stand 10 minutes.
3. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. In separate bowl, beat oil and sugar, add egg and beat well.
5. Add rolled oats to egg mixture and stir to combine, then add to dry ingredients.
6. Stir in diced apples.
7. Fill muffin cups and bake 15 to 20 minutes.

I know, I know, I'm not good with photography!

Then, I put some chocolate chips on top to make it more interesting.

For the love of tea

I am such an avid tea drinker, that I think, I've tried most of the tea brands in the market. I started with Lipton tea, you know, with their usual regular and black tea. Then, there comes Nestea. I remember ordering refillable iced tea in Dad's Megamall, drinking gallons of them, without realizing of its high sugar content. Then there was the regular jasmine tea from Chinatown. Then my aunt from Cali introduced me to the Celestial brand. Celestial has this collection of flavored teas that are really tasty. Then I tried Twinings then Tetley. One time I went to Tim Hortons to try their Chai gourmet tea, which smells more like a combination of chamomile and jasmine. So smooth and so enticing. Then I tried the Tazo "Refresh" tea from Starbucks. I must say that I really liked it more than their coffee. Refresh is made of tarragon with spearmint.
Yesterday, for some good reasons, I ended up in front of this new tea shop situated in Fairview shopping center in Pointe Claire. It's called the DavidsTea. When I was in the store they let me try their Creme Brulee tea. Not only that it tastes like creme brulee but it also has the health benefits of green roobois.

"Green Rooibos has increased effectiveness of Red Rooibos’ therapeutic properties due to the elimination of oxidization, thus boosting the levels of flavanoids and anti-oxidants. Flavones are not only one of the strongest anti-oxidants, but are also essential for the complete absorption of vitamin C. Green Rooibos has a soothing effect on the central nervous system, reduces tension in the body and can ease psychological tension as well, and is known to help people suffering from irritability, headaches, disturbed sleeping patterns, insomnia, nervous tension and mild depression or hypertension.Green Rooibos aids in the relief of stomach and indigestive problems like nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach ulcers and constipation. " SOURCE

It was awesome! Actually, that drove me to buy some of their yummy smelling teas. One tea that captured my eye was the sweet dreams tea. Sweet Dreams tea is made of chamomile, lemongrass, hibiscus, lemon, orange and rose petals. They claim that it aids in sleeping, so hey let's try! They also have a collection of Oolong tea which is high in both antioxidants and polyphenols. Oolong has a reputation for speeding up your metabolism and burning fat. You can buy the teas per grams or in tea bags. One tin can has 15 tea bags inside. Price per tin can starts at $11.50/ea. It is a bit expensive for a tea but everybody deserves a taste of luxury once in a while, so why not?!

David's tea

STORE LOCATION

Order online?
Click HERE

Blog Makeover

I've noticed that every month I'm thinking of changing my blog template. Honestly, I haven't seen the look that I really like and what made it more difficult is that, I don't seem to know exactly what I really want. I tried the 3 column template, and I must say that I loved them, but as the days go by, I got tired and later on, it looked messy and unprofessional. Though I don't and cannot consider myself as a professional, are you kidding me?, it literally looked messy. So this morning, as soon as I woke up, I thought of a blog makeover, again! Please bear with me..

Still with the H1N1 vaccine

As the day of my scheduled vaccine draws near, the hesitation within me grows bigger. The H1N1 scare plus the vaccine is still a very very touchy subject. Opinions and feedbacks on the vaccine are currently divided. Most of the people I know don't want to take it, which makes me believe that maybe it's not really necessary, but upon hearing the news of several "healthy" people dying in the United States and Canada who contracted the disease makes me think twice. Yes, I am scared. Not with the needles though! the thought of the vaccine being new to the market and with no sufficient studies, that was what I am afraid of. We absolutely have no idea if there will be any side effects. On the other hand, I don't want to get the bug too. Luckily, here in Canada, the H1N1 flu shot is available free of charge for all residents. We just need to show any of the photo IDs (RAMQ card, driver's license, passport, school id etc).

