Cutty

One of the better news I heard yesterday was about an invitation to sing in Taiwan this July. A choral festival is going to be held in Taipei on the last weekend of July. Plans for this didn't materialize until we heard about the Cebu Pacific promo. We don't have the budget for these spur-of-the-moment trips. From what I heard, the organizers are taking care of the group's plane fare. Since today is the last day of the promo, ----------------- I visited Taipei nine years ago. Again, it was all because of my previous choir, the ACGC. Several of us were invited to fill-in the missing voices in PCC. We had three concerts in three cities. The most hi-tech theater was in Taipei, of course. The stage risers were adjusted using hydraulics. Memories of my short visit is still fresh. I remember... ... sleeping in a room with no window. ... the distinct smell of eggs cooking in tea-infused water every time we visit a convenience store. ... realizing that they always talk...

Despite the fact that I turned thirty, that is how I'd describe my birthday. Not that we didn't make an effort. It was all because of this darn flu. I woke up a bit better, still dizzy and weak. At least, the fever had gone. By noon, I was well-enough to go out for lunch. I didn't enjoy it much. My throat was sore, I had a hard time swallowing. I would have loved to go around and shop ( w/o guilt ), but I was starting to get tired. We just made a few stops to get some necessities. Then we left my "office." That evening, we could've gone out to get something special for dinner but Vic had meetings scheduled till 8PM. I ended up cooking our dinner, in between watching over Johann and Javi . I didn't have the energy to concoct anything special. All the activity that day drained every ounce of energy left in me. I went back to bed with a fever. ----------------- One of the greatest gifts I received was the newest addition to my household staff. (...

... before my birthday, I am nursing a flu. I caught it from Johann. He was irritable all night. Waking up every hour last night aggravated my condition. So this morning, I woke up to a sore throat, achy joints and a slight fever. Since both Vic and I didn't get to sleep last night, I asked my parents if they can take the kids today. Johann seems to have no trouble with his ailments. He's already playing with his cousins. He just refuses to eat and go to bath =) I, on the other hand, have sweat it out several times so my fever has gone down. I pray that I'll get better tomorrow. My lone yaya can't cope with two boys and her chores.

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This is the latest of the series of purchases I made this week. It would look perfect with the magenta shirt dress I'm going to wear for my party next weekend. The beads are just too perfect for summer. ------------------- I just realized that I've been purchasing footwear every other week. In just two months, I've amassed five pairs already. This has to stop.

In two weeks, we'll start the bidding the contract for our expansion. Our target completion date is August. By then, I'm sure I'll be clamoring for decors as I did the last time. The most difficult of all was looking for something to hang on the walls. I mainly selected mirrors and sacred images for my walls. The most artistic touch I had were the blown up prints of my friend's shots of our European trip. It's not that I am not into art. I am just not an expert in that subject. I just know what I like. What looks good to others may not necessarily look good to me. When it comes to art, I am easy to please. I usually settle for those that are not too complicated. I admire the work of Kerry Hallam , Mark Eliot Lovett , Liudmila Kondakova , Jia Lu, Vladimir Volegov and Tomsz Rut. Their works reflect the natural beauty of the European scenery and the intricacy of the human body. The detail in their work is remarkable. The "Magic Realism" f...

My little boy has been under the weather for a couple of days now. It started with an itchy throat then coughing and a runny nose. The following day, we woke up to him feeling weak. The nanny recounted that he has thrown up twice in the morning already. He felt warm to the touch too. His eyes were quite watery also. He wasn't active as you would expect from a toddler. It was quite evident that he wasn't feeling himself that morning. I didn't bother with breakfast anymore. We went to the hospital to have him checked. He complained about his headache. Fortunately, the fever didn't progress. We gave him meds for the cough, colds and headache. We were instructed to monitor his temp and to see if rashes would surface. By mid-afternoon, he was already running around as if he didn't feel ill in the first place. He must be on his way to recovery. After his midday nap today, he woke up with crusting in his right eye. I was also informed that his bowel movement...

I've been thinking of enrolling my eldest in a swimming program for this summer. As early as now, I'd like him to be involved in sports unlike his parents, who are afraid of sweating it out. Every summer, I'd like to immerse him to different sports programs until he finds what he likes to specialize on. I'd like to instill discipline, determination and a good competitive spirit in my kids. Sports does that. It also forms character, teaches someone to be a team player and strengthens will power. Some people may say that it's too early to introduce Johann to sports. I'd say, it's never too early to instill a sense of ambition in one person. I've seen people who have no ambition for themselves. It has gotten them nowhere. Sport-minded people are passionate about winning. I have always envied the ball players in our university. Apart from the fame, perks and college scholarship, they served as role models to the younger class men. Many young kids w...

One of the items in my wish list is to get a new pair of sunglasses. The one I currently use for driving is 4 years old. There are visible scratches on the lens and the plastic frame is bent abnormally. ------------------ I remember buying that pair in Rustan's . It was on sale. It was worth a little over P3000. I have never spent that much on a pair of sunglasses so I was a bit undecided. But, it was the only pair that looked good on me. It was extremely difficult to get a pair that would fit my face. After much thought, I bought it. The following weekend, I showed up in Tagaytay sporting my new sunnies. I didn't know that my SIL also bought herself a pair. We were wearing the same brand of sunnnies and the same brand (and style) of shirt. The only difference was the color and probably, the shirt size. ------------------ Anyway, I think it's about time I get a new pair. I've been searching for something I really like. It was on my to-buy list in HK ,...

