Want to Live Longer?

Sunday before last the whole clan went apple-picking as part of our annual fall tradition. The rain did not stop us from harvesting two bushels of golden delicious apples for my family alone. I guess that's what happens when you have three nature-deprived kids who were raised in the city. It almost looked like they were hunting for treasure instead of gathering crop.

Since then I've been finding myself eating about three apples a day-- one in the morning, one while driving to work at 4pm and another one on my way back. Although I know that's a healthy thing to do I am not doing it for health reasons but out of guilt for spending nearly $50 on apples!

But after reading this article by Dr. Maoshing Ni called Apples: The Live Longer Fruit today on Yahoo! Health I am mighty glad that I've been gorging on this fruit for more than a week now. We've all heard the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," but after reading this article you will come to realize that whoever started that adage literally meant it.

If slowing the aging process is not enough reason to start making apples a staple to your daily diet click here to read about the other benefits of enjoying this very much unforbidden fruit!

photo grabbed from www.whiteonricecouple.com

An Adviser for Chicago Shoppers?!

Chicago is the city that shops and that is why I almost found it funny that Chicago Tribune (web edition) would find it necessary to have a "Shopping Adviser." Shopping adviser or not, shopping I am going and so would a lot of women I know. But hey, how could you resist reading an article entitled, "Battle of the Mega-Discounters?!"

In this article Ellen Warren compares two discount chains that we all know and love (well, I'm not so sure about the "love" part for everyone) TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Anyone who knows me would say that I would never be caught dead carrying an inexpensive bag but when it comes to clothes I am always about getting a bargain. The author takes us to the said stores' downtown Chicago flagship locations, and scrutinizes everything from their selections, to the fitting rooms and restrooms, down to the checkout lines.

It's been a while since I last visited any of these two stores but I think I'm due for another bargain-shopping spree. And although the author had a preference for Marshalls over Maxx, a cow-patterned broom for $6.99 sounds very intriguing! When the hell is my next day off?!

To read this mega-insightful shopping advisory please click here.

How Was Your Day Off?

"How was your day off?" is usually the first question I get from coworkers the next day I come back after a so-called day of rest. The honest answer would be, "What day off? Moms don't get days off!" but instead I always opt for the simple "It was nice, thanks!"

It would've been okay if I didn't have to cook. Or hear all the screaming sounds that reverberate the walls of our tiny condo unit. Or maybe if it weren't so cold and I didn't have to chase Kai everywhere so he could put on layers of clothing. And if only my husband installed those childproofing things that you put on cabinet doors properly, so that my little rascal didn't empty those stupid cabinets all the time and pretend he's going in a dwarf house, then maybe, just maybe, I could actually say "It was nice, thanks!" with some sincerity next time.

I sometimes look at other moms and wonder if they run the same kind of madhouse that I do. Those moms who seem to feed their kids on time, read to them religiously, limit TV viewings to two hours a week, and send them to bed early. Would I be happier as a mom if I were more organized and followed these rules, wore unattractive clothes and running shoes, drove a van and adorned my hair with clamps? Do these moms ever feel they don't get any days off, and wishes so badly that they get at least one every now and then?

I wouldn't know, because I'm not like them. I just know that for now I'm going to pamper myself with my Sugar Face Polish by fresh and call it a night. I know I didn't have an ideal day off but at least I had this treat. Moms are pretty easy to please. Tomorrow my husband and I are going to see a movie, and maybe that will be a nice day off.

fresh is available on fresh.com and eluxury.com and I highly recommend it. Just don't blame me if you get hooked! Consider that a warning. Sugar Face Polish, 4.2oz, $55 (yes, it really has bits of strawberries! I tasted it one time and I'm most likely to do it again... sweet!)

I Am Super (Cleaning) Mommy

Ever get those days when you're just on a roll and you don't even know where the energy comes from? Well yesterday was that day for me.

To begin, I thought for sure I was working my usual 4-hour closing shift but when I look at the family calendar I realized Mommy was off that day. We have this lovely calendar that a good friend of mine, Therese, gave me (along with many other things) for Christmas last year. It has five columns with tabs for every member of the family so we could all see everybody's schedule. The kids also get to customize their own tabs ("Mommy" is built in!) and some months they go crazy, some months they're just boring. So already I felt I could do so much more... like someone magical and powerful just added 6 hours to my day (if you count travel and getting ready time).

So now the big question is, what to do with my 30-hour day today?!

My husband made it easy by nagging me about our piling dirty clothes-- he's out of socks! Before you judge me please bear in mind that we live in a condo and we actually need quarters to activate the washer. Me, lazy? Nooooh, just out of quarters!!! But no such luck, because yesterday we actually had enough quarters for two loads. So wet those clothes went.

Next thing I knew I was pulling meat from the freezer, veggies from the fridge, and spices from the cabinet. I was cooking, scrubbing, dusting, spritzing, oh and don't you forget-- I have clothes in the washer!

By 10:45 the place looked amazingly decent. In my standards, at least. Let's just say it's good enough to let close friends and family in because they know and understand what a slob I am.

