posted by Jennie on Oct 4
Being a mother and the point person in replenishing every single consumable stuff in our roster of household necessities, I have to be wise. I probably took it after my mother- my being practical, but I have gone beyond that and actually do thorough investigation of products’ contents.
Our family is not big on brands, we always go for those that deliver best. But if truth be told, I can be very experimental. The hubby could stick to one brand for the rest of his life, ever! I am the exact opposite. I can get easily swayed to try out an attractive new brand. I would have to say that we could not have come up with such great products that we currently use if it were not for my being adventurous. 
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posted by Jennie on Sep 19
As I went about applying what I shared in my Handy Tips and Hints web page about cleaning in layers, I still cannot help but be overwhelmed when the time for changing linens, curtains, drapes and valances is due. This petite girl gets things done with the help of a steel ladder, which I am not exactly very fond of. It gets even crazier when in my quest to pulling off the dirty drapes, my silly little rascal would come tail and climb up the ladder with me which gives me the creeps. So you can just imagine me getting down and talk it out with the little guy first, distract him of sorts before I do my business with the windows. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Aug 12
My juggling prowess is once again challenged this week. The hubby left for a mission trip to Palawan early Sunday and won’t be back until late Wednesday. The majority of chores in the house gets to be done by me, but the hubby would always make himself available helping me out to occasionally lift the loads. That is aside from the fact that the play time he usually has with our little guy would also have to be covered by moi. Although I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since Sunday, with bouts of migraines in between, I’m doing so much better than the last time the hubby left for Davao, October of last year to visit his father who was then sick.
I am not having the time of my life, I’m a little miserable without the hubby. 
But I’m making sure everyday is a productive one: still working from home, juggling chores and exclusively bonding with the little guy. 
posted by Jennie on Aug 8
The hubby has already started working on our little guy’s study table. He won’t be going to school until next year, but we’re welcoming this new addition to our home. While the hubby is at it, I’m figuring out the neatest way to rearrange the house. It is another reason for me to divert my attention from my internet business to reclaiming my crown as a domestic goddess.
It might take real talent to be able to squeeze in this extra stuff inside our humble home. Some things have got to go, especially the bulky ones. That’s consideration number one. I, more or less have jumpstarted this last week when we got a handful of stuff out on a yard sale. Next is, to set up a corner where the table will land. It has to be made conducive for studying. One major thing in a room that is like make or break is how well shaded it is.
Hopefully all goes well and I will soon be able to rearrange our home and get that study nook for the little boy.
posted by Jennie on Jul 22
I am done with the little guy’s room yesterday. I have finished all the major tasks it needs. No more clutters all over his room. Only one thing left to do is sort his toy box and give away stuff he does not play with anymore. The nursery room back at our church could really use these additions.
After I’m done with some online tasks, I’m off to work on our master’s bedroom. The sheets need to be changed and the drapes as well. I love the sweet smell of freshly changed sheets and changing the drapes gives the room a brand new look. Most of the nice drapes and curtains that I have are given by MIL. She has good taste and I have not bought a single curtain in so many years. Primarily because she has given me tons to mix and match with my beddings. 
I am so loving this polka dot bedding by JoJo Designs. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jul 21
It’s another fun and busy Monday for us. I finally cleared up every single clutter in our son’s room. Although he has began sleeping in his own room before he even turned three, we had to welcome him back to our family bed because of unbearable heat we have been having these past few months. And I admit to be more than happy to have him back.  We only have an airconditioner in the master’s bedroom and the exhaust fan that we got installed (to share the cool air from the airconditioned room) just wouldn’t suffice. It was too hot! So, as expected when a bedroom does not get to be slept in, it becomes a clutter room – a storage area of sorts.
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I got his beddings and drapes washed, cleared everything up, disinfected the room. It is now waiting for the new addition – our little guy’s study table! The hubby has just finished working on the first coat of paint. When it’s nice and ready, we will be looking into getting a lighting that will set his study nook’s ambiance. I was browsing through Farrey.com and they have tons of varieties from fine art lamps to quoizel lighting. I particularly love this piece for our son’s room and what do you know, it’s currently on sale!
posted by Jennie on Jul 20
DS and I just got home from the morning worship service. DH went off to go back to Makati and do two more services. I have been seriously considering getting a helper- so I could be more effective in being the hubby’s help-meet in the ministry. But then again, I have seen the hassles of living with a stay in helper, and I want none of that.
These are just a few of the things that I have been preoccupied with lately. I know it was my choice to work from home and juggle everything. I just thought of considering getting a helper, because the hubby would voice out his need for me to be around him in the ministry more. This is really something we have to sit down on soon.
Meanwhile, I’m choosing to count my blessings despite the many distractions around me. To relax and just dwell on God’s goodness even as we now enjoy a place of our own despite how busy life has been lately. I just thought it to be such a blessing that in this densely populated city, we were given the land that our house is standing on for free. Lots cost a great deal these days. For this we are indeed grateful.
If you happen to be looking for a lot or land in a densely populated city like ours, then you might want to check out Real Estate New Jersey. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jul 17
Oh the domestic goddess that I am! I find myself mad-juggling everything at home lately. Just for the record I don’t feel bad about it, though. It’s just that I have never had my hands as full as they are now: multi-tasking around the home, taking care of our son while doing my online business. It can be overwhelming, even more than that of the time when I was on postpartum. As brand new mother as I was back then, our son was never fussy and I kind of knew what I was to do because of the childbirth preparation classes the hubby and I attended.
