quickie dates

love ko to means lovin' it

I love quickie dates. Well, not really. I still prefer the long ones over a romantic or cozy dinner, where you can take the time to eat your food and carry on a real conversation. What I love about a quickie date is actually the essence of it. To me, it means that though hubby and I are both busy juggling work and time with the tornado, we still try to make time for each other. It may be a quick bite at McDonald's, like the one we had earlier. It lasted for about 30 minutes but still, we were able to spend time together. Just us and no one else.

Do you have one of those quicky dates as well?

Tornado Tales

I have a small treasure box where I keep recipes I cut off from boxes and cans. The tornado was playing with it and so I told him to not rip it apart and give the box back to me. Guess what he did? He did give me the box, but not before he took out all the contents and put them on the floor.

Smart ass.

bag of the moment

Have you ever had that one silly bag that you just pair up with everything and think that it just looks fab though deep in your heart you know that it's not true? I have found one such bag and it was so cheap that I immediately fell in love with it. It was big, black, and could fit everything that I wanted to put in it. Unfortunately, my back did not agree and I actually had small bruises on my shoulder. So now, I am back to my medium size bag and making do with it.

Don't you agree with me that this is one of those bag of the moment though?

Sweet Snacks for Sassy Kids

Banana Spring Rolls

Sweet Potato Fritters

Just click on the pictures to get the ingredients and the procedure. Very easy to make yet exotic.

last day with askmenow

This was at Tempura to celebrate my own resignation. I am so lucky to have met these fine woman.

This was at North Park to celebrate Rochelle's leaving AskMeNow. Weird noh? We celebrate it. Lol!

B doodles

The B has discovered the art of doodling. Here' s his first ever doodle which I have put on his scrapbook. Hehe. What do you think? Budding artist?

munimuni # 16

I was not able to blog last week because my dial up was conking out on me. If you notice, I ALREADY HAVE MY DSL! WHEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *bouncing off the walls now*

So I'll be summing up my weekend reflection for last week and this week. And I can tell you, it's all good stuff. As they say, if you had a bad week, you will surely have a good week after. What comes down must go up.

1) I have transferred to THE BANK and its great ... finally good to be back to the structureed world where everyone actually knows what they are supposed to do and where progress is everywhere.

2) I've finished my first week of training and I passed with flying colors. Was able to listen to some calls, attend some meetings, and get a feel of how the workplace is.

3) Info overload. I loved it! After 16 months of not working my mind out too much, this felt really good.

4) People seem to be nice so far. There are of course the resident jerks but mostly, really nice people.

5) I am still able to spend time with the tornado. We even have some tornado tales waiting to be posted.

6) Hubby has been very supportive at work.

7) I got some blogging love from Vader's Mom (the frame) and more blogging love from Graymama. These two women are just so wonderful. Very amazing women.

8) Hubby sent out my KMMS to Incog & Nito. I hope she will be able to use what I sent her. It's not much but it did take me some time to think of them and I really hope she will like it. I also sent out a surprise pack to one of my dear readers.

9) Rural Mama and I are doing a paper swap as well. I have all the papers in here now and will just need to find time to mail it. I hope she will love them as well. I'm sending her differnt sized papers and all of them have different designs. I think I have over 25pieces. Is that enough?

10) I was also able to spend shopping time with my Mom. We got 2 pairs of shoes and 4 pairs of slacks for only Php1000. That's about $20.

11) My MIL is the sweetest thing. When she found out I was going out to buys make up, she gave me her stash of brand new branded make up. I am now the proud owner of Lancome, L'Oreal, and Estee Lauder make ups. Whohooo!

12) We all have good health, are still together, and expecting some new additions to the family. A cousin's wife will soon give birth. Please pray for a safe delivery to both mother and child.

13) I HAVE DSL!!!!

How was your week?

SPH # 13: Silver

SILVER

I'm not quite sure if you can see that my monitor is silver and my pocket pc (which is on the side) is silver as well. I love it both. I used to not be a techie addict but now, I'm eyeing the latest iBook, that 4GB mem stick, and the like.

What silver stuff do you love?

more blogging love ...

I just got my pay it forward gift and boy is it a real cutie. It's a frame made from felt paper I believe. The handicraft is just real good. I don't think I can make one as cool as this is. It's green so that's good since it's my school color and it has flowery and kitchy stuff pasted on it. I am so gonna use it. Best thing, it's also a ref magnet. Whoowheee!!! *jumping up and down with joy*

Thank you so much. I can't find the name of my pay it forward giver but I will do that when I get my DSL. Thank you once again. You have made me so happy.

nuninuninuninuninuninu ....

