I'm Still Here!

Yes, I am!

Saturday noon (Philippine time) when our last flight landed here in CDO's airport and it was such a joy to see my sisters and my mom waiting for us outside. It was a shock to my little girl to see a whole lot of new faces but I don't care, I was the most thrilled to have stepped down from the PAL flight 183. LOL. It would have been even more wonderful had I captured all those moments, however, my digicam didn't cooperate. My 4GB memory card acted up eversince we left Las Vegas and the memory card error disable me to capture all the great times we've had during our flight. I've only used my cellphone so at least, I still have some.

It's been four days now and I think I've accomplished a lot already. I haven't brought Triz to the beach yet, but I've already found a place to stay once I start schooling. I have a lot to share regarding my serious stay over here, but for now, I wanna say thank you everyone for all of your good luck and safe trip wishes and prayers. I cannot update as much as I could, I only used my phone's line to connect to the internet (dial up). I'm drooling over the opps that I can see, but they can wait. Please know that I appreciate all of your visits and I will try to reciprocate them all if I can. Thank you.

Could You Pray for a Safe Flight For Us, Please?

Thank you.

Me and my daughter are off to Las Vegas later today and then to Philippines later this weekend. It's tough to travel without the dadi with us but he keeps us in his heart and prayers so we'll try to enjoy every moment. Meanwhile, I am not sure if I can update while in Vegas but I am very sure that I'll log in as soon as I get in CDO next week. So the next time I'll post pictures, it's going to be me with a handful of lanzones, and rambutan and anything you wish for! LOL Take care everyone and thank you for the good luck wishes!

Autumn Hue Makes Me in Awe

Heed upon the Weather Channel's suggestion to visit Minnesota or come to WI to have a beautiful picturesque of the Fall foliage and you can never go wrong. Here in Central WI, particularly in our place, I don't have to go and drive further, even in our own home, I can see a full glimpse of how beautiful the Autumn hues are.

A lovely color when you're at our church's parking area


Only the pines remained green


These gorgeous colors seem so magical to me. I can never get enough of 'em!


The woods in our block looked like a burning forest and yet, they looked so lovely to me!


Isn't that a wonderful transition of colors? God is amazingly awesome in so many ways!

The downside though, it has been soooo cold here in our neck of the woods, and it drops to below freezing temperature during the night. With that, I am the laziest in going out as I hate to be so bulky and baggy with my outfit. BUT, I've got a few more days left before we'll fly home so I'm taking chances still!

How About a Kitchen Makeover?

Just the idea of relocating is already so stressful and tiring. Two months ago, when we finally moved to a new residency, the stress of the whole ordeal was literally felt by me. I think moms or wives really are the ones who shoulder all the stress and tensions of the moving process. The good thing about what we've gone through is that we moved to a brand-new living, including new apartment building and we are the very first occupant in this unit that we are in. Cool, right? Ah... super! Though the kitchen is not what I exactly dream to have, I am contented because I don't have to buy new appliances. But if I can have a kitchen makeover, I'd love to have one that resembles this:

Well, guess what, the MapleLeaf.com has a kitchen makeover contest that's up for grab. Unfortunately, I live in America and the contest is only open to CANADIAN RESIDENTS. So, I am calling ALL Canadian residents out there, if by chance you get here in my blog, then know that a kitchen makeover contest awaits you over at mapleleaf.com! Terms and conditions are so easy and the contest runs through December 15, 2009.

The mapleleaf.com is an awesome site! With useful tips, recipes, and coupons available for anyone interested, now, a grand contest with a total price of $32,000 for the kitchen makeover makes it so thrilling all the more. Lucky you Canadian residents, so don't let this chance pass by without you joining.

My Canadian friend in Toronto and my cousin in Mississauga ought to know this. Who knows, they'll be lucky enough to win, right? Off I gotta tell them about this now!

Almost Done...

with my last-minute shopping before flying home! I just have two more items that are still on their way to my mailbox, because I did my shopping online. YAY, I can feel it! Our flight is almost here! LOL. But it's so sad to be apart from our Dadi, promise! The daughter would just exclaim "we'll just chat, Dad, and see each other through the webcam". HAH. I am thankful she seems to understand this whole ordeal that we're going though. I am convinced that she'll enjoy our Philippines stay this time around though as she loves beach and playing a lot. And yes, there's many of those trips to the beach and play with cousins over there.