It's barely 11:00 and they kids don't get out of school until 3:00. It's time for my favorite past time-- MY Internet time!!! So I sneak back in my room to turn the computer on.... AND WAKE UP MY 2-YR OLD!!! In an instant chaos begins and then it dawned on me: THAT'S EXACTLY WHY. Silly me, and I thought I had a visit from a magic dust-sprinkling cleaning fairy godmother!!!

photo grabbed from www.parentingissues.net

Facebook, Anyone?

It's been 9 days since my last entry and I feel so bad that I haven't written for that long! The culprit? FACEBOOK!!!

I learned, just a few days ago, that there is a certain group of friends of mine that I could only find here-- people I've been searching for for years via Friendster and MySpace but failed. They're the rich kids of Brent International School of Baguio, Philippines otherwise known as my high school classmates. And I am only saying that as-a-matter-of-factly. They're the golden kids and this is where they hide. But I sure am glad to be reconnecting with them.

But there's so much more! I know I may sound like a dork for discovering Facebook just now when it's been around for a while, when members have hundreds of friends and I have 32. I've been declining invitations from friends thinking it would, just like these other sites, take more time away from me performing the duties of a good mom and wife. Evidently, it also took time away from me performing the duties of a good blogger. But how can you not love Facebook, which, quoting my friend Les, is like a toy!

So what made me decide to join? Aside from my young 20-something-year old coworkers reminding me on a daily basis, I think I got especially curious when one of them asked the other, "Have you opened the Louis Vuitton gift that I sent you on Facebook? Did you like it?" I thought to myself, you could do that on Facebook?!

So here I am, telling everyone, Twitter style, how I'm doing right now. I've also been abusing the wall-to-wall feature, importing my blogs, became a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal, and sending Filipino food (with balut being my favorite) along with my personal messages. The first day I saw my coworkers after joining I asked them, "So did you get my Hermes gifts?" Which of course, was overheard by another coworker, and judging from the reaction on his face, we could also now call him another Facebook addict waiting to happen.

A Perfect World

"In a perfect world," Jake Gyllenhaal says, "I would love to do one play for every three movies." In a perfect world I would be sitting right next to him, telling him I'd support him all the way. But who lives in a perfect world?

On Thursday Origins was giving away free samples of the skin care line of your choice simply by listening to their spiel, and letting them try the Modern Friction exfoliant on you. And what do I pick? A Perfect World, of course! I'm a sucker for citrus scents, just like my perfume Sugar by Fresh. To quote the Origins website, the "aromatic orange, bergamot and spearmint fortify the feel-good factor" and believe it or not it actually is very uplifting! The little sample box included a deep cleanser, liquid moisture (toner), antioxidant moisturizer, and a body cream. I'd say they would last you about two weeks.

Anyone who knows me well enough would say I hate regimens-- diet, exercise, skin care, make up, etc. I'm just not high maintenance or systematic enough when it comes to these things. But since receiving these samples I've been looking forward to prepping up my skin! It's my me time in the morning and at night before going to bed.

So if you feel like giving yourself a treat, that you so deserve, one of these days visit Origins as through September 28 they are giving free 1-on-1 consultation. They will also be sampling a new product called Plantidote which is a face mask so prepare looking silly in front of other customers as well. If you live in the Oak Brook area I would recommend seeing Greg Coleman at the Origins counter within Macy's. He's very knowledgeable about his products and makes the whole experience a real treat. If I could get past my self-consciousness I might stop too and have him cover my face up with a mask. I guess no one could really recognize me once I have that on! Haha.

So don't forget your own treat! You may call Greg Coleman at (630) 684 2171 for more details.

So until I have Jake by my side I may not live in a perfect world, but at least my skin does!

Men and Their Cars Part II

This is a follow up to my previous post Men and Their Cars. If you haven't already, you might want to read it before continuing. Beware as this may be the first rant in my blog and it may not be good.

The other night I got to meet my husband's new (which is not by any means new!) purchase that day: a really old beat up Geo Prizm. Because our condo allows us just one assigned parking in the garage, which obviously belongs to his baby, the Land Cruiser, the Camry and this poor looking fellow will always be found parked on North Avenue (as seen on photo).

This purchase, just like the Land Cruiser, was not approved by me. Actually I did semi-approve of the Land Cruiser in the condition that I will never ever hear him complain about bills. Before we bought it we had a Toyota Sienna in excellent condition that was, just like the Camry, paid for. Did I hear complaints? Of course I did. A lot actually.

(Just a side note: Notice what big Toyota fans we are? 4Runner, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sienna, Geo Prizm (rebadged version of the Toyota Sprinter), and an MR2 that we donated about 2 years ago. They're the most reliable cars out there!)

So why did he insist on getting this old car? Because of his new big boy job, remember? In fairness, this little one is a real gas-saver. He filled it up at less than $50 two days ago and as of last night it's run 290 miles and the empty light still hasn't turned on. I just feel that it's too soon to be making this decision considering that he hasn't even been doing this for over a month. But does my opinion count? Last time I checked it doesn't.

