I would like a place of my own.
There, I said it.
It's not bad living with my parents... to tell the truth at least it's not my in-laws. Not that they're terrible people. It's just that I'd rather have a spat with my side because I know how they are, plus I know all their quirks and such; as opposed to hubby's family with whom I'm not as familiar.
But I miss having our own SPACE. Think of all that entails. Use your imagination. Everything you own has a place and every place has things you own. Our stuff is in storage. We hardly buy anything because we know we don't have any place to put it.
Today was another reminder of the lack of our own space. We went to the mall to buy one last minute gift and found this wonderful buffet set that keeps your food warm for parties. Hubby wanted to buy two; one for us and one for our gift recipient. I had to gently remind him that we're not likely to hold a party anytime soon (I don't feel comfortable doing it at someone else's place and my parents aren't big on entertaining), and we don't have a space to store it in until we do have our own place again. I really felt so sad and nostalgic for our old house. I just googlemapped it and did a street view right now actually. Sigh.
I miss choosing furniture. Woody actually detests our presently too-high (in his opinion) bed, and wants a low bed. I saw this beautiful espresso sleigh bedroom set online that should pass his standards :). The price isn't bad at all for everything it comes with.
I would love to be practicing cooking and baking right now in my own kitchen. Right now I can't bake because my parents don't have the necessary tools so I could experiment.
I would even get a thrill from decorating a bathroom. :)
Is this a dreary post or what? Don't worry. I plan to always keep my mind on the positives in life. For a Xmas cheer from my home, visit my other blog.
Happy Holidays!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Christmas Shopping Musings
I am done with Christmas shopping. Last year, we bought a gift through the charity World Vision in all our recipient's name. Yes, we felt good that we contributed to charity and didn't go overboard with the budget. Didn't buy into the commercialism either. BUT. It felt weird. It felt really weird.
No one except my Tita L. said something nice about this gift. We got zilch acknowledgment from other people. So we're scrapping that idea this year. Plus, it's not any other day that we think of something thoughtful for one person. We usually send just a card for birthdays for example. So, this is a nice gesture. My mom, dad, aunt and grandma in particular, have been so helpful with us being new in San Diego. The long short of it is we bought honest-to-goodness presents and kept it all under $300 so far. Not bad eh?
Now if only I could afford an honest-to-goodness Tag Heuer watch for my husband like this one found in The Watchery. Talk about a gift everyone would appreciate. Check out their holiday gift guide. They have watches in all price ranges. You can find something someone would like and be the most popular gifter this season ;).
The thing with the Tag Heuer watch is, Woody had a chance to buy it years ago but then stopped himself, because he always thinks of others instead. He's regretted it ever since because the deal was a great deal. Now, I wish I had the funds to get this for him. He's not into much material stuff but he does like good quality watches.
Someday, once I'm done with school, passed the NCLEX, etc. Some other Christmas, I'll surprise him with a watch like this, from a site like The Watchery.
No one except my Tita L. said something nice about this gift. We got zilch acknowledgment from other people. So we're scrapping that idea this year. Plus, it's not any other day that we think of something thoughtful for one person. We usually send just a card for birthdays for example. So, this is a nice gesture. My mom, dad, aunt and grandma in particular, have been so helpful with us being new in San Diego. The long short of it is we bought honest-to-goodness presents and kept it all under $300 so far. Not bad eh?
Now if only I could afford an honest-to-goodness Tag Heuer watch for my husband like this one found in The Watchery. Talk about a gift everyone would appreciate. Check out their holiday gift guide. They have watches in all price ranges. You can find something someone would like and be the most popular gifter this season ;).
The thing with the Tag Heuer watch is, Woody had a chance to buy it years ago but then stopped himself, because he always thinks of others instead. He's regretted it ever since because the deal was a great deal. Now, I wish I had the funds to get this for him. He's not into much material stuff but he does like good quality watches.Someday, once I'm done with school, passed the NCLEX, etc. Some other Christmas, I'll surprise him with a watch like this, from a site like The Watchery.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
More Mina News
Mina's vocabulary is EXPLODING!
She mimics everything. Even tries to speak Tagalog at times. LOL!
"Good girl"
"All right"
"Ay ay ay"
"Aba!"
She knows what sounds animals make: cows, dog, bird, monkey, duck
She knows where her front and back is, her elbow, her fingers, her shoulders, on top of the other body parts she points to in her video.
At this point, she knows so many words like moon, noodle, pasta, I can't keep track. I'm expecting her to say sentences soon. Hehe.
She loves watching the video Didi by Milk & Honey (it's an homage to her Moroccan background). She loves, loves dancing and I've watched her go round and round in a circle so much that she gets dizzy and falls over when she tries to walk.
She laughs a lot, is interested in other kids now and tries to hug them (most times without success), and says hi.
She's so excited when she sees a tiny baby. She kisses them, and caresses them and tries to talk to them. I love it! She'll make a great baby sister.
