Life as a WAHM

Finding the Time to Read

Fe — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:44:00 +0000

One of the things that I have been frustrated about since I started blogging and working online is the fact that I cannot read novels as much as I used to. I was introduced to reading Sweet Dreams and Choose Your Own Adventure pocketbooks in high school. I would borrow pocketbooks from my classmates and I would read them during recess or lunch breaks and most of the time, I would be finished with one by the time school is over for the day. From reading Sweet Dreams pocketbooks, it progressed into reading novels which I would finish within a few days, especially if I become so engrossed with the story.

Nowadays, reading has been a ‘luxury’ for me; something that happens rarely. My husband has even discouraged me to buy the Sunday paper because I would just end up browsing it and another Sunday would come without me even reading the paper from the previous week. Whenever I get the opportunity to buy books, it would usually take weeks before I get to finish one. Being a work-at-home mom means I do not have control of how much free time I would have and sometimes, free time means catching up on my sleep. Reading has, in a way, taken a back seat.

Joining online giveaways has exposed me to different kinds of blogs, including book blogs. I would read reviews by other bloggers, and it has somehow, made me want to read the recent releases that they have been raving about. I started joining book giveaways and I have been fortunate enough to win quite a few of them. Here’s the latest one that I have won :

I chose this because of the positive reviews that it has been getting and I must say, a few chapters into it, I am looking forward to learn how the story would unfold. I truly miss the feeling of turning over each page and of ‘course, the smell of new books ( ‘bookaholics’ like me would understand what I mean…). Anyway, I’m just glad that I am reading again and I can’t wait to read all those wonderful and engaging novels I have been hearing about.

Nice To Know You Wednesday # 12

Fe — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:49:00 +0000

This is the first time that I’ll be participating in NTKYW and I hope this will be something that I’ll be able to do every week. This meme aims to allow bloggers to share a little something about themselves by answering five simple questions.

Here are this week’s questions:

1.) Which store would you choose to max out your credit card ?

* I do not have a credit card but if I do have one I would most probably use it on whatever my kids can use especially those that can help them with their school work. I can’t resist books, so I think I will stay away from bookstores if I have a credit card with me.

2.) Do you touch-type?

* Although I would like to be able to do that with confidence, I feel I can type faster while doing it the only way I know (which is looking at the keyboard as I type).

3.) Is there anything going on this weekend ?

* Yes, there is ! It’s going to be our 16th Wedding Anniversary this Saturday, so it’s a special weekend for us. (No definite plans yet, but still, I’m grateful for such as great blessing).

4.) What time do you get up in the morning?

* On weekdays, I wake up at 4:30 am because I have to prepare my son’s baon for school. He needs to be at school by 6:30am. If I do not have anything urgent to do, I would usually go back to sleep by 6am then wake up at around 8 am and have breakfast with hubby and start with the day’s chores.

5.) Are you a morning person or a night owl?

* I would say both.

Whew! That’s it. Simple, right ? I hope I did ok. And I hope you can also join us every week.

Happy International Women’s Day to all the ladies out there especially to all the amazing moms around the world !

How Can I Forget Something So Important?

Fe — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:49:00 +0000

Every night, before I go to sleep, I have this habit making a mental note of what needs to be done the next day. It helps me prepare for how the next day would be like, especially if my tasks are going to be both physically and mentally exhausting.

And if there is also one thing that I am proud of, it is my ability to remember important dates – especially birthdays. I never forget birthdays and other important events. I can even remember the birthdays of my close friends in grade school.

Before I went to sleep last night, I remember thinking that I’m glad I do not have to wake up at four-thirty in the morning since it’s going to be the weekend and it means no school for the kiddos. (Waking up at 7am is a luxury for me). And since it’s going to be laundry day for me, I also thought of having a heavy breakfast (with the whole family, of course).

