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The first time I went to Bacolod was in 2012, it is where we celebrated our wedding anniversary, it is our “Eat, Pray and Love” version. Bacolod is not really known for tourist spots but famous because of Masskara Festival. I'm not fond of festivals but one thing I like in Bacolod is their food.
Read: 31 Hours In BacolodFood Trip in Bacolod
The famous tourist spots in Negros Occidental are “The Ruins” in Talisay, Ancestral Houses in Silay, and 7 Falls in Mambukal Resort which is far from Bacolod. But whenever you research for Things to do in Bacolod, you will see those places but the truth is they are located outside Bacolod.
Whenever my husband has a business trip in Bacolod, I always asked him to buy a cake for my pasalubong. Since I was young, I dislike blueberry cheesecake but after I tasted the Calea Blueberry Cheesecake, everything changed. Now I love Cheesecake.
Too bad, Calea is located in Bacolod but I was happy that I can taste this from time to time. This cheesecake is not overly sweet, the crust has nuts that give a different texture and taste. You can also taste some chocolate chips. Yummy!
I told my husband to buy half cake only because we’re only three in the house. I remember last time, hirap na hirap kami ubusin yung whole cake.
Aside the cheesecake, I also love Napoleones. It is a puff pastry with cream inside and top with powdered sugar. I bought two boxes of Napoleones when we were in Bacolod but it did not reach Manila anymore. Kinain na namin sa biyahe.
So if ever you visit Bacolod, go to Calea and don’t forget to buy Napoleones.
Last week I was planning where are we going to celebrate our Valentine’s day because that it also our 12 years anniversary as a couple. But none of my lists materialized. I was thinking to join my husband business trip in Bacolod because we have no classes for 4 days due to “Educational Congress” but since the trip was just overnight it is not practical to spend for plane ticket.
Day before Valentine’s day, I sew drawstring pouch again, this will serve as a treat bag or envelope where my son will put his Valentine’s card.
For the last few years, we’ve been receiving cards such as Mother’s Day, Christmas card and Valentine’s card because that is part of my son’s school/summer class activity but since we have no classes, I know that we won’t be receiving any card so I told my son to make card for his daddy.
After dinner, we painted the drawstring pouch and my son said “Mommy, faster! Daddy is coming home”. Hehehe But my husband texted me that his flight was delayed so I know we have more time to prepare.
I printed a card with funny messages and I had a hard time choosing one. In the end, I chose this message “There's nobody I'd rather lay in bed and look at my phone with” It is funny but true, most of the time we will lie in bed side by side and our focus is on our phones. So I told my husband that we should change that.
I also printed this love quest survey and favorite questionnaire, like I said, we’re celebrating our 12 years and many things have changed so it is nice to get to know each other again.
I waited for my husband’s pasalubong/Valentine’s gift and he came past 12AM, just in time for Valentine’s Day so we ate Calea blueberry cheesecake before going to bed. My husband knew that I don’t like flowers so he already stopped giving me flowers.
And because napuyat ako, I was really lazy to go out on Valentine’s Day. My husband wanted to go to Nuvali for the Nightsky Cinema but I chose to stay at home and rest.
There’s nothing special on our Valentine’s day but one thing I like in this celebration is we “Spend less and love more”. We have simple celebration and gift but it is also nice to know more about my husband. I enjoyed reading the love quest survey.
Click to get the printables.
Funny Valentine’s Card
Valentine’s Card
Love Quest Survey/Questionnaire
Be my Valentine Card
After I finished hand sewing my felt stuffed letters, I decided to make a drawstring pouch where I can put all the letters.
I searched for different tutorials and I saw a 3 minute video on how to make a drawstring pouch which I followed. Since I’m just using a plain white cloth, I tried to put some design by placing our initials.
First time to try applique and it is not easy to sew along the edge but still I was glad with the result.
And because of that I watched the Bag Making Basics Class that I enrolled online and printed the step by step guide. These are the finished products.
I like this drawstring bag because it has a lining inside so it has a “clean look”.