Anyway, after meeting the car the other night I got to ride it yesterday. I took advantage of my day off to see a Filipino movie, which is a rare phenomenon here in Chicago. Kai and I had gone to Macy's to get a present for Megan's 2nd birthday and my husband and I agreed that we will leave for the movie (that starts at 1:30pm) as soon as I was done shopping. All he had to do was get out and we'd be waiting outside, with the kid already strapped on his car seat, the engine running, and myself waiting on the passenger's seat so he could drive.

I don't exactly know what happened between the time I had left the mall and arriving home but he wants me to get out of the car because we're using the other car. I insisted we use the Camry since we're all set and ready to go but all I heard was him yelling, "Park your car!" So I move the car, move the baby and move the shopping bags just so he could give me a peek of his ugly car with exposed insulation on the entire ceiling. To make matters worse when we get to the movie theater I asked him to pop the trunk open so I could stow my bags away and he hands me the key. Oh. I have to manually do it. And as I walked away from the car he again yells at me, "Lock your door!" Oh, no power locks either.

And just when you think the day could not get any more horrifying, he points at the ticket booth and commands me to pay for our tickets-- a ripoff at $15 each. If you've been to the Pickwick Theater at Park Ridge you'll know what I'm talking about. The seats do not have cupholders and the upholstery is so worn they might as well strip it entirely. The floors are sticky and the unkept heavy Victorian interior adds to its misery. At this point it was hard to decide which was more saddening-- being in this depressing theater or being on a date with The Grouch. Wait, did I just say it was hard? I'd pick the theater any given day!

So if your boyfriend tries to impress you with his car, enjoy the days because as soon as you say I do nothing's too ugly for you. You think men are jerks? Try husbands!

Eli Stone: The Complete First Season DVD is Out!!!

Eli Stone: The Complete First Season on DVD is out as of yesterday (I heard it on the radio)! List price is around $40 but here are the best prices (from reliable websites) I've seen so far:
tower.com $26.99
overstock.com $27.91
buy.com $27.89

Sometimes I get those 40% off DVD sets coupons at Borders so that actually is a pretty good deal too. Their list price is $41.99 so it's $25.19 + tax.

I love Eli Stone because it's a smart, touching, sensitive, funny and entertaining all at once. It's also pretty much the only show on prime time that I could actually enjoy with my kids. If you were into Ally McBeal like myself you'll fall in love with this character as well. I have yet to meet other fans, so if you love the show please drop me a note! :)

Men and Their Cars

My husband finally found his big boy dream job. For now. We'll see how long this phase lasts. He works for a company that mostly delivers medical supplies from pharmacies to hospitals, nursing homes, and the like. Sometimes he also finds himself running around downtown like a madman delivering documents-- a disaster. The one time I came with him to help him with directions (since GPS won't work downtown) and watch the car too, in case a tow truck comes, he came this close to losing it and dumping people's paychecks on Lake Michigan. The good side of it though is that I get to drive the good car, and he gets to drive the okay one. Why with the high gas prices it only makes perfect sense!

Last night after coming home from work he asks, "How's the Land Cruiser?" I say it's fine. Then he goes, "You know when I bought that truck it was really you I had in mind. I remember when I first saw you in my 4runner (this was 7 years ago)-- you really looked good driving that truck. So now that you've put on some weight I thought I'd get you something bigger!" LOL! So I say, "So if I put on more weight what are you buying me, a dump truck?" He answers, "Why do you think we bought that dump truck in the Philippines?!" Men, oh men! And in case you were wondering what this picture to the right is for, this is where he wants me to park whenever I use it-- away from other cars, people and traffic! Now I'm not too sure if this really is a good thing!

Legolalaland Discovery Centre in Chicago (well, Schaumburg, really)

So as I promised my kids we did go to the Legoland Discovery Centre today and we even managed to bring Cholo and Jesie! My husband got caught up at work so he told us to go ahead and just meet him there. Unfortunately it took him even longer than expected so he didn't make it until we actually got out, and the only participation he had was helping Kai assemble his tiny little Lego car with this tiny little driver (who, by the way, wore a helmet and safety glasses!). And buying us lunch. And buying them their gym shoes later on. Which pretty much took care of everything he made that day! Haha!

For those who have been giving the place bad reviews I don't really know what their deal is. Maybe they really are cheap, like I said yesterday, or they just have no appreciation for art, creativity or wild imagination whatsoever. Just thinking how much time these crazy people spent building Mr. Einstein alone so he could greet me at the door, with his tongue sticking out and his eyes rolling from one side to the other is in itself worthwhile of the entrance fee (yeah, my buy one get one free entrance fee!). Add to that that we got to ride the Dragon Ride twice, watch a 4D movie with Lego characters in it who didn't talk (somewhat a weird movie that's almost not kid-friendly), play at the playground, build with an endless supply of blocks big and small, and hey, take photos with Batman, Harry Potter and Mr. Krabs! For a good couple hours I didn't hear any whining and crying from my three kids. What better things can your $10 buy?!