Anyway, I decided to check my emails first after breakfast, and there’s this one email that caught my attention. You know that ‘Yahoo Reminder’ emails that you receive whenever there are important occasions like birthdays? I got one this morning. So, what was in my ‘reminder’ email ? It says, “Wedding Anniversary”. Oh crap ! Wedding Anniversary ! How can I forget our own wedding anniversary ? It’s like getting a virtual smack in the head, really ! How can I forget that it’s going to be our 16th Wedding Anniversary next week? I remembered by husband’s birthday (which is 4 days away) but I forgot about our wedding anniversary. I told my husband about it and he said maybe I was just too preoccupied since I was too busy helping my son review for his final exams as well. Or maybe lack of sleep does that to you. Whatever it may be, this is the first time I have forgotten about something as important as my own wedding anniversary ( I hope it never happens again). And please, please, please, don’t even think about ‘old age’; ‘cause I just might give you a smack in the head, too…… (I’m just kidding, of course).

So, how’s your weekend so far ? I hope you did not forget something important .

Party Supplies From Zurchers For Your Themed Party

Fe — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:19:51 +0000

* Guest Post

Party theme ideas and appropriate party supplies that you can get from Zurchers.

It is a challenge to plan any kind of party. To make this task easier, a lot of people often choose party themes at the beginning of their party planning. This way, it can be quite easy to set all the other party details such as the invitations, decorations, and other birthday party supplies for kids.

With the site Zurchers.com, party planning is made even easier. You can find a wide variety of discount party supplies at Zurchers.com to make party planning more fun and affordable. Below are some of the party themes you can use which will be easy to shop for at Zurchers.com.

• Justin Bieber Party. Most children and teenagers surely know who Justin Bieber is. If your child is a fan, then a Justin Bieber party is a great idea. Zurchers.com has a lot of Justin Bieber party supplies that you can use such as plates printed with Justin Bieber’s image, table napkins, paper cups, plastic table cover, invitations, and even a life size standup.
• Dinosaur Party. For the younger ones, especially the boys, a dinosaur party will be a sure hit. With the numerous sources that you have for dinosaur-related items plus the dinosaur birthday party supplies from Zurchers.com, party planning will surely be a breeze. Zurchers offers complete dinosaur birthday party kits which you can easily customize on the website according to your preferences.
• Jungle Party. Another sure hit for young children, a jungle party can be very exciting and fun. There are a lot of different products at Zurchers.com that will make your jungle party complete. You can get some monkey birthday party supplies or wild kingdom birthday party supplies. You will surely have fun incorporating various jungle animals in your party theme.
• Angry Birds. Who does not know what “Angry Birds” is? Numerous Angry Birds merchandise are very easy to find everywhere so it should not be difficult for you to buy stuff that will bring your theme to life. Zurchers.com also offers Angry Birds birthday party supplies such as plates, cups, table covers, and foil balloons.
• Casino. For a more adult birthday party, a casino theme will surely be busy and fun. You can find invitations, table napkins, cups, plates, play money, poker chips, inflatable slot machine, and even casino roulette sets at Zurchers.com.

No matter what type of party you are planning, a visit to Zurchers.com will provide you with a lot of party theme ideas as well as themed party supplies to make everything easy for you. With the wide selection of themes that you can find at Zurchers, you will surely want to try most of them.

About the Author:
Aggie Aviso is a freelance consumer and business writer, writing comprehensive reviews, articles and how-to’s.

Books ! Yay !

Fe — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:33:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to win books of my choice at a book giveaway. The books were to be ordered and delivered via the Book Depository. I was a bit hesitant at first because I have no knowledge about how fast Book Depository ships to the Philippines and of course there is this thought that the books will get lost in the mail somehow. But the opportunity to win books is too good for me to pass up.

Anyway, when I received the email informing me that I won, I immediately visited Book Depository’s website and started browsing through the available books that they have. I was overwhelmed by the variety of books ; I had a hard time deciding which ones to pick.

I finally decided on these :

It only took a little over two weeks for the books to arrive; I was surprised because I thought it would at least take a month. I am actually thinking of ordering some more books, especially those that they have on sale (new books,especially the new releases, are quite expensive here). My son has been browsing the site as well and he is making a list of the books he wants.

So, I guess you all have an idea of what I’ll be doing this weekend, huh ?