On my previous post, I've mentioned that my parents are visiting until some time in January 2010. My parents, especially my father, are more than willing to receive the H1N1 flu shot, but the problem is that they are not eligible since they are presently in tourist visa. Tourist visa holders are not covered by medicare. People without medicare are not eligible for the H1N1 vaccine. Therefore as sad as it may sound, they cannot get the vaccine. Today, I emailed Service Quebec to ask if it can be available for a fee, hopefully it will. I'm waiting for their reply.

Anyway, people who couldn't get the shot should be extra careful and must follow extra precautions on preventing to get the virus. There are ways..

How can I avoid catching H1N1 flu (swine flu)?

* Wash your hands properly and often. Learn all the steps to proper hand washing.

* If you aren't near a sink, use an alcohol-based cleaner to wash your hands. Use enough alcohol-based cleaner to keep your hands wet for a minimum of 20 seconds. Rub your hands together as the cleaner dries. Make sure you rub the cleaner all over your hands. Don't forget to rub between your fingers, the backs of your hands and under your fingernails. Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it when you can’t wash your hands in a sink.

* Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hand. If you cough up phlegm (mucus), spit it into a tissue, throw the tissue away, and wash your hands properly right away.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

* Stay at home if you are sick. If you have flu symptoms, call your doctor or health-care provider. Depending on your symptoms, they may tell you stay home or to come to the clinic or hospital.

* Use a regular household disinfectant to wash common surfaces every day. Make sure you wash:
o counters, taps and sinks in your bathroom and kitchen
o bedside tables
o children's toys
o computer keyboards
o desks and tabletops

* Wipe surfaces with paper towels that can be thrown away or cloth towels that can be washed afterwards. Use soap and water to clean the toys and objects that young children may put in their mouths.

* Stay away from people who may be sick..

* Stay healthy: get enough sleep, eat healthy food and exercise.

* If you have a long-term lung disease like asthma or COPD, take extra steps to protect yourself.

For more information please click on SOURCE

and don't forget the DECISION CHART

Is it flu? or just another cold?

This time of the year, in connection with the rise and fall of the temperature, has always proved to be the worst when it comes to our health. It's the season when colds, gastroenteritis, flu and now the H1N1 flu become an issue. We have to be extra vigilant. As a healthcare worker, we are urged to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu.

Last week the Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine were launched Canada-wide to fight against this kind of flu. Information were posted in several canadian news website to know when and where to be vaccinated. Our schedule falls on November 6. I'm still hesitant to get it since it's new and we don't know the side effects after a month or two. But, after hearing news of death of people contracting the disease, I'm positive that I want to be vaccinated. Yesterday my sister in law gave me a self care guide on H1N1. The guide itself is available HERE but I would like to post the DECISION CHART that for me is quite helpful for everybody and it comes handy when we or somebody close to us become ill. Let's educate ourselves. It's better to be well informed.

Rise and Shine

My 4 year old son's bedtime is usually at 9 pm sundays to thursdays. Fridays and saturdays, we usually let him sleep at 10:30pm or 11pm. But regardless of what time he slept, I've noticed that the past few months he would wake up at 5am, which is way too early for me on a cold saturday morning. Seriously. C'mon let's not kid ourselves, it. is. too. early! hahhahha At my workplace, fridays are usually the most exhausting day for me. So I expect to have more shuteyed time on Saturdays. This morning I received an email from babycenter regarding my son's development at this time. Suprisingly, it tackles about 4 year-olds waking up too early. Babycenter has proven itself to be a good source of information on kid's growth and development for parents.

Your 4-year-old now:
Often, 4-year-olds who are otherwise good sleepers wake up too early, long before the rest of the household is ready to start the day. If it's a chronic issue, the trouble may be too much napping or a bedtime that's too early. Most 4-year-olds have given up naps, but if she's still napping longer than 30 minutes, keep in mind this will be subtracted from her nighttime sleep.

