Smoke 'Em If Ya Got 'Em; or Better Yet, Collect 'Em!

Dad has been spending the weekends with his good golfing buddies lately. He always has stories to tell when he gets home from a day of fun in the sun. He talked about cigars last weekend. He’s not a smoker but what prompted him to mention this is that one of his buddies is collecting cigars and showed off his collection to them that day. They were fascinated with the collection which consisted of different flavors, shapes and sizes, and even strength of tobacco. Being a non-smoker, dad wasn’t aware that cigars possessed those characteristics.

Having heard that story from him gave me an idea on what to give him on his upcoming birthday. Yes, he doesn’t smoke, but that doesn't mean he couldn't collect. So for a start, I will give him a cigar collection gift box containing fourteen flavors. Perfect!

Here Yo Go, Bro'! Ya Owe Me One, Now...(",)

My brother called me this morning asking if he could borrow my usb drive. And I told him, "Sure, why not?" I won it at my son’s school during their raffle drawing at their Christmas party last year. They gave away a bunch of custom usb drives plus other goodies, and it’s not the only thing that I won. I also got a personalized bag with their school’s name on it. That certainly was my lucky night! (",)

But I haven’t even used the usb drive since dad has one he shares with me. Maybe I’ll just give my prize to my bro'; seems as if he needs it much more than I do.

The Heat is On!

The weather has been ranging from 91 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit here in our city lately and it’s just so darn hot. And because of the heat, we've been experiencing rotating brownouts not just in the city but the entire province as a whole because of the power shortage. Just try to imagine how uncomfortable it can be. The heat is making my skin feel so itchy, the fan isn't helping at all and I feel like just pouring water over my head for some relief.

But speaking of water, this would be the perfect time to go to the beach and enjoy the coolness the water brings. This itchy skin is making me itchy to gear up, grab my beach towel and other beach paraphernalia and go to the beach; PRONTO! Just thinking about going there made me think of something else too – something I've been wanting – which is the innovative sun lounger from Itsa that also turns into a handy beach bag. It offers a two in one service with just one purchase. You can't beat that!

I’ve included a photo to give you an idea. I was in awe the first time I saw it and I bet you will be too.

Chico or Sapodilla

They could be mistaken as potatoes at first glance but they're actually Chico or Tsiko - a kind of fruit that is abundant here in the Philippines. They are also known as Sapodilla in some countries and they may look delicious but sad to say, they're not the kind of fruit that I like. Dad brought them last night and since I don't eat Chico, so he only get to share it with mom. How about you? Do you like Chico?

Here's more about Chico from wikipedia:

Sapodilla grows to 3–4 m tall. It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. The ornamental leaves are medium green and glossy. They are alternate, elliptic to ovate, 7–15 cm long, with an entire margin. The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla.

The fruit is a large ellipsoid berry, 4–8 cm in diameter, very much resembling a smooth-skinned potato and containing 2-5 seeds. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. The seeds are black and resemble beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed. The fruit has a high latex content and does not ripen until picked. Zapota tree with fruits in Tamil Nadu, India.

The flavor is exceptionally sweet and very tasty[peacock term], with what can be described as a malty flavor. Many believe the flavor bears a striking resemblance to caramel. The unripe fruit is hard to the touch and contains high amounts of saponin, which has astringent properties similar to tannin, drying out the mouth.

The trees can only survive in warm, typically tropical environments, dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from 5–8 years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.

Fun For My Son is Soon To Happen!

There’s only one month, one week and four days until my son Yogi’s 7th birthday, and I'm already planning for his birthday bash this early. I actually have something in mind already: the theme will be a Disneyland gala! I'll have the house arranged and decorated like the Disneyland castle and the yard decorated with play sets, balloons, etc., so the kids and adults alike will feel like they are having an ultimate Orlando vacation.