To prove my point, here's a slideshow. Enjoy and leg godt!!!

My Big Plan for the Weekend That I Hope Happens

Ever promised your kids you're taking them somewhere fun over the weekend but you end up oversleeping (or uhm, feeling too lazy) that you settle for an activity that requires less effort (ie, ice cream, McDonald's). Well I must confess my husband and I are guilty! And I'm very embarrassed about it.

Which is why I'd like to make a big announcement that for tomorrow I plan on getting up early so we could check out the newly opened and first of its kind in the country Legoland Discovery Centre in Schaumburg, to put me in an even more embarrassing situation if I once again change my mind. The 30,000 square-foot "playground" promises a lot of family fun and entertainment but because it's so new I haven't really heard any reviews from someone I personally know.

I know coupons are always out there so I googled "Legoland Discovery Centre coupons" and I found buy one Adult ticket and get a Child ticket for free. Not bad, considering kids pay $15 apiece! I stumbled upon a few reviews while shopping for the best coupons (like buy one kid ticket and get the adult in for free maybe? Hey, it's the kids who really wanna be there in the first place!) and it's quite a mix of critics out there. What I noticed though is that people who complained simply complained about the entrance fees being too high. Maybe they paid full price. Maybe they're just cheap. I'll take that back if I ever complain about the same thing tomorrow.

Shoe and Handbag Madness Disease

This morning when I opened my inbox this little thing called a subject caught my eye--Labor Day Sale: Extra 30% off all sale items! If you were like me who does not make it a habit to regularly unsubscribe from annoying unsolicited emails, chances are this subject is not very unfamiliar this time of the year. However, one thing made it exceptionally good and tempting. The sender: eluxury.com!!!

These Dolce and Gabbana ballerinas caught my eye, originally $475, sale price $285.

I've been comtemplating on the thought of a Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Leopard Stole being my first fall splurge, but at $725 it really is a splurge. So to satisfy that leopard print craving these ballet flats might just do. Problem is, I also want these beauties:

A. Alberta Ferretti Woven Metallic Leather Flat, $550 sale price $330
B. Jean Paul Gaultier Camouflage Sandal, $725 sale price $435
C. Tod's Nuovo Matisse Athena Sandal, $395 sale price $238

Oh dear. Don't even get me started with the handbags.

Monthly Endorphin Injection

How's that for a title? But I can't take credit for it. This is actually what Amanda Gore calls her newsletter which I am subscribed to.

I first heard of Ms. Gore when I worked at Crate and Barrel. There was a convention for all store managers and copies of her lecture were made available to the staff for viewing. I'm glad our manager encouraged us to take the DVDs home and I've subscribed to her newsletter since then. It's always something I look forward to seeing in my inbox every month.

This month she talks about change and she entitled it, "Change or Die-- The Start is Hope." The article is pretty long to post here, but here are excerpts:

Neuroscience is essentially the study of the nervous system but recently it has been applied to the business world and linked with how people change and keep their brains young, creative and alert.

The great news is that our brains are not hardwired and set in concrete from birth on! We can change. From what I have read, it seems that there are 4 keys to change that lasts-- focus, attention, repetition and celebration! FARC for short! Add to that learning completely new and different skills and we have a recipe for rapid effective change and brain development!

...Dean Ornish, the most successful cardiologist in the world at reversing heart disease without surgery, says ‘people don’t resist change, they resist being changed’. His program starts with hope. His approach is to make dramatic life changes and the results that soon become obvious, are a source of hope that people can feel better and live a pain free, happier, active life.

Just like all of her materials this article is an excellent source of encouragement, hope, and yes, endorphins! It's a not-to-miss read and if you would like the full article please email me at windycitystine@gmail.com and I'd be happy to forward it to you. To subscribe to Amanda Gore's newsletter please click here.

First Day of School

New clothes, new backpacks, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and untouched notebooks, getting up early, butterflies in the stomach.... oh yes, the first day of school has come and the kids could not be any more thrilled. But wait, don't forget the 10 large glue sticks, 10 black and blue pens, 5 red pens, 5 highlighters, three boxes of Kleenex, two rolls of paper towel, three large hand sanitizers, four 180-sheet tubs of baby wipes, gallon-size Ziplocs, plastic sandwich bags and two dozen other things to bring... are you sure it's school you're sending your kids to and not a donation drive?

I asked for my mother-in-law's opinion of what she thought about the kids' lists of "school supplies" to bring and even she, a seasoned teacher, thinks it's outrageous! I wonder how we, as kids, survived before the days of wipes and hand sanitizers? Mind-boggling. I don't even remember using highlighters until I was in college!!!

Anyway, there's no use in crying over spilt milk, so let's look at some of the highlights of the day, shall we? Sebastian got his cousin MM's old teacher whom she called "mean" and had the "orange hair." Only two of his old Kindergarten classmates are in this class but they were among his favorites so he didn't mind. Quality vs. Quantity! He saw his other buddy Jotham but since they're not in the same class, "they'll see each other in the cafeteria." Wow, they sound so grown up already! And it's only the first day!

