Weekend Snapshot #10

I'm glad that my son is doing better today after being sick for three consecutive days. He has no fever since this morning and hopefully he will be completely well soon.

I'm sharing a picture of some fruits we have on our table. We believe that preparing fruits (usually 12 or 13) on New Year, especially the round ones will bring prosperity to the family. We have big oranges, miniature oranges, apples, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, chico, melon, pears, papaya, mangoes, pineapple and bananas.

Thank you Note and New Year's Wish

Thank you very much to everyone's concern and to those who prayed for my son. My husband and I were very worried because of Yohan's persistent high fever and decided to bring him to the hospital yesterday for some tests. Unfortunately, his pediatrician is on holiday so we couldn't bring Yohan to his clinic for a check-up but we knew we could show the tests results to Jules' grandfather, a retired pediatrician.

The urinalysis didn't indicate UTI. Yohan's CBC results show that his platelets are within the normal range. However, his WBC went over the maximum. We were told at the hospital that it was probably due to some form of bacterial infection. After consulting with Jules' grandfather, we were advised to give Yohan antibiotics for seven days.

I'm glad to tell you that since this morning, Yohan is not suffering from fever anymore. I really hope and pray that the fever will not come back. I'm afraid we won't be able to join Jules' family for the annual New Year's party but I know they would understand that Yohan still needs to rest.

We'll be celebrating the coming of 2008 at home. As I wrote previously, we have no firecrackers but the village will be preparing a fireworks display that we can watch from our house.

It's just a few more hours before another year comes. Let me leave you with a New Year's Wish ...

May God's blessings come in abundance for you and your family on 2008. May all the kindness you've shown this year come back to you in a thousand folds this coming year. Wishing everyone a safe, happy and fun New Year celebration!

Nazareth Cross

The nazareth history is significant to me as a Catholic because according to the bible, it is where angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her that she has been chosen to carry the son of God. It is also the place where Jesus spent his childhood. Learn more about nazareth jerusalem and find out about the Nazareth Project Cross project. It is said to be the world’s largest cross.

My Lil' One Has Fever

I'm worried because my son has been suffering from fever for two days now. He seemed better this morning but his fever came back in the afternoon. His fever is quite high and I have been giving him a dose of paracetamol every 4 hours.

My husband bought flavored Pedialyte (to prevent dehydration) but he cannot tolerate the taste. I cannot blame him because I tasted it and honestly it's awful. I asked Yohan to at least drink a little so that he'll get better soon. He drank a little but I could see the great effort it took to drink that small amount.

We will bring him to the doctor tomorrow for a check-up. My husband and I agreed to take turns checking on our son the whole evening to monitor his fever. I hope and pray that Yohan will get well soon.

Managing Diabetes

A few months ago, I was shocked to find out that my 4-year old nephew was at the hospital diagnosed with diabetes. I couldn't believe someone so young could already suffer from diabetes. It opened my eyes about the risks of diabetes for all ages. It's a scary thing for someone so young to suffer from this kind of condition.

To be more familiar about diabetes it is good to read more information about this medical condition. A site called Diabetic Information is a good reference source for important facts about diabetes. It features the warning signs of this condition and offers helpful ways on how to manage diabetes. The site shares valuable advices on how to manage one’s diabetes. You can also find important diabetic supplies from this site.

The site is a good source of Diabetic Recipes. Maintaining a good diet is a great way to help maintain diabetes. The site helps people with diabetes embrace a healthy way of eating to improve their condition. A good diet is always a good way to prevent negative effects of diabetes.

Diabetes and Exercise should be taken into great consideration. Maintaining a good exercise regiment can help reduce the problems of diabetes and improve the lives of many.

Photo Hunt :: Messy

Come and join the hunt here.

This was a messy but fun day. My husband was busy making a top hat for my son's Christmas (Broadway theme) presentation in school. Yohan was in a corner making an abstract painting. Ha ha!


I shared the step by step procedure (including photos) of making a top hat here.