I'll dress Yogi up in a Mickey Mouse costume and invite the other kids to dress up like a Disney character of their choice. The invitations have various Disney characters on them and the giveaways will be cupcakes with Mickey Mouse images made out of sweet icing on top of them, plus other Disney goodies that kids would surely love.

I can’t wait for the day to happen. It will be totally fun and exciting for all, especially my precious son whose happiness means everything to me.

Be Smart About "IT"

Risk and threats can be anywhere, covering a wide range of areas and venues. This can refer to our daily lives but on the lighter side, there are daily risks and threats regarding, IT security. I consider it light since it’s not a matter of life and death, but the damage it can cause to one’s online business can be a pain in the neck, not to mention being a pain to one's bank account. And this has been troubling many individuals these days, and that is why more and more people enroll to take MS in Information Security to be aware of the hazards and damages these risks and threats can cause, and to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of such an attack.

Taking the course isn’t that difficult since there is the convenience of earning a master’s degree online, like at Lewis University – a Catholic and Lasallian University. The comfort of taking the course in your own home and at your own pace is definitely a plus, especially to those who are always on the go.

Thinking of taking such a course yourself? Look into what they have to offer, for you might only find yourself becoming savvy in protecting your own security, but it may also be the first step in finding a new and profitable career.

A Cup A Day Helps Keep the Blahs Away!

My mornings would not be complete without my cup of coffee. Its aroma and taste is the first thing that fills my nostrils and satisfies my palate the moment I get out of my bedroom. I even consider it as my “power” because I feel not energized whenever I don’t have my cup. And that’s one of the many things my fiancé and I have in common: we both are coffee people, though our preferences differ. He prefers his coffee black while I’ve always preferred latte’ or decaf.

And though I consider myself a coffee drinker, there are times that I don’t get to finish the pot of coffee that I brew. Our coffee maker is good for three to four cups and sometimes I just get to drink one or two cups, especially when I am in a hurry due to my daily tasks and duties. Many has been the time that I wish I could have a pot good for a single serve coffee and, much to my surprise, there is one available. I just stumbled upon it today at Alpine Valley Coffee. They are considered to be the leading distributor of Keurig K-Cup coffee, allowing one to brew just a single cup of coffee in less than a minute with no mess at all.

Great deals on K-Cups from other major brands are also offered at Alpine Valley Coffee, including many different varieties and flavors, Keurig’s line of brewers and all the necessary accessories. In addition, free shipping is given for purchases over $30. Simply great!

There will be no more wasted coffee for me from now on. (“,)

Buko Pie

I am not so much into pies, more so buko but when I tasted this buko pie, it changed. We got this as present or pasalubong from my SIL Karen when they had their vacation trip to Ilo-Ilo City - part of the island of Visayas here in the Philippines where this buko pie is their delicacy. The pie is so tasty that I was craving for more. But the sad thing was, we only got a box and it's only enough for the whole family. LOL. Well, maybe the next time my SIL will go back there, she'll bring us more. Hee hee.

Famour Nang Palang's Buko Pie

Yum! Yum!

An Opportune Time To Discover A "Golden" Future

The business headlines is one segment of the morning news that I make a point to watch each day. As we all know, the world’s economy is not at its best right now and we need to be on the look out for how things are going because such issues affect us all. Sad to say, more and more individuals are being hurt, if not devastated, by these current conditions as well as job losses.

That is why we need to be constantly on our toes and ready to react, especially if an opportunity presents itself. One such wise idea is getting into investing. I used to think that it could be difficult getting into this venue until I read about investing in gold, silver and other precious metals. It has been a safe and profitable venture over the centuries, for such entities, especially gold, continues to increase in value regardless of economic conditions. Actually, these items blossom in times of economic woes and are the safest bet of all.

Many people at this very moment are enjoying the benefits of having thought ahead. So maybe we should all look ahead, for we never know what the future may hold, and being informed on how to buy gold bullion is a first step in being prepared for the winds of change.

A Basket of Nuts

Mom received this as a gift from her good friend last Christmas. The gift basket was full of different varieties of nuts in different jars. There were about four kinds of them - cashew, macadamia, sweetened and hazel.