Marissa and Jesie (my husband's cousin) will no longer be classmates but they seem to like the classrooms they both ended up in. Jesie announces that Jenna (Marissa's classmate from a couple years ago) is back but she's in her class so "awwwww" for Marissa. All of the girls in Jesie's class love the Jonas Brothers but she doesn't, so the boys like her for that. How's that for a tip to other sixth graders?!

As for MM, "Can I be dropped off at Jesie's?"

Oh, kids!

Eye Creams and Aging, Mothers and Daughters

What is it about moms that you can never take their advice about everything for granted, important or not?

Just a few days after my birthday I receive a text message from Mom, and it went something like:

"Tin (my nickname), didn't you just turn 30? Start using eye cream to prevent your eyelids from drooping. Haven't you noticed that one of your eyelids is lower than the other? The folds are not even. I recommend Strivectin."

This is coming from someone who can't live any farther from me, literally from the opposite side of the globe, whom I see about once a year or two. Yet she speaks as if she was there by my side to witness me slowly age. And by the way, I turned 29, not 30!!!

But as they say mom knows best (in my case that's mostly true, just don't ask her about birthdays) so the very next day I hit the cosmetics department of Macy's. With the help of my coworker's mom who works for Clinique I grab a tiny jar of eye cream from Shiseido (what the...??!!!) and smear the preparation around my eyes. I guess if a salesperson tells you to buy from her competition you just have to listen. So I decided to purchase Shiseido's Benefiance Concentrated Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream but for good measure I also grab Clinique's Lash Power Mascara because it had me at hello, errr, its brush. Not even the tiniest lashes could escape it! Anyway, what's a beautiful eye without them long powerful lashes?

That night I sent Mom a text message to let her know that I took her advice and have promptly bought "The One." She wants me to try it for two weeks and see if it does me any good. So I am starting a photo collage to show my progress over the course of two weeks and share that with everybody. I could hardly wait to un-age!!!

Look What We Found at the Shedd!

Yes, we found him, his dad and their friend Dory but I'm not talking about finding Nemo. We found something more magical and marvelous at the lower level of the Shedd Aquarium...

WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINES!! Who knew the Philippines could be this close to Chicago?!

But did you know that...

Yeah, well, that might be a given. But did you also know that...

Well, I sorta knew that too. But hey, here's another one...

Ah yep, I knew that too. But in case you didn't you learned something today. And you didn't even have to pay the $25 entrance fee, you lucky nosy creature!

Visit the Shedd Aquarium! Now through September 1st they are open daily from 9-6. Make sure you bring a Chicago City resident with you for a 25% discount. The Lizards and the Komodo King will be leaving on Labor Day so come see them soon. I was kind of disappointed that this Komodo Dragon didn't slobber as much as the one I saw on Discovery Channel, but I think he was gross enough. Haha! The Beluga whales were enchanting (call me weird but they remind me of unicorns!) and the penguins adorable I wanted to take one home.

View more photos of the magical Beluga whales here.

Meet My 29-Year Old Self

What could be a happier birthday than one spent with the family? Well I could think of one. A birthday that's celebrated with even more family members!

Last week I received a message via Friendster from my cousin's wife that they are flying to Chicago on Tuesday, August 5th. They've always known that I've lived in the US for quite some time now but because we never kept in touch they had no idea where exactly. But again, thanks to Friendster, they found me! I was very excited to know that they've picked a special day to visit the city. Not only was it my birthday, it was also my day off work so we were able to pick them up at O'Hare and tour them around for a bit.

But Kuya Jaymard was here about the food. He wanted to make sure he ate Filipino food during his stay, so for dinner we went to Little Quiapo, a buffet-type Filipino restaurant. Need I say we ate to our hearts' content? To top it off, aside from dessert we also had halo-halo and sago. Yum!!!

So aside from starting my new year by pigging out, what's there to expect? I'm not sure exactly. This morning when my six-year old greeted me a happy birthday, he asked me a very profound question. As soon as he gave me a kiss and a hug, he asked, "So Mommy, what changes now that you're 29? You don't look any different, but I hope you stay that way. I don't want you to look like a lola (grandma)." He would every now and then ask me these kinds of questions and each time I am taken off guard. I would usually say, "Oh baby, that's not gonna happen!" because I'm not about to complicate things for a six-year old. But I realize maybe the best way to keep my word is to stay as healthy as possible, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. So I'm making that a goal (a major one!) for this year. For the rest of my life, I should say!

Thanks, Tita Susie, for the flowers. They're very pretty! :)

My 28th Year in a Nutshell

To celebrate my last day of being 28 I am making a list of memories and achievements of sorts I could go back to and say, "Ah yes, that happened when I was 28!" Here goes (not in any specific order)...