** The following photos are not part of the theme anymore but I'd like to share them with you.

Here is a picture of Yohan (wearing a top hat) and his classmates during their dress rehearsal. Some were not yet ready with their full costume at that time.


Here is a shot during the first dance. My son is the one in the middle wearing a top hat and turquoise beaded belt and bow tie.

The Beauty of Black Diamonds

A diamond is a beautiful symbol of love and commitment. A diamond lasts forever and it's precisely because of these qualities that make them highly valued gem stones. Every diamond is a reflection of beautiful craftsmanship. It makes a perfect gift for a special occasion especially celebrations of love and fidelity.

Diamonds are desirable as gifts to symbolize declaration of love and union that's why they are perfect for engagements and weddings.

Black Diamonds are elegant and unique. I think it’s great to have a black diamond. It can be a great accent to your wardrobe and make you stand out. Black Diamond Rings are beautiful and very fashionable. It's amazing how a piece of jewelry can make you look classy. The elegance of conventional diamonds accented by a dashing black diamond makes a marvelous design that any woman would be proud to have.

Blue Diamonds are exquisite. I think it’s great that jewelers are coming out with fantastic designs to include beautiful colored gems. Conventional diamonds are beautiful but if you already have one or several pieces of this beautiful gem, it would be nice to add something new to your jewelry collection. Colored diamonds such as blue, black and red diamonds are becoming popular and highly sought for.

Aloha Friday #12

Note: My Thursday Thirteen for the week (13 Things I Got For Christmas) is at my other blog.

Rules: Post any question on your blog on a Friday, share your answer and sign Kailani's Mr. Linky. Then have fun answering the questions of fellow participants by visiting their blogs.

What are some of your New Year traditions?

Here are a few random New Year traditions that we practice in the family.

• When I was a young girl, my mom would always let me wear something with polka dots to symbolize good luck.
  
• We do a general cleaning of the house before New Year.
  
• There are always 13 fruits on the table, preferably round ones every New Year to symbolize prosperity.
• We put coins in our pockets on New Year, another symbol for prosperity.
• Last year, we started celebrating New Year firecracker-free.
  
• For a safe New Year celebration, we don't buy firecrackers anymore (not that anyone in the family had a bad experience or anything). Instead, we welcome the New Year making noises using trumpets and playing loud music.
  
• We watch the fireworks display at our village.
• Our family welcome the New Year by giving one another a kiss and a warm embrace.

Holdem Calculator

Poker is a popular and favorite card game. Its popularity led to the increase of poker online sites. Magicholdem.com helps poker online players have better chances at winning. Technology has made poker game more interesting with the rise of poker calculator. It is easy to increase poker odds and improve decision making through the use the holdem calculator.

My Son's Dream Kitchen (Yohanism #15)

Several days before Christmas, my husband and I were able to go to the mall. We decided not to bring our son with us because we knew the mall was going to be crowded. Before leaving, Yohan suddenly said to me ...

"Aha! I know what I want for Christmas... my own kitchen."

Yohan has developed a love for cooking because of his Dad. He enjoys helping his Dad in the kitchen and was probably inspired to wish for his very own kitchen.

As if it was all planned, we were surprised to see a perfect kitchen for Yohan at the mall. The best thing about it was the fact that it was on sale (30% discount). I called Yohan's Lola Dol (she earlier told us to help her find a gift for Yohan on her behalf) to tell her about the kitchen. She said ok and we bought the kitchen and had it wrapped at the store.

The following photos were taken at home on Christmas Eve.

Photography Corner

Photographs are treasures worth keeping. Photographs capture significant events in life. I'm sure many of us have treasured photos that remind us of happy moments.

I have many blog friends who are into photography. Several of them have amazing photo blogs that I visit regularly. I'm always delighted to see their works which I truly admire. I have discovered many great photography work online and many of them are worthy of being acknowledged. There is a site that features a great contest for photographers. It has a Photograph of the Month contest and an annual Photograph of the Year contest. A perfect venue for rising photographers. Check out the exciting 2007 Photograph of the Year.