If early wake-up calls happen only sporadically, there's no harm done, and you don't need to get up early, too. By 4, your child is old enough to understand that she shouldn't wake up others but is welcome to stay quietly in her room (or come and join you for a morning snuggle). Keep quiet playthings in her room. Try leaving out fresh books at night so she'll have something interesting to look at when she wakes up. Agree on a signal that indicates it's time to "get up" and leave the room: your alarm clock going off, for example, or your calling to her. Try putting an analog clock without a second hand in her room and place a sticker on the hour at which it's OK to get up. SOURCE

My son knows how to read the time at 2 1/2 yr old. So everytime he wakes up at 5, I would tell him to wait until 6:30am. While waiting, he can try to sleep some more or read a book or look at the pictures. Most of the time it works, but on some bad times, he would whisper or talk the whole time. I don't consider that as a chronic issue because at this time, my son still naps for 2 to 3 hours in the afternoon. Even if he wakes up too early, I know that he's not sleep deprived, even if it means that the mom has to be a bit sleep deprived. It's part of being a mom, eh?

One Lovely Blog Award

My first award, yehey! :D

Thanks to pumpkienpie and her awesome blog I LOVE MUCH



Now to accept this award here’s the rules: Post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the blogger to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

It's my turn to pass this “One Lovely Blog Award” to my friends.

It's my blog, so it's my call.. I would pass this to bloggers who, I believe, are deserving to be called One Lovely Blog. Please take note that I don't expect that you repost this or whatever. This is just my simple way of saying, you guys rock!

Have a blessed day!



Simply Deelytz
Avenue Junkie
Tints of Me
Pink
Vivapinay
Tinkerputt
Kay's lil universe
Janeth Vicy
Golden
Hits and Mrs
L is for Liza
Pumpkienpie
Vanity Clinic
Busy moms tips

Apple picking

Apple and Pumpkin picking are regular activities during Fall time. Apples are usually ready for harvest starting September until late October. The month of October is considered the pumpkin month.

I started looking for a great apple picking location from the time that I've learned that my parents are coming. I knew that it'll be a perfect experience for them, and I was right! My husband and I have been to an apple picking event before so it wasn't that of a big event for us. But for my parents and my son, this was the first. And we're more than happy to be a part of it.

Today, we went to the Quinn farm. I chose Quinn farm because 1. they were extremely nice when I called them even if it was very early in the morning when I called just to inquire about the opening hours at this time of the season, 2. I've read a lot of good reviews about this farm, and 3. this orchard is one of the closest to our place.They are open from 10am to 4pm from Thursdays to Sundays. Admission rate including the hay ride is $2 and they charge $12 per bag. Each bag can contain 18 to 20 lbs of apples. Regarding the pumpkins, you pick your own pumpkin and the rate will depend on its weight. The farm itself is huge and very clean, they make good apple pies, they have sweet apples, and they have friendly people. I was surprised that most of the guests were anglophones.

The farmhouse

The Empire apples

They are sweet!

My little boy is trying to clean the pumpkin that daddy picked while holding the small pumpkin that he picked himself on his other hand.

The pumpkin farm

Quinn farm

2495 boul. Perrot sud

Notre-Dame de l'ile - Perrot

Quebec J7V 8P4

Random thoughts on a busy week

I've been very busy the past few days. A lot of things have happened. I finished my Quickbooks task just in time for the accountant's end of the fiscal year, that task was a lot harder than I thought, because I'm not an accountant to start with. I'm not very familiar with the accounting terms and I'm not very patient when it comes to numbers, but it was a task that was entrusted to me by my boss so I have to do it. Then came my parents' arrival here in Montreal. Then my dad got sick because of the cold weather, add to the stress that I need to do regular updates to my siblings on my dad's case. Then I have to learn all the tools and the tricks in Cerec 3D. Then I have to bring my parents to places including a not- so- quick visit to the doctor's office. Thank heavens that my dad is fine. Then I have to do my regular mommy chores, plus my full time job. I have to juggle everything. Do I sound whiny now? hahah sorry! I can't help it! Anyway, it was a bit overwhelming and stressful, but I'm good. Life is good! Thank God that I could blog, at least I can get away from all these even for 10 minutes. And thanks to my mom for helping me with the cooking. It's good to have your mom around, eh? Imagine coming home with a home cooked meal, amazing! So we will be staying away from wendy's, kfc and mcdonalds for 3 months LOL. Even my co-workers have noticed that I'm eating "real" food for lunch.

