Pensive Thoughts

Mommy Moments: Cars and Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:52:00 +0000

What is it about cars that boys love? My son likes cars very much and he can’t seem to get enough of them. The size of the car doesn’t really matter to him.

Small (Look! One wheel is missing in the green racing car!)

Medium (His own Ferrari, LOL!)

Large (His first bump car ride)

We don’t have a car, but his favorite Tito O. and Tita Meme (my younger sister) have one, and he enjoys riding in it.

Baby, the car is not yours. Don’t smile as if you own it.
Click the badge above to see other kids and their cars.

Residential and Commercial Mailboxes on Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:20:00 +0000

We had been renting a studio type apartment for three years before we moved to our condo unit in 2008. A major difference I notice between these two residential and commercial places is that in our previous place, our mails are handed to us by the building messenger or security guard; how soon we receive our mails depends largely on the availability of the person assigned to do this task. In the place where we live now, our mails are deposited in our mailbox; this means that we get our mails the very same day they arrive.

This brings me to the conclusion that mail boxes are a necessity in commercial/residential buildings. This is one way building owners can protect the privacy of their tenants. Mailboxixchange is the place to go if you need to purchase quality Residential Mailboxes and Commercial Mailboxes. They have a large selection of mailboxes at affordable prices. I’m sure you’ll find one that suits your needs.

Undecided

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:37:00 +0000

This is the last week of Justin’s Nursery class. This school year officially ends on the students’ graduation day this coming Saturday, March 13, 2009. Quite frankly, we still haven’t decided yet where to send Justin this summer. He gets bored at home, so we have to find something for him to do while waiting for regular classes to start again in June.

Summer classes in Justin’s school will start on April 7, so we have more than three weeks to make up our minds if we will enrol him. My husband is also checking their office bulletin board from time to time for any company-sponsored summer activities for kids that Justin can participate in. My son is turning four in July, and we think it’s still too early to get him into sports, so that’s excluded from our options list.

What about you? Have you decided where you’re sending your children this summer? Can you suggest other fun summer activities that preschoolers like my son can join?

Promote Your Blog then Earn and Learn

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:59:00 +0000

Do you want to promote your blog and earn revenues at the same time? YouSayToo can help you achieve this purpose. By simply adding your blog to their Revenue Sharing Program, you stand to increase your readership and your blog ranking and earn money from both Adsense and Amazon. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain from joining; it’s definitely a win-win situation.

Because bloggers’ posts get published at YouSayToo once they sign up, you also get to read interesting and informative articles on various topics. For instance, there’s this item about HUD Apartments for rent. This particular blog post gives tips on where to find HUD Apartments for rent, the factors that renters need to consider when choosing their apartments, where to get the forms needed for apartment application, and how long it takes for an apartment application to be approved.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a U.S. Government agency that assists individuals of low- to mid-income levels in acquiring loans to purchase housing. HUD Apartments for rent is one of the programs of this government organization that helps people from low-income families to have access to better apartments.

Is He Enterprising or What?

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:36:00 +0000

Kids don’t need expensive toys to show their creative and skilful side. Children can be enterprising when the situation calls for it, that is, ordinary things in the house can be their playthings, too. All it takes is just a little imagination. That’s what I learned after watching my son play on two separate occasions.

His Daddy’s slippers make for great borders, too!

He makes believe that the hanger is a crane lifting his police car up, just like Cranky in Thomas & Friends.
What about your kids? Are there items in your homes that they consider as playthings, too?

Clean and Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:21:00 +0000

I’ll admit, I’m a neat freak. I want my house clean at all times, as well as the ones living in it. I’m just looking after the safety of everyone, especially of my three-year-old son. This early, we're trying to instill in our child the value of washing hands or using alcohol or hand sanitizer. We also make it a point to use spray disinfectant at home to get rid of viruses and bacteria that can make us sick. The product that we use has to be people-friendly, animal-friendly, and environment-friendly.

My Sister and I

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:27:00 +0000

Tetcha and Meann
She’s taller; I’m shorter. She joined beauty contests in school; I joined quiz bees and academic contests. She’s demonstrative in her love and concern for people; I’m reserved. She’s outgoing and fun to be with; I’m a bit shy and reclusive.

When we were still studying, she used to snatch my clothes from the closet without my permission. That’s because I won’t let her borrow them even if she asked. LOL! Now, she owns more clothes than I do, and ‘m always waiting for her hand-me-downs. Is that karma or what?

I always dreamed of singing on stage because I believe singing is my talent; she’s the one singing in church and living my dream. She’s happy with her relationship with the Lord; I’m still working on mine. For years, she keeps inviting me to her church; I always find a good alibi not to attend. Now, I’m running out of excuses because her church is very near our place.