If you are into photography, PhotographyCorner is an interesting site worth looking into. It is a photography resource website that offers photography tutorials, photography projects as well as equipment and product reviews. Visitors of the site can also interact with one another and share common interests through its active photography forum. They also have great photo galleries and wonderful contests as I earlier mentioned.

The Photography Corner Blog has great prizes for the 2007 Photograph of the Year contest. The site has 12 sponsors with over $20k in prizes.

True Blue Award

Thank you to my dear blog friend, Tani for giving me this sweet award. It's been a wonderful year of blogging. I'm so grateful for all the friends I met online. I'm lucky to have met some of you in person. It's always a delight to meet someone new.

I'd like to share this award with everyone in my sidebar. Thanks for always taking time to visit me. Wishing everyone a promising New Year!

Worldless Wednesday #5

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration with people dear to you. My family spent Christmas at my brother-in-law's place. Here was our Christmas feast (Wordless Wednesday entry). Lechon was the star of the Noche Buena.

Tagged :: 2007 1st Christmas Tree Blog Parade

Our Christmas Tree ~ A Holiday Highlight

We bought this Christmas tree a few years ago. My husband and I wanted a big tree. When we brought it home we realized it was too big (wide) for our living room.

We have to "relocate" one of our over sized chairs every Christmas season to give room to our Christmas tree. It's a small thing to do each year so we don't mind. We love our Christmas tree because it strengthens the Christmas spirit at home.

This photo below was taken on Christmas Eve. Yohan was ready to open his gifts.

* * * * * START COPY HERE * * * * * * *

This is a First annual 2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade Meme created and conceptualized by OTWOMD of Bluepanjeet.Net The purpose of this meme is to enliven the Christmas spirit by showing to the world our very own Christmas trees. They say that it is on the Christmas tree that best describes how a person celebrates Christmas. So here are the rules:

1. Copy the Logo of this meme (Download it on the sidebar and resize it that will best fit your blog or according to your desire) and post it on your entry.
2. Take a photo of your Christmas tree inside your house. A whole shot is the most appropriate photo. And post it on your entry
3. Tell something about your Christmas tree like who decorated it, what are the ornaments and accessories, or what is the theme and meaning of your Christmas tree this year.
4. You can put any title on your meme but don’t forget to include this “2007 1st Christmas Tree Blog Parade”.
5. Do the link train history. Put the link of your previous bloggers who tagged you and your own link, Example: Tag History: Bluepanjeet - “you” -

The link train will provide clue on “who tagged who” and at the same time a reference of data for the creator of this meme.

On The feast of Three Kings on January (The official ending of the Christmas Season), Bluepanjeet.Net will launch a mini site that will feature all of the participant’s Christmas trees for 2007 with a link back to their site. That is why it is very vital that you maintain the link history so that your Christmas tree will be included in the Christmas tree blog parade of 2007 and will be a part of history.

So tag now, you only have one month to spread this meme. Thanks for the tag Ms. Beng.

My Christmas Tag History: Bluepanjeet - Pinoy Ambisyoso - Kauderwelsch - KK aka Tina - “You” (Put your link here) -
* * * * * * * * END COPY HERE * * * * * * *


I'm tagging the following: Jenny of Hobbies and Such and Bing of My Treasures.


Christmas Tree Blog Parade List:

Somewhere in My Memory by Bluepanjeet.net
2007 1st Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Kotsengkuba.com
2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Mynosebleed.com
2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Enelym001.wordpress.com
2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Jovi2hottie.wordpress.com
2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Amorfrancis.com
The 2007 OTWOMD Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Pinoy Ambisyoso
2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Reynz
2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade by Miss Lukaret
Christimas Tree 2007 by MyGoodFinds
Our Christmas Tree ~ A Holiday Highlight by Heart of Rachel

Create Your Own Logo Design Online

There is now an easy way to come up with a company Logo Design. LogoYes is a site where you can make a Custom Logo Design based on your personal preferences.