Have a great weekend everyone and happy reading !

Hump Day $50 Giveaway–Group 1

Fe — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

It’s time for Hump Day $50 Giveaway and today’s event is for RSS and Email Subscriptions. But wait, this week, you can win $50 TWICE since there are 2 groups holding the giveaway! Group 1 is composed of the 27 wonderful blogs listed below so feel free to check them out after joining. A link to join Group 2′s giveaway is below the post so make sure you enter that as well when you’re done with Group 1.

There are 2 types of entries this week. You can follow a blog though it’s RSS link, which you can subscribe via a Reader or Email, or a link directly to their Email Subscription. For a short tutorial click here but be sure to come back to enter through this blog. A note though: You can only join this on one blog/page. There will be a maximum of 33 entries ONLY. If you have more than 33, I reserve the right to delete duplicate or fraudulent entries. May I request that you use only one name and email address for quicker validation of entries. On the first mandatory entry, please do not forget to write Life as a WAHM referred you since it is a mandatory entry. You must complete the first 2 tasks before the others are enabled, and for all your other entries to count. Thank you very much and good luck. By joining this giveaway, you agree to the Terms and Conditions on the bottom of the form. Contest is open all-day Wednesday, from January 25th, 12:01am EST to January 25th,11:59pm EST (January 25th, 1:01pm Philippine time to January 26th, 12:59pm Philippine time).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To win another chance at $50 from Group 2, head on over to Bookish and do not forget to put Bookish on the first mandatory entry. Good luck on winning $50… TWICE!

3rd Umami Culinary Challenge

Fe — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:05:00 +0000

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation is ushering the New Year with a grand culinary competition that will showcase the creativeness, innovativeness, culinary skills and mastery of over 300 aspiring Filipino chefs.

The Ajinomoto 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge (3Rd UCC) : The Battle for the Umami Bowl will be held on January 20, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center. It is an interschool, multi-category culinary competition that focuses on Umami, the 5th Basic Taste. Participants from 29 universities and colleges that offer HRM courses and from 5 prestigious culinary schools will complete in this year’s exciting culinary and non-culinary categories.

An impressive line up of judges from various fields related to food will pick out the best of the best. These renowned culinary luminaries include: Sandy Daza (Inquirer columnist and TV show host), Chef Babes Austria (Executive Chef of Taal Vista Hotel and former Executive Chef of Malacañang Palace), Chef James Antolin (Vice President of Pastry Alliance of the Philippines), Chef Day Salonga and Chef Mon Acosta (Chef Consultants for opening new restaurants), Nina Daza-Puyat (Editor in Chief, Appetite Magazine), Chef Seiji Kamura (Executive Chef and owner of Mogu Japanese Restaurant), Vicky Alejandrino, (Head of Quality Assurance and Commissary for the Pancake House Group), Chef Colin McKay (Executive Chef and owner of Sala Restaurant Group) and Tetta Arroyo (Travel and Food Writer) among others.

Seminars on new trends and techniques will also be held for the benefit of those who are interested in developing their culinary skills.

The Ajinomoto 3^rd Umami Culinary Challenge is a collaboration of organizations which strongly support the development of the Philippine culinary scene, among them are Glutamate Association of the Philippines (GAP), Elba, Whirlpool/Fujidenzo, Masflex, PR Gaz, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Anvil Publishing and media partners GMA 7, Appetite Magazine, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Libre and PR Moms Network.

Designer Trousers and Jeans

Fe — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:38:00 +0000

In choosing the right clothes, we do not only look at the clothes’ style and design but also at how comfortable and durable they are. Wearing the right clothes adds to person’s self confidence. Ill fitting clothes makes a person feel restricted, not allowing her to move freely.

Gardeur, a German label famous for its trousers, skirts and jeans, has always been known to offer quality and stylish clothes that are suitable for every occasion. Gardeur trousers are designed with style and comfort in mind. Their best selling leg trousers with all around invisible stretch waist is a popular choice amongst women who do not only want to look stylish but feel comfortable as well. Gardeur offers a variety of trousers and jeans including the classic denim jeans, stretch jeans, washable wool trousers and velvet jeans. They come in different cuts and colors that can help you create the kind of look you want.

