Cash Cash Pinoy: Why you should think twice before purchasing

7:44 PM gem 5 Comments

With everyone being busy, shopping for Christmas is evolving to the online markets where all items can easily be viewed. Transactions can easily be made with a click. Payments can be made through bank payments or credit cards. Among the popular online site go to for discounts is cash cash pinoy . But hold your horses... read this experience first before rushing there to make a deal.

It was September 6 of this year when I bought a lawn green 12000mah powerbank from cash cash pinoy. I was very busy that time that I couldn't go to the mall. After purchasing, I missed the information that it will be delivered in October. Tsk! Okay. I have to wait for a month for the delivery. Since I already purchased it, all I can do is wait.



October came and it was finally delivered. When I tried it- tada!!!! Not working! It was not even lighting. Since Cash Cash Pinoy has no contact number, I filed a report on October 18 through their website. The next day, I got a reply. I was pleased at how fast they attended to complaints. The response said

Thank you for writing to CashCashPinoy regarding your defective 12000mAh Powerbank - Lawn Green.
We are very sorry that the shipment of 12000mAh Powerbank - Lawn Green that you received was defective. We understand your disappointment and appreciate the inconvenience this must have caused you.
We can promise you that the highest quality standards will be met in the future because protecting our reputation for delivering the best product on the market is a key priority for us.
For us to process the replacement, kindly fill up the replacement form attached with the complete description of the defect. Also provide us pictures of the item as a requirement of our merchant.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience you may have experienced. Should you have further inquiries, please feel free to send us an email at support@cashcashpinoy.com. If you want, you may also try our chat support from Monday to Friday (11am to 8pm). Just click the Live Support button on the right side of our webpage.

I did what was asked. I filled out the form and sent pictures of the defective item. Here's my very friendly email.
Thank you for the swift reply. I have attached here the replacement form and the pictures of the item I got.
Kindly give me the expected date when the replacement item will be delivered.
Thank you.
I waited. Followed up on October 22 and 27 but got no response. I was ONLY asking for an EXPECTED DATE of delivery. I needed my expectations set. I kept telling myself to be patient, but who will when you've already waited for a month, got charged on my credit card and it's already taking almost two months and I still don't have a powerbank.

October 30- Hurray! (I was trying to get my hopes up)

Thank you for writing back to us and for providing the details needed!
We will be forwarding your concern to our Logistics team to further investigate and process the replacement of your item. They will be coordinating first with our partner merchant regarding the replacement of your item. We will notify you once we get an update.
We appreciate your continuous patience and support to CashCashPinoy as we build a better online shopping experience for you.
Again, we are really sorry for the delay and inconvenience.
We will request our partner courier to retrieve the 12000mAh Powerbank - Lawn Green in your indicated delivery address so you no longer have to personally drop off the item here in our office.
Our courier will be there within 2 to 5 days.

November 1
We already requested your replacement to our merchant. Rest assured that we will expedite the delivery as soon as it arrives and we will retrieve your item at the same time....
WAITING GAME... WAITING FOR THE COURIER

They said I they will expedite the delivery of the replacement right???
I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I did not send further complaints even if I was already disappointed. 

November 9

Thank you for writing patiently waiting for your replacement.
We are sorry to inform you that the merchant won't be able to deliver the 12000mAh Powerbank - Lawn Green replacement.
As such, we were advised to refund your purchase in CashCashPinoy Credits. You can use the credits as good as cash, to buy any deals from our website. The CashCashPinoy Credits has no expiration date and it will remain in your account until you decide to use it.
The refund process of CashCashPinoy credits will only take 2-5 working days, and once the credits are deposited to your CashCashPinoy account, you can immediately use it to buy deals from our website.
So... 2 months and days of waiting for the courier to pickup the defective item, it boils down to getting refunded. Fine.

WAITING GAME...

They said it will take 2-5 working days for the credit to be deposited to my cash cash pinoy account.

They retrieved the defective item but it's already December 11- STILL NO REFUND. 

It is not really about the amount now. This is about resolving a SIMPLE issue. I think I was very patient to have waited for them to close this concern. Now I only need what I DESERVE- my MONEY (which turned to "just" CREDITS). They still can't PROCESS it? I searched online to see if there are other unfortunate experiences with Cash Cash Pinoy. Surprisingly, I found a lot!

Now, if you plan on purchasing from CashCashPinoy, PRAY first that you don't end up going through this disappointing experience. I understand that items may be defective but what they do to customers when this happens is NOT acceptable. Indeed... it's money money! It's just all about CASH and nothing about buyer protection or satisfaction guarantee. 





5 comments:

When Worry Creeps In

3:29 PM gem 0 Comments

It has always been in my system to plan my life. Countless times I have mentioned in this blog how difficult it is for me to cope when unexpected things happen. Right now, I feel so blessed with all the projects coming my way. My life events these past months feel like a rock placed in a slingshot getting its momentum and getting ready to fire.

But unexpected things shake me. I worry. What if all these things get disarrayed?

I've been seeing signs which I hope do not translate to reality. In case they do, if it was just me, I wouldn't know what to do. For sure I'd panic. But God showed me the answer, and told me not to worry.