The Free Logo and Business Card Creator allows you to come up with your own logo in a matter of minutes. You can choose your company's logo based on the image you want to project. Choose from hi-tech, bold or flair. Next step is to identify the industry where your company falls. Whether your company falls under accounting and finance, arts and entertainment, engineering, education and counseling, sports and leisure or another industry, you can make your own unique logo. Third step is to choose a symbol that you think will best fit your company. There are many symbols that you can choose from. After this is putting the company's name and finalizing the layout. Last step is deciding whether or not to buy the logo you created. If you are not satisfied with the logo you made, it is easy to reset the image and make a fresh one. Good news, they have reduced their price from $99 to $69.

I tried the site's free logo creator and made my own logo. You can see the cute logo I came up with above. I chose a lovely and simple butterfly and added my name.

From My Family to Yours on Christmas

Wishing all of you a thousand fold of blessings.
Happiness in your hearts.
Treasures worth more than gold.

From my family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas!

May the love you share with others return to you in countless ways.
God bless each and everyone.

Weekend Snapshot #9

To join this weekly meme, click here

Yesterday, I went to the mall with my family to do some last minute shopping. As expected, the mall was full of people. I guess many were out finishing their Christmas shopping.

This cute and delicious fella is from Breadtalk. Isn't he a delightful snowman?

Photo Hunt :: Light

Come and join the hunt here.

This photo was taken last year at Enchanted Kingdom. It was my son's first time to go to a big amusement park. We were about to ride the big ferris wheel. It looks lovely at night because of the bright lights. It was even lovelier when we were on it because we could see the whole amusement park from above. It was a fun ride.

Aloha Friday #11

** I missed last week's Aloha Friday and yesterday I was out and didn't have time to post my entry. I decided to still post my entry this week even though it's a day late.

Rules: Post any question on your blog on a Friday, share your answer and sign Kailani's Mr. Linky. Then have fun answering the questions of fellow participants by visiting their blogs.

When do you open your Christmas presents?

We open our presents on Christmas eve. We usually have our Noche Buena (traditional midnight dinner) at my in-laws place. After the feast, we exchange gifts with one another. We open the gifts that we receive there. When we get home, we open the gifts under our Christmas tree.

Inquire About Medical Assistant Programs

There are many opportunities abroad in the field of medicine. I have heard of many students who want to become nurses and medical assistants. Securing courses in these fields of study is a goal of many students nowadays because of the promise of a good future ahead of them.

Students who want a bright future often inquire about training programs that are available for them. There are many types of training programs available. Many schools also offer variety of courses to help students find the right course for them. Popular medical programs include training courses for the following: dental assistant, ultrasound technician, radiologist, nurse and medical office manager.

These courses are very popular among students because of the demand for medical-related professionals in different countries all over the world. In fact, in United States of America, it is part of the fastest growing industry. Medical assistant programs offer a good source of income which makes it a good choice.

There are many good medical assistant schools that offer quality medical training. It is always advisable for students to find where their interests are. Find out more about the leading schools that offer medical assistant training programs. Inquire now about the requirements of medical assistant programs.

Tagged :: If You Could Spend One More Day ...

I was tagged by Hailey to do this meme.

"How would you spend one more day, with someone you loved and lost?"

A few years ago, my dad's younger brother died of cancer. He was a wonderful uncle. I fondly called him by his nickname, Tito Bebot.

My Tito Bebot lived in London for more than 20 years. He always stayed with us in Manila whenever he came to the Philippines for a vacation. If I were to describe him in a sentence I would say ... He was a sweet person with a fabulous sense of style. He was fun to have around.

I was sad when I found out that he had cancer. One day, I got a surprise call from him. He was at the province for a vacation. He said he was going to call me when he goes to Manila. He called me a day before his flight back to London. He apologized for such a quick visit. I wasn't able to see him because our car was at the mechanic that time. We just talked on the phone for a while. I never thought it was going to be the last time I will every hear his voice.