What I’m saying here is we’re two different peas in a pod, my sister and I, and it’s not hard for people to notice that. We had issues between us, yes, but really petty ones, and we managed to resolve those. There were times she made me really mad, as in furiously mad, but she is quick to ask for forgiveness once she realizes it’s her fault, and she makes up for her misdeeds by being extraordinarily sweet that I’m left with no other recourse but to forgive her. It’s this particular trait that endears her to many.

So, would I change her for the world? Not in a million years.

Will You Sell Your Timeshare?

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:44:00 +0000

Timeshares are pieces of property owned by a group of individuals. Each person that owns the property pays an amount of money each year that will cover property expenses. Timeshares are good emotional, rather than financial, investments. Timeshares work best if you want some time for yourself or you want to treat your loved ones to memorable vacations. The question is will I sell my timeshare if I have one? I’d say most definitely not because nothing equates to the amount of happiness that I can give to my family through my timeshares. What about you?

Is Your Marriage Fireproof?

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:49:00 +0000

The following Sunday after Valentine’s Day, I got the chance to see a really nice movie for couples at my sister’s church. I cried buckets just like the rest of the audience, but I went home really blessed.

Fireproof is a movie that revolves around the firefighter’s motto of “Never leave your partner behind.” The marriage of Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron), a heroic fireman, and Catherine (Erin Bethea) is on the rocks, and Catherine wants a divorce. As a last-ditch attempt at saving his marriage, Caleb’s father John (Harris Malcolm) presents his son with “The Love Dare” challenge. Each day for 40 days, Caleb has to do something for his wife to convince her to stay. This seems to be a formidable feat as Catherine constantly rejects him. Find out how Catherine is swayed in the end to give her husband a second chance.

I love this movie for the wonderful lessons it imparts to husbands and wives. Here are some of the things from “The Love Dare” that are worth remembering:
1. Say something nice to your spouse.
2. Do an unexpected act for your spouse.
3. Buy your partner a gift that says you’re thinking of him/her today.
4. Ask your spouse if he/she is doing okay or if he/she needs anything today.
5. Pray for your spouse.

According to the movie, we will definitely encounter fire in our marriage. The most important thing is that we’re able to withstand the fire if it does happen.

What He Wants Is What He’ll Get

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:53:00 +0000

My husband is a certified TV addict. It came as no surprise, therefore, that he bought a huge LCD TV for his viewing pleasure when we moved into our condo unit in 2008. His next mission was to find the perfect complement to that TV. It took him days of searching through various furniture shops, looking at different makes and models of tv stands, to finally make his purchase. When I saw what he got, I gave him the thumbs up.

Inspire Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:34:00 +0000

This is the second weekend that I don’t have to worry about cleaning the house and ironing our clothes because we already found a new helper. It took us two months to finally decide to get someone from an agency. We’ve never done this before, but we’re so desperate, not to mention tired of not being able to experience a relaxing weekend since Christmas, because we have so many things to do in our house on Saturdays and Sundays.

When I had to squeeze my blogging into my already tight work and home schedule, I was brimming with ideas. What I don’t understand is now that I have a little more time to blog, I can’t seem to find a good topic to write about. Sigh! I think I need to go out more, leave my comfort zone, and do something different, in short, be more adventurous. I know interesting stories are just out there somewhere waiting to happen. I want to be there when they do. They’ll definitely make for good blog content. So go ahead, inspire me!

Let’s Get Physical

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:55:00 +0000

As we grow older, our metabolism slows down. That is, we’re not able to burn as much calories now compared to when we were younger. This fact has never been truer to me now that I’m in my late 30s. I know I need to make some lifestyle changes, which include eating right and exercising. Going to the gym is out of the question, however, because I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and I have a three-year-old boy who needs my constant attention. Working out at home is a better option. I just have to decide what fitness equipment to buy. Any suggestions?

So Embarrassing!

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:25:00 +0000

After my work today, we (Justin, his new ate [Ate April], and me) went to the mall to buy Justin what he’s supposed to wear on his graduation day next Saturday (light blue long sleeves top, black pants, black shoes). We were also supposed to meet up with his Dad afterwards.

All three of us immediately boarded the first elevator that opened at our floor. There were two comely horizontally challenged a.k.a. “healthy” women inside the elevator that caught Justin’s full attention.

Justin: Mommy, they’re fat.

Mommy: Sssh. (I gave my son the look that tells him not to say that word again.)

The taller of the two women laughed, and I looked her in the eye and said sorry. Her companion was quiet.