"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
"Therefore fo not worry, saying, `what shall we eat?' or `what shall we drink?' or `what shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Thy will be done. :)

0 comments:

30!

12:38 AM gem 0 Comments

Last year, I was imagining how I would be celebrating my big 30. Now, that day passed and I couldn't imagine how swift time is.

We do not really know how many years were given to us to live in this world so I couldn't say that I am already at the middle of my life. I used to think that 30 is old but now that I am in it, it really isn't. 30 just means I have experienced things more.



We've had a number of cakes to eat this past week. :D


0 comments:

Who you want to be...

6:04 PM gem 0 Comments


How do you really go out of your comfort zone? It is really scary, come to think of it. It is just like that moment when you transfer to another school or university, when you were asked to join a club for the first time and didn't know what to expect, when you first entered in a relationship, the first time you cut classes, the first time you sneaked out to a party, the first time you tried commuting, your first ride in a taxi... You tried all those for a reason. At one point, you didn't care whether people told you not to do it because it's dangerous. What you know is that you have this yearning to do it to enjoy, to learn, to experience.

Be a child at heart.

That means not being afraid to try out new things, explore new industries, and discover who else you could become other than what you told yourself you would be.

Some people realized they wanted to become a lawyer someday and that's where all their decisions were based. But that same lawyer never thought he/she would become a father, or a mother, a businessman, a social worker... We can all become more than what we thought we could be. All we need is to keep on believing, take action, and pursue that dream.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. It is the time of rebirth.

Who else do you want to be?




0 comments:

Mommy Purchase: Nursing Cover

1:08 AM gem 0 Comments

Not given the chance to breastfed Megan fully, I am determined to nurse Abraham and breastfeed him for as long as I can. (That's the beauty of a work from home mommy!)

As I was imagining how I will be able to do so, I thought of what I am going to do when we're out in public. Although commercials and health organizations have been promoting breastfeeding, it still gets awkward when you see a part of someone's boobs out in the open. Some people just couldn't help but stare. And how could a mother breastfeed comfortably when she knows that people are looking at her?

I didn't think twice. I immediately looked for a nursing cover for preparations. Since I couldn't leave the house yet for shopping, I resulted to online purchasing again.



"Pediatricians strongly recommend exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life up to two years.

It is packed with disease fighting substances that protects your baby.

We believe that Breast Milk is the best gift that you can give your little one.

We salute mothers who have made the decision to invest in the liquid gold.

Nursing Cover is made of breathable cloth---not too thick, not too thin. It is enough to shield your bosom from public exposure but light enough to be draped over your baby during feeding."
And yes, there isn't a need to sell it to me because it's already sold even before I searched online. :)
The only question now is... how affordable can I get it?

There are a lot of nursing covers for sale. I, of course, purchased the one that's budget friendly. I got a green colored one from Lelliebubb. It only costs 250 Php.

Now I have already secured breastfeeding anytime, anywhere...

0 comments:

Mommy Purchase: The Abdominal Binder

7:30 AM gem 0 Comments


I received another package. Featuring: the abdominal binder. bow!

This is another of my "firsts" though Abraham is my second baby. Compared to my post pregnancy body with Megan, where my tummy went from "watermelon" big to flat, my tummy still looked like I was 3-4 months pregnant after I arrived home from the hospital. My OB always tells me that there will be a huge difference since this is my second time for pregnancy. Thus, I decided to browse the net in search of an affordable abdominal binder.

Belly binders or abdominal binders, I can say are must have post pregnancy. It has a gentle compression on the abs which may help the uterus return to its normal size. Doctors say that you have to wear it 4 weeks-8 weeks post pregnancy for better results. However, be reminded that this is not a miracle wrap which will guarantee a smaller waist. The progress of course will vary depending on how much you've gained during your pregnancy.

For me though, it helps a lot to support my back, which has been aching because of breast feeding. I noticed an improvement when I started wearing the abdominal binder.

There are many options that you can choose from. You can checkout Belly Bandit (cost: $49.95), Tauts, Cinchers, they all work for a common goal. I got mine from Lucky Doll. It is a waist cincher belly binder (price: 280 Php)




And of course, the fastest way to lose that extra post pregnancy weight is by eating healthy and doing exercises. :)

0 comments:

Mommy Purchases: My new best friends

6:55 PM gem 0 Comments

After the wonders that my body has gone through in giving birth to Abraham, it's about time i get new friends that will perfectly suit my situation now.

I purchased Bio Oil online after I have researched and have seen its before and after pictures for stretchmarks. Mine isn't the tiger stripes kind but I would rather improve their appearance while they are still new.

Bio Oil is formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. Its main ingridient is PureCellin Oil, which is also effective for ageing and dehydrated skin.


I got the 125ml for 1100 Php.




the product needs to be applied 3x a day for three months.

I started using it today. I'll give everyone an update while I monitor its effectiveness.

My 2nd new friend is very handy and is just what I need now. Nursing Abraham is my everyday routine. However, my nipples are getting sore. I don't want to stop nursing him and rely on formulas. It was laziness on my part when I had Megan. I thought I was not producing enough milk only to realize later on that latching stimulates the glands to produce milk. So this time, I am very careful not to commit the same errors.