Lastly, I watched the free tutorial video from Brother sewing machine. This project wasn’t easy because I have to do zigzag stitch, straight stitch and button hole. So it took me a long time trying to figure out how can I do button hole. Thank God for the sewing manual.
I’ve made six but I need to buy more ribbon or string for the remaining drawstring pouches.
Among the three, my favorite is the second drawstring bag. If you notice, I’m still using my fabric scrap from pajama.
It is no secret here that our family loves Shakey’s so we are frequent diner of this restaurant. Last Sunday, after paying our phone bills we ate our lunch in Shakey’s. I saw this 1 to 40 Meal Deal but I did not mind it because I saw salad. I don’t eat salad so we browse the menu again and order Deal 2. We always order Deal 1 but since we wanted pasta, we upgrade to deal 2.
The staff, informed us about the 1 to 40 meal deal since there’s only a P35 difference with our order. She gave us this sticker menu where we can create our own combination of soup, salad, appetizer, pizza, pasta, mojos, and chicken. For number 4, you can choose either dessert or drinks.
We still ordered our favorite which is Manager’s Choice pizza, Chicken ‘N Mojos, Carbonara and Banana Split for P1240.
The only downside of this meal is we can’t use Shakey’s Pizzanatic Supercard. Sayang din ang 10% discount. After paying our bill, the staff gave us this scratch card but unfortunately, we did not win anything. Better luck next time.
FYI, every Shakey’s 1 to 40 MEAL Deal purchase entitles the Guest to one Scratch Card from February 4 to March 15, 2015 with a chance to win one of the 40 instant prizes. 5 winners of 11” Macbook Air, 5 winners of Iphone 6 Plus, 15 winners of Ipad Air 2 and 15 winners of GoPRo Hero4.
Valentine’s day is not a big thing to us after we got married because it is just a few days away from our wedding anniversary. So most of the time we always have a simple celebration like having dinner at home. We don’t want to stress ourselves with the traffic and waiting for our turn for dinner at the restaurant.
But this year, February 14 falls on a weekend so I was thinking “where are we going to celebrate Valentine’s Day?”. I was writing my possible choices.
1. Hotel Staycation
If you’ve been a regular reader of this blog, you know for sure that our family loves staycation if budget permits. Yesterday, I discover a new hotel in Intramuros and I immediately reserved a room but unfortunately, it is already full booked. #sadness. Intramuros is one memorable place because this is the place where I said “yes” to my ex-boyfriend now husband and we got married in Intramuros too.
2. Concert
I’ve been seeing a lot of concert in my newsfeed and it’s been a long time since we’ve watched a concert but I don’t know if my son would appreciate it. Yes, we always celebrate with my son. Hehehe!
3. Visit Hot Air Balloon Festival
I’ve learned that 19th Hot Air Balloon Festival would be on Feb 12-15, 2015 so it is really nice to revisit the place. The first and last time that we attended Hot Air balloon Festival was year 2009.
4. Night Sky Cinema
If you remember my post last year, we experienced Night Sky Cinema in Nuvali and this year, they will have this activity again on February 14, 2015. Admission is free.
5. Day Tour
If traffic won’t be an issue, we could also have a day tour somewhere.
6. Lunch/Dinner
My last choice is to eat special lunch or dinner in a restaurant or hotel that we haven’t tried yet.
Hmmm, I have few more days to plan it. How about you, how are you going to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
I’ve been meaning to make crafts out of felt cloth but the problem is I don’t know where to buy felt cloth. #boo For years, I’ve been buying fabric for my son’s costume but those stores don’t sell felt cloth. Last month, I asked a blogger friend where she buys felt cloth and she told me I could try at Market Market and Office Warehouse. So when I visited Festival Mall, I went to Office Warehouse and I found felt sheets. Waah! Dun lang pala kita makikita.
Finally I can do felt crafts, I started with felt stuffed letters first since I feel that it is so easy to make. I printed pattern and trace it on felt cloth.
Then I started sewing and stuffing.
