posted by Jennie on Jul 18
If you need to accessorize your bathroom but you aren’t into anything frilly or pink, don’t despair. There are still plenty of options for you and your bathroom. You can make it look classy and elegant while still clearly showing that a man lives there. Choose dark colors for the accessories and let them complement lighter-colored walls. You can also choose bolder colors, just to make a bit of impact. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jun 24
Three things that I have been pondering on these past few days – moving boxes, moving homes and gratitude. It has been three years since we last moved houses. And years before that we moved places at least once a year ever since we got married. It can be pretty taxing, to say the least. But you can very well say that with all the five shiftings we did from 2001 to 2007, we have become experts that we can actually make a living out of it.
As years went by from 2001 and moving was inevitable, there were at least a couple of things that we have learned.
1. Not all cheap movers are unreliable. We were blessed to have contacted movers who had a very reliable staff who did not complain despite the one rainy night they had to carry our bulky couches and furnishings from the van, through the narrow alley, up an even narrower concrete stairs, and finally to the third floor apartment we last transferred to before we had our own house built. They charge cheap and we actually thought they’d have “cheap service” too. They did not.
posted by Jennie on Jun 10
I have been lacking sleep since the hubby left for Africa last week. It has been 7 days today and the most I slept per night since was 4 hours. I am sorely missing him. There was this two days that we barely communicated. Because he was on borrowed time as he had to line up to use the hotel’s common personal computer at the end of the day. That will be in the wee hours of the morning, Manila time. For some reason that function button to turn the wifi on of his Asus netbook failed to work.
posted by Jennie on Jun 8
The summer heat of these past months has been totally unforgiving. It actually has caused us heat exhaustion more than a couple of times. Aside from the fact that I do my job from home, we are also a home schooling family. The steady rise of temperature from 32°C up to beyond 42°C called for us to do something about our air conditioning for home. The humidity actually makes it a lot worse.
posted by Jennie on Apr 19
I miss cooking for my family like I used to. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I am doing. But for some reason, I really just miss the times that I prepare fabulous meals for the hubby and the kiddo. While I cannot exactly quit my job and jump into wearing my old chef queen crown, I’m hoping to learn more meals that are healthy but are also quick to prepare. I cannot anymore afford to do the nitty gritties of preparation for doing viands, casseroles, cakes and cookies, like I used to.
posted by Jennie on Mar 29
The very first home appliance purchase the hubby and I had as newlyweds was an Electrolux vacuum cleaner. I was one overwhelmed housewife, to say that least. I grew up with a nanny and later an all around helper in the house. This is the norm of two income families in our country and it does not necessarily come with a “well off” premise. I always knew how to cook, bake but not so much when it comes to doing the laundry, ironing and cleaning department. The overwhelmed me got down to purchasing our very own cleaner helper via the Electrolux vacuum. The rest, as they say, is history.
Nine years into our marriage, we have sailed on beautifully in the household arena with but a few challenges. Yes, we have stood through our decision of being helper free. Save for the once a week cleaning lady that I hire to do some general cleaning, but that’s it. If I was just a plain housewife, then that wouldn’t have been such big a deal. But I am not. Aside from being the queen of our abode, I also homeschool my son and then work from home via web content writing and virtual assistant jobs and cover some events too. Truth be told, I’m not having it any other way. After having had a helper ever since I can remember. It is just bliss to have the privacy that we enjoy now. But this kind of crazy lifestyle isn’t for everyone. It did take a while before I was able to device a system that worked for me. But if there’s anything essential for those who can relate it is this – the household gadgets and appliances!
posted by Jennie on Mar 3
We will rest when we die. This is a funny quote my husband says when we become crazy busy. Crazy busy, in a good way. Truth be told, I have been lacking sleep. The most I get nowadays is 5 hours a day. It’s a blessing that I don’t get as much migraine attacks anymore.
posted by Jennie on Oct 5
Nine days of cleaning up the house and we’re still not done. While it is true that we are extremely grateful that we are intact through it all, we cannot help but still feel exhausted from time to time. It’s like we’ve been cleaning up since forever and it doesn’t seem to end. The Lord alone sustains us, this much I can say. Counting the blessings and people who ministered to us by reaching out, have done a great deal.
Just to give you a glimpse of the devastation this typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) has done to our abode, allow me to share some before and after pictures.
our washroom before typhoon Ondoy
Ondoy and his wrath
posted by Jennie on Aug 14
Here is another valuable parenting insight that we can use in our homes. 