I’m so sorry. I’m still alive. I’ve just been swimming against so many things and my dial up at home is just so messed up I actually spent an hour trying to log in to blogger. Seriously. It is so insane. I’m gonna have DSL soon so I will be back to normal.

Updates!

The KMMS will still push through. Any suggestions for Feb aside from the usual love theme? Get your creative juices flowing people. Comment people! Email me.

My new job is a bit exciting. The training we’ve had so far a bit boring since it’s all about the company’s history. Believe me. This company is old. Think 1865 old. Yep, that old. It’s a bank by the way. I’m working for the bank’s back office so we’re handling all credit card concerns. Can’t tell you which bank though so we’ll just call it THE BANK. Lol!

The tornado is 1 year and 6 months old now. He’s fond of climbing out of things such as his high chair and his playpen which makes everything crazy. We cannot leave him even for a second now coz he’s like a monkey, very fast in climbing. It’s tiring! He’s still bubbly and always smiling, really the light of our life.

I’ve encountered some crazy associates at work. You know what I mean, the so called power trippers. They thought I was one of them so they give me the act and become all catty but soon as they learn I’m one of the bosses, they become all nice and almost snakelike in their slithering. Pretty nasty if I may say so.

I miss you all and I hope that even if blogger won’t let me upload pics, it would at least let me post.

Mwah! Give me a holler if you still love me coz I love y’all. I will visit and comment when I get DSL.

blogging love

fabulous brooch

what a real cute craft

the entire package

the ornamant

I just received the sweetest package from GrayMama. I loved it. Here is the lovely picture of the amazing stuff she sent me. The cutest brooch and my frst ever REAl ornament ... not just the fancy balls but a real ornament.

I've been here for over an hour just trying to upload all the individual photos but its past midnight and I've only uploaded two pics. It will have to do. Huwaaaaa!!!! I will have to go to an internet cafe tomorrow after all.

on another note ...

Today, I finally signed the contract and guess what???? They gave me something higher than my asking rate! Whoohoo! I am so happy. I get to have DSL at home. *sings doop dee doop dee doop*

Blogging world, you are stuck with me! Lol!

I really wish I can have the DSL asap since I have so many pictures and scans that I wanna share. I just got two NEW magnificent books; one of which would have been mighty helpful for the ornament swap since its all about creating christmas ornaments. Teehee!

I just heard on the NBC news that there has been an ongoing snow storm in the US. Blogging friends, I hope you and your families are all safe and sound. Headcount please. Make your presence known. You are all in my prayers and I hope that no one you know will be harmed. I know how hard it is to be against Mother Nature. We may not have snowstorms here but we do get endless typhoons and earthquakes. Maybe its Mother Nature's way of waking us up?

I've been talking so much about me and have not been able to visit blogs since my dial up is way too slow but please tell me ... what's new with you? What's the latest?

whirlwind change

I may not be able to log in as much as I would love to in the coming days but I will do my best to do so even with dial up at home. I will be resigning from my current work (which has fabulous internet connection) and will be applying for DSL at home (if the new work will give me the salary I am aiming for.) Please pray that I do get that salary (it is just right) so that I can have DSL at home and continue to entertain you (or bore you) with my posts. Lol!

This week has been such a roller coaster ride. I never even thought that I would be resigning from my current work this week. It happened all too fast. I gave my CV last Sunday, I got the interview today and was informed that I got it. I'm just gonna wait for the call for the job offer tomorrow or Friday.

I hope that things will work out just fine. I really do.

bits of me

I may not be able to log in as much as I would love to in the coming days but I will do my best to do so even with dial up at home. I will be resigning from my current work (which has fabulous internet connection) and will be applying for DSL at home (if the new work will give me the salary I am aiming for.) Please pray that I do get that salary (it is just right) so that I can have DSL at home and continue to entertain you (or bore you) with my posts. Lol!

This week has been such a roller coaster ride. I never even thought that I would be resigning from my current work this week. It happened all too fast. I gave my CV last Sunday, I got the interview today and was informed that I got it. I'm just gonna wait for the call for the job offer tomorrow or Friday.

I hope that things will work out just fine. I really do.

munimuni # 15

This has been a so-so week. Lots of planned activities cancelled. Didn't get to go out with h nor meet up with a friend coz tornado got sick. He vomited 6x yesterday and pooped more than 12x. Ugh. Not a pretty sight. Not a good experience. H and I also had an all out war last night. Sigh.

Pretty hard to think of good things now but I will try.