• I got to work for my favorite brand in the world
• I became an eBay powerseller (yeah, believe it or not, although I am losing that title soon because of inactivity, thanks to my new job. But I'm not complaining!)
• Was this close to winning the prestigious Chief Bag Officer title by being selected as one of the five finalists for the "America's Ultimate Bagaholic" contest sponsored by Bag, Borrow or Steal
• I acquired my very first Vernis (patent leather collection of Louis Vuitton)!
• Despite strong disapproval from my hairstylist because of my cowlick (haha!) I chopped off my bangs and actually got tons of compliments! (Last time I had bangs was in 4th grade!)
• This was the year I actually used the treadmill that's been collecting dust for two years!
• I went back home in the Philippines for the second time since I moved here, this time with a new member in the family, my bunso Kai
• ...It was then that I got to revisit the Banaue Rice Terraces
• ...and Boracay
• ...and see the breathtaking Sagada for the first time!
• I became an aunt for the second time with the birth of my (first) nephew, Inigo
• Started this amazingly awesome blog!!! I better not hear any objections. It is, afterall, my birthday in a few minutes!

And the list goes on but what I will forever remember is how good God has been to us this year. It's almost as if he played favorites because we would receive blessing after blessing even without us asking. So with a thankful heart I am celebrating my 29th birthday. Tomorrow! Let me enjoy the last few remaining minutes :)

Eli Stone Returns

I was really worried about Eli Stone not coming back after its first season. I personally do not know anyone who follows it except me and my six-year old. Seriously! But it's never too late to get Stoned. You could still view full episodes online by clicking here.

Please mark your calendar: Tuesday, October 14, 10/9c

I wanna make sure that this show is here to stay because seriously, I need to get over Ally McBeal and Felicity!

A Day Off? On a Saturday?!!!

Anyone who's ever worked in retail knows that getting a day off on a weekend, unrequested, is a rare phenomenon indeed. So I took advantage of this unusual occurence by seeing two very good friends and their families.

What we've planned to be a nice day on one of the Chicago beaches turned out to be a simple lazy afternoon at the Jacob residence in Bolingbrook. That meant plenty of good food to eat, lots of space for the kids to roam (and destroy) and an endless roster of movies courtesy of Ger. We later on realize that it was a blessing in disguise that our ambitious beach plan did not push through because of the Lollapalooza 2008 happening at Grant Park. I say ambitious because none of us has ever been to any of the Chicago beaches (we usually go to the Dunes in Indiana) and we all know how difficult it is to score a parking spot anywhere downtown, let alone by the lake. On a Saturday! In the summer!

I usually see Maris and Therese on (or around) very important dates like birthdays, Mother's Day and Christmas. So that means whenever we see each other we always have gift bags to exchange. Today was especially strange and funny in a way because we all got each other similar gifts and they were all in the same color palettes. This is one of those "Great minds think alike" moments!

But because Maris celebrates her BIG 3-0 on Wednesday, August 6th, Therese and I decided that we should get her something special that would remind her of us and her 30th birthday, so we got her a Tiffany and Co. sterling silver necklace with two little heart pendants. Two, as in me and Therese (Maris can be the chain--Haha!). What could be more perfect than that?! :)

Back home I continued to enjoy my precious Saturday by serving leftover for dinner. A dinner I didn't have to cook?! If I'm dreaming please don't wake me up! Oh wait, I changed my mind. Do wake me up because at 9pm I'm watching Eli Stone. It's a rerun but I don't care. Oh what a perfect way to end this day. I could get used to this.

Kai's Artwork On Exbihit at the Elmwood Park Library

Yeah. That kind of exhibit.

That's Chicago Love

Today on the business section of the Chicago Tribune Web Edition an article was written about Chicago locals being the most content with their city.

"Survey finds Chicagoans are happy with their surroundings, beating New York and Paris as most loved city by its residents." Read more...

By the way it's not a habit of mine to read the Trib online every morning. I knew about this article through the Eric and Kathy show on 101.9 (The Mix) this morning. Kathy made a very good comment about the article. She said something like, "I bet they conducted the survey in the summer!" Haha! I would say, better yet, maybe in the spring! :)

Photo of Ohio Street Beach grabbed from Wikipedia

She Turned 27 on the 28th

Oh no! I'm a few minutes late for this greeting on my blog (the date changed an hour ago), but HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister, GET!!! All the best to you and your little angels Isa and Migs always. Lots of love.

Your horoscope for today from Astrology.com (haha!):
You're working much better as part of a team today, so try not to go solo unless you must. You may be the key ingredient that helps everyone else mesh, so don't be shy about speaking up early.

You? Shy?! See, this is why I don't believe in horoscopes! LOL.

Kai: Croc Lover or Destroyer? Discuss.

Although some find Crocs ugly I think it's pretty safe to
assume that most parents of little ones love these colorful clogs especially in the summer time. I, for one, could never see myself wearing a pair but I think little kids look so adorable in them! They're very practical too, because they're : 1) easy to find because of the colors they come in; 2) lightweight; 3) very easy to clean; 4) waterproof and dries quickly; 5) anti-bacterial. And like most kids mine LIVED in their Crocs all summer long this year and last.