Yan ordered me Motherlove nipple cream. It is a softening salve for use on sore, cracked nursing nipples. What is good about it is that it is safe for baby's ingestion and is certified organic.


www.motherlove.com





this post pregnancy makes me feel like I'm going through motherhood for the first time. But this time, it's for improving for the best.

♥ blogging from my fone ♥

0 comments:

My Delivery Day Experience

1:41 PM gem 0 Comments

I am blogging from my fone so i can still multitask in taking care of my two babies, and still update the social media.

Finally, I gave birth to the cutest and handsome baby boy for me. ♥

Feb 28 pm

My doctor gave me a prescription to take Castor oil so i can induce my labor. I was on my 39th week. I took the same oil when i was pregnant with Megan. It's supposed to make you go to the restroom and discharge your bowels. But it was different for me. Same with what happened to my pregnancy with Megan, i took it after dinner. At the middle of the night, i was awaken by a sudden gush of water. My waterbag broke.

March 1 - 1am

We got to St. lukes and i was immediately taken to one of the rooms while waiting for my contractions to become strong. I heard a woman from the other room shouting in pain. I said to myself "can it really be that painful? Wa poise naman..." She was asking if she can already get an epidural but the nurses were waiting for her doctor's order. I overheard she was at 5cm.

My nurse came and told me to let her know if it's already painful so I can be given the epidural. I said i will. I wanted to know how painful it can get so i waited. there were pains but i challenged myself to bore them. 3am. I can still smile...

At 4am, my OB arrived. He did an internal exam and i was at 7cm. Now it started to be really painful... but i didn't lose my poise calling all the saints. I just closed my eyes and took a lot of short breaths. It was all i can do at that time.

430 am

I was taken to the operating room to get my epidural. It was the most painful part for me because I was crying when they injected the needle in my spinal cord. Both the strong contraction and the coldness in my spine made me cry with sobs.

After being taken back to the delivery room, everything felt so easy. i wasn't feeling any pain anymore. I couldn't feel my legs. I farted a few times... shameful, but i had no control of my lower body.

530 am

I was checked again. Surprisingly, I was at 10cm. they took me to the operating room. "this is it!" When my legs were spread, the nurses and my doctor looked like characters from HOUSE and i was their subject. it was a rare experience for them to see that my baby's head was coming out on its own... not much effort needed. i was told that we would need to wait for a contraction then i would need to push. i only pushed twice. a few seconds more Abraham was out. Really... that was it? (^_^) I was relieved to see my baby boy for the first time. this delivery felt so much better than being sedated, like what happened when i had Megan.

I would like to consider myself lucky because my body was in top shape for giving birth... but it is not about luck at all. i am thankful i prepared my body for this big wonder it did by taking supplements. i was walking on my second day and it feels as if i didn't give birth at all.







But of course, no matter how good i feel on the outside, my body still needs to heal inside. thus, i am still taking all the time i need to rest so i can function perfectly without harming my body.

My adorable Abraham made March one of the most unforgettable months of the year!

0 comments:

The full Moon and some serious contractions

1:41 PM gem 0 Comments


This is my second time to have a baby which is why some people, even my doctor, expect that I already know when I am in labor. Wrong! Being in labor is something I still do not have any idea at all. My water bag broke when I was about to give birth to Megan and that is the only thing that told me it was THE TIME.

Last night, I felt an isolated, but painful contraction I have ever felt in the history of this pregnancy. It was scary because I couldn't move my body because of the pain in my lower abdomen. I was already in bed at that time with Megan. I was praying that it would go away because I haven't packed my hospital bag yet and Abryan was on his way to his office- not a very good time to rush to the hospital. While tears flowed on my cheeks, Megan was trying to help me get into a sitting position. When she saw my tears, she said "I'll get a towel." She got her own face towel and used it to wipe my tears away. Then she said "It's okay Mommy, it's okay." My little nurse is aged 3! The pain lasted more than 5 minutes but I was glad it went away. I couldn't imagine myself screaming for help in case it was already D- Day.

Emotions get really high these days. I thought maybe it was because of the full moon. However, my emotions were brought about by the events that are happening, Other than the "moving-out" event, the nanny has really been getting into my nerves these days. Plainly put, she is hardworking, but she is a chronic liar. When she was asked who just fried eggs, she said it was my sister when none of us would get mad if she admitted it was her. When Megan cried a few days ago and we asked her why, she said Megan just didn't want to eat. But when we asked Megan, she said she hit her head. And to add to these, she just said she is pregnant when last month, she asked me if she could by sanitary napkins from the store. I even gave her a pack of napkins that I had stored before I got pregnant and told her she can just have them. Now she's pregnant all of a sudden just when we are about to move out and I am about to give birth. 

Lying is a big concern for anyone I suppose. It doesn't bother me if she decides to leave because she doesn't want to work anymore but to lie about being pregnant and make us look stupid to even believe her irritates me. And of all people, I shouldn't be lied about pregnancy... that IS my FORTE! If my gut feel tells me you are not, I'll prove it till the pregnancy test results prove otherwise. 

Looking at a different angle, I will have to learn a new role- that is being a full time housewife. It's exciting to take control of everything... Megan, my new baby, cooking (which I am still about to learn), setting the new business and everything else! For the first time, I will be in-charge of our home- none but me. So tell me now why I am not threatened to lose a nanny? I would probably just need 2 weeks to recover from my delivery and then I can start "owning" myself again. 