We didn't open the gift until Christmas Eve. We munched on it after dinner while chitchatting with the family members around the dining room table. They were all brittle and delicious. Some nuts are not brittle especially when they're already stored for a long time in containers.

Very nuttylicious!

What A Bad "Spot" To Find Myself In

I’ve come to know my fiancé as a jolly and talkative spirit, so I instantly knew something was wrong the other day because he wasn't being his usual self. His being so serious at our usual meeting made me wonder, only to find out that he was suffering from a throbbing pain because of a toothache. He's already made an appointment to see his dentist today but the problem is, the tooth can’t be extracted yet because it's abscessed. He will be given antibiotics and, hopefully, within a couple of days the swelling will go down and his pain will be eased.

I feel so sorry for him and feel so irate towards myself at the same time. I’ve been whining about my age spots and constantly checking on age spots removal procedures when in fact, as per my fiancé, it’s not that visible yet, and as far as he's concerned, he considers it no big deal, anyway. But that's how sweet he is: he loves me for me, and not my looks. Still, I was just so self conscious – about something that is unimportant which makes me feel selfish when he's going through what he's dealing with. I should just be thankful that I’m not suffering from a toothache rather than being self conscious about the inevitable aging we will all eventually experience. I’ve realized it now, though, and it truly was such a wake-up call. (“,)

We’re So Thankful for the Marvels and Miracles of Modern Medicine

Mom went to see her doctor the other day because she’s not been feeling well lately. She had some laboratory tests and the results surprised us all. She’s diabetic but the increase in her sugar level was way too high. In addition, she is also hypertensive, having joint pains and to top it all, she’s now having heart problems. It was really alarming but she was prescribed several new maintenance medications, one of which was chondroitin glucosamine supplements for her joint pains.

We’ve been monitoring her sugar level, blood pressure and heart rate since then. She was complaining of chest pains yesterday morning but it was gone after she took her meds. She’s also on a strict diet now and she’s seeing her dietician regularly. She’s not prevented from doing household chores, though, which is fortunate because we were worried; knowing mom like we do, we realize she can’t and won't stay still. But all will be fine as long as the work is light, and the exercise is actually good for her heart. And we certainly do want her to be well for she truly is the "heart" of our family.

Sweets From My Sweet

It was 2 o’clock in the afternoon and I was having my afternoon nap when I was awakened by my son’s loud knocks on the door. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see his hands full – a bouquet of red roses in his left hand, and a paper bag in his right hand, which I was to find full of different kinds of chocolates. I knew instantly from where and whom the gifts came: no less than my fiancé, my ever sweet Big Angel.

It is our first Valentine’s Day as couple and though we are celebrating it apart, we do what's necessary to make such days as this as special as they can be. And being the generous person that he always is, those are the surprises that he had gotten not just for me, but for my son Yogi as well. Roses and chocolates for me and chocolates for Yogi. But of course we'll share with each other.

Look at those chocolates in the photo. I'll most likely need to be finding ways to get rid of belly fat by the time Yogi and I finish eating them all. Well, it’s Valentine’s Day and I think it’s okie dokie to celebrate and indulge. It doesn’t happen everyday, anyway. (“,)

Gay Paree is the Place I Want To Be!

I am just one among the hundreds, if not thousands of people who dream of seeing Paris one day and experience the beauty it holds. I would love to see the world famous Eiffel Tower and see why Paris is known as "La Ville-Lumière" – “The City of Lights.” It has to be a magnificent and magical sight to behold, seeing the city at night.

But being the food lover that I am who always wants to try every known delicacy and cuisine there is, I would definitely sample the food that a restaurant paris offers. But with the many restaurants offering different cuisines scattered all over the city, I know it would be a little difficult to know which food and what restaurant to sample first, especially since I wouldn’t have enough money to try them all. I do know, though, who can help me with this issue – Restalo.com. They are the largest online guide for restaurants all throughout Paris. I can browse the site for the cuisine of my choice or, better yet, to find the kind of ambiance that I like. And to top it off, there I can find the price that fits my budget; so very hassle-free and convenient.