After a few months on that same year, I received news that my Uncle Bebot has passed away because of cancer. I felt so sad and I regretted not seeing him on his last visit to the country. The unavailability of the car was not an excuse. If I could bring back time, I would have taken the bus to see him. I would have brought my family with me especially my son, Yohan so that we could spend quality time together with Tito Bebot. I would have brought him some Buko Pie because there was a time he requested me to bring him some from Batangas.

I miss him and I hope that he is happy and at peace.

Dubai Apartments

Dubai is a beautiful place that I would like to visit someday. Many say that Dubai is the" jewel in the crown of the United Arab Emirates". It’s a great place worth discovering. In fact, I know of a few friends who work in Dubai. They easily fell in love with the place and chose to live there. They have found great jobs and have adjusted well to their new home.

Dubai is also ideal as a vacation spot. There are many great sights, wonderful places to visit and fun activities to do. It is rich with new and modern innovations that makes it worth going to. Dubai has a dynamic and interesting culture worth learning and discovering.

Dubai has a great location. What makes it so great is the fact that it can be reached by land, air and sea. There are many international flights and ship cruises to Dubai. Tourists with international driving license can have a little fun and adventure by driving through the Middle East to Dubai.

If you are interested in spending time in Dubai, you can check out dubai hotel apartments. Tourists especially businessmen have enjoyed the convenience and luxury of dubai hotel apartments, making it a popular choice of accommodation. Many dubai hotel apartments in different locations throughout the city can be found. This kind of accommodation may be more costly compared to others but the amenities and services offered are worth it.

The site, http://www.dubaiapartments.biz/ offers great choices for dubai holiday rental. You can search for accommodations based on your personal preferences. This site allows you to search for great short term rental places such as dubai holiday apartment in dubai. You can learn about great dubai furnished aparment packages. It is a user friendly website where you can also find out interesting things about dubai.

Sweet Surprise from Thess

I love receiving surprises in the mail. I got a sweet surprise the other day. It's from my dear blog friend, Thess. She sent me this nice card and two lovely ref magnets. The dog is so cute! It's amusing when you touch the dog's neck, tail and legs because they literally spring into action. Ha ha! I love the wine too.

Thanks Thess for being so thoughtful.

Car Parts

If you’re finding it hard to look for auto parts in shops, you can now easily check its availability online. Drivewire.com allows you to search for replacement parts and accessories through their website. It offers a variety of ford auto parts. They have online catalogs where you can check the year and make of your ford vehicle to determine if parts are available. It event gives discounts on selected car parts.

Tagged :: 5 Christmas Wishes

Ipanema of Under the Canopy tagged me with 5 Christmas Wishes. The good thing about life is hope. I believe that every wish is a sweet blend of hope and faith. Here are my Christmas wishes ...

1. I wish to always have my loved ones near me.
   
2. I wish good health for all the people I care for.
3. I wish for inspiration to make my life more interesting.
   
4. I wish for peace of mind. To solve the conflicts that are troubling me.
   
5. I wish to have the courage to do the things I've always wanted. Not to be afraid to try new things and go out of the norm. To stand on what I believe in.
   

Wishing is fun. I won't be tagging anyone but consider this as an open invitation to wish anything that would make you happy.

Free Chat Time

Today’s younger generation is so tech savvy. I noticed that many teenagers are into text messaging, mp3s, computer games and teen chat. Joining chat lines seem to be a common past time of teenagers nowadays. I learned that teenagers enjoy free chat because they can talk to their friends for an unlimited amount of free chat time.

How To Make a Top Hat (Yohan's Costume)

On a much earlier post, I told you that we were preparing for my son's Christmas Presentation in school for Dec. 14, 2007. The school presentation went well. Let me share about the preparations we made for Yohan's big day. Pre-school students were asked to individually come up with a costume based on the theme. My son is in Nursery and here are the requirements:

Nursery 1 Students are asked to wear plain black outfit with "Broadway" accent for the 1st and 2nd dance. Ex. Top hat, necktie, bow tie, scarf, tuxedo,vest and suspender.

The students will wear the same black attire with "Red Heart" accent for the3rd and 4th dance. Ex. heart headdress, headband with hearts, belt with hearts, pins, necklace and the like.