One of the roadblocks to harmony in family life is when siblings act foolishly and end up hurting or offending each other. Foolishness may be demonstrated by teasing and playing around beyond what’s appropriate or wanted. Usually one person wants to stop before the other. Angry words and tears often bring an end to what started out as fun. Incorporating a “Stop Rule” in your family will help children, and parents for that matter, know when to quit.
posted by Jennie on Aug 6
The hubby and I were invited last Friday to the Downy Anti Bac event for bloggers. We were in Palawan when I received the invitation from Yehey! and I couldn’t be more interested. It was introduced as a new way to repel pesky mosquitoes and still smell good at the same time. Boy, have I become some sort of an O.C. when it came to that. It all started soon after I gave birth, some four years ago. Truth is, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Imagine my delight when I found out that the product is that of Down Anti Bac, no less. My first thought was, okay, that’s not a new product at all. But still I was keen to listen and learn. I found myself open to the idea that this could help our household ward off mosquitoes. The idea of getting rid of those pesky pests that are notorious is bringing about a whole barrage of sicknesses, sounded good to me. If you would remember the Dengue Scare in our village, then you will understand.
I should say that the people behind the event really knew what they were doing. It couldn’t have been more perfect than for them to hook us up and get tips and pieces of advice from the the Editor-in-Chief of Good Housekeeping herself, Jing Lejano. For one, warding off pests should really start off with cleanliness. Jing Lejano toured us around this huge and classic house and gave us some household tips and hints on how to maintain the overall cleanliness of our home. Being the author of Handy Tips and Hints, this is such a welcome topic for me. I always could make use of a thing or two to share with my readers.
posted by Jennie on May 17
It is exactly two years and one month since our brand new house was turned over to the hubby and me by our awesome contractor, Tita Eliza Bautista. It was more like a labor of love for her, more than business. She was hands on from start to finish. This collage was made shortly after the turn over. We were more than happy with the finished product, to say the least. I did not get the marble kitchen counter that I want, all right, but it was still more than what we have bargained for.
We never thought it was ever possible for us to be homeowners, if it was not for the kind of home loan deal we got. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on May 6
One of the many things we are often are often tackled during marriage counseling is how to affair proof a marriage. Another is how to cope with infidelity. The answer is not easy. In fact, there is really no single defining answer to such question. The hope of a realistic chance that things will ever be back to normal is even thinner. That is if we look at it in the perspective that is humanly possible. But even as the Lord said that His grace will be sufficient, it is in fact possible.
This monster that is called infidelity in a marriage never comes in uninvited. But the invitation is sometimes very subtle that it cannot be detected until it smacks you in the face. It usually begins when the spouse involved in an affair allowed his or her guards down. It starts like any usual innocent relationship, very often with someone who is very familiar to you. It almost always starts with an attachment that progresses into an emotional affair. If there is something like that of a GE alarm that should serve as a warning, it should be convenient. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Apr 29
This week’s Mommy Moments is particularly hard for me. You see I take around 500 shots a month since the little guy is born, so choosing from amongst the thousands can be pretty challenging for anyone.
Any wife and mother will always find joy when she sees her beloved partner in life sinking beautifully into fatherhood with so much grace like my dear husband does. For someone who has an absentee father for more than half of his life, he is thoroughly excelling in this area. Proof that it is ultimately a man’s choice what he decides to be and not be dictated by his past circumstance. For this matter, whatever kind of family of origin he came from. I love Jeff more each day for being the kind of man he is and the father that he is to our child. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Apr 19
After having realized that I average eight blog entries a day, it is actually amazing how I am still able to plurk and connect with fellow bloggers across the world. I should say it could be my way of relaxing, alongside looking into these gorgeous vessel sinks online to replace the one in our lavatory.
Today we rejoice even as the little guys is doing pretty well. I know it does not help that it is extra humid today, but we’re happy enough that his temperature is no longer hitting the fever mark. With that said, I am set to enjoy a good night’s sleep tonight, to catch up on the previous nights lack of.
posted by Jennie on Apr 14
PARENT TALK 101 with Rev. Clem Guillermo as speaker, will be on June 6, Saturday, 2-5pm. It will be held at the NIA auditorium, National Printing Office Road corner EDSA, Quezon City (across GMA7). P150 per person (this includes the hand-outs for the seminar)