This full moon has given me different emotions. But among all of them, my feeling of excitement and determination to start anew and make it work are the strongest. There is no backing out- no backing down... Aja!!!

So what emotions did you feel last night? :)

0 comments:

The struggle when moving out

9:31 PM gem 0 Comments

How do you move out? I can't really answer that question now because I also am trying my best to decipher what I should feel about finally moving out. When it comes to tips on how to move out, that would be fairly easy. What I am referring to would be getting emotionally ready. Do you ever get emotionally ready?

I grew up in this house for 29 years. Yup, that long. I never took a dorm in college. The only nights I wouldn't sleep here happened during vacations. If you can just imagine all of the things that I have bought, collected etc... for 29 years. This house has tons of my stuff in it.

Wanting to live independently never crossed my mind, not even when I had Megan. Why would I when my aunt has not just been responsible but very caring to all of my needs? She has always been like that ever since I was entrusted to her because both of my parents are working outside the country. I have enjoyed being the princess for 28 years. But come my 29th year, when I got pregnant again and got married, I was being forced by nature to leave this comfort zone so we can really start a family; seriously. Maybe if not for the events that started happening last year, I wouldn't really force myself into  leaving our house.

There are times when I am too eager to move out but today, when we started packing the things that I will be bringing with me, I felt torn. However, it has to be done. So... How do I choose which among my 29 years of stuff should I bring???? That is the biggest dilemma I have now.

Books

I hoard books, even those that I know I won't have the time to read. It's only now that I've realized why some people would rather get ebooks than the actual books. I wonder how much space (or if there would be enough space) would all of it occupy.

Clothes

We have 4 full cabinets of clothes. When it comes to clothes, I know most of us would always think that we'd keep this... we'd keep that... so we can wear them ONCE we GET SLIMMER. Because of this, I still have blouses and pants from my college (and maybe even highschool) days. Imagine how small they are now for me! Let's admit it... bones grow, hips get wider... no matter how we starve ourselves, we will never fit into those clothes again so we might as well ... DONATE them. Or if you think they are too expensive to donate, have a garage sale. At least you'll still get something out of them. For this "moving out", I am not going to bring much. I'll bring a few that would fit me at this point. Our cabinet will have enough space for NEW clothes... that only means one thing... Shopping!


Pictures/ Photo Albums

I also have a lot of these. Among the three of us (my siblings), I am the one who has the most number of pictures. Of course... the eldest. Moving to a new place means a fresh start. So why would I bring a lot of unnecessary things? For these, I would recommend a scanner. Save all your pictures in your external HD in case the time would come when you would want to stroll down memory lane and laugh at your kiddie pictures.

CDs/ DVDs/ VCDs

Can I add VHS into these? Hahaha. I grew up in the era where it was cool to collect movies, most specially those hard to find ones. But how many boxes would I need to store all of these? My broadway collections are non-negotiable. They are going with me. For the rest... my recommendation is to rip them and store them (again) on an external HD.

Bags and Shoes

They fall under one category because I don't really buy lots of them. I only buy those that I would use on a daily basis. This is not going to be a problem! :)

Makeups/ Lotions/ Beauty Products

Glad I have my makeup case! these are the easiest to pack. You look at the expiration date and throw those who are nearing the end of their shelf life.

Is there anything else???

I am almost done packing my books and documents. I just wish I would have enough time to even scan my pictures or rip my DVDs. I am not OC. I just have the personality that when I leave something, someone, or somewhere, I wouldn't want to go back. This is why emotional preparation and having everything ready are very important to me.

There will always be a time in our lives where we have to let go of so many things just so we can have a space for the new things. It is time to start creating a new passion!

0 comments:

Nag mo-Moment lang...

10:24 PM gem 0 Comments

Why I rarely created blog posts and vlogged this February was caused by so many things. Deep in my heart I know these are just excuses.

I had been feeling a little down this month. Waiting for your delivery day can sometimes be very stressful. On my 37th week, I still have a lot of "health concerns" to address to ensure that my baby gets  through with the delivery safe. I'll tell this the way a layman in a medical industry would. My red blood cell count is not where it should be. In short, even with the Iron intervention that my doctor did to speed up the production of my red blood cells in preparation for the delivery, it is still not enough. I have been taking my Iron medications so hopefully, I get better results this Saturday. Second, it was just found out that I have UTI. Again, I was given a week to take the meds and it was expected to clear after. But of course, it's still in progress. Thanks to Yan; he has been buying coconut water for me to drink everyday since it is known to help cure UTI. I am a little worried since I never experienced these things when I was pregnant with Megan.

Other than the ones I have mentioned, I got pretty disappointed when I asked Yan to take my belly shot. I saw pink lines!!! Imagine my horror when I found out that I was not spared of stretch marks for this pregnancy. People always tell me that a boy is always heavier than having a girl. So I guess that explains the pink marks. I was depressed at some point. I started thinking if I'll ever get back in shape after gaining 20 lbs in this pregnancy.