I have never worked around the kitchen as much as I have been doing lately. We gave up using our microwave and I have gone back to stone age. Lol! Kidding aside, I know this is going to benefit the family rather than stick with the convenience of micro cooking. I appreciate how our contractor designed our kitchen. Thanks Tita Liza! I love the way she maximized the space and I now have plenty of room in the cupboard. I also love my sink, my pot-friendly, single lever faucet. I appreciate the fact that she thought about the convenience of being able to wash everything, especially big pans without hassle. With all these conveniences, I really should be thankful I can get around with ease. I really just have to stick to the everyday cleaning to lessen the stress and leave the major ones to my weekend cleaning lady.ÂÂ
For Discount Kitchen Faucets, you might want to check out Eagle Plumbing Supply. From classic to contemporary designs, you will sure to get a piece that will match your style.
posted by Jennie on Jul 14
I love Mondays. Aside from it’s the hubby’s day off and the family gets to spend the whole day together, we also get to do things around the house. This photo was actually taken last Monday, when the hubby first worked on our little guy’s study table. I’m glad he’s working on that instead of a wine rack, which we don’t have a need for. Today he finished applying the second layer of putty and he will soon get it painted. As for me, I got busy the whole morning trying to turn the house around by getting rid of white elephants.
We really have no choice but to rearrange the house. I emptied the little guy’s main closet of all of my files and stuff, got it sanitized and got his own clothes in. His clothes used to be in his baby closet. It’s now goodbye to his baby closet to welcome in his very own study table. It’s very symbolic if you ask me. My son has practically moved from babyhood to boyhood in the blink of an eye! But I am nevertheless thrilled to anticipate and get him ready for homeschool. For now, I and the hubby are inclined towards that. Pre-school homeschool that is, then he will be good to go to attend the big school.
posted by Jennie on Jul 12
Two days after our folks left for the States, we are yet again having our yard sale up. This time we are getting more of our bulky stuffs out and even the white elephants, like our microwave oven, for one.  In my quest to live healthier, I have altogether refrained from using the microwave.
 
Another bulky stuff we are selling is a solid Narra rocking chair for only PhP1,000 (approx. $23).  The 29″ flat TV just got sold a while back. Most other items for sale from clothes to everything else are all at 20 pesos (approx. $0.47) . If you are anywhere near our area, it might interest you to take a peek. Yard sales can often be better than actually browsing through a furniture catalog – you just might find great finds up for grabs.
posted by Jeff on Jul 9
In previous posts about the “Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman, I have mentioned two languages, which are Words of Affirmation and Quality Time. The third love language is Receiving Gifts. If this is your love language, it just means that you feel loved when you receive gifts. There are people who have this as their primary love language. But for others, this is their secondary love language – as in my wife’s case. My wife’s primary language is Quality Time. But she also likes receiving gifts, especially on special occasions. What I have always done was always surprise her with a gift. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jun 30
After more than a month of going Korean style, we are now off to get our memory foam bed elevated as it will soon have its very own bed box. Manila is a very dusty city that even if sweeping was done in the morning, a couple of hours after dust will behold you over again. It never ends. We live in a village that only private vehicles are allowed. Imagine if our house was close to a national road or the highway! I am just glad that I wouldn’t have to sweep through the edges of the bed itself. Other cold countries like Korea can very well afford to get furnitures slumped on the floor (and even sit on the floor while eating) because they don’t have so much dust like we do here. This is also one of the reasons why we had to take out carpets. It’s like nurturing a dust haven for the mites and what have yous for their abode.
Here is kuya with his masterpiece in the making. Our folks got their closet replaced a couple of days back, it was just timely that he was around because we have put off getting a bed frame for our mattress for sometime now. We asked if he could make a bed box for us and it turned out he’s an expert with woods, bed frames and even home theater furniture. This is far better than having to buy those laminated bed frames we see from the department stores. A solid wood will sure last us many years than those laminated frames. The headboard with cushion that the hubby wants will have to wait until later.
posted by Jennie on Jun 26
Having a handyman for a husband can really be a total blessing. It is indeed a bonus. It was something I learned when I was already in the marriage. Being a handyman is not exactly a requirement quality of a husband. I mean he is not expected to be operating rollformers or something. But it came to me as a real treat when I actually did not have to bother to go get that next available plumber for a leaking lavatory or even to have a complicated bath tub faucet replaced. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jun 25
One of the more exciting things that the hubby and I enjoyed during our house construction last year was designing our bathroom. It was a major blessing that our contractor gave us the freedom to have what we want. We went from one home depot to another, surveying designs of Bathrooms. We even browsed the internet for hours on end, we would not want to settle for second best. For one, this will be our very own abode and we’d like our personal touch to it. From the Roman theme, Mediterranean classic, Contemporary, et al., we later agreed to settle for a black and white theme.
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posted by Jennie on Jun 19
The hubby and I used to be proud owners of a Persian carpet. Although it was a hand me down from my mother’s, it did showcase our living room in such a way that no other centerpiece or chandelier had. It gave a feel of classy coziness. Sad to say, no matter how we loved that living room piece, it had to go. We did not know better on how to care for it, much less know of a company that does cleaning services for carpets.
It was only recently that I realized that carpet cleaners companies exist. Too bad for me, I should have known better. I had to sell ours during one of those garage sale events we had over the years, at such a give away price. Read the rest of this entry »