Well, this is not easy pala. It took me four hours just to finish five letters.
After I finished my son’s name. He was asking for his second name. Waah! But I should be happy because I know that he likes it so I cut all the letters of his name including surname. Then the following day, I finished everything and maybe because I”m used to it, madali na lang. Imagine I finished 13 letters and wala pa 4 hours. Hehehe!
I sew drawstring bag too for the felt stuffed letters.
I gave it to my son and he started using it and then he said, “mommy, where’s the letter C?” Oh no, he was asking for his middle initial. Need talaga complete, so I made letter C and I was praying hard that he won’t ask for “period”.
I’m planning to complete the remaining alphabet letters because this is nice way to teach him spelling. Nice gift too for toddlers.
Last January 8, 2015 I booked DFA appointment online because all our passports are expired. We’re scheduled on January 31, 2015 at 1:30PM at DFA South. I chose this location since we live in South area.
Read: How to Set DFA Appointment Online
We were at the DFA South at 12:45NN, at the escalator, the guard will check your form before you can go up on the 4th floor. There are chairs available there where you can wait depending on your schedule, I saw 1PM, 1:30PM and 2PM waiting area but the guard allowed us to go inside the office even it is not our time yet because there are vacant chairs. The guard checked our forms and my bag and she told us to proceed to the guy in checkered polo.
The staff scanned our form and asked me few questions like how old is my son? If I have an extra copy of my application form and If we have a photocopy of our documents. He attached the number and told us to proceed to window 7. Our number was 8045 and at that time they are still serving number 8040. I noticed that there are different lines for a single application and family application/senior citizens.
When our number was called, I submitted all the documents needed.
Our documents.
1. Application form
2. Original Passport
3. Photocopy of 1st and last page of the passport
4. Photocopy of valid ID, (I photocopy 2 valid ID’s)
My son documents
1. Application form
2. Original Passport
3. Photocopy of 1st and last page of the passport
4. Photocopy of his school ID
5. NSO Birth certificate
6. Photocopy of our (parents) passport.
7. Photocopy of our marriage certificate (it was returned to me)
After signing, we went to the cashier to pay. P1200 each because it was a Saturday schedule so all application is considered a rush order.
Then we showed our number to the guard and he pointed to wait in one corner, there were only 4 chairs in that area. I noticed the family na nauna sa min nagpapicture na so feeling ko I’m on the right lane. After that, the family told us na kami na daw.
After our picture taking and fingerprint scan, we’re done already, time check 1:30PM. We’re so happy because we finished everything in 45 minutes. I don’t know if that is the usual scenario or it just happened that there were few applicants.
I still remember when we renewed our passport in DFA-ASEANA, it was a family application and the guard instructed us to go to this floor for the family application. I paid P1200 each, because in that room every application is considered rush order too.
After that, we got our number for the picture and my nightmare starts. Imagine I have a special lane for processing our application but no special lane for the picture even my son was 1 yr old only. Special lane is only for seniors, pregnant and 12 months below kid only. (pag lagpas ng 12 months ayaw)
We skipped lunch and nakatulog na lang anak ko so nung turn na namin, wala sa mood magpapicture and sasabihan pa ko ng staff na bumalik na lang bukas. No way, 3 hours kami naghintay tapos pababalikin pa kami. I told the staff na babalik kami pag nasa mood na anak namin. Hinintay lang namin matapos yung pinaprocess niya and sumunod na kami ulit. #stress It took us more than 4 hours just to finish.
Update: My husband claimed our passport, I provided "letter of authorization" so he can claim our passport (my son and I). Bring receipt to claim.
This year, one of my goals is to read at least one book per month and last month I went to the bookstore looking for books that I can read but I did not find any. After few days, I had this opportunity to review this ebook of “7 Things Every Wife Should Know” by Viviene Bigornia.
Growing up in a broken home is not easy because there are times I feel that fairy tales are just fantasy, love stories are for pocketbooks, and there is no happy ending. I don’t want a failed relationship and marriage, maybe this is the reason why I didn’t really entertain suitors because I’m scared of getting hurt and I don’t want to take a risk and fail.
