St. Peter Life Plan
Perhaps, planning a funeral is one of the morbid situations that a person can do but nowadays, planning one’s funeral is wise and very practical. We all know how expensive it is to die. Just imagine the cost of burial services, the expensive burial grounds and the everyday expenses of the family during that time. So should we add another burden to our family while they are mourning? No, of course.
This is why I am planning to purchase a life plan from St. Peter as early as now. Bet I already started late as I am already turning 32 this year.
St. Peter has various plans, for sure, one will fit your budget. For more info, please visit: http://www.stpeter.com.ph
My Dream Kitchen
If you are a (poor) baker like me who lives in a (tiny) house like ours, then for sure you are wishing to have your own kitchen and working area.
I dream of working in a state-of-the-art, spacious kitchen someday. Who wouldn’t? I run our online bakehouse in our small working slash baking area slash office. Yes, that’s how tiny our area is 
Not to mention it isn’t tiled nor we don’t have any stainless tables available.
This is Linda’s Tuscan Kitchen
I envy her.
My passion for a huge and beautiful kitchen started when I was younger. Our ancestral house has a huge one and all of us, my uncles, siblings and I frequent the kitchen because it’s my lola’s favorite part of the house. She was a great cook as she was from Tarlac. She was so fond of collecting all sorts of spice and other cooking and baking stuff like wine corks, spatulas, baking pans (both stainless and glass) and many others.
I want my kids to grow up in a bigger house with a spacious kitchen. It’s my dream to build awesome kitchen memories with them.
What Do I Want for a Mother’s Day Gift?
I hate asking myself this question because for all I know, no one at home will bother to buy me any gift for Mother’s Day. But for this post’s sake, let me answer the question “What Do I Want for a Mother’s Day Gift?” Hmmm… I guess it will take me a million years to reply because I have soooo many things in mind. But when I racked my brain for things that would really, really, really make me happy… I got nothing.
For the business, I would want a car and additional capital but for myself? I want nothing more. I am so happy with my phone, with my laptop, with my small house, with my clothes <— This made me realize that I am a contented person.
I only need money to pay the bills and stuff But if somebody gives me a Shari’s Berries chocolates as a bonus, why not???
How about you mommies, what do you want for mother’s day?
Diary of a Couch Person
Are you a couch person? Like me, there are people who prefer to lounge in couches than in beds. I don’t really know, but I prefer couches over huge beds. Silly me, I invested in a huge couch without thinking that I would be living in a tiny house LOL
Right now I am planning to buy foldable couches so we can have an extra space in our room. Saw one in the mall but it’s uber expensive! Don’t have that much cash for a double chaise so I am settling for the mustard yellow couch.
Blackberry, FTW!
I love Blackberry, period. I’ve been a proud user since 2005 and I never changed brands ever since. While some people might not like it because “it’s hard to use” and “it doesn’t have this and that”, I love it because it has everything that I need.
Its simplicity rocks.
It was my companion to yesterday’s World Vision trip and it helped me stay connected to my online Twitter and Facebook community.
Now how I wish I have Blackberry rim play book. RIM by the way is the company behind the innovative and award-
Making a Change with World Vision Philippines
When I got invited to the World Vision trip the other day, I thought that like most coastal cleanups, we would do no more than coastal cleaning but to my surprise aside from the coastal cleaning itself, we met families supported by World Vision. Families that inspired us to do more so we can help more
Bloggers were divided into 4′s and on our group “The Yellow Four” we had Iris of Pinay Ads, Flowell of Ask by Flow, Saydie of Manila Catwalk and of course, yours truly.
These photos will tell you about our life-changing journey yesterday with the World Vision Hunger Fighters!
Task 1: Coastal Cleanup
Along with Kim and James, both Shoreline scholars, we cleaned the coastal area where most of them reside. Most of the trash found were various kinds of plastics, used diapers and the biodegradable trash like fallen coconut leaves.
In 30 minutes we were able to accomplish so much, all of us collected about 7 sacks of garbage. Imagine how clean it’s going to be if cleaning will be done everyday
We also learned that the area we were, the Tropical Garden Resort is now a protected site since September 2011.
PGENRO has witnessed the launching of pawikan or sea turtles in Brgy. Labac, Naic Cavite last January 20& 31, 2012. This beach area along the stretch of Sabrina Fair, Inc. and Tropical Garden Resort is now a protected area and has been since September 2011.
The pawikan being dispersed is an Olive Ridley sea turtle variety. It has a lifespan of 80 years and takes decades to reach sexual maturity. After mating at sea, adult female sea turtles return to land to nest at night. In extreme case, females return to the beach where they hatched.
Incubation takes about two months. The eggs in one nest hatch together over a very short period of time. When ready, hatchlings tear their shells apart with their snout and dig through the sand. Again, this usually takes place at night.
To date, about 1,231 hatchlings have been dispersed by the local government of Naic, Cavite and is expected to go on until March. The conservation and protection of pawikan in Cavite is supported by the Provincial Government through the leadership of Governor Jonvic Remulla. - source
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Task 2: Meeting a shoreline scholar and his or her family
We shared breakfast with the Estibars. Nanay Carmelita welcomed us in their humble home and gladly joined us in eating the pansit that we brought. We were later joined with Aldrin and Alleli, both Shoreline scholars. Alleli just graduated college with a degree in BS Education. Aldrin, the youngest, is already in his 3rd year in college and currently teaches Taikwando and Arnis in the neighborhood. Aside from that he also earns from teaching other kids. Not in the photo was Alvin, a former Shoreline scholar who now takes up his MBA in Manila. Alvin, by the way, graduated as Cum Laude in their batch. Amazing, amazing kids!