When the elevator opened, we hurriedly left the building without looking back. While my son may have blurted out the truth because he knows what “fat” means, hearing him say that to other people who might find the comment insulting made me feel so embarrassed. I just consoled myself with the fact that kids don’t lie, and I hope that the two women realize that there’s nothing personal about what my son said, that it was simply an innocent remark.

What Do You Look for in a Laptop?

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:40:00 +0000

Because I’ve become pretty comfortable using a desktop computer in my work, I wasn’t too keen on buying a laptop even if my husband hinted we needed one already. The only thing that made me say yes was the idea that I would have backup if my desktop fails. Because I work at home, I had the final say on the screen size of the laptop that we’re going to buy. As for the specifications and price, I let my husband decide on those. What about you? What factors do you consider when buying a laptop?

Mommy Moments: First Aid Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:16:00 +0000

First aid means “emergency treatment administered to an injured or sick person before professional medical care is available.” When you have a child at home, it’s imperative that every parent should know what to do in case of emergencies.

Here are some first aid tips that I’ve learned from my son’s pediatrician and that work for us:

Basic
1. Always have a thermometer ready. You’ll never know when someone in the family will have fever.
2. Make sure you have medicines for common illnesses at home. In Justin’s case, I see to it that he has medicines for fever, colds, cough, allergy, and LBM.
3. Know your doctor’s number. In case of emergencies and you don’t know what to do, it pays to consult an expert for the best course of action to take.

Specific
1. Swelling – Ice helps reduce swelling. Apply ice on the swollen or inflamed part.
2. Vomiting -Ice chips may help prevent nausea and vomiting. We didn’t have ice chips at the time that Justin continuously vomited, but we had ice candy in the freezer. His doctor said that will do.
3. Diarrhea – Aside from drinking plenty of non-carbonated clear liquids, you can give your child bananas or apples and Yakult. Also, refrain from giving him greasy foods and limit his milk intake.

Of course, when things get serious, don’t hesitate bringing the sick or injured person to the hospital.

Click the badge above to see more helpful first aid tips from other moms.

Need Repair for Your Car?

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:47:00 +0000

We don’t own a car right now. That’s because we don’t see a need for one. I work at home, and my husband’s office is 10-minute walking distance from where we live. My son’s school is also a stone’s throw away from our place.

It’s a different story, though, when my son goes to big school next year because we will have to commute by then. I think we’ll have to consider buying a car for the sake of convenience.

In preparation for that, I’m trying to brush up on my car knowledge, and the first thing that comes to mind is where we will go if there’s something wrong with our car. My research led me to RepairPal.

RepairPal not only gives you fair car repair or maintenance estimates, they also help you find a car repair shop that best suits your needs. Finding a top-notch Los Angeles auto repair shop, for example, won’t be a problem.

You also get to read about helpful user ratings and reviews at RepairPal. See what Ford Explorer owners have to say about their cars. Are they satisfied with their purchase or not?

What’s more, RepairPal also provides useful information on car care and maintenance. Do you think you need to replace your car’s head gasket? There’s an informative article about that in their website.

Finally, but most importantly, you get all of these things for free! What could be better than that?

Win a Free Boracay Package!

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:14:00 +0000

This is my official entry for WOW Philippines' free Boracay vacation package.

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency

WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it's 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.

Vacation Package Inclusions:
- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel
- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines
- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila
- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat
- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash

Read More Information: http://www.boracay-packages.com

2010 Real Estate Tax Benefit

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:10:00 +0000

U.S. President Obama has recently signed into law a bill that extends and expands the federal income tax credit for homebuyers. Now, both first-time homebuyers (those who have not owned a home in the previous 3 years) and move-up homebuyers (those who have lived in their current property for 5 consecutive years) can enjoy this Real Estate Tax Benefit.

The salient features of this new law are as follows:

1. First-time homebuyers are entitled to receive up to $8,000 tax credit, while move-up homebuyers will receive up to $6,500 tax credit.
2. Tax credits are extended until April 30, 2010. This means that all contracts must be written by April 30, 2010, and all properties must close by June 30, 2010.
3. Income limits for both first-time homebuyers and move-up homebuyers are $125,000 for an individual and $225,000 for a family with an additional $20,000 phase-out of the credit.
4. The property that must be purchased by both first-time homebuyers and move-up homebuyers must not exceed $800,000.

This recent development is seen as beneficial for both the U.S. economy and the real estate industry. According to the National Association of Realtors and Mark Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com, for every home sold in the U.S., one job is created over the next 12-month period, and approximately $60,000 goes into the local economy. This shows that housing is vital to the recovery of the U.S economy.

Top Entrecard Droppers for February 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:45:00 +0000

Great big bear hugs to all of you! Thank you!