But of course, part of me still believes that the right guy will come and I just have to wait for the perfect time. I promised myself that my first boyfriend will be my husband too. I will only say “yes” to a guy if I can see this guy as my future husband. God is so good to me because I’ve met my ex-boyfriend now husband before I graduated from college then the rest is already history.
We’re not a newlywed, in fact, we’re going to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary two weeks from now. Our marriage is not perfect, we also have our share of dramas and struggles each year. But I can honestly say that our marriage is the best thing that ever happened to me because I now feel complete. It doesn’t mean that I’m incomplete before but it is good to know that I have someone beside me as I face the future.
Being a wife is not an easy role, there are times that I wish I grew up in a complete family so I have role models that I may look up to and I know how to be a good wife. I’m glad that there are more ways to be equipped like attending a seminar, observing other married couples, and reading inspirational books like “7 Things Every Wife Should Know”.
I love reading this book because it inspires me to be a fascinating wife, it reminds me of my role as a wife and it motivates me to believe that there is a happy ending if we do not give up.
This book is not only for almost weds or newlyweds because even I’m hitting my 9th year wedding anniversary, I still learned a lot from this book. My favorite part of this book is “Real Lives, Real Wives” because I know it is not a fairy tale story or romantic Hollywood movie. A real story that you can relate to and apply in your life.
Sharing with you some of my favorites in this book.
“The important thing is to discover your husband’s basic needs and ways in which you can meet them. Your meeting those needs will enhance his sense of self-worth and fulfillment”
“Trust that he will provide and protect”
“The happiest wives have a sense of purpose and passion in work and cause outside of the home”
“Honeymoon should never end! Marital intimacy is a priority! Never ever stop dating.”
Dating is one thing that we don’t have in our marriage, we stopped dating when we had our son. We don’t have Yaya or a helper at home and we can’t just leave him to anyone so wherever we go, he goes. I don’t even know the feeling of having a date. A real date that spends the time together and not on gadgets.
Anyway, I won’t enumerate the 7 things that you should know because I do recommend you to read this book especially for moms who tend to forget that they are wives too and not just mothers. Read and learn that "It is not only marrying the right partner...it is being the right partner - Wilfred Arian Peterson".
I’m a type of person who can’t live without planner because I want everything to be organized and one more thing, I tend to forget things if I did not jot it down.
But this year, I did not buy any planner but I’ve made a family planner last November. Ooops, I did not make it, I just printed it. Hehehe! I got free printables from Pinterest.
I bought clear folder where I put all the papers + clip board where I put the monthly calendar. I just hang the clip board beside my computer table.
What I like in the family planner is I can just print the things that I need. I can add more pages that I love that regular planners don’t offer. Some printables are editable too so I can type all information before printing it like the birthday calendar or special events for the whole year.
I’m a full time mom and I don’t carry my planner when I’m out. All I have is a list of things to do and things to buy. So I don’t mind if this is big compared to regular planner.
I also like these free labels.
There are a lot of free printables in Pinterest but these are the links where I got my home management planner.
Editable Calendar
Labels
Home Management Notebook
Whenever people want to have a healthy lifestyle, juicing is one their choice in order to lose weight or cleanse the body. It is a good alternative for those people who are not into fruits and vegetables. Juicing also helps to nourish the body and get rid the toxins brought by drugs and alcohol.
Check the infographic for more information.
Natural Rehab in your Kitchen – An infographic by the team at Natural Rehab in your Kitchen
I decided to make a business card holder before the class resumes because I know that I’ll be busy again tutoring my son. Business card holder is my second sewing project after I’ve made the pajama. I wanted to use the fabric scrap so it won’t put to waste.
I watched You Tube videos for tutorial and it looks so easy. It is a five minute project but of course it took me forever to finish mine. Hehehe! My first try wasn’t successful because my calling card doesn’t fit. I tried it again and I did it.