1. the tornado seem to be feeling much better now ... even drank some milk and kept it in
2. the tornado is sleeping now which is good
3. hubby and I are at least, civil
4. I'm counselling a friend ... and hopefully helping her
5. I got to spend some time with my baby, albeit being covered with vomit and changing nappies over and over agai
6. we're still healthy and alive
7. the tsunami alert that was put up by CNN for the Philippines and Taiwan seems to have been taken away ... (there was an 8.3 earthquake that hit the North Pacific yesterday noon MNL time
8. hubby and I are still together though he apparently hates my voice and my talking ... (more on this when I'm less emotional)
9. my family and friends are all okay
10. the recipients of my ornament swap seems to have gotten them ...
11. I got a really nice button for my KMMS ... thanks again The Wooden Porch

There.
I really need all the love and care I can get now. I feel so unloved.

so envious

I stole this pic from scrappersalley.


Seriously, that desk is to die for. And the cabinets ... sigh. I wonder if I can have one for myself when we actually renovate our home? It's so perfect. It is.

Do you have an area of your own in your home? You know, that lil space that is just for you?

B Stories

We had to stitch some cloth for the tornado's playpen since he chewed his playpen. Here's the before picture.
See the hole and how stretched it is on the side? He would chew on them and pull the strands then throw it out the playpen. I have a pitbull for a son. Here's what it look now. Thanks to his grandma and nanny.
Much better huh?

Thursday Thirteen # 13

13 things that I collect

1. scrapbook materials
2. ref magnets
3. belts
4. pillows
5. books
6. colorful or cute pens
7. boxes
8. plastic containers
9. flea market finds
10. shoes, bag, belts, accessories
11. theme decors (could be summer, xmas, red and cream, green decors)
12. hair accessories such as scrunchies and clips
13. frames (I'm aiming for souvenir ones now, those that say San Francisco or something)

What do you collect?

children's books

I love children's books. Eversince I had the tornado, I suddenly found them fascinating. I love going to booksale and scouring them for the best books that I could find at a bargain. Over the 18 months since I became a Mom, I've bought over 60 books already. I know its a bit too much since the tornado is only 18 months but I feel that if I don't buy it now, it will go away. Crazy huh?

What children's book are you most fond of?

for crying out loud

The B was with me the entire day coz it's my rest day from work. He was being his usual pesky self (meaning real inquisitive and trying to wreak havoc in the room.) I kept telling him to stop and he wouldn't. When I saw that he was trying to dismantle the entire desk AGAIN, I screamed. It was out of frustration and sheer impatience. Poor tornado was startled and ran away from me. Then he ran right to me and lifted his hand to give me a hug. Imagine that, I screamed and he comforts me.

I don't deserve my baby. He's way too nice.

=(

Ornament Swap: What I sent out

* updated!

paper I used for the ornament

pattern

being pasted on hard paper

finished product

one I made for my tree

This is the ornament I sent out to my swapmates last Christmas. I am hoping that they all got it and just plain disliked it and that's the reason why I never got any comment about it. This is also the one I sent out to my pay it forward peepz. I hope you like it. It's very simple but I did spend time making it.

And this next picture shows what I sent Connie. I don't know if she visits but I really really hope she gets this.

It includes a Philippine stationary with a jeepney on it, a wooden angel, a wine magnet that says Philippines, and a teacup porcelain set because I saw that she collects teacups. I hope she likes it and that she WILL RECEIVE it.

What do you guys think about it?

munimuni # 14

This weekend has been lots of fun. I got to do some tasks I've been meaning to do for quite some time now and I got to spend lots of quality time with hubby and Tornado. We also got to visit Leisure Farms in Tagaytay which is a pick and pay place where you can gather fresh vegetables and just pay for them as well as a fish and pay place. The air was not polluted, it was very realxing, and the place looked so beautiful. I also got to spend some time with my friend so it's all good. Life is good. Here are some pics for you guys to enjoy. Last one reminds me of that cartoon hippo that has a tutu and keeps twirling.

baby round eggplants

the view

some plants

the tornado enjoying the view

did it make you laugh?

there's a resemblance right?

I feel so blessed this week.

How was your week?

Kooky's Monthly Mini Swap: Foodies

* updated! 1.8.07

KMMS: January - Foodies

So I have 5 people who have said that they are interested in joining. All in all I would have 6 including me. I promise that I will have it out on the date that its supposed to be out. Cross my heart!

So here are the rules. You are to put together 5-8 items in a box and all 5-8 items should be related to food. It could be any of the following:

1. food stickers
2. cookbooks
3. recipes with pictures
4. food magnet
5. food stuff toy

Anything as long as it concers food. So there, that's a really wide array of things and I'm sure that it will be so much fun.