I do wonder, however, when will I get to finally have that dream be made come true? I hope my fiancé is dreaming the same thing as me. It would be great if we could both explore the city of Paris and truly experience the city of love, and light, side by side creating our own special light of love and magic. (“,)

I Want To Take A Bite Out of the Big Apple; in More Ways than One!

One of the many places that I've always dreamed of visiting is New York City. And it was such a pleasant surprise when I found out that it’s one of the places that my fiancé loves to visit. He has been there several times and he is always looking forward - or better yet, looking for an excuse - to go there again. That discovery led to one thing: an idea of where we could go on our honeymoon. It was the first thing that popped up into our minds and we were instantly on the same page at that moment, as soulmates are.

The conversation that day continued with the main topic being New York. But it not only focused on the places that we both want to see, places that he’s never been to and the places that he’s eager to show me. As food lovers, we also talked a lot about food. We both love seafood and steaks, so a special lunch at Rosie O’ Grady’s would definitely be on our itinerary. They are famous not only for their Manhattan Lunch menu specials but, more so, they're well known for their fresh seafood and prime steaks. I didn’t know this until my fiancé told me. He has partaken of the food there and he is craving for more. My fiancé can be a bit picky when it comes to food so hearing those comments from him made me want to sample their offerings as well.

That feeling of eagerness prompted me to check the site and this mouth-watering seafood and steak on the pictures delighted me and simply made me drool. I can’t wait to see not just the beauty of Manhattan but sample the food at Rosie O’ Grady’s too.

So, honey, you need no longer look for an excuse to go back to NYC; me, and our honeymoon can be your excuse; and doesn't that make you drool? (",)

Ham It Up!

The ham that my fiance' and his family feasted on on Christmas Eve. There we lots of food aside from this but I'll take one day at a time and share one food at a time so you will not drool that much. LOL.

I missed the ham during the holidays. It was in my mom's list of things to buy but forgot it until the year ended. Oh well. We always have had ham over the years. Perhaps next year, mom? Remains to be seen. Hee hee.

Taking Care of Business

Yesterday was a very fine day for me. I had just got out of the bedroom when mom gave me my first task for the day, which was to browse for credit repair services. But it took me until noon to finally get around to doing it because I was busy preparing my son Yogi for school, as well as doing my morning routine of household chores.

What made the day so fine was a good family friend, Lucille, came to visit us. I was busy browsing and fulfilling my task when she came knockin’ at the door. She used to live here but left when her sister passed away. She now lives in a city about a five hour drive from our city. We do talk regularly online but it was such a nice surprise to see her in the flesh. She will be leaving the country soon and she was here in the city to visit us and other friends and take care of some of her unfinished business.

Surprisingly, one of her tasks was to pay some people she's indebted to. Such a coincidence: I was browsing about credit repair and here she was doing some credit repair of her own; truly ironic.

Anyway, it was nice seeing you again, Lucille. We are all wishing you the best of luck in everything. Bon voyage and I hope to see you again soon!

Pig Out, and Then Sweat it Out

This picture was taken on New Year’s Eve. Just look! Seems as if everybody couldn’t wait for dinner time. They started pinching and munching on the Lechon, or roasted pig, from the moment it was set on the table. Here in the Philippines, an occasion is not complete without the Lechon. It’s like the queen of every table at every party for whatever kind of festivities are taking place. Its skin is very crunchy and the meat is succulent and delicious. But since it is pork, it is full of fats, too. No problem: we have fitness equipment here to help burn those fat calories away.

Anyway, did I not mention that it is present for almost every occasion? Yes, and if there was an occasion everyday, try to imagine that. We’d most likely be having to exercise every day to burn off hundreds, if not thousands, of calories. LOL.