The Best Eighteen Months of My Life!

I once served a full time mission for the LDS (Latter Day Saints) church back when I was still single. I spent 1 and a 1/2 year in the city of General Santos, Mati, and Kidapawan. Those were the best 18 months of my life...and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The service caused me my job promotion and a one year training in Japan. I never regret quitting my job and serving God in that part of His vineyard. I've met new friends, learned their language, gained testimony of the truthfulness of God's gospel, got the chance to know me better, share the word of God to others, and what my purpose is on this earth. Every so often, I can't help but find myself wishing that I could go back and serve again. There were even nights that I dream myself back in the mission field :-). Anyway, here is a photo of me and my last companion whom I trained for 4 months before I finally go home after my term is over. Her name is Marylene. Many people mistaken us as sisters and other thought we were twins. How I wished she was my biological sister. She now lives in Manila and have wonderful family of her own :-). Hope to see her when we go visit Philippines next year.

What about you? Please join us and share your nostalgic moments with us by clicking the badge.

Dinner at Iron Chef Restaurant

Another one of those busy, but fun days with my in-laws during their first visit to our new how. We didn't do much but hang around the house while fixing few stuffs like placing door knobs on kitchen cabinet, hanging ceiling fans and walking around the pond near the park. I am sure everyone enjoyed our trip to the mall as well as the dinner at Iron Chef restaurant where a Japanese chef cooking our foods right in front of us. Jacob and I never seen the trick that chef did before and so we were so amazed. The food were perfectly cooked and were very good! I tell you, it was the most expensive meals we ever had with my in-laws. I felt bad because they spent over a hundred bucks excluding the tips. My hubby told me not to feel guilty for they like to treat us and that this occasion doesn't happen all the time :-); felt better much better after hearing those words of assurance :-).

Nostalgia: Jake's First Winter

Jacob was barely five months old when we went to a state park. It was winter time so it was very cold. As you can see, he is very much bundled up. He was crying because he was cold :-); then Grandma Audrey talked to him and he stopped crying. I miss my baby...now he is about to turn six and a first grader this fall! Where did the time goes? Indeed, time flies so fast and before we know it he would be in college already...wahhhh :-(.

Anyway, here is my share for this week.... I know it's been awhile since I posted my last entry. Been very busy with our move. Okay, for more Nostalgic moments, click the badge above.

Our Humble Abode

Finally, I get the chance to update my blogs after a month of being away from it. These photos are the very reasons why. I am still busy, but not as much as before; therefore I have time left for my blogs...and do other things as well. Thanks for those who visited, commented and left messages on my six blogs; sure appreciate them a lot. I will do my best to visit you back as soon as I can...Have a great weekend everyone!

The front yard/view...

living room/family area...
and entertainment room at the same time...

kitchen, the heart of our home...

and our simple, but spacious dining room.

TRU Adds Babies R Us Branded Infant Care Line

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Before I even gave birth to our son six years ago, hubby and I made Babies R Us part of preparing our son's room and that also includes his basic needs such as baby furniture, clothes, stroller and more. After he was born, we still go there for items you will not find in other stores.

Anyway, I have a good news for all the mothers and mom's to be out there. Toys R Us has officially announced that they are going to sell Babies R us brand of infant care line of products at their stores. The Babies R Us new line of infant care products includes: include infant formulas, diapers, baby wipes, laundry detergent and purified water at prices at least 50 percent lower than other brands.

When I shopped for my friends baby shower gifts, the said products are already available. I like that the Babies R us brand of formula is a lot cheaper than comparable brands. My friend would be very happy to know that since she has a twins who need this infant formula. She really needs to buy infant milk or her babies would never be healthy and strong as they grow up. Aren't you mothers glad that Babies R Us offers cheaper baby products of the same quality as comparable brands? You not only saving some bucks but also giving your child/children great tasting infant milk/formula. So what are you waiting for? Shop at Toys R Us today!

10 Water Safety Rules for Kids

Summer time is the time where everyone want to cool off from the heat of the sun. Some may go swimming on the pool, other will be on the beach....no matter where you are stay safe especially watch you kids....this will help save the life of your kids from drowning.

According to Kids Health, nearly one thousand kids drown each year in the United States, and most of those deaths occur while children are under the supervision of a parent or caregiver. Keep your kids safe this summer by understanding the basics of water safety: supervision, education, and safe swimming environments.

~~ Stay away from open water in your neighborhood, including ditches, lakes, and drains.
~~ Never enter a backyard pool or hot tub without an adult's permission.
~~ Don't roughhouse, run, or push around a pool.
~~ Never swim alone.
~~ Don't dive in shallow pool water or into lakes or rivers.
~~ Take a break when you feel tired.
~~ Don't panic if you become exhausted. Call for help. Then turn on your back and float until you are rescued or have the energy to swim to the edge of the water.
~~ Get out of the water if you see lightning.
~~ Wear a life jacket whenever you're swimming in open water or riding in a boat.
~~ Follow lifeguards' directions.

Just Blabbing :-)

Would be staying up late tonight again so I could finish the tasks assigned to me or else they would expire tomorrow. I know it is bad for my health to stay up late, but I have no choice. Anyway, this doesn't happen all the time....a little bit at a time would not be that bad :-); plus I need extra money for our trip to the Philippines next year. I also need to send the BalikBayan box....I don't want to procrastinate it anymore. They have been waiting for the box for months now and I don't want to disappoint them again. Anyway, just blabbing up here before I phone my parents tonight :-). Ta ta for now!

Want Some Cake?

Since my son's six birthday is coming very soon, I decided to make cupcakes instead of the normal cakes. I am sure he would like to have chocolate cupcakes for that is his favorite. I noticed every time I attend a birthday party, more and more people don't care about cake anymore and so, cupcakes would be perfect for it is a small portion and guest who are on a diet would be very happy.

We all know that the summer is big on festivities. Here are some fool-proof suggestions to slice and dice the crowning piece of any party—the cake.

Dental floss: This works best for sheet cakes. Take a string of (non-flavored) dental floss, about six inches longer than the cake on each side. Push the floss through the width of cake and then the length of the cake. Continue to do so until you have as many slices as you need.

Round cakes: Cut a smaller circle in the middle of the cake. Give the outer pieces to the frosting lovers, and the inside pieces to the cake lovers.

A side of ice cream: Ice cream is a great complement to a slice of cake, but it is no fun for the person scooping it! Try this: buy a cardboard container of ice cream and leave it out to soften somewhat. Remove the packaging and cut the ice cream into slices. If the container is a cylinder, before removing the ice cream from packaging, cut it in half length-wise, so it becomes two half-circles, and then slice.