Anyway, weather forecasts that we will be having a sunny weekend. Sunny, but cold. Highest will be at 6C. But at least it's sunny!

Today (saturday), we went to the Basilica of Notre Dame, which is closed for the whole day since there will be 6 weddings. I was a bit disappointed since I want my parents to see the beauty of the Basilica, not to mention that it was really cold this morning when we went, then to see that it was closed, me = disappointed. But we can still come back some other time. Moving on, we went to the Oratory of St. Joseph in Mont Royal. It was a huge church with a lot of chapels. Just a little backtrack, contrary to my previous post (see LINK), I've said that "there's nothing really special with this church". I was so wrong. Just the view from the top of the oratory, with the facade of the whole montreal made it special. It was breathtaking.

my dad with the view from the top

Even more special is the number of devotees who come here to pray and exercise their faith to St. Joseph and Brother André.

Brother André was known throughout Quebec and to believers around the world. But the man they called Brother André began life in much humbler circumstances. Born into a large Catholic family in 1845 in the Quebec village of St. Grégoire, Alfred Bessette was a frail child who was orphaned as a boy. This CBC special looks at the man whose mission in life produced St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.

As a young man Bessette tried working on a farm, as a cobbler and in a bakery. In 1874 he became a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, an order of Catholic priests in Montreal, and took on a new name: Brother André. For 40 nearly years he was the porter and barber at a boys' school run by the congregation, and it was there that his reputation as a healer — even a miracle-worker — took hold.

Brother André counselled his visitors to pray to St. Joseph, and he never took credit for the miraculous cures his visitors ascribed to him. His dream was to build a shrine to St. Joseph on the side of Mount Royal — a project that began with a tiny chapel in 1904. By the time of Brother André's death in 1937, the shrine was a Montreal landmark.

More on Brother Andre at SOURCE

I hope everybody will have a blessed weekend. Take care y'all!

Christmas gift suggestions for toddlers and preschoolers

~ ~It's christmas! I love the music, the ornaments, and the presents! ~ ~

That was my little boy screaming. Yup, he loves christmas! But technically, he got the phrase from the show Toopy and Binoo.

I know some of you are looking for christmas gift suggestions for toddlers to preschoolers. As a mom, I would prefer that my son would receive anything educational or anything that has something to do with his growth and development. When I say educational, it doesn't have to be the good ol' puzzles, which is not bad! I'm a fan of puzzles, it's just that most kids right now would prefer something else over a puzzle. Let's be a little bit creative and explore when it comes to gift giving. I came up with a list of gift suggestions for toddlers to preschoolers.

I spy Books - I spy books come in little board books that are recommended for ages 2 to 5. They are available in Scholastics Canada. Two thumbs up for being interactive and fun for the kids.

Personalized books - When my son was younger, he's not much of a story book kid. He would look at the pictures but when I start reading, he wouldn't even let me finish. He'll just leave. But when I bought his first personalized book, he got excited. Maybe the feeling of being part of the story itself excites him. I got the book from Chez Homai. They usually put their seasonal stall inside The Bay in Fairview Shopping Center here in Montreal from november to late december. The book basically contains your child's name, the hometown, and it's up to you if you want to put your child's friends name or your name on it.By the way, a lot of online stores out there sell personalized story books, if you're a bit crafty why not make your own?

Vtech Rhyme and Discover book - recommended for 6 months to 3 yrs old. Kids at this age are crazy about sounds.. and songs.. and stories!



Leapfrog Magnetic Fridge Alphabet - This is one of the fun ways to learn and familiarize the kids with the alphabet and its sounds. Recommended for ages 18 months to 24 months.

