party updates

With barely 3 weeks to go, we are now getting ready for Samantha's fifth birthday party. So far, everything on schedule. Despite preparing quite late this year, so far ... so good. Set budget exceeded a little but I am happy that with a few party add-ons, will be able to have a great party for the bratinella. As I promised the husband, it will just be a simple party this year. Since she can't have a party and blow her birthday cake inside the school premise, I want her to celebrate her special day with some close friends and immediate family.

Anyway, just an update on our party preps ... loots all ready including the prizes. Bought the party bags and prizes at 168 Mall few weeks back. Got some Hello Kitty stuff for the girls like pencil cases, cups, face towels, lunch kits, utensil sets, stickers, pens and coloring books. For boys, bought matching Spongebob items too. Here are some of Samantha's party loots.

Preparing the loot bags, Sam happily helping Mommy put snack items on each bag

All done ... 50 pcs lootbags. Spongebob for boys, Hello Kitty for girls

And with some of the party prizes.

Now off to my party updates. Need to check the web for affordable water filters that we can use here at Ortigas condo. Our present filters badly needs replacement asap. And since the husband is very busy with work lately, need to get the parts online immediately. I just hope it will be delivered soon.

simple yet elegant ...

the latest addition to my growing pearl collection.

i simply adore it ... and i love it!

just can't wait to get the matching pearl pendant. hihihi!

raffle for baby migo's diaper fund

This is sooo cute ... prepared by my colleagues for my upcoming baby shower by 2nd week November. Since I almost have everything ready for the baby (from crib, stroller, baby clothes to booties), I thought of doing the diaper fund instead. I got the raffle/diaper fund idea from another blogger, Gracie and I thought this would be a perfect highlight of my baby shower.

And since we are all from sales team, the best sales person who can sell more tickets will get special prize too! Cool huh?! The prizes for these raffle donated by me (Alex Franco cake, grand prize)and some of my friends. I am so excited. Few more winks to go and I am ready for my baby shower party! :) Now off to my baby shower party ideas, need to search effective fat burners to remove those unwanted post-preggy weight in a few months.

at 33 weeks ...

... I feel so big and heavy. In fact, I easily get tired and I don't enjoy prolonged standing nor sitting for hours at my office desk. I don't enjoy malling or shopping which is absolutely weird for a shopaholic mom like me. I do experience leg cramps every mornings, and backpains also evident especially during the afternoons or after work. Though despite all these, I am enjoying my preggy state now. I do get a lot of perks such as much more loving attention from the husband, special considerations at work (even what food I like to eat) and of course special treatments from all the people around me. From my colleagues, relatives, friends, salesladies, customer service, guards etc they always make my life easy. No more queuing in line for hours, seat always being offered and assistance immediately given. I am enjoying everything to bits! LOL.

Anyway, since I am only weeks away before I finally pop, I am now preparing my birthplan to be used by the husband and upon my hospital admission. Just want to make sure everything ready and well-planned. I am thinking if the nurses equipped with medical coding training courses such as the program I saw online from allied health institute. Hmmm... this needs to be checked out. Off to blogging then ...

after Ondoy calamity ...

... our streets still filled with flood water. Though the water subsided a little, but the main entrance to our village still unpassable for vehicles. Going in and out of our village now a big problem for us. Traffic really bad since we need to pass the long route (via Taytay exit) which is at minimum two hours everyday one way travel. Really difficult for kids going to school and of course for preggy mom like me, still driving at 8 months.

Anyway, since it is so inconvenient and tiresome for the kids to pass the longer route everyday, the husband and I decided to get a small place for us as a temporary shelter. We finally found our new home at San Antonio Village near Ortigas Commercial Business District (CBD) area. It's a one bedroom brand new condo unit near Samantha and Kuya Ico's school, few kilometers away from the hospital (Medical City) for any maternity emergency, and husband's work place at Emerald Ave. Very strategic and convenient place for all of us. Though the rent is kinda pricey, but we have no choice but to bite the bullet ... until the flood water inside our village disappears. We are hoping will be staying here just for two months ...and not more than that! Otherwise will be spending our Chirstmas away from home. Really sad. :(

Despite all of these minor inconveniences (flood on our streets, bad traffic, moving out and unneccessary rental expenses) we are so much blessed. Our house was spared from the Ondoy flood. No property damaged. Our family is safe, very important. And of course we still have a place we call home. Really thankful for all of these. God is so good for keeping us safe from harm.

another toy for the bratinella?

After getting her the Baby Alive Doll last week at Toy Kingdom, the little girl is now asking for her own laptop! We were surprised the other night when the little brat blurted out of nowhere that she wanted to have her own laptop. I believe this was brought by the funny incident that night when she wanted us to play with her new Baby Alive doll, Sophia. The husband, me and even Kuya Ico were busy tinkering with our laptops (yes since we have wifi access, we are almost online even inside our home! LOL) and nobody wanted to play with her (bad parents!). As soon as she noticed nobody's listening to her doll stories, she immediately said : "Mommy, I want a laptop too!" We all looked at her and laughed at the idea of getting Samantha a laptop toy-gadget. That would be very, very expensive of course!

Anyway, the brother suggested that we get her new Mp3 players instead so she can listen to all her fave Mama Mia! and Disney songs without borrowing Kuya's ipod. Cheaper and more pratical gift for a five-year old girl, don't you think so?

Samantha happily playing with her new Baby Alive Doll

Happy with Samsung

Eversince we bought our Samsung Home Theater, the husband and I never regretted our decision to get this brand. It may be fairly new brand in the appliance or home theater market, but quality and price-wise ... truly affordable and produces good picture quality. We bought the Samsung Home Theater last year, together with the LCD series 7 and now we are thinking of getting much improved home-viewing system by getting the new Samsung Blu-ray DVD below. It'll be a nice investment for the family, don't you think so? Now I wonder, will Samsung come up with videoke entertainment system too? If yes, I'll be the first one in line to get this :)