But even good things come to an end and such is the case with my two-year old Kai's second pair of Crocs two days ago. He lost the other half of his first green pair (so much with "easy to find!") so I got him yellow ones (with blue straps) the next time. When he came home on Saturday with his dad and his big brother, Sebastian, from the Toyota Jamboree one of the straps came off on one side. I thought, oh well, summer's almost over, so I guess I'll just get another pair next year.

Unfortunately, if you had a child as persistent as Kai you know you're not going to win an argument (albeit that he could barely say a word right). On Sunday on their way to our usual Sunday destination (Tito Egay and Tita Neneth's home to watch TFC!) he refused to wear his other shoes and insisted he wore his damaged yellow Disney Crocs. With one strap hanging loosely and rubbing against the floor when he walked, the poor thing didn't seem to mind one bit that his favorite shoe in the world was broken.

So I decided to get him new ones today. And not just one pair, but two. And seeing how excited he was to try them on, I'd say he's a lover :)

Here they Come, the Beautiful Ones

Louis Vuitton Oak Brook to open the second week of Oak-tober! Watch out!

Wheee!!! He's 23!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHOLO!!!

I Wanna Go Back to Bed, I Feel Much Better There

If the title sounds familiar, it's because it's part of The Murmurs' song called "Carry Me Home." You'll hear it in the beginning part of the song. The Murmurs was a big part of my college life and although it's been a while since I last heard any of their songs I listen to them today (via YouTube) with the familiarity of the near yesterday. My entry this morning has nothing to do with them except for the borrowed words but I hope I provoked a sense of curiosity in you to check this video out:

So why do I want to go back to bed... aside from the fact that I feel much better there? Well there's this little thing at noon which goes on til 9pm (if I'm lucky) called work. Being the caring mom that I am (haha!) I wanted to make something good for lunch and dinner for my babies before I left. And when I mean babies I mean my husband included. Men! So my alarm went off at 7am. In a matter of minutes my husband tells me that he and the boys are going to the Cliff's Off Road Park in Marseilles, Illinois for the Toyota Jamboree event. He's been talking about this for the last couple of days and I keep telling him I have no problem at all about him going, but he needs to find a sitter since I have work all weekend. Apparently this is way too big a task for him so he tells me last night, past midnight, that he decided not to go. Until he wakes up. I swear it'll take a lifetime for me to understand this guy!!!

But then again, looking at the bright side, which I try very hard to do at every given bad situation, I need not make lunch and dinner so that makes me wanna go back to bed. Oh, carry me home.

The Oak Park (Detour) Experience

In my attempt to offer unsolicited advice to Cholo who, up to now, has not decided where he's taking the family for his triple celebration tomorrow (for graduating college, passing the NCLEX and celebrating his 23rd birthday) I decided to make a detour from my usual route home to see about the Flat Top Grill in Oak Park on Lake Street. Someone whom I used to work with live in this village and he highly recommends it. But nearly as soon as I make it to the front I receive a text message from Mr. Celebrant saying that he's finally made up his mind, and that the winner is the Cheesecake Factory at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. I'm so excited!!! Maybe we'll do FTG next time.

I didn't want my detour to end in vain so I decided to make a quick pass along Chicago Avenue and check out one of my favorite places in the world, the Frank Lloyd Wright (my favorite architect too, that's for sure!) Home and Studio. I've been wanting to volunteer here forever since it's only 2 miles away from home but... I don't know what my excuse is.

Even with the scant lighting limited to the middle part where the

stork capitals are, the place looked majestic (note that it's almost 10pm by now). Only problem is I didn't bring my camera (I should really get into the habit of bringing one, if I were to take this blogging seriously). I wasn't about to use that as an excuse so I bring out my camera phone and take a snap. And another. The result is the photo on the left, in case you were wondering what the black box is all about. Haha. Pathetic! But the point is I was there, enjoying this piece of art many regard as one of America's must-see places before you die. So if you ever make it there before you die, please ask one of the volunteers for Kristine. You never know, I could be giving you the tours by then. Or ringing up your souvenir, postcard and fridge door magnet purchase for you, you little tourist, you!

Laughter Work Out

Today was a pretty normal day. I have work and on days like this I wake up anytime between 9am and 10am, not to get ready but to start cooking lunch and dinner. My kids eat home-cooked meals everyday as long as I'm not too busy to do it. They actually eat more this way :) Usually at 4pm I head off to work.

So nothing too exciting today. I even missed running (which I try to do every other day) because our realtor called and said they are coming over within an hour for a viewing. So I had to clean up a little bit, and it's always challenging to keep the place spotless. Any parent of a two-year old would know exactly what I'm talking about. And guess what? The people we're expecting (the realtor himself included) decided not to show up. So I missed running for nothing.

On second thought, looking at the bright side, I did sweat it out a little by scrubbing and what-not. And also while waiting I went to the YouTube website by clicking on a link my little sister sent me. She said Mom wanted me to see it. It's five minutes long and I laughed my head off the entire time. So from the work out I got from playing Cinderella and the short-but-effective abdominal muscle tightening exercise courtesy of Mr. Manny Poohquiao himself, I guess it wasn't as bad. I just have to maybe run everyday for the rest of the week. Yeah, right. Let's see that happen!