After some days of contemplation, I finally got back to my old positive self. I just realized that I shouldn't feel bad about my marks because it is a sign of bravery. Not every woman would choose to have a baby. Some are afraid and wouldn't want an added responsibility while others have the lamest excuse of not wanting to lose their figure.  My pregnancy marks will remind me that I was strong enough to give up wearing a two-piece swimsuit for a handsome little boy who will bring happiness to our lives. Plus, what good is not having stretch marks when your body can't even pass wearing a decent swimsuit? It's still all about getting FIT.

Instead of sadness, I am excited with the things I can start doing again after I give birth.

  • Massage - I will definitely get a full body massage. My body really needs it.
  • Coffee and Tea - I miss drinking these. Imagine... no coffee every morning.
  • Red wine - I will stock up on red wine when we transfer to our new home. At least red wine would be better than drinking sodas.
  • Keratin Complex- I was informed of this at Tony & Guy when I had my haircut but I opted not to get it (even though they said it was safe for pregnancy) because I do not want to risk harming my baby.
  • Buy new clothes!!! - I stopped buying clothes when I found out I was pregnant. I didn't buy maternity clothes as well. I discovered that my aunts' blouses would pass as maternity clothes if I was the one wearing them. The rest of my clothes were the ones I bought when I was pregnant with Megan. Recycle! 
  • Travel!!! - Abryan and I didn't go on a honeymoon when we got married. Travelling has become harder and harder for me now that I'm full term. There are so many places I want to go to but would just have to wait till I am ready.
  • Vegan cooking- For those who didn't know, I do not cook. I fry. That's basically all I know about cooking. I cannot distinguish beef meat from pork when they are frozen. Thus, I am going to cook Vegan dishes to save me from guessing. I have all the recipes ready! I will start when we have settled in the new home. Wish me Luck!!!
  • Z-WOW Exercises- What I like about owning my time is that I can exercise when I want to. This is one exercise that I will start doing when my doctor gives me the "go" signal. These are 15 minute full body exercises. That's all I need in a day!
With so many of these things waiting for me, why should I even waste my time feeling sad? We'll be moving to our new home soon... I will have a handsome baby boy to carry, I have a sweet daughter who is as excited as we are in seeing her baby brother, and a husband who is very responsible and makes all of us happy. 

Plus... I forgot to include, I have people waiting for me to get through this pregnancy so I can go back to my freelance jobs. Isn't that nice. I don't have to file for leaves and wait for the approval. :)

0 comments:

0214

12:46 PM gem 0 Comments


For the singles, the couples, and those who feel LOVE in their hearts! <3 

0 comments:

The Manalansang Wedding Highlights

8:30 AM gem 0 Comments

It's been 2 months since we got married. :)
Here's the highlights of our wedding.

0 comments:

What else happened this January?

9:11 PM gem 0 Comments

It's already February and I have missed a lot of supposed to be entries for January because I have been busy. With all the freelance projects I have been doing with some colleagues, I had to put a halt on them by February to take all the rest I would be needing in preparation for my delivery. I am on my 35th week today and I couldn't wait to give birth to Abraham.

Part of the project that we did was to test run the facilitator's guide that we did with college students. I was really blessed that Our Lady of Fatima University eagerly offered to have the test run in their campus when the original expected university was somewhere in Manila. It saved me all the hassle of long travels and traffic.

I love freelance work because you manage your time (this past week was an exception of course); you can double or triple your income depending on the projects that you can handle; and there is no tax! Some people would rather work in one company for stability but who wants to work till their retirement  year? I certainly do not want that. In this age, all you have to do is open your mind and focus on earning more and investing your money wisely so you do not have to work your butt off, kill yourself for doing overtime, and develop degenerative diseases which will definitely empty your savings account. In this day, the more sources of income, the merrier!




For the 6 days that I spent in OLFU, I realized how good it feels to teach young minds again. It brings me back to the time when I was in college and had dreams that were a little different from the dreams I have now. Nevertheless, it was the time when I thought of becoming a theater actress and an English teacher. Just like in the movies, it was inspiring to get a job and still make a living from your passion. If these young minds were mentored well, greatness is within their reach.

For that, we are very pleased to become a part of this big project in the country that aims to make graduates more competent so they could easily get that job that they want. Soon, the difference will be felt.

After the last day, I knew I was going to miss teaching students.

Now, it's about time I tune to my body's needs. February (crossing my fingers) will be my rest and relaxation month. Abraham has been very cooperative for the past months while I was busy with projects and events here and there. It's about time I get a "Me and Abraham" time!

Cheers to life's great and random blessings!

0 comments:

Zodiac Talk: Which animals are friends and not

11:10 PM gem 0 Comments

February is getting near. I have 4 important events on my list so far.


  • Chinese New Year- February 10
  • The Walking Dead - Season 3 - February 10
  • Valentine's Day- February 14
  • My full term
Life has been very good to our family so far. Thus, I couldn't really imagine how 2013 could be challenging for my sign, the Pig. As I said in my previous post about horoscopes, our reaction is all that matters. If we feel negative about events that didn't go our way, then we begin to dig our doom. But if we always smile and expect more good things to come, they will come. 