Leapfrog Fridge Phonics Word Whammer - Recommended for ages 3 to 4 yrs old. Encourage your kids to spell and read 3 letter words with this learning toy. Just like the magnetic fridge alphabet, this one will show your child the letters and its sounds thus would lead him to form a 3 letter word. It's really amazing.

Vtech Real Time Cuckoo Clock - My son learned how to read the time in digits at an early age. He just learned it by reading the displayed time in the computer, on the tv, or in the microwave. But this one will help your kid read the time from the cuckoo clock. Recommended for ages 3 to 8 yrs old.

Leapfrog Leapster Learning Game System - for the techie kid. Recommended for ages 4 to 8 yrs old. Children can play learning games, read electronic storybooks, watch interactive videos. It comes with cartridges that teach kids about phonics, numbers, counting, letters, addition, subtraction etc.

Always remember that kids are like sponges. It's very easy for them to learn, but creativity is the key. Try to make learning fun for them.

Plane ride with your kid - The Survival tips

First off, I'd like to wish everybody in Canada a Happy Thanksgiving! It's a long weekend once again. Sunny? Hopefully! Rainy? Most probably. Most montrealers would just go spend their holidays somewhere else. When you think of travelling, it means having fun... having a great time. It should be. For couples and families, it's the perfect time to connect with each other. But what about when you have to travel with a little kid? It could be challenging. My son was 25 months old when he first travelled by plane. I'd say, It was quite an experience.But travelling with your kids doesn't have to be your worst nightmare, all you need to do is to plan ahead and relax.


I've got few suggestions here so let's roll...

1. Prepare a Safety bag - Your Safety bag should consist of : a.) a diaper changing kit. I just made my own kit. I put some diapers there, diaper rash cream, baby wipes, a mat, water spritzer, small garbage bags. If your kids are potty trained, b.) bring a portable toilet seat. I bought the cushie ones in walmart.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   It's cheap, it's comfy and very handy since I can just fold it and just put it inside the safety bag. c.) Put at least 2 small plastic bags for accidental throw ups. d.) Bring a blanket and small pillow. e.) Bring a hand sanitizer and lysol or any disinfecting wipes. f.) Bring some extra pants, shirt, socks, underwear for your little one, and stash some extra shirts for yourself too for accidental spill ups. g.) Bring a first aid kit. h.) Put some crackers or cookies, sippy cups or baby bottles.
   
   
2. Prepare an Entertainment Bag - This bag should consist of a.) portable DVD player with his favorite movie, if you have a PSP, just try to install some movies or music that your kids like. Don't forget the chargers though! b.) Also, bring a favorite toy, could be her little teddy or his helicopter, his toy train or whatever. c.) Prepare a bag of goodies. A bag of goodies is just a small bag with dollar store toys. Toys need not be expensive. Just buy cheap stuffs that you think your kid would love to play with until the duration of the flight. So when she's bored, show her a new toy, then when she becomes bored again, show another one. It's ridiculous but it works! d.) You can also bring some books. My son prefers Ispy books over coloring books.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Bring an umbrella stroller.
4. If you're going to have a major layover/stopover, go online and try to gather as many information as you can regarding the airport. Try to locate the play areas for kids, kid friendly restaurants, breastfeeding or nursing rooms.
5. Keep your eye on them. Even if it means that you have to go with them in the washroom, do it. It's better to be safe.
6. Be patient. There will be a time that whatever you do doesn't work. Just be patient. Don't mind those eyes that are looking at you. Your concern right now is your kid's safety and his feelings. That's all.
7. If you'd go online you'd see a lot of advices from parents such as giving Gravol ,so kids will feel sleepy. But I've read somewhere that sometimes the effect of Gravol to kids is the other way around. I've never tried it because I'm very skeptic to give medications to my kid. If you want to take the chance, then be it. But be very very careful, and it's very important to educate yourself first.
   

Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey! - Fitzhugh Milan

Goodluck and Happy Travelling.


Useful Links:


Madallie - a store that sells toys and products for travelling. It was founded by a former Montrealer.
Babyzone - more tips from Babyzone
Baby center - packing checklist for traveling with a baby
Baby center - packing checklist for traveling with a toddler

The innovation on cooking baby foods

Last thursday, I had a discussion with a friend regarding baby foods. She's a new mom of a barely 6 month old baby. She asked me how I prepared the baby food when my son was younger. For cereals (such as barley, rice, oats) and fruits, I just bought the Heinz baby foods. Heinz baby foods have the most natural taste compared to the other available brands in the market. For vegetables, I cooked them. I started with potatoes, then sweet potatoes, carrots, squash and so on. How did I do it? I just boil them, when it's soft enough to mash, I mash it. But most of the time, I want it really really soft. Some foods can block the respiratory tract and choke the baby. Also, babies cannot digest food well enough. I don't want my son to have tummy aches after. For the meat, you can either just boil it with plain water or you can saute it with a little oil, celery and onions to enhance the taste of the meat, then boil it until it's cooked. I usually do the latter, since it's tastier.

Advantages and Disadvantages of buying commercial purees

Advantages

• you're sure of the nutrients that your kid is getting. Some people would say that it's healthier.
  
• variety of choices
• ready to serve and practical. it makes a mom's life easier! All we have to do is pop it in the microwave to warm.

Disadvantages

• there's always a fear of the amount of preservatives injected in the food.
• it doesn't taste good
  
• not very easy on the budget. Price range per small container is $1 to $2 CAD.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Homemade purees

Advantages

• nothing beats a homemade food.
• very easy on the budget
• you prepared it, you cooked it, so you know what's inside.
• you can select the freshest ingredients
  
• no preservatives

Disadvantages

• when food is overcooked, you tend to destroy the vitamins and minerals inside. That's why I'm very skeptic when it comes to cooking the fruits because I tend to overcook the food.
  
• It's so time consuming. For a new mom without any help, preparing and cooking baby food could be overwhelming.

Between commercial and homemade, I'd still vouch for homemade. But, how can we have homemade purees in less time without sacrificing the quality of the food that we're giving our little ones. Then, this friend mentioned something about Beaba Babycook. I've never heard of Beaba babycook, so I began to research about it.

The Beaba Babycook is a one-of-a-kind, patented compact countertop appliance that functions as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster to prepare fresh, healthy meals for baby. It starts by steam cooking vegetables, fruits and meats in less than 15 minutes, while preserving their vitamins and flavors. It then purees and blends them to the desired consistency. Parents can also use the Babycook to quickly reheat or defrost precooked foods. SOURCE

Judging by the description and the reviews, it's very practical to use. It will lessen the aches and pains of preparing baby food. In less than 15 minutes, you'll have a great food just for your little angel. It is available in Williams-Sonoma for $149.99.

On the other side of the coin, there was a review, that was published a year ago, regarding the presence of BPA in this gadget. Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is a difunctional building block of several important plastics and plastic additives. With an annual production of 2–3 million metric tonnes, it is an important monomer in the production of polycarbonate. Source

But on the Beaba website, look at the safety notices, it says that there's no BPA migration detected in the test by an international, independent testing laboratory. You can always email them to ask for the copy of the report. Anyway, after reading the reviews, I thought this is really worth buying. For my next one (not sure when!) I'd definitely be getting this.

Let's organize! - The Kitchen -

I love organizing. For me, the activity itself is more of an expression of oneself. In my own little world, I strongly believe that if you have an organized house, you have an organized life. If you have an organized office, you have an organized life. If you have an organized purse (even the purse!), you have an organized life. And who wouldn't want to have an organized life?? Let's start organizing!

When it comes to organizing my clutter at home, 3 stores usually come into my mind: Homesense, Ikea, and Dollarama. If I want something fancy, I'd go to Ikea or Homesense. If I need to buy a lot and don't want to break the bank, Dollarama will be the first choice. Didn't have that luxurious look, but tolerable. Now, I will be posting some of the fancy ways of organizing your kitchen.This is what I usually do, I would go online, look for ideas and find cheaper alternatives.