The packing up then follows. What to bring, what not to bring-- is very much puzzling. I've got a lot that I wanna bring, since we'll be staying there for real, being in "my own" abode (we're going to rent a house) so that means I'm starting anew one more time. I haven't gotten the hang of it yet from our fresh move here in WI and after only two months, I'm going through the same process again. "Travel light" is one of the best tip that I must follow this time and "minimize the expenses" is another best thing to do once I'll get there. We aren't financially stable yet, but with God's Providence, we'll make it.

And oh... did I tell you how GRATEFUL swithart and I are for surviving six months without salary? Ahh... I am so proud of ourselves for being so prudent. Just imagine what we've gone through: moving out and starting anew with the littlest resources we've had. But God is so good to us, that I'm sure of. Last Friday, he finally received his first ever monthly salary for being a full time employee at the university. Though he didn't get a lot, considering that we've got piles of bill to pay, we are thankful we now can start paying what needs to be paid. We didn't even treat ourselves to a blow-out or a dinner. I just gave him a kiss as my gratitude to him for being such a wonderful husband and dad. :)

Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance for You!

We are done shopping with all the basic insurance that we need now that the hubby is on with his new job. It was tough selecting the plan and premiums that we want to get for our family of three members, but now that we finally have our cards, I can say we are now settled. Hopefully, we won't have any problems when time comes for us to claim our benefits.

Meanwhile, it's our auto insurance that needs to be dealt with soon. You see, our van is currently under another policy holder, that is, under SIL's coverage. And the hubby requested from me to check for Free Auto Insurance Quotes online that we could compare before I'll leave for our out-of-the-country getaway. Actually, my sister-in-law have been suggesting a particular auto insurance provider but when I checked PremiumAutoInsurance.net, I was so surprised to see the lowest premium that both me and the husband want to have.

And yes, GEICO has it! I do think GEICO is for real! I mean, from all of the providers that I've compared, I found GEICO's quotes to be so affordable and really neat. I think I won't have to go further to search for more. Through premiumautoinsurance.net's comparison tool, I'm convinced that GEICO is the one that would make us save for less. See the difference?

Oh well, I might have to let my sister-in-law know about this huge savings. Perhaps she too can take this advantage. GEICO so far is the best company that gave me the most promising premium. You might want to check out premiumautoinsurance.net for yourself and see if your current policy needs some changes.

Saturday Saved # 11: "My Big News"

Pilipinas, here I come!!!

Yes, finally, October has arrived! But my flight is not until the middle of this month yet so I still have a few more days left to enjoy the coldness of WI! It's been a long wait, but it's worth it. LOL. Me and my daughter Triz are going for some months of stay in the Philippines, not really for a vacation, but for a more serious matter: I am going back to school and enroll in a Nursing program. That having said, it's obvious, I AM a RN WANNABE and I'll start with it come November, 2nd semester of the school year 2009-2010 in Philippines. I'm supposed to just take classes here, but I can't wait for another year or two to start. Guess what, I'll be taking the long distance love affair one more time with my hubby. TOUGH luck, but we'll make it through with God's help. I hope to finish the degree in less than 3 years. Wish me luck, will you? It's not too late yet for me, is it? :D

So this plight of mine will mean lesser and lesser time in blogging. But I promise, I'll still update you here even if I'm in Philippines and busy as a nursing student and a doting mom, as long as I can find time. I will try, I swear. (My ...in Wisconsin and Beyond blog will be the one to have full updates by then.)

My itinerary is all set! I'm leaving WI soon with my daughter minus swithart as he'll be left here to keep on working so we could eat (LOL), fly to Las Vegas to join the in-laws there for five days, and then to Philippines with Ma and Pa who can't wait to step foot in our ever-missed homeland as well. So then, my idleness will be felt here in the coming days. I hope you will still check on me though.

For now, I'm spreading my excitement around. Good enough for a Saturday Saved- the Best For Last entry! Ha ha ha.
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Karate Girl

Initially, it wasn't a surprise at all. You see, my niece S is half-Japanese (having a Japanese dad), and so when she was born 7 years ago, we already had in mind the possibility of her learning karate, especially if she'll live in Japan later on. Indeed, after one year of living in Japan, now, she became a karate girl! The mom often tells me S loves to find a certain sparring gear every time they go shopping together. Hah. That must be really interesting! I would have to let them access KarateMart.com to check out for martial arts supplies! But what I can't wait to see is a picture or a video of my lovely and talented niece doing such thing. I hope my sister can send one soon!