For those who want to know which Animal Zodiac will bring you a much easier year, I found this table from this site. It's a reference. :D


Here are some funny predictions for the PIG:

Wealth: A hard year may happen to them in finance. It is not suggested to lend money to others. Otherwise, it will be hard to get the money back. They also need to be thrifty to save some money for the unexpected use. Except that it is a little hard to earn money, they should make cautious investment for fear that they should be cheated. Anyway, as long as they make money as usual, they can well get through the year. 

Soooo... I am already announcing that there will be NO LENDING of MONEY from ME and ABRYAN. Kaya wag na i attempt. Hehehe.

Baby birth is not suggested in 2013 because the Chinese astrology says that the snake babies will not get along well with the pig parents.      
We are both PIG parents. So tell me how am I suppose to not give birth just because it's the year of the Snake? hahaha.

But of course I like the career part where it says we will get good opportunities!!!!

Overview: Good things will happen from time to time in 2013, such as moving to a new house, getting a better job and running a business. As long as they make more efforts, their fortune will get better. One more thing should be remembered is that they need to handle things carefully. 
Career: They will have good fortune this year. It will be comparatively easy to meet good opportunities to fully show their talents. As a result, they may get promotion. A kind suggestion is that they should not offend the leaders any time. If they want to change a job, they have to evaluate themselves in advance in case they are not suitable for the new positions.   

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Cut that Ugly Hair

9:06 PM gem 0 Comments

I have been meaning to get my haircut for months now, but I haven't really decided on what to do with my locks. My hair has its natural wave. I got used to having it rebonded. However, it always pains me when my natural hair starts to grow and it becomes too obvious that I need a touch up. Thus, I told myself I wouldn't undergo another rebond. I want my natural hair to grow for a change. Thus, more than a year ago, I had my hair digitally permed beginning on the part where the wave was. I was happy about it- for some time. But when the curls got lose, it was just so bad to see my "buhaghag" hair. So... I wouldn't really advise digital perming because your hair would look terrible after it.

When I was about to have my hair treatment, I found out I was pregnant. And for all caring purposes, I would not want to get any chemical treatment which could harm my little prince. My hair grew till it was already waist length. I always put it in a bun so imagine how "lola-like" I was.

I am not due till the end of February or the first week of March. And I just couldn't wait that long. Suddenly, it dawned me. I want a short hair, again, for a change. Most women are used to having long hair because it is the safest. I really envy those who are brave enough to go from long hairstyle to short. It takes a lot of courage to change what you are used to.

I wanted a pixie haircut but I know it wouldn't suit me because my stubborn hair would not look good in a short hair with natural waves that has a mind of its own. Pixie haircuts are preferred with straight hair.

Who knows... after I give birth, I can probably get my treatments and get the haircut that I really want.  These were on my list.






Here are other short hairstyle trends this 2013. 

I went to Toni and Guy. I was sold on getting a short hairstyle so I gave them the permission to style my hair to whatever will suit me for now. I was happy with the sleek bob cut.

The perks of having a short hair:


  • I SAVE a huge amount of shampoo and conditioner.
  • I can easily blow dry my hair or iron it if I want to. 
  • I don't have to worry about what hairstyle I would do for the day because it is what it is!


*** So this is what men feel- minus the wax and all... *** :)


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Day 12 of 2013: Beauty Finds Review

11:10 PM gem 0 Comments

Before my friend Jr's surprise birthday party yesterday (if you want to see what happened at the birthday, click HERE), I passed by Suesh (located at Trinoma) and bought two important tools for my makeup business. Since I am often busy, I sometimes run out of time in cleaning my makeup brushes. But all makeup artist know that hygiene is very important most specially in keeping your makeup brushes clean because we use it on our face.

Before this day, I used to clean my brushes using a baby shampoo and water. In a way, the process is hard because I have to ensure that all the dirt are removed. Most of the time, I have to do another round of cleaning.

I bought Parian Spirit, Professional Makeup artist brush cleaner and a new mixing plate for my liquid foundations. I am satisfied with the mixing plate just because I've been meaning to buy one ever since I started this extra career. 

Mixing Plate- 650 Php

Makeup Brush Cleaner- 340 Php


340 Php is a bit pricey for a brush cleaner but considering the less stress it would give you when cleaning your brushes, it must be good. I tried it and here is what happened.

First, I sprayed it directly on the bristles of my makeup brush and started rubbing it on a paper tissue. I was surprised that the dirt was sticking on the tissue like magic! It was indeed an easier way of cleaning makeup brushes because you do not need to wet your brushes with water which can sometimes remove the glue that holds all the bristles together. For the smaller brushes, I got a small cap and placed a small amount of the brush cleaner and just dipped the bristles before rubbing it on the tissue paper. Everything went to the tissue! It was that easy.
Sample of the makeup residue that came from my makeup brushes

I can say that this is a good buy! If you know other brush cleaner that works the same or far better, let me know too! I would love to try out other brands as long as they work. For now, I am happy with my purchase. :)

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The new relationship!

4:06 PM gem 0 Comments

Oh the birth pains of a new relationship!

I have recently posted a status on my Facebook account about how demanding and unreliable house helpers are nowadays. Megan's nanny for almost 3 years finally said farewell to us because of some reason that she probably just came up with. I know because she informed my aunt last December that if we will not be living here (we're moving out soon right?) then she would just go home to the province. Oh I could go on ranting about why she doesn't want to leave this house. To summarize those rantings, she is just afraid of the real responsibility that she will face when we move to the new house. Although I am aware of how difficult it is to find a helper or a nanny these days, I did not bother to keep her anymore. Some people have to learn their lessons and I know she would when she realizes that she couldn't find another household who are as understanding as we are with her.