I am not sure if going to this trade show did us any good. The expo gave us more ideas on what we can use for our expansion. It brought forth changes that we never thought we'd need. What's worse is these ideas definitely called for a bigger budget. Take for example, the remarkable design and mechanism for the closet would be a great addition to our room. The closet has built-in organizers for folded shirts, built-in drawers for undergarments and smaller items, and a low-level rod for hanging trousers and jeans. There's a bottom compartment big enough for bags and other bulky items. The sliding door panels were designed to appear as walls. The closet is not part of the expansion plan. However, since we're having the house done, why not include it, too? We can save up on labor costs if we do it now, rather than later. It can be done if we had the moolah to begin with. Vic and I loved the designs of Kenneth and Mock. We've been curious about them. After ...

While I was singing for a wedding last Saturday, a received a call from the franchise consultant. Since I was unavailable at that time, I returned the call when the ceremony finished. The big boss lady wants to know when we can meet for the ocular inspection of our target location. I specified two afternoons. I hope this meeting pushes through. It would mean that my franchise application is up for approval. ----------------- It is extremely difficult to get an answer from my franchisee. I am always the one calling their office for updates. Shouldn't she be the one trying to chase me since I am the one who's investing? If I don't get a reply from them soon, I'm afraid that I'd lose the space to someone else. After all, it is an Ayala-managed property. ----------------- I've been praying for this business to materialize. It would make my days more productive. More importantly, it would supplement our family income. I just hope I can figure out whe...

I foresee a very busy weekend for me and my family. It officially starts today. Thursday: I will have two rehearsals tonight, one after the other. I also have to pick up the ingredients for my contribution to the potluck tomorrow night. Friday: San Mig BOS class in the afternoon and Gutsy's send-off party in the evening. Saturday: Vic and I will troop to WorldBEX at the WTC . We will look at possible suppliers for our expansion, gate replacement, cabinetry and kitchen remodelling. I will also be in Forbes for a wedding in the evening. Vic and the kids will join the rest of the Endrigas for Rovic's celebratory dinner. Sunday: Well, this is always a busy day for us as we shuttle from one family to another. Monday: We're singing for the Tony Blair event. Tuesday: I will finalize the details of MY party . Whew! I hope I didn't forget anything.

We got the replacement for our old family car yesterday. It is good that we didn't have to wait long. We got the color and the model we wanted. Though I will be the one who'll drive it most of the time, Vic considers it his newest toy . He is already thinking of ways to pimp it. The headlights were already converted to HID. Johann was supposedly assigned to the last row. I guess, he is getting claustrophobic, he refused to go to the back. We put his car seat behind the driver's seat. He went there with no qualms. Javi's car seat is now assigned to the last row. It was difficult to make it fit at first. But, we managed. I am still getting used to the size. I have attempted slipping through cramped spaces in traffic jams. So far, so good.

I was able to slip away for a few minutes to visit the bazaar at the Rockwell tent yesterday. I was very quick because Johann and yaya were waiting by the fountain inside the mall. I didn't have time look at the nice clothes. I would love to try some nice ones but I am pressed for time. I did have time to get these... I was looking for a pair of cheap thong sandals that would replace my broken Grendha jelly thongs. There were lots to choose from but the one on top is the most comfortable one. The necklace below is from Cru. I got it at 50% less than the original price. Total damage is less than 1K. Because it was the last day of the bazaar, the sellers are more open to bargain with me.

Today, we said goodbye to our first family car. We got this in time for Johann's arrival. Now that our family has grown, we needed to dispose of this to give room to a bigger, 7-seater vehicle. In the mean time, I am driving Vic's car while he drives his mom's car. One of our helpers remarked that she is saddened because the car is no longer with us. I, on the other hand, was quite relieved that it has moved on to its new owners. I am more excited to get the replacement. Oh well, farewell CRV. You served us well.

I've been thinking of getting my own domain for some time now. I would like that new site to focus on the purchasing power of a stay-at-home-mom like me. Though I earned a degree in Information Technology, I am at a loss on how to go about this. It has been years since I used jargon such as domain names, IP address, web hosting and the like. My most recent work dealt with orders and shipments. As I am doing my research, it seems that the next logical step is finding a web hosting service that would make my site visible to the rest of the World Wide Web. Based on what I’ve read, a web host is a computer that houses the program for the site. Though it may be done locally by the user, the server or web host is usually provided by the ISP (Internet Service Provider). The reason being they have the infrastructure and the financial capability to back them up. It also seems that there numerous considerations in finding the right web hosting service for me. One deciding factor i...