Here's the list of the people who are included in this swap.

1. GrayMama
2. Rachel
3. Incog & Nito
4. Laughing Muse
5. Judy
6. Kooky Kay

I just need you guys to email me your Name, Address, City and State, Country, Blog Url, and Email so that I can pair you up.

Cool? Email me ASAP. kayinanutshell at gmail dot com. Deadline is January 10 for the email so that we can pair you up by January 11 and have everything sent by January 20.

Whee!

Incog & nito and I are partners.
Rachel and Graymama are partners as well.
Still waiting for Judy and Laughing Muse. =)

Kooky's Monthly Mini Swap

Hey everyone! As you may have read inone of my thursday 13 entry (#12 to be precise), I am aiming for a Monthly Mini Swap.

What's that?

Well, it's called a mini swap beause there will be only 5-8 items in the package that you will send out to whoever your partner/s will be. I'm also thinking of having a theme for each swap to make it more fun and exciting.

I've had some people say that they are interested in joining. So if you are, please leave a comment here (so we can have a headcount of sorts) AND email me at kayinanutshell at gmail dot com.

Possible themes that I've thought of so far:

1. animal swap (everything in it would have some cute animal accent or be an animal, like a cat notepad or a hippo eraser)
2. postcard swap
3. bookmark swap
4. floral swap (everything flowery and fruity)
5. tourist swap (I'll send things only found in my country, something made in my country, or something that my country is famous in making)
6. pattern swap (anything that can be created using a pattern, could be cross stitch, a paper craft thing ...)
7. recipe swap complete with pictures
8. knick knack swap (accessories, fancy earrings, pins, brooches, trinkets, anything cute and cheap ... sort of flea market finds)

Any more suggestions? I'll be waiting. *giggles with excitement*

HELP: I am so not graphically talented so if any of you are good with creating logo's, can you make me one for this project? I'll give you credit and uhm, something in the mail. PLEASE?

SPH # 12

MEMORY

This is a treasure box that hubby gave me for Christmas. He knows I love lil boxes like this so much. I plan to put mementos of new memories that I will be making this 2007. I'm that girl who keeps the tissue, receipt, and at times paper setting in a resto where my family may have eaten and we all had a blast. I use it when I scrapbook. The paper setting would serve as the background and the tissue and receipt decor.

I try to keep my memories in tact. Do you?

Grab the photo hunt code or join the blogroll.

a new year recap

I got this from BrownCow and thought that this would be a fun way to recap 2006.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
a) participate in a swap
b) bought a car
c) opened a checking account

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not at all but I am still making it. There's always a first time. Teehee!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not really. They all got pregnany and will be giving birth this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my Uncle Soc.

5. What countries did you visit?
Still zero. This has to change when the tornado hits 5 years old.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
a) the willpower to lose weight
b) more savings in the bank

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 2, 2006 - day my Uncle died
November 3, 2006 - day we closed the deal on the car

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
a) paying off the aircon, ref, TV, and bed
b) buying a car
c) saving a bit of money
d) being a Mom to tornado ... I think I did pretty good coz he still prefers to be with me over his Nanny or Grandma

9. What was your biggest failure?
not losing weight

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
a) fell off a bus
b) got fever multiple times
c) got the cold all year round
d) bad case of forgetfulness

11. What was the best thing you bought?
a) my 3 in 1 printer, scanner, copier
b) orocan plastic containers

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
a) the tornado coz he's so lovable
b) my MIL and FIL for taking good care of my son
c) our Nanny ...

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
my own ... huhuhuhu ...

14. Where did most of your money go?
the car, scrapbook stuff, day to day costs, milk, diapers

15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
tornado's 1st birthday and trick or treat

16. What song will always remind you of ‘06?
Paris Hilton's songs ... lol!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
* Happier or Sadder?
happier
* Thinner or Fatter?
a teeny tiny lil wee bit thinner
* Richer or Poorer?
richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercise, scrap more ... written more cards and letters just because

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
bingeing, getting mad at customer service people

20. How was Christmas?
wonderful

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Flare

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
every single day with my hubby and tornado

23. How many one-night stands?
NONE

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Bones, Profiler, Maging Sino Ka Man, Deal or No Deal, Pocoyo

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
uhm, yeah ...

26. What was the best book you read?
this year? Chicken Soup Series and Tuesdays with Morrie

27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
none really ...