Meanwhile take time to spare five minutes of your precious time to try this thing I call the Laughter Work Out. You never know, it could also be the highlight of your day. Well, let's hope not! :D

Bucketful of Sunshine

When I woke up today at 7am-- a feat, considering I've been getting up at around 10 on normal days recently-- I didn't mind so much that I was losing at least 3 hours' worth of sleep. Why, you ask? Because today I was coming home with a bucketful of those sweet round pretty yellow Rainier cherries!

The 2-hour drive from Chicago to the Jollay Orchard in Coloma, Michigan was bearable. Because we own a large SUV all the kids in the family (six in all) usually prefer to ride with us. It was a lazy Sunday morning and the highway was near empty, thanks to high gas prices! Cholo also rode with us and we chatted the ride away until we reached our destination. I loved the scenic small road we took. Lovely homes, wineries, orchards and a fine chocolate shop were just a few pleasing sights to behold.

At last we get to the farm. Not only was the place abundant in parking spaces, it was also..... unusually empty. We momentarily find out that we are two weeks late from the picking season. I guess that's better than being just one day too late! Unless, they said, we'd be interested in tart cherries. I guess tart cherries are better than no cherries.

Or not! The cherries were so bitter none of us could tolerate them. We are not a baking kind of people either, so there really wasn't any use for these fruits. I thought they looked cute though--they reminded me of my old Louis Vuitton Speedy 25 Cerises! LOL.

So I guess we're unlucky this year. Which, by the way, would've been my little family's first. But that doesn't mean we couldn't pick raspberries! So picked we did. That's me, taking it very seriously :) However, my husband, the two boys and my 8-year old niece had a different idea about having fun and used the Radio Flyer wagon to coast down the hills. As expected, it ended with pleas and screams from the two-year old who didn't want to stop.

Even though I didn't expect this kind of conclusion to our family outing I was very glad that we did go. Part of that is because when we left Chicago this morning it was kind of cold and gloomy (it was pouring throughout the day yesterday). The Michigan weather was beautiful, and while some people are just okay with a pocketful of sunshine, we got bucketfuls! :)

Congratulations, Cholo!!!

Yesterday Cholo (my husband's cousin) dropped by our place to show me a few sketches of the room he is decorating for his friend and ask for little tweaks here and there. It is pretty exciting to help out with the project, as I would love a chic girly room myself if it weren't for my uberminimalist husband, who, if it were entirely up to him would simply have a bed in the room. Nothing more, nothing less (sheets optional!).

But yesterday was a special day because at 2pm Cholo found out that he passed the NCLEX that he took two days ago. So as late as 9pm (pretty late if you have 3 little ones in tow) we hit our neighborhood Applebee's to celebrate. Also because I messed up my pasta dinner (too salty!). That's hitting two birds with one stone! Back home we watched the Bucket List which stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, just the perfect way to call it a night.

Congratulations again, Mr. Alberto Alvarez Villamiel, BSN, RN (music to Tita Susie's ears)!!! Congratulations too, Tita!!! :)

Bringing Home the Birkin

A few weeks ago I requested a book entitled "Bringing Home the Birkin-- My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbag" by Michael Tonello to be brought over to our library from another Chicagoland location. Unfortunately this library won't share their copy (hmmmph!) probably because it's so new. So what's my library got to do?

Buy it just for me!!! See the "NEW" sticker? :)
And today I am Bringing Home the Book.

Oh I love the Elmwood Park Library! My kids do too, and they all have their own accounts (well, not the 2-year old). Co-workers would always ask me if I've read the book (I was the one who first found out about it but they grabbed copies as soon as they knew about its existence) and I would just say, "I'm still waiting for the library's call" and I get the "You actually use the library?!!" look. I don't care! I'll borrow it and if it's worth keeping I'll grab my own copy. Meanwhile I'm going to start reading and if it's a worthwhile read you'll hear about it again. Oh I just love the smell of new books! And old ones, for that matter <wink>.

Brookfield Zoo

Unaware that the weather's going to be in the mid-90s today we decided to visit the Brookfield Zoo. We were so excited we decided we wanted to be zoo members. For $101 we get unlimited number of visits in a year, with free parking, 6 free guest tickets (plus we can bring one guest for free each visit), 4 tickets to the dolphin show, 4 tickets to motor safari tour and discounts to select shops and restaurants. I told them that I have 4 kids because I know one of their cousins would always want to tag along, so that's what my membership card says. Perhaps I should take offense that they actually believed I was mother to four! LOL.

It was a lot of fun. Kai saw a lot of babies-- a term he uses for anything cute, big or small. Dolphins, elephants, chipmunks, monkeys--even his dad!--they're all babies and equal :) A little tip for those who want to visit: bring food and tons of beverages, as they're allowed. Their bottled water and soda run for about $3.25-$3.75 each! Also, make sure your camera's battery is full. Because it's so impromptu I didn't even think of that, so five photos later (all shown) our battery's dead. Luckily we're members now, so all we have to do is come back again! Yay!!!!! :D