Available in StacksandStacks for $48.99

If you're like me who loves to use herbs on cooking, this is like a dream come true.

photo credits : Scrapbooking

Don't forget the recipes! This is a nice way of stacking your favorite recipes. Print them in a small card then stack them in a nice scrapbook style portfolio like this. You can also use a photo album to preserve and showcase your most valued recipes.

Available in Organize-it $24.97

This is one of my favorite kitchen organization "gadgets". I just remembered once I attended a bridal shower, after dinner time, the hostess offered coffee and tea and she pulled this box from her cupboard. I was in awe! It's just nice to see the tea bags neatly arranged in a bamboo box like this rather than placed in a jar or a carton box. So if you have different kinds of teas, show them off!

photo credits from the domestic diva herself Martha Stewart.

photo credits : Wasserstrom

Don't you want to have a cereal dispenser that looks like this? fancy!

Emergency Hotlines and Relief Operations for Typhoon Ondoy Victims

Let's try to help the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Thank you!

Reposting this from Litzie's post in Junction Avenue

Rescue Operations

1. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
2. Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
3. Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
4. Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
5. Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
6. Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
7. Quezon City Rescue (161)
8. San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
9. Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
10. Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
11. Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)

Civil Society/ Media

1. Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
2. Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
3. Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
4. ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
5. Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968

All calls for help, please help us by filling out information here at the Rescue InfoHub Center.

Rubber Boat Requests, 4×4 Trucks

1. NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
2. Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue
please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)
3. You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
4. For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).

Power Supply

* Meralco (+63917-5592824, 16211, +63920-9292824) If you want service cut off to your area to prevent fires and electrocution.

Relief Aid and Donations

1. Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT.
2. NoyMar relief Operations: Clare Amador (+639285205508) or Jana Vicente at +639285205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.
3. Miriam Quiambao drop off points: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.
4. Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo are now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.
5. Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk,Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.
6. Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (+632-5639298, +632-5639308)
7. Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Cor EDSA (+632-9257931-40)
8. Aranaz Stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt is accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy
9. Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm of the Jesuits, is accepting donations. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm.
10. Philippine National Red Cross‘ different ways to Donate.
11. Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
12. Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy. Donations can be dropped at MVP Lobby. For those stranded/those who need help: To all students who need help or know of people who need help. Please text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). ATENEO, which is now an open shelter, accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)
13. Papemelroti stores in 91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall are accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes – NO CASH pls.)
14. TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN
15. Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (+632-4342397, +632-9290665) per Gabe Mercado, donations are very much welcome. The Parish is located at 12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
16. Hillsborough Village Chapel – Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes may be sent to Hillsborough Village Chapel in Muntinlupa City. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.
17. Greenhills/Mandaluyong/San Juan Area, if you want to help out with the rescue and relief operations, you can drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc..) at La Salle Greenhills Gate 2 tomorrow or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.
18. Petron: You may bring your relief goods to all Petron branches.
19. LUCA stores (Rockwell, Shang-rila, Eastwood, or GA towers): Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls).
20. “LUZON RELIEF: Volunteer / Donate / Pray”: Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am – 7pm Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com
21. MOONSHINE boutique in Rockwell also accepting relief good to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.
22. Katipunan Avenue. Contact Erica Paredes at (+632917-4741930) — they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.
23. Manor Superclub, Eastwood City will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday at 10 am.
24. Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC): Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)
25. MINISTOP IBARRA (Espana cor. Blumentritt, Sampaloc Manila) is also accepting relief goods, Food (non-perishable goods only) Clothing, Medicines, Beds, Pillows, Blankets, Emergency Supplies to help Typhoon Ondoy victims.

People Tracker (using your phones, get your friends and family to turn on their finderservice for you)

* FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text “wis ” to 386.
* FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text “find to 7000.

You can also donate via Paypal here.

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!!!!