But I wasn’t satisfied yet so I searched for another tutorial and I found this site. I checked the step by step and I practice more.
I finished four business card holder and I gave it to my friends.
I’m now using the card holder for my calling card. I will make more if I have new fabric.
I dislike going to the hospital or clinic for check-up or labtest but I have no choice. Every year, since 2011 I always experience UTI or Urinary Tract Infection which I don’t really like because sometimes it will take 4 consecutive visits to the doctor before I get cleared. I’m so used already with my labtest such as urinalysis, urine culture and KUB ultrasound but two weeks ago my OB advised me to have KUB IVP.
I have no idea that this will be the most expensive and uncomfortable labtest that I will ever experience in my life. Last January 17, after my check-up to OB, I immediately went to Radiology for my labtest but the staff scheduled me on January 20, 2015. She gave a flyer that I need to read because there’s preparation that I need to do before procedure. Sharing to you the flyer information.
What is an Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)?
An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an x-ray examination of the kidneys, ureters and urinary bladder that uses iodinated contrast material injected into veins. An x-ray (radiograph) is a non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body.
X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. When a contrast material is injected into a vein in the aptient’s arm, it travels through the bood stream and collects in the kidneys and urinary tract, turning these areas bright white on the x-ray images.
An IVP allows the radiologist to view and assess the anatomy and function of the kidneys, ureters and the bladder.
How Should I Prepare?
Initially, the patient will be requested to have a Creatinine test prior the procedure, this will determine if IVP procedure if doable/possible. Good thing that this is part of my routine labtest so I already have the result which is normal.
Preparation for adults (3 days)
First Day
Take light meals of soft diet for breakfast, lunch or dinner. No fruits, vegetables or fibers.
Drink 45ml of PHOSPHO-SODA after dinner(follow the instructions on the package)
Second Day
Clear liquid diet
If not possible, may have light breakfast only. No meat, fruits and vegatables. Strictly clear liquid at lunch and dinner.
An hour after clear liquid diet for dinner, drink 45ml of PHOSPO-SODA again.
Third Day (day of procedure)
4-6 hours fasting.
I’m not a fan of diet because I know I can’t take it so imagine how hard it is for me to have 3 days diet. Gutom na gutom talaga. I try not to blog hop and not to check FB and IG news feed so I won’t see any food pictures.
My procedure started at 11 AM and I was finished at 1PM. I was lying on this table for 2 hours, doing a lot of position for the x-ray with IV on my arm.
I was happy that I’m back to my normal diet after that procedure. The result was normal again but my OB advised me to see Nephrology because of recurrent UTI.
Yesterday, I was supposed to visit the doctor that my OB referred but she was on leave.
We all know that vaccines are essential to our life. According to WHO, vaccines save 2.5 million children’s lives worldwide. Vaccines are not only for saving our children but also to protect other children and adults in our community by reducing the chance of spreading the disease from person to person.
But we could not deny that not all people can afford vaccines especially if we have a newborn who needs vaccines almost every month. I am fortunate because there is a health center in our area and because of that I know that there will be urgent care near me.
Even though we have a public health center that provides free vaccines but the reality is not all vaccines that we need are available in the center so we have no choice but to go to a private hospital or just let go of the vaccines if we don't have a budget.
We are fortunate because our health card covers vaccines, all we have to do is pay and reimburse the amount. But for those who don’t have that benefits the question is, is there any way that we can save more on vaccines?
I found one mompreneur who offers affordable vaccines. These pedia and adult vaccines are direct from manufacturers, you can buy the vaccines from her and then bring them to your doctor.
I’m not affiliated with the business, I’m just sharing with you an option if you want to save on your vaccines. Here are the details but you can also check the FB page for more information, just click here.
Save a lot from vaccines with these easy steps:
HOW TO ORDER:
1) Inquire if your required vaccine is available
2) Deposit payment to BPI account. Email/post deposit slip.