28. What did you want and get?
a printer

29. What did you want and not get?
mesotheraphy for my cellulites

30. What were your favorite films of this year?
hmm ... no movie really stood out .. Happy Feet I suppose?

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
26 and we had a small celebration

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
finished paying off all card debts and more savings in the bank

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
very comfy

34. What kept you sane?
blogs, friends, hubby, B

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
none ... they're all the same

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
our president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sold our country's dignity ... an American army office Lance Corporal Daniel Smith who was off duty raped a Filipina, was convicted and sented to prison in our jail ... US Embassy wanted him on their ground ... this is not covered by VFA, they threatened to cancel the Balikatan exercise between the US and our country ... so our stupid suckup president transferred Smith to the US Embassy ... this is against the law ... its like she's saying that the exercises were far more important than the people she's supposed to be serving ... B!+(h

37. Whom did you miss?
my friends

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Online: Graymama, Vader's Mom, Rachel, Waya
IRL: Len of PexMoms

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Be happy with what you have. Don't make something small into something huge. Forgive, its' much better than to hold on to a grudge. Treasure every moment.

40. Do you have any lost feelings of others?
huh???

41. Quote a song that sums up your year:
"the best things in life are free ..."

* I'll post this ahead since my pc at home won't connect to the net ... I'm not really cheating ... I just wanna make sure my posts are up when I want them to be. I'll be on my day off tomorrow and Saturday hence the advanced post. Mwah!

Do join the Monthly Swap. It will be fun!

Friday Feast # 20

It's been such a long time since I've joined. I'm so happy to be joining again.

Appetizer
Which celebrity (or celebrities) do you think will make headlines this year?

Paris Hilton and Britney Spears for sure. They will never be out of the limelight.

Soup
They say that good things come in small packages? What is something little that you think is great?

Boxes. No matter how lil, as long as its decorative, it can bring you great surprises. Great storage for mementos as well.

Salad
Name a song that makes you want to dance.

Time of my Life from Dirty Dancing. I love it!

Main Course
What is your favorite font?

Trebuchet. Classy but funky.

Dessert
If you were to write a do-it-yourself article, what would it be about?

Uhm, ref magnets ... frames ... scrapbooking. I'm so into them.

4 things about me

I was reading thimble's blog and she posted something that I thought would be fun to do. I'm tagging several people but if you don't wanna do it, it's cool ... for those I did not tag, and you wanna do it, you can. Leave me a link in the comment section so I can check it out as well.

Four Jobs You’ve Had In Your Life
1) modelling
2) events organizer
3) call center agent
4) team leader for an internet research company




Four Places You Have Lived
1) Manila
2) Cebu
3) Baguio
4) erm ... that's it =)

Four Albums You Can’t Hear Too Often
1) BEP
2) Linkin Park
3) Instrumental Love Songs
4) Soundtrack of 50 First Dates

Four Favorite Books
1) Remembrance
2) Knight in Shining Armor
3) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
4) Perfect


Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over (it's so obvious I love to dance)
1) Dirty Dancing
2) Bring It On
3) Miss Congeniality
4) Centerstage

Four TV Shows You Love to Watch
1) Charmed
2) Dawsons Creek
3) Desperate Housewives
4) FRIENDS

Four Places You Have Been On Vacation
1) Cebu
2) Batangas
3) Baguio
4) Bicol

Four Websites You Visit Daily
1) GrayMama
2) WAYA
3) Vader's Mom
4) Pex

Four Of Your Favorite Foods
1) Chocolate
2) Pasta
3) Chicken
4) Shrimp

Four Places You Would Rather be Right Now
1) London
2) Disneyland
3) Hawaii
4) California

So there it is. =) I'm tagging GrayMama, The Wooden Porch, Vader's Mom, Wifely Steps, and Rachel.

Thursday Thirteen # 12

13 rules that I live by

1. If someone is nice to you, be nicer. If someone messes with you, make sure they don't even know what their name is after you're through with them.
2. Don't make people wait if you don't like waiting yourself.
3. There's always time for one more hug or kiss.
4. Take too much pictures to treasure each moment.
5. Keep old friends when making new ones.
6. Write about your daily life. You never know what you will remember when you look back.
7. Celebrate each birthday. You never know if its the last.
8. Always say please and thank you. Except when they don't deserve it. Lol!
9. If you borrow it, return it.
10. If you take it, put it back.
11. There can never be too many accessories, belts, and boxes to put stuff in.
12. Indulge. You deserve it.
13. Family. Gotta Love 'Em! (you can't change families y'know?)

What rules do you live by?

B and me ... free as can be!

cute namin no?

car model

MOA moments

me and kirk

MOA far away view

karl trying on a helmet

new year 2006

Daddy and Mommy

eating time

papa and mama

here are the models!

mini feast