An expectant mother should be worried. But I wasn't. I just know that I will get a replacement in perfect time. And I did. The day before nanny "lilstartlet" (that's her facebook alias) left came the new nanny. If I am not mistaken, they are of the same age.

Day 0

Of course it went fine! We were all extra understanding and we expect that there will be an adjustment phase.

Day 1

I have always known that house helpers, like a courting man always put their best foot forward. But eventually, you will start to see their true self.

Yan and I woke up to the sound of Barbie playing on our macbook. Megan was already watching the DVD when we woke up. What went through my head was "who operated the laptop?" Maybe it was Yan but Yan was also surprised to find out that I didn't. When he was ejecting the DVD, it wouldn't eject. I was getting stressed. This hasn't happened before. We did all the troubleshooting steps we could think of but to no avail. So... Yan had to open the back of the macbook and manually remove the disk drive so we can remove the stuck DVD. While doing so, Megan showed me the cover of her Barbie DVD. I also saw the cover of her Bratz DVD so I asked where the DVD was. Megan said "its gone". I asked the nanny where it is. She shrugged and said she didn't know. A few minutes more, Yan was able to eject the Barbie DVD but he was surprised that another DVD ejected! There were two DVDs in the disk drive!!! Imagine my horror!

He immediately asked the nanny who put the second DVD in. She answered "hawak po ni Megan yan kanina". (Remember I asked her where the Bratz DVD was and she said she didn't know. But now she's saying that Megan had it. hhhmmm...) So who put the second DVD??? It could be Megan. She's so bright she knows where to put it. However, she should have been supervised. And the nanny is an adult who could have looked after her.

When I talked to Tita, she said she talked to the nanny and asked her if she put it in. She said "yes". Tita asked if she didn't know there was another DVD in, she said "yes"!!!

Ohhhh... what a first day! Like what our ethics supervisor once said "a character will always show itself no matter how you try to hide it,"

Lying and using things without asking permission on day 1; quite a revelation.

We have yet to get to know our new nanny. One thing is for sure... we will have CCTVs installed on the new house.

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Day 9 of 2013: Throwback Wednesday- Must see: Les Miserables

11:08 PM gem 0 Comments

Music is a universal language. Isn't it that when we feel sad, we listen and sing-a-long to love songs? It's also the same when we're in love. Teens have their team song for their crushes. That's because it is very easy to express in a song the emotions we feel. For this reason I still could not understand why there are people who wouldn't appreciate a musical. Those are scripts in melodies.

I was in first year high school when I first saw Les Miserables on VHS. Our teacher did not give us a background, or maybe she did but I was not paying attention. All I remembered were the songs. My mind was very young to really understand the Victor Hugo masterpiece. But while I was listening, I fell in love. Like every broadway lovers, I dreamed of singing the songs on stage.

3 years passed, I was in my senior year. We were asked to create a spectacular school program which will be shown at a dinner with a cause. I don't really recall what the cause was. All I remember was it was the first time for our school to produce something grand (grand na yun at that time ha) and to use our newly built auditorium. It was grand because the auditorium was fully airconditioned, there's new lightings and a sound room where you can control every lights and sound. There's a dressing room at the back stage and to cut it short, everything was new.

High School "Me"





For the spectacular program, it was decided that the seniors will do an adaptation of 4 broadway musicals. Of course we took Les Miserables. I was sure to throw a fit if we didn't get it.  Ahahaha. It was impossible at the beginning. No expert was coaching us on how to do things. We just did it out of passion. Too much passion... we sang it live. Who would have thought. That year was the time when film cameras were the only cameras available. The videocameras were as big as those being used by television crews. We were already advanced just because we used lapel microphones. Now, you can practically do everything!



There are things that you will love till you're old. It maybe a movie, a song, a book that you will always go back to. Les Miserables has taken one spot in my heart. And for that, I wouldn't miss watching the movie this January. Just watching the trailer already gives me the shivers. I have a strong feeling I am going to cry at some parts. I strongly recommend others to watch it too. Its not because I love it but because the story, like what I said about music, is universal. Who does not know poverty? about fighting for your family? fighting for the people's voice? This is the broadway musical that I am sure your boyfriends will be able to understand unless they do not understand English. :)




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Day 8 of 2013: It's sooo Hooottt!

7:52 PM gem 0 Comments

I wouldn't be surprised that the temperature is getting warmer and warmer everyday. But the worst thing that could happen is for your most relied upon airconditioning unit to break down when you need it the most. Yan bought our AC just before I gave birth to Megan. Given that, the unit is almost 4 years old now. It was laziness on our part not to ensure that we have it regularly checked. I only remember one time when we had it cleaned. After that- no more! 

It was working fine last Saturday night. When it's already cold, it normally goes to fan mode. When it did, that was the time when Yan turned it off. The next morning, when we turned it on- it was stuck in the fan mode forever. Oh you couldn't imagine our dismay! It was a hot day, PLUS!!! a pregnant woman feels extra warmer so I was already sweaty even if they weren't. It was really hot. Yan found an air cooler that was just in the sala. We used it because were desperate. However, it didn't work at all. The air became humid. The second night came and we were still without an AC. 