...that we'll be able to finalize the sale of one of our cars tomorrow. Someone, all the way from Pampanga, came to check out the car this afternoon. He said that he is checking it out for his boss. If he likes it, they will buy it tomorrow. The deed of sale has been prepared. However, until it is signed, I am not rejoicing. We've been stood up too many times. ...that Vic got me the top I asked him to get from the mall beside his office. I was going around the mall this afternoon after the meet-up with the potential buyer. I finally found a shirt that is cool (on the skin and on the eyes) enough to wear this summer. The thing is, they do not have it in my size. Good thing they have it in Eastwood. ...that I get a favorable response regarding my franchise application. I just heard from the representative this afternoon. She mentioned that my application was received by the Ms. HO. They just need to know the exact location. Gosh, I hope they still have space for m...

Maganda nga naman siya. But, can you sing to the tune of $32,300? Sana sumobra lang un zeroes niya. IMHO, to buy one is such a disgrace to mankind.

I am seriously thinking of enrolling in a dance class this summer. Dancing is the best form of exercise I know, next to malling. I think it's about time I lose the post-pregnancy weight. So, what brought this on? On my way to rehearsal yesterday, I saw a poster advertising the Moro Summer Program. I am torn between Jazz and Ballroom. It is quite affordable, at only 2,500 for 12 sessions. It even fits into my schedule. I'll see if I can drag a friend to go with me. ------------ As I was doing my research on dance classes, I found out that there are several studios nearby. One is right across Commonwealth called House of Dance. The other is Groove Central in V. Luna. Both are recommended. I even looked up Steps in Pasong Tamo since it is highly endorsed by my friend. I am just not too keen on the recital at the end of the program. I think I am way past that stage. If I don't find a better deal, I'll push through with the Moro class. Exciting! ------------ I...

I was fighting off sleep the whole day. Now that I can finally close my eyes into deep slumber, the urge to sleep has slipped away. In the meantime, I am enjoying watching the boys sleep. Here is Johann and here is Javi savoring his thumb. ------------------- I think my bed linens are keeping me awake.

My second attempt in turning the bananas into cakes was a big success. Not only did I remember to put sugar, I made use of the best baking butter in the market. I even got bigger chocolate chips. Also, this time, I made use of the better recipe. The result was 42 moist (not to mention, mouth-watering) cupcakes with bigger chocolate chunks. Half of which I brought to Marikina for our afternoon snack. The rest I brought to rehearsals as a reward for the early birds. My friends from ACS loved them. Some went for seconds, others for thirds. They were thrilled to find them encased in my own box. A couple asked how much I'd sell them. Others asked what else I can make for them. Career-in ko na daw. We'll see. I did consider it at one point. Kaya nga may box na ko eh. In the meantime, there are still bananas in the freezer. Tomorrow is another baking day. --------------- Up next in Cathy's Kitchen: Beef and Mushroom Pies.

...the two pairs of shoes weren't for sale yesterday. (Find out more about that here .) It is because this pair is for me! These are the most comfy two-and-a-half-inch heels I've worn. Yep, better than Naturalizer or Aerosoles. It's like I'm walking on a carpet all the time. In addition to that, it doesn't look as if it's made for "manangs." Best of all, it is 45% off the original price! Yey for me! Thank God, I can retire my 4y/o Naturalizer heels.

For the past few days, I've been trying to find time to turn our stock of Cavendish bananas into cakes. It has been sitting in the freezer for a week already. Yesterday, after a busy weekend, I finally had the chance. I initially wanted to share the fruits of my labor at the homeowners' meeting. But, it took me a while to locate my recipe. After a few minutes of sifting, mixing and scooping, I finally have my banana cupcakes with chocolate chips. All 36 pieces of them, not counting the mini-muffins. At first glance, I thought they looked pale. I took a bite to see how it tastes. It lacks some sweetness. Then, it dawned on me. I forgot to put sugar into the batter. No wonder the consistency is different. Blame it on multi-tasking. The busy day has taken its toll on my cakes. I feel bad for Vic who helped scoop the batter into the muffin pans. He won't be rewarded for his hard labor =D Heck, even maruya had sugar in it.

That is how I felt when I got up from bed this morning. There are just so many things to do and to look forward to this week. I'd have to... ... get hold of CCP to discuss a possible tie-up for the next Three Festival. I may need to get some contacts from Tito Bal. ... get the space application form from Ayala Malls. ... visit the furniture fair at SMX this weekend. ... get a new copy of our marriage certificate for Vic's Visa renewal. ... obtain franchise terms from my top two food chains. ... interview the new househelp prospect. ...see if we can finally sell our SUV to make room for a bigger one. I hope I can get started soon. I hope Javi's yaya gets well right away so I can slip and get some of these done.

...do they display items at the store window if they have no intention of selling them? After having brunch with my husband and my little boy, we were on our way back to the car when two pairs of shoes caught my eye. Two shops, one beside the other, had really nice pair of sandals on display. I went inside the first store to see if they have the nice wedge strappy sandals in my size. I was informed that they don't have any stock because they weren't for sale. Disappointed, I went into the next store beside it. This time, I wanted to check out the nice pair of black-heeled shoes. Again, the SA told me that it is only for the mannequins. Ganda! It seems that I wasn't meant to get any pair of shoes today. I hope this doesn't start a trend. I used to have good luck with shoes.