My husband and I bought him a long sleeves black polo. We let him use his black slacks (which he used at a cousin's wedding) and school shoes. I'm so thankful for Yohan's grandmother, Mama Norma for making him an aqua green bow tie and wide belt. She meticulously sewed sequins, beads and costume jewelry to make it fabulous.

Here's Yohan trying out his costume for the 1st dance. It needed something else to complete the Broadway look ... a top hat. We couldn't find one at the mall so his Dad made him a top hat from scratch. Check out procedure below.


How to make a Top Hat:

Materials:

• Black Poster Boards
• Black Felt Paper
• Pencil
  
• Glue Gun
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Cutter
  

Procedure:

1. Find a large plate to make a circular pattern on the Poster Board using a pencil then cut it with a scissors.
2. Find something that you can use to measure your child's head with ~ an old hat, cap, a bowl, etc. (My hubby found an old turtle toy. He tried the turtle shell on Yohan's head and it was a perfect fit so he used it as a pattern.)
   
3. Use a pencil to draw another circle inside the earlier circular pattern you made. Cut the inner circle with a cutter (like a donut). Set aside.
   
4. Using another Poster Board, form a cylinder. The mouth of the cylinder should be as big as the inner circle in #3. Glue the sides of the cylinder together. Height of the cylinder depends on how tall you like the top hat to be.
   
5. Cut short vertical lines (around 1-2 inches long) around one end of the cylinder to form some flaps.
6. Slip the "donut" through the cylinder.
   
7. Staple or glue the flaps on the "donut".
   
8. To close the top, use the open part of the hat as a pattern. Using a pencil trace it on remaining Poster Board leaving at least 1-2 inches allowance. Cut it with scissors.
9. Cut short vertical lines (1-2 inches long) around it to form flaps.
   
   
10. Use this to cover the open top of the hat. Glue the flaps to the hat using a glue gun.
    
11. You can make the hat look more elegant by covering the hat it with felt paper. Use a glue gun for a clean finish. Covering it with felt paper hides the staple wires and flaps.
    

I'm happy to share with everyone this photo of Yohan in his costume for the 1st dance.

More photos of Yohan's costume for the second dance and actual school presentation to follow.

Helping Entrepreneurs Start New Business

I have several friends who are thinking of putting up a new business. A new business endeavor requires money to set up. They are looking for ways to augment the money they already have to increase their capital. There is an easy process to get fast funding for entrepreneurs to start, grow and expand their business. You may acquire business loans in order to help reach your business goals. EZUnsecured.com offers business financing combined with great service.

Photo Hunt :: Small

** Thanks to everyone who wished my son good luck on his presentation today. I really appreciate it. **

Come and join the hunt here.

In the spirit of Christmas, the Pre-school Department of The Nazareth School prepared a presentation where the kids shared several musical numbers - Broadway style. It was Yohan's first school presentation and we were all very excited. Families gathered to watch the pre-school students perform on stage.

Here are the accessories that Yohan used for the musical number in school. Each one (except for the lighting pin) was specially customized for Yohan.



1 - Top Hat (my husband made it from scratch. I will share a step by step procedure of how he made it on a separate post).

2 - A full aqua green beaded belt (this was made my my mother-in-law. She worked hard on sewing those small sequins, beads and costume jewels to make it a glamorous looking belt.

3 - An aqua green bow tie with a costume jewel sewed in the middle (also made by my MIL).

4 - An accent for Yohan's Top Hat (I made this accent for the 2nd dance using Velcro to wrap it around and secure around the hat. I used small silver hearts and a red heart made of Styrofoam).

5 - A small lighting heart pin (used for the 2nd dance).

6 - A red bow tie (my husband and I bought this at the mall and my MIL sewed small rectangular beads around the center of the bow tie to make it stand out).

7 - A red 'heart' belt (my MIL helped us transform an ordinary red ribbon into this fabulous belt by alternately sewing small red and silver sequins. I found the silver heart as a topper of a candy stick. I was inspired to use it as the center piece of the belt).