Today, we finally found someone to check it. The motor was busted. Manong priced us 3,500 Php for the new motor, the cleaning, and for freon. We didn't question the price anymore. We really wanted it repaired. And as of 630pm today, tada!!!! Our AC works like its brand new!!!

They say we always have to learn from events. What I learned from this is that we should all take good care of the things that give us goodness. Whatever it is, caring is needed. Like in a relationship, if you do not pause and give one proper care, it will breakdown eventually. Not all things can be repaired and can work like brand new. So... never neglect things and most specially people around you. 

And don't forget to apply this to yourself too. Sometimes, we work so hard for the people we love that we do not take the time to pause and check if our body is getting enough rest and nourishment that it needs. All we know is that we are still young and our body can take it. But remember that we have to take good care of our body not when it gets sick but when it is at its peak of good health. A lot of good products are available now to ensure that we maintain good health. It is up to us to take action. 

Now, I am happy because I know we'll all have a good sleep. 

It's going to be a cold night! :)

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Day 7 of 2013: Beauty radiates when you are happy!

10:26 PM gem 0 Comments

And yes I am happy with the kind of blessings that God has given me in 2012 and I will continue to honor Him through my works.

These are the people who trusted me to make them look their best on their photo shoot. I had a lot of good clients last 2012 and 2013 is going to be better! :)


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Our Singapore Happy Trip!

11:25 PM gem 0 Comments



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Day 4 of 2013: The Pregnant is Alone

11:10 PM gem 0 Comments


Today I went to the mall to meet with a college friend. While waiting for my ride, I got to talk to an older couple whom I remember when I was in my early adolescence. Though I didn't know their names, we had a good talk about so many things. She was surprised that I was going to the mall alone. I am not surprised anymore. In this pregnancy, I have observed that a lot of people worry if they see a pregnant woman alone. I remember last December when I was hired to do makeups for a Christmas party event in Greenhills. Yan couldn't accompany me because he has work so I had to go alone. After I was done doing the makeups (and the judging of a contest too), I couldn't wait for the party to end because it was getting very late. I said goodbye to my friend at the party and went outside the venue. There were few cabs passing by so I decided to start walking to the street corner. While I was walking, someone called loudly "Buntis! Uwi ka na?". I didn't know her but I recognized that she was attending the party I came from. When I said "yes" she said "Ingat ka ha." From that time I thought that maybe it looks really awkward when a pregnant woman works alone or plainly just DO things alone. And they all have a point. It's different when you are pregnant. You can't carry heavy bags, can't walk so far... It's not weakness. It's just being careful because you are carrying another life who is not ready yet for any stress. I completely understand. I do my best to ensure I do not stress myself specially when travelling.

Our talk continued... She knew I taught in high school before so she asked me where I was working now. I told her I don't work anymore. I  take care of our businesses, and if I work, it's definitely home-based. When she found out that my husband is related to I.T., she suggested that he works in Singapore because it will be easy for him to get us too. In my mind was a big NO. But of course I appreciate her suggestion. :)
(If you want to see our Singapore Happy Trip video- click HERE

I believe that any amount of money is possible to be earned here in the Philippines. For some- who happens to be in the "not so" in demand field, it might just take a little longer. Everything is possible! Law of abundance. And let's face it, so many Filipinos are dying to live abroad when those who are working abroad are dying to get back home. Life is easier in the Philippines if you work smart (not equivalent to corrupt). And those who work abroad, for most, end up living there because that's where their bread and butter is. I have no dreams of living abroad- vacation pwede pa. I am so attached to my family that I couldn't bear living a life so different from the care that we get with our loved ones around. And I recently read Father Reuter's tips for a lasting marriage from chuvaness.com. I'll quote the one that suits this topic

“Do not sleep on separate beds or lead separate lives in separate rooms.”
Meaning, if Brad Pitt is filming on location, Jennifer must come along.
Father expressed sadness over the OFW situation where many Filipinos leave their families to work abroad. Oftentimes, these overseas foreign workers carry on extramarital affairs while living abroad, resulting in destroyed marriages.

 Though people would say IT DEPENDS on the couple, or it's all about TRUST... It's still a very big temptation. My point is- just stay together no matter where it is.


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Day 3 of 2013: Tiles and Beds

9:25 PM gem 0 Comments

Today, we checked out tiles for the room that we're having renovated. The house is nearly complete. The walls have been painted white, which I wanted. This morning, we already ordered the tiles that Yan and I agreed on. Once it's been glued to the flooring, the carpenters will proceed in making the creative double deck that we want for Megan and (upcoming) Abraham. 
Which is good?
We're crossing our fingers that we can start moving in by the end of January. 

 Here are samples of the bunk beds that I've been eyeing for our kids! 


ALL PHOTOS COURTESY of http://www.besthomedesigns.org
Aren't they the cutest? I've been researching online where we could buy beds like these. I found some but their price is really "whoa!". It's always a plus if you know a good carpenter. Just show them the picture and they'll make it for you at a cheaper price!

We're really excited!

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