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.

Family outing at Clearwaters Country Club

Almost forgot to post our sales team annual family outing in Clearwaters Country Club in Clark, Pampanga last May 9-10. Despite the constant rain we had for the past few weeks, we were blessed with good weather and good company during this time. Aside from letting the kids enjoy the refreshing pool water, kids (and adults) had a great time at the impromptu kiddie party prepared by our officemate at Mc Donald's Clark.

Kudos to Mc Do Clark for accommodating our super short notice Mc Do kiddie party! We had overflowing food, friendly staff, Hamburglar did a great job entertaining us and we got lots of party goodies ... even bags of plastic utensils were brought home! Sayang lang the cake delivery didn't make it on time due to bad weather. But nevertheless, we had awesome (tummy-filled) Mc Do party! Despite the heavy rain that day, no black-outs or power fluctuations experienced. But nevertheless, I am confident that the clubhouse is very much prepared with heavy-duty power generators to addess any emergency incident.

Highlight of the outing was the red dog game played by adults that night! Truly wacky and thrilling night! Hubby and I won with few hundreds, while the biggest winner/s went home a thousand richer! Hahaha! Love this game!

Anyway, looking forward to next year's annual team outing ...

hubby joined this year to spend swim bonding time with sam
sam, me & margaux (jody's daughter) at the pool kiddie party at Mc Do Clark

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.

in my pantry...

Just received our mid-year bonus last week, and I must say the moolah was carefully well-spent. Aside from paying Ico's tution fee and paying the downpayment for the memorial lot at Heritage, part of my bonus was spent shopping! Nope, not luxury items shopping but ... Splurged a little for grocery items!! Bought some items not found on my usual monthly grocery list. I so want to fill my pantry with these items which I find quite expensive and really not a neccessity, but I've decided to splurge this time.

My splurge grocery lists includes:

a. Mc Cormick bottled spices : chili powder, garlic powder, italian seasoning, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, white pepper and tarragon.

b. San Remo pasta : 500 grams of penne and fettucini

c. EVOO or extra virgin olive oil

d. Kraft parmesan cheese

e. Balsamic Vinegar

f. bottled pesto sauce

g. maraschino cherries --- hubby's request!

h. canned tomatoes

i. bottled olives

I was giddy happy when I got the items above. It is a one time, big time splurge for my pantry and I must say...they really look good inside my pantry. It's a well-stocked pantry, enough to whip up a la minute pasta in the middle of the night. I wanted to do this for the longest time but I often de-prioritized buying it. For some reason, I always tend to forget! Blame it on being a working mom! Hahaha! But seriously, I find joy having a well-stocked pantry. Seeing that I have the basic Italian/Mediterranean ingredients in my cabinet now, I feel so happy and rich! Parang ang yaman-yaman ko! lol!! It's a cheap way of feeling rich! hehehe! Anyway, feeling lng naman...sana maging tutuo! Hahaha!

So there you go... bonus moolah no more!! You might be wondering what happened to my plan of getting something big for hubby as Father's Day gift? Still thinking. No idea yet ... might check out the golf bags available on the net or get him new mobile phone this year. Nothing final. Still open for ideas.

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!

honoring "HER" ... Mother's Day Treat

Since MAY is Mom's Day month ... this tag still valid and not yet late for posting! Palusot pa ako Ems! Hahaha! Seriously..., thanks girl for remembering me!

My Mom, Sam and me at Fort Bonifacio Global

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” --- Washington Irving

Though we have differences, and most of the time we don't see eye to eye ... my Mom is the best! She's always there whenever I need her. She's with me at my best ... and loved me during my worst times. Truly showed me the real meaning Mother's love ... Happy Mother's Day Mommy!!