Help a Child Become an “e.Studyante” with P&G Promo Packs

Fe — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:06:00 +0000

School children in the Philippines face many challenges; sometimes, even the simple walk to school in the morning can be an arduous journey. Students cross rivers, traverse mountain peaks, even go through battlegrounds just to go to school. And when they arrive, they are faced with meager resources – overcrowded classrooms, the lack of books and school supplies – which all make for an uninspiring learning environment.

That is why starting on its 76^th year, Procter and Gamble (P&G) Philippines is setting out to make these students’ journey more worthwhile. Taking its commitment to education to the next level, P&G will provide technology and connectivity to Filipino students nationwide with its e.Studyante program.

Along with partner Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and Synergeia Foundation, the e.Studyante program will provide kids from selected schools with an XO Laptop from the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Association. The XO laptop is a rugged, low-power, connected laptop especially designed to make learning more engaging and more fun for students.

Students can use their laptops not just to learn but to share and connect with each other, with their communities and with the world – helping them all become an “e.Studyante.”

The goal is simple: Give out 1,000,000 laptops in time for P&G’s 100^th year. And you can help.

“For children all over the country, the challenge of education begins even before they step into the classroom. Some have to wake up at the crack of dawn and walk miles through unpaved roads, through woods and rivers, just to get to school. We are doing this for these students. We want to make this journey worthwhile for them by giving them the tool that will place the world’s knowledge at their fingertips – through a laptop and internet connectivity,” said Chad Sotelo, e.Studyante Country Marketing Manager.

“But it’s not something we can do alone,” Sotelo added. “To help us reach our goal of 1,000,000 students, we would like to invite moms all over the country to support the e.Studyante program by buying P&G promo packs.”

Through the “e.Studyante” program, you can help give a child a laptop by buying specially marked P&G promo packs available nationwide. You not only save up to 40%[1] on your favorite P&G products but you also help provide a child with a world of educational materials and fun activities that will inspire them to learn and achieve even more.

Participating brands include Safeguard, Tide, Pampers, Downy, Ariel, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Joy, Rejoice, Whisper, Olay, Gillette, Vicks and Ambi-Pur.

Helping those in need has never been easier. You can help make each child’s journey to school more worthwhile. Support the e.Studyante program and help gift each student with a brighter future! Isang laptop, mas malawak na kaalaman, mas magandang bukas.

"Pinay Mommies Community supports the P&G e.Studyante Program"

Journaling : An Effective Way to Relieve Stress

Fe — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Most people find it helpful to talk about the things that cause them stress. They usually have a small circle of friends who they talk to regularly and they share with them their everyday experiences that has been causing a major amount of stress.

But if you do not have as much opportunity as you need to talk to friends about such matters or if you feel that it is too personal to share with anybody, then starting a journal would be a good option. Journaling can be a great tool where you can express all your frustrations and take note of what has been triggering stress in your life. Buy a journal or use your laptop or computer – whichever you’re comfortable with.

If this is going to be the first time that you’re going to start journaling, here are some tips to help you get started :

* Write whenever you want to or you need to. But if you have the opportunity to write everyday, do so, even for just a few minutes. That way, you are able to deal with your everyday stressors.

* Don’t focus on how long or how short your daily entry is. Don’t think about correct grammar, spelling or punctuation, just write continuously up to the point where you think you have expressed everything that has been on your mind.

*Focus on the things that have been bothering you all day. Write as honestly as you can about how you feel about them. It can help you get a different perspective and allow you to think of how you can deal with the situation better.

Keep in mind though that although journaling can be truly helpful in relieving stress, seeking a professional’s help during extreme depression is the best thing to do. They can guide you and help you deal with your depression effectively. If you think you are suffering from depression or any form of emotional or mental instability, seek the help of a licensed professional.

If you feel that you need a way to deal with stress, then buy a fancy journal or create a website where you can express your feelings freely and start journaling today.