I Can Tell You These:

Well, this is actually a tag that's been on a stand by mode in my draft, and because I don't want lady Lainy (who tagged me on this one) to stop tagging me because of my slacking, here, even if I am very late, I will still do this with all my heart and mind. LOL

This is easy. I just have to answer the following questions and I'll be done! :D

Do you think you’re hot?
=> Hmm... HOT-tempered? YES, especially when I have my period!

What kind of hot, hot mama or hot woman?
=> Oh.. so I perceived it wrongly then! Ha ha ha. Well, swithart thinks I'm his "hot wife" so that counts, right? :P Geez, he only thinks of me like that because I told him he's cute. Toinks!

Please, upload your favorite picture.
Sure. Here:

Why do you love this picture?

=> My passion for photography is boundless. Whenever I see subjects that are worth my clicks, I'll capture it, just so I could document something that's worth a thousand words. I believe I did it in this picture. This was taken days after we moved up here in WI, at a kids' park where we brought our daughter to enjoy. So while she and the dad were playing, I cared so much of these two lovely birds on a stand by mode in the wire and thankfully, they cooperated with me! :) ("It takes two, baby" I call it) Pardon the quality though, I already re-sized it.

When was the last time you ate pizza?
=> Ha ha. I am not a pizza eater, and the last time I took a bite was days before we left IL, when a Filipina friend invited us for dinner and pizza was what's served in the table the very moment we arrived. That happened last week of July! You do the math.

What is the latest song you’ve heard?
"Home, where there is no night
Home, where the sun's a light

The place I've been dreaming for so long...... goes the lines of the song that's been playing on my MP3's speaker right now.

What are you doing while working on this game?

=> Just really answering this so I could finally hit the publish button and to end my September with this tag! LOL

What is your favorite nick name?
=> Of me? My older sisters call me "gang" and I feel loved by it!

What kind of people are you?

=> I don't get this question! LOL. As far as I know myself, I can tell you that I've got so much passion for life and I love and care a lot. Also, I am a Sabbath-keeper (Exo. 20:8). Did I answer this right? :D

What is your favorite song?
=> One More Day by Diamond Rio. Link is this if you don't know the song!

What is your favorite food?
=> Rice. Just because there's never a day that I don't eat it. LOL But I luv a particular taste of spaghetti!

What is the most stressful thing to you?
=> Failure.

Mention the three must have items on your purse/bag.
1. Wallet with all the necessary stuff.
2. Lipbalm
3. Cell phone

What is your favorite color/s?
=> Red, blue, white, brown, and pink!

What is your not-fulfilled-yet dream?
=> To become a medical doctor or a RN. To have a son. To go on a missionary trip.

What is your favorite city to stay?
=> CDO, just because it's where my love story started, but I'm a very adaptable person. I always learn to love any place, as long as my family is with me.

There you go, Lainy! Thanks for this and sorry for the delay. Now I am passing this to:

Anne who author's Prose of Relevance
Lira who has a Tasteful Voyage
Juliana of Juliana's Lair
Kero of Kero's Celebration and
Glee's A Peek Into My Life

No pressure ladies and have fun! I did.

Cooking School Weekend in Branson

How would you learn to cook these very interesting menus for the upcoming holiday season? Take a look:

Soup
Smoked Potato and Ham Soup
berkshire ham, sweet onions, smoked russet potatoes and crispy leeks

Salad
Fall Harvest Salad
local mixed greens, apples and pears, dried apricots, candied walnuts, heartland creamery
methuselah cheese and dried cherry vinaigrette

Choice of Entree
Midwest Bison Short Ribs
cherry wood smoked short ribs, creamy cheddar jack risotto and apple bbq sauce
Berkshire Pork Porterhouse
marinated and grilled newman farms pork, heartland creamery goat cheese grits, apricot salsa

Dessert
Apple Normandy
Butter Dough with Fresh Granny Smith Apples, Apple Compote and Apple Glaze
Served with Fresh Whipped Cream

Well, those are just a few of what the Cooking School Weekend in Branson offers, and in the weekend of October 16th, 17th, and 18th at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, anyone is welcome to partake on the the Wine Tasting Reception followed by a cooking demonstration with the Hotel’s very own Chef Nathan Read. How's that? With Chef Read's demonstration on how to prepare those featured meal (and some more found in this page), you will be taught to cook for the holiday season in style!