Laane Loves
My Outsourced Brain
Greetje greets You
CAP News
Mommying On The Fly
Laane on the World
Tips for your Home
Dave Lucas
The Twitterer
Life Matters

Affordable Used Cars

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:07:00 +0000

Have you ever dreamed about owning a luxury car? If you do but can’t buy a brand new one because of budget constraints, why not buy used cars? Buying second-hand cars is not such a bad idea if you purchase them from a reliable supplier. BuyYourCar.co.uk offers a wide selection of quality used cars at affordable prices. All you have to do is go to their site, click “Used Cars,” and fill out a form with the specifications of the car (make, model, price range, etc. ) that you plan to purchase. It’s that simple. Now, owning used ford cars, used volkswagen cars, or even a used bmw car has never been this easy!

Teeth Gnashing while Sleeping

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:39:00 +0000

Have you ever heard someone gnashing his teeth while sleeping? Nope, you’re not dreaming; what you’re hearing is real. That sleeping disorder is called "sleep bruxism."

Etymology
“Bruxism” is derived from a Greek word, which means “gnashing of the teeth.” “Sleep bruxism,” therefore, is the “grinding of teeth during sleep.”

Causes of sleep bruxism
Sleep bruxism is believed to be caused by the following factors: digestive disorder, dental problems, suppressed anger, stress, anxiety, high levels of alcohol consumption, and masticatory muscle discomfort. Sleep bruxism is also theorized to be a complication of Huntington’s disease and may also be a side effect of drugs belonging to the amphetamine group.

Symptoms of sleep bruxism
Some of the symptoms of sleep bruxism are as follows: disturbed sleep, worn tooth enamel, exposing the inside of your tooth, sore gums, increased tooth sensitivity, earache, jaw muscle discomfort, headache, eating disorders, and chronic facial pain.

Treatment
There is no known cure for sleep bruxism, but there are ways to reduce the impact of teeth gnashing, such as wearing an acrylic-based dental guard or taking vitamin supplements.

Sources:
1. http://www.sleepdex.org/sleep-disorders.htm
2. http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/sleep-bruxism-information-symptoms-and-causes-376165.html

Ever Heard of Bad Credit Credit Cards?

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:35:00 +0000

In my previous place of employment, I had friends and officemates who had been blacklisted by credit card companies because they had been remiss in settling their financial obligations. They couldn’t apply for new credit cards anymore because of their poor credit history. But that’s already a thing of the past. Now, it’s possible for them to have new credit cards. All they have to do is apply for bad credit credit cards. These are credit cards for people with bad credit or those with no credit history.

Getting Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:43:00 +0000

Ten more school days, and it’s showtime! Justin’s school will be having their graduation production for 2010 at the Tektite Auditorium, Philippine Stock Exchange, on March 13, Saturday. They’ll be presenting a Beauty and the Beast production. My son is assigned the role of Salt. Today, I’ll be picking up his costume when I drop him off at school. We also need to buy him light blue long sleeves top and black pants for the graduation ceremony.

Legal Help for Mesothelioma Victims

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:14:00 +0000

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral fiber commonly used in building construction materials. Mesothelioma happens because there are negligent and irresponsible corporations that allow their workers to be exposed to harmful and toxic substances. If you are one of those suffering from this disease because of the kind of work that you do, you might want to seek legal counsel. Through the help of a mesothelioma lawyer, you can file a lawsuit that can ease your financial burdens.

Preview Night of The Red Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Tetcha) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:50:00 +0000

I went to the preview night of The Red Shoes at The Podium last night primarily because the venue is walking distance from our place. The second reason I went is because I was curious about the film. To be honest, I haven’t seen a poster of the movie prior to last night's screening, so I was absolutely clueless about it. Thanks, Nuffnang, for the invite!

The Brains behind the Movie
The Red Shoes is directed by Raul Jorolan, written by Jayel Ladioray, and presented by Unico Entertainment. Set in the post-Marcos era, it is a story of “love, aspiration and new hope amid changing fortunes and the country’s fickle, contemporary history.”

Synopsis
Lucas (Marvin Agustin) stole a pair of former first lady Imelda Marcos’ shoes when he was a little boy and gave it to the two most important women in his life, his mother (Liza Lorena) and his childhood sweetheart Bettina (Nikki Gil). The story started with that pair of red shoes and ended with the same pair (with a twist!). The characters in the story are represented by their favorite shoe color. The main theme is moving on, which the main character Lucas has finally learned to do when he decided to change the color of his shoes in the end.

My Review
The screenplay was well-written, the actors/actresses gave a fine performance, and the movie is loaded with metaphors, which make it doubly interesting to watch. The Red Shoes opens on March 10, 2010.

Incidentally, I also met Pie in last night’s movie preview, and she took this photo of us.

I hope to see her again in future events.