Now, how many times did I use the word "love" in this post again? ;)
She mimics everything. Even tries to speak Tagalog at times. LOL!
"Good girl"
"All right"
"Ay ay ay"
"Aba!"
She knows what sounds animals make: cows, dog, bird, monkey, duck
She knows where her front and back is, her elbow, her fingers, her shoulders, on top of the other body parts she points to in her video.
At this point, she knows so many words like moon, noodle, pasta, I can't keep track. I'm expecting her to say sentences soon. Hehe.
She loves watching the video Didi by Milk & Honey (it's an homage to her Moroccan background). She loves, loves dancing and I've watched her go round and round in a circle so much that she gets dizzy and falls over when she tries to walk.
She laughs a lot, is interested in other kids now and tries to hug them (most times without success), and says hi.
She's so excited when she sees a tiny baby. She kisses them, and caresses them and tries to talk to them. I love it! She'll make a great baby sister.
Now, how many times did I use the word "love" in this post again? ;)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Don't Call My Daughter Pretty
Yes, I am her mom and I know I am biased, but I do think she's a striking girl. Nevertheless, I try not to focus on her looks but on her personality instead. I want to instill in her that your integral self is more important than your looks. I want her growing up without thinking she must be a little princess, a damsel in distress, or that her value lies in her looks.
I am at a loss however, in how to deal with other people's compliments. I guess I'm not so biased because other people seem to agree that she is beautiful. I have all sorts of people coming up to me in public telling me how gorgeous she is. I think it's partly because people are so drawn to babies, but anywhere from Target, to dining out, to people on the streets, they stop and tell her how pretty she is.
I'm no scrooge, I don't go tell them off and spout off my beliefs. They're just being kind. I guess I have to take it for now, and explain to Mina as she grows older that her worth is firmly in what she does, and what she is, and now how she looks.
And for the record Moms out there, if you wish to do the same, the first thing you have to be prepared to do is to not let your daughter watch TV or monitor it very closely. We're not planning on getting cable but will have the TV for DVDs, which can be pre-approved before watching. There's so much fluff out there, and parents aren't as dilligent as they could be in what messages filters through their daughter. The second, no fashion magazines. They are truly a haven for unrealistic expectations to go roost.
I'm planning to treat my daughter as if she's a kick-butt, tough, heroine. She can still be feminine and strong can't she? Like Cinderella in Ever After, not Cinderella in the usual fairy tales.
I am at a loss however, in how to deal with other people's compliments. I guess I'm not so biased because other people seem to agree that she is beautiful. I have all sorts of people coming up to me in public telling me how gorgeous she is. I think it's partly because people are so drawn to babies, but anywhere from Target, to dining out, to people on the streets, they stop and tell her how pretty she is.
I'm no scrooge, I don't go tell them off and spout off my beliefs. They're just being kind. I guess I have to take it for now, and explain to Mina as she grows older that her worth is firmly in what she does, and what she is, and now how she looks.
And for the record Moms out there, if you wish to do the same, the first thing you have to be prepared to do is to not let your daughter watch TV or monitor it very closely. We're not planning on getting cable but will have the TV for DVDs, which can be pre-approved before watching. There's so much fluff out there, and parents aren't as dilligent as they could be in what messages filters through their daughter. The second, no fashion magazines. They are truly a haven for unrealistic expectations to go roost.
I'm planning to treat my daughter as if she's a kick-butt, tough, heroine. She can still be feminine and strong can't she? Like Cinderella in Ever After, not Cinderella in the usual fairy tales.
Mommy Wears Glasses
I've worn glasses since I was 15. The first pair I had was a terribly old-fashioned gold-framed one that I was forced to wear for years. Once I got my first full-time job, I got myself a Guess frame glasses and it cost me. Not as much as my D&G update that I got just last year. Those cost me a whopping $500. I'm now wondering, what the heck was I thinking? If I had known that I could have gotten a pair of eyeglasses from Optical4less I would have saved that money and parted with as little as $15, $25, $39 instead.
I know there's always that unknown factor when ordering online, but they have a virtual try-on system, free shipping (worldwide!), and you can read testimonials regarding their service and quality. Believe me, they're options are not geeky some gold frame ones. And they have all the features you would need in your prescription lens: whether it be anti-reflective, bifocal, or tinted.
In these financially uncertain times, you'd do very well to visit their site and order from them instead of the usual places. I'm really kicking myself for not going with a more reasonably-priced glasses. But oh well, at least you won't have to live with my mistake, right? :)
I know there's always that unknown factor when ordering online, but they have a virtual try-on system, free shipping (worldwide!), and you can read testimonials regarding their service and quality. Believe me, they're options are not geeky some gold frame ones. And they have all the features you would need in your prescription lens: whether it be anti-reflective, bifocal, or tinted.
In these financially uncertain times, you'd do very well to visit their site and order from them instead of the usual places. I'm really kicking myself for not going with a more reasonably-priced glasses. But oh well, at least you won't have to live with my mistake, right? :)
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