So are you ready to book for the 3-day-event at a Hilton in Branson? The Cooking School Weekend Package that Hilton has costs only $398.00 plus tax for two people for both nights. And of course, that's a given: a deluxe accommodation and hospitality that only Hilton can give! Plus a bonus: when you stay at Hilton, unlimited acess to the nearby shops, entertainments, restaurants, and other attractions awaits you so that should be an exciting 3-day-vacation and really worth the price!

The fact that I am an amateur cook and I love to learn new menus and recipes is the reason that I am so drooling for this deal. Unfortunately, now is not my right time yet. So to all of you who can and who will, enjoy and make the most of it!

Potato Roll, for short!

I still have a little sore in my back until now! But guess what, this backache resulted to a yummy "sweet potato roll" which everybody loved yesterday! Ta-daaaa!

I got several shots of our smiles and how much we had so much fun getting to know our neighbors here in the complex yesterday afternoon despite the breezy and really chilly day but I am too lazy to resize them all. For now, I intentionally show you this yummy "camote toron" to make you drool, if you are that "kuma"(kaon)!

So what caused my backache? Well, I did some overtime wrapping up 55 rolls of this Saturday night and that's when I wished I was in Philippines that time because for sure, I'll have a lot of helpers to do the wrapping! LOL Swithart did cheer me up and Triz entertained us as well, but still, the couple hours I spent minding these rolls were very tiring undoubtedly! Swithart said I don't have to wrap them beautifully but heck, his comment was useless! Ha ha.

It paid off though when the people who munched on it were able to express "delicioso!" I said it paid off because that's me, I always like to satisfy my eaters! ;-) Now if I've made you drool, sorry about that! (wink*-*)

New Season, New Outfits

I wasn't spared from the thrill that online shopping brings. Man, it's so therapeutic! LOL Well, it feels great when there's much in your PayPal as you don't have to worry about tight budgeting! He he... I think my advantage over anyone who does online shopping, too, is that I always compare prices first before hitting the checkout button. I even compare online and in-store prices and just buy whichever is the cheapest.

Now that another season is here, I have the reason to indulge in some shopping spree, especially for outfits in the upcoming cold season. Our recent move caused this! If only we didn't move up here, I think our warm clothes are sill enough to keep us alive for this year's winter. But you see, we didn't brought a lot of our stuff when we left IL. We dropped off many of them at the Goodwill so now, I really can see a need for new sets of warm clothes for the wintertime. We still have jackets though so I managed to shop a few outfits that I think is worthy of my money! LOL

New sets of pajamas and thermal linens are what I deemed best for us to collect. People here welcomed us warmly but cautioned us of how cooooold it can really get. Even if we told them we've had winter experiences in IL, they still tell us it's way worse in here. Well, I love shopping all in all so I don't complain! LOL It's the hubby who will say it's been so painful in the pocket! :D

Summer is gone...

...but the fun goes on!

That's what we have talked about yesterday during our "Get-to-know-your-neighbor" party here in the complex and it was a blast because we had so much fun meeting our fellow tenants here in our lovely apartment complex with the ever so "cool" manager "A". There's one from New York who is a graduate student here in UWSP, one from Minnesota, a family from Tennessee, another family from New Mexico, our neighbor downstairs are from India, and most are just here from Wisconsin. So we've talked a lot about how fast the summer went, and now, it's already Fall, and would you believe it, our temperature right now is only 49F! Feels like winter, indeed! And did I say it's cold?

Talking about how everyone spent their summer days, the common stuff was biking and trekking a lot of trails, state parks, and forests! Lakes are countless here in WI, too so a number have been boating as well. And you guessed it, everybody here has bicycles, though not necessarily those xyz bicycles that I've been drooling because of their quality and price! We only have one big bicycle right now which the hubby is using, and two small ones that Triz is maneuvering. With the clearance sale that's been going on over at cruiserstyle.com, I'm thinking of ordering one, this pink that I really like:

It's really not that bad if I'll get one even if the summer's now gone. The UWSP gym has indoor track which is not that big but good enough to coontinue my biking exercise even when snow is piling up outside!

So, did you have beautiful memories for the summer now that the cold season has begun?