Nanay Carmelita told us how World Vision Development Foundation through Shoreline Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran, Inc. has changed their lives. She works as a laundry woman and Tatay Angelito (not in the photo) works as a fisherman. She told us that without WVDF and SKKI, how could she send 3 students to school?
It was a humbling, learning and inspiring experience for us indeed.
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Task 3: Water Lilies on our Toes
After meeting the Estivars, we visited the place were Woven Lilies are made. The Nanays of the community taught us how handwoven bags from water lilies are made. One word, it’s HARDWORK. From the collection of water lilies, to drying, pressing, weaving, cutting, sewing, sealing and polishing, the nanays do all these by heart because after all, this water lily products have been helping them for so many years.
Woven Lilies products are available in their community resource center coop, the Daluyan Community Resource Center and all Kultura branches. They also export their products to Canada and the US.
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Task 4: Farmville and Plants vs. Bloggers
No, we didn’t play these popular games but we experienced them first hand.
At the Daluyan Community Resource Center, we were able to feed organic bred pigs and chickens. At the back of the center was a small farm were organic pigs and chickens are raised. Surprisingly, they don’t smell like the usual pig-sty and chicken coop! The caretakers said that it is because they are given organic feeds. “You are what you eat” really applies to pig production.
“the key to healthy pigs is fresh air, good feed, and rotating the pigs through pastures so disease does not build up. Pasture rest and sunlight as a disinfectant is one of the best ways to control disease.” Of course, starting with healthy, parasite-free animals is also important. Reducing stress is also important to healthy animals. Letting pigs wean themselves, not crowding animals, providing lots of bedding, reasonable shelter, clean water and good nutrition, all help to keep a healthy herd. – source
The pigs are fed fermented rice bran or IPA. The nanays of Sandigang Bato in Dasmarinas, Cavite (more of them at the end of the post) are also formulating Fermented Plant Juice or FPJ and Fermented Fruit Juice or FFJ.
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Task 5: Meet a former Shoreline Scholar
After our hearty, healthy and yummy lunch, we met Ernani Pangilinan, a former shoreline scholar who works part time at the Community Resource Center.
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Task 6: Tutorial with the Ebenezer Childcare Project Scholars
We reached the area late so we weren’t able to help with the tutorial but we got to bond with them
Met Jasel Rowanto, 9. She’s in Grade II already and dreams of becoming a doctor someday. Her mom is a laundrywoman and her father accepts odd jobs from time to time. Through World Vision’s Ebenezer Childcare Project, Jasel can now attend school and pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor.
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Task 7: Meeting the Nanays of Batong Sandigan Development Foundation
The friendly nanays of Batong Sandigan Development Foundation welcomed us into their Bahay Pagawaan at Pangkabuhayan.
They explained to us that WVDF supports about 1,400 families in the area and most of the kids are sent to school through the Ebenezer Childcare Project.
*****
We wrapped up the trip with a short meeting and each one of us were given the chance to describe the experience in one word. To me the experience was “super fun”, “amazing” to Saydie, “educational” to Flowell and “wow” to Iris. These words are not enough to describe the life-changing experience we had yesterday. It will forever be etched in our hearts and minds.
I pray that this post would touch the hearts of my dear readers and share it to everyone. We can help transform communities and send children to school with very little amount.
Know how you can be of help.
World Vision Development Foundantion
Website: http://worldvision.org.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wvphilippines
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/WorldVisionPH
Receipt OC-ness
I have this funny habit of keeping receipts until they fill half of my bag. Supposed to be receipts are kept for accounting purposes but RARELY do I check where I spent my hard-earned money, thereby defeating the purpose of those accumulated receipts. Funny.
It’s like I get so panicky whenever I lose the receipt from my purchases. With this funny habit I was able to collect receipts of all sorts, like official receipts, provisional receipts, and tape receipts from Epson TM-T88V receipt printers among others.
Hell, Ieven have bus receipts on my wallet!
How about you, are you like this too?
Keeping My Focus
I am ditching plane tickets, sunscreens, wide rimmed hats and the sea this summer because I have a goal — and that’s $2000 before the month of May ends.
You see, loaning $2000 isn’t easy. We tried (I mean, my husband and I) but we failed yet I am thankful, because if those people said “YES” then I would not come up with a plan like this.
The month of May ends in 10 weeks, so roughly I need to earn at least $200 a week to meet my goal. Not bad huh? with freelance jobs here and there, $200 per week is attainable, though I could not say it’s easy.
All I need is a goal — and the determination to reach it. Now that I have both, I guess everything’s possible.
AJA!
Cross Roads… again?!?
Faced a cross road a few years ago and it has becoming more and more frequent now.
Work related? Divorce?
No I am not planning to pack my baking stuff and go back to the corporate jungle and no, I am not leaving my husband.
But yes, I am at my wits end.
I am emotionally unstable right now, too vulnerable I should say. I cry easily because I feel that God is testing me — in fact, He has tested me hard enough that I can no longer take it. I can no longer bear it. I have suffered long enough that I am already questioning His presence in my life.
I cry every night hoping that it would somehow appease me. It puts me to sleep alright but the problems are still there the moment I realize that no single solution was achieved.
Life is hard and it’s really unfair.
Going back to my pre-pregnancy weight
Just when I thought I was so ready to fit a size 10 or 12 because I was losing so much weight since September, here comes fooooood! Lots of them. So just this month I gained about 10 lbs! It’s so frustrating because there’s just a lot of food to eat. And you know how sad it is with some people right? Having no food on their table leaving them no choice but to starve themselves. And here I am, blessed with a family of foodies and blessed with a job on the food industry — it’s just so not right for me to say NO to food.
I am upset alright and now planning to go fit is my next task! I won’t go into crash diet or take pills because there are so many unanswered issues based on what I’ve read online like apidextra reviews and health concerns. What do you think I do?