3) Choose a day and time: M, W, F 9am onwards (order 1 week in advance)
4) Meet-up at desired MRT/LRT1/LRT2 station5)
Text your name and shirt color (for easy recognition)
MEET-UP PLACE: LRT1, LRT2, and MRT stations
SCHEDULE: Monday – Wednesday - Friday (9am onwards)
MEET-UP REMINDER: Please be on time.
Bring an insulated cooler with an ice pack (available for sale @ 70 each)
*If you don’t have a cooler at hand, additional P100 for a container, ice pack, and fabric (for the cold chain to be properly maintained)
Our initial plan after checking out in Canyon Cove is to eat in fastfood in Nasugbu, Batangas but since we’re not really hungry, we decided to eat in Tagaytay area. I have a friend who always eat at Carlos Pizza whenever she goes to Tagaytay and she always tells me that she really likes the food there.
So after two years, I finally tried the restaurant. We decided to eat here before going home. We ordered Mozzarella Sticks, Crispy Fried Chicken meal and Pizza Capriccioso, toppings are pepperoni, salami, ham, bacon, Italian sausage, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers and onions.
They first served the mozzarella sticks, it was my first time to try this starter and it was just ok for me.
I tried the chicken of my son and it was just ok too but my husband enjoyed the fresh salad.
It took them so long to serve the pizza and after one bite, nagkatinginan na kami ni hubby. We didn’t like the taste of pizza, it is not really bad but it is not something that we love. Maybe we are expecting more because it is a pizza restaurant so they should serve good pizza. And because we didn’t like it, we just took it home.
There were only three customers but it took them so long to settle our bill and even the glass of water that were asking was not serve. Two follow ups are enough so we just left the restaurant.
Our experience was not good so I know for sure that it may be the last visit or it will take some time before we revisit. The only consolation of this restaurant is the great view of Taal Volcano.
The following day, my husband brought the pizza in his office and surprisingly, he told me that he was able to finish the pizza. The pizza taste good. Good thing that the taste changed.
Carlos Pizza
One Destination, Silang West
Aguinaldo Hi-way, Tagaytay City
SSS ID is one ID that I’m afraid to lose because that is one of my three valid ID’s and I know that it is not easy to replace. I still remember my experience when I need to replace my ID after I got married. I can’t eat lunch because I was still waiting for my name to be called and there’s no number at that time. From 9AM, I was inside the SSS office waiting for my turn and it was past 2PM when I finished. It took me months to receive my ID and I even went to the Post Office just to get it.
So when my husband can’t find his SSS ID, I know that he would have a hard time to replace it. My sister waited for almost two years before she got her SSS ID.
Anyway, because of the Papal Visit, all employees in Metro Manila has no work so he took advantage the holiday to replace his SSS ID. I checked the requirements for lost SSS ID.
REQUIREMENTS FOR LOST SSS ID
Affidavit of Loss
SSS Form E-6 form
2 Valid ID’s (I photocopy his Driver’s License and Passport)
SSS Form R-6 form
P300
My husband left the house past 8AM and I was surprised that he went home at 11AM. He went first to Attorney’s Office to get his affidavit of loss, he paid P150 for the document and went to SSS office. Since the SSS branch does not accept payments, he still went to the accredited bank to pay the P300.
Now, we have to wait for 2-3months for his UMID (Universal Multipurpose ID). I’m glad that the process is not complicated anymore, no more long lines that I’ve experienced before.
Update:
Last month, I told my husband to follow up his SSS ID because it is beyond 90 days already. I suggested to email or call the SSS branch.
Email your complete name, SSS number, date of birth and date of application to sss_id@sss.gov.ph.
But he was too preoccupied that he was not able to do anything. Today, I received the SSS ID. I checked the postage stamp.
May 7, 2015 - Quezon City
May 11, 2015 - Cavite
May 12, 2015 - Delivered to our house.
Note: I'm not connected with SSS so if you have more concerns or questions that are not included in this post, please call SSS branch near you. So they could give you the correct information.
Read: How to Apply for SSS Salary Loan via Online
A Guide for SSS Members in the Philippines
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