The Magnificent Lake Tahoe

It’s an amazing morning for me today coz I woke up early without aches nor heaviness in my head. I was expecting some harsh pokes but luckily, none existed despite having retired late last night. The fresh morning air is kinda chilly reminding me that Christmas is just around the corner. And yes, I am getting more excited as the sked of my niece’s arrival gets nearer. But I doubt if she’s as excited coz they are currently in their vacation house in Lake Tahoe, enjoying the crisp cool surroundings and probably benefiting from the astonishing Heavenly Ski Resort that is just a stone’s throw away from their very own place. I can only imagine how their dog Nikita tremendously enjoys their Lake Tahoe Hiking every morning.

By the way, to frolic on the snow is one of those elusive dreams of mine . That goes to say that I am honest to goodness getting green eyed every time I see my niece’s photos and videos showing her fun time while in Lake Tahoe Skiing.. Their favorite place is the Heavenly Ski Resort for its magnificent and breathtaking location. It is quite unbelievable for me to see her doing her jaw-dropping skiing proficiency. She disclosed that she learned those skills when she attended the Ski and Ride School at the Heavenly Ski Resort. She claimed that she learned quickly from the competent instructors. It looks like there’s much reason why they often drive up to Lake Tahoe from their San Diego residence. With the best ski resort around, and with the presence of the Lake Tahoe Casinos , live entertainment and fine dining, I’m not surprised if my niece isn’t that excited in leaving the place for a business and leisure trip here in the Philippines.I'd probably be feeling the same if I'm in her shoes.(Lol!)

And here are some of her enviable photos. My niece Raquel is the one in yellow jacket. These photos were in tarpaulins displayed for Heavenly Ski Resort on strategic places of Lake Tahoe, Nevada a year or so ago.

I'm excited

Why is it that when you are looking forward to some exciting days ahead, time seems to pull at a snail’s pace? Well, that’s how I feel so far, since I heard the news that my San Diego and Tahoe based niece and her hubby are coming home in November. Though their purpose of flying over is mainly business, we are thrilled nonetheless coz we would be seeing them once again after the Grande Island celebration last year. Another thrilling part would be the fantastic get together we always have every time they are in town. And this time around, she wants to surprise her mom, (my sis-in-law) to a meaningful birthday celebration. So, I’m assuming that we’re gonna be having some wonderful bonding time again with my Kuya’s family. Woo hoo!

In the meantime, I was chatting with my niece and she told me that they are yet in Tahoe making some renovations on their house. And that includes overhauling their front yard and changing the address sign they had for years. They have looked for address plaques and numbers in some websites and they are there now waiting for the address plaque to be delivered to them. The renovation is almost done, she said, so they’d be ready to fly as soon as the address plaque has arrived and is installed. Ooh la la.. I can hardly wait!

Neno's Award

I got this award from my beautiful friend, Liz of The Modern Mom. Thank you, Liz! I appreciate the thought that comes with it.

The Neno’s Award Rules and Regulations:

1. As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

2. To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.

3. Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.

4. Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

5. Answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

6. Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

7. Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

There are so many reasons why I love blogging. First and foremost is, it makes me occupied all day. No time to get bored. It enriches my knowledge as I get to read interesting and informative blogs of my real and virtual friends. I get to meet so many friends from all over the world. And just like what most of the bloggers like about it is, you get to earn while you enjoy the thing.

We missed our Innova

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Many times on the road, we chanced to drive side by side with a Toyota, Innova, the make of our previous car that I liked so much. Hubby and I decided to sell ours after he was issued a new Kia Carens by his company. Since the former was sold, I always sighed every time I saw one identical to it I can’t take my eyes off on one that looks exactly the same as "used to be"our Innova.. I was very vocal with my feelings regarding the said car. .

Early this year, we were about to go home from watching Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark, Pampanga when I saw another exact look-a-like of our Innova (or so I thought). When we came near it, we saw it was indeed the car I was missing…the Innova car we used to own! For me, it was like seeing a long lost child. Funny, but we couldn’t help but gently touch it once again and peeped into the interior. (Lol) And to record the moment, daughter and I posed with it for the last time. And the result were those big smiles!

Sister's Week Tag

Got this tag from Race of A Beautiful Life. I so love it that I promised to post it asap whether it's Sister Week or not. Thanks for passing this sweet meme to me, Race!

Start copying here:




Be the kind of women that when your feet hit the floor each morning,
The devil says "Oh Crap, She's Up."

Sister, life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don't just because you can.
Believe in everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Kiss slowly. Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy.
He just promise it would be worth it.
Today is sister's day.

To the cool women that have touched my life.
this is for you.....LOVE U!!!

Rules:

Tag all your sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, girlfriends,
Including me if I am like one. If you get tag back seven times, you are loved.
Happy sister's day! LOVE YA SISTA!!!
Girlfriend and sisters WEEK.

I'm tagging my blogger friends Mira, Juliana, Juliana, Alf, Chubskulit, Beth, Ady, Liz, Sheng, Noreen, and tagging back Race.

I'm Hooked with PBB Double Up

On the initial showing of the Pinoy Big Brother Double-up Edition last week, I thought I won’t be interested in the new show. I was watching the new batch of Housemates being introduced one by one and I didn’t see anything fairly interesting in anyone of them. But after a week’s showing and after introducing another 10 housemates, I begun to feel the excitement each night that I watch the show especially with the tasks given to the real married couple Jimson and Kath along with Patrick and likewise to the other supposedly “in a relationship” Rob and Rica, which incidentally, is a transvestite. PBB staff knows exactly how to inject thrill and excitement on the show. But Melai definitely, has already stolen the audience’s attention. She’s another Pokwang in the making and maybe even better. I am definitely hooked with the show now, such that all I am waiting for every night on TV was the wrapping up of all the telenovelas so I can already watch PBB Double up Edition.

Please help!

What would you do if there’s a branded handbag you are badly obsessed with? Buy it? Would you still buy it even if the price is overwhelmingly luxurious for you? Say, $1.5K to $2K which is more or less P75K to P100K if converted to peso. Well maybe, it’s only chicken feed to some of you. Unfortunately not for me!

But what if… you found an almost perfect clone for the price of only P7K and still can get it for a discounted price of P5K. What would you do? Grab or would you still ignore? There’s no question about the quality. As I've said, it’s almost perfect if only for the color which is slightly darker compared to the original. But I’m confident, for those who are not too intensely familiar with the original one won’t notice it at all, not even the embossed logo that happened to be vaguely bigger. Other than those unnoticeable disparities, all is well. …It has the serial no. found inside the bag, accompanied with a protective bag cover and the card with instruction on how to care for it.

Taking all considerations, the fact that it is still a pirated thing,, a copycat, a fake, a replica, an imitaition or whatever you want to call it,. ....is it worth buying? I chuckle as I mull over this confusion. By the way, the cheaper clone is still pricey compared to the unbranded handbags found in big malls but super great deal compared to the original. Now, I'm seeking your opinion. Should I follow my obsessed heart or be guilty and just let it go? Can you please help me decide?!

Mailboxes

Even with the extensive use of electronic mails and SMS, at some point, we still rely on physical mail. Here in our home, I still receive mails like postcards, bills, packages, and documents. These are just not any ordinary file, but these are what I need to keep a hard copy of (especially that I love collecting postcards!)

Since the things we expect from the post office or shipment services are very important, we need to have something that will surely keep letters and packages safe as soon as those were delivered to our place until we actually get it—especially if someone cannot always receive it personally straight from the mailman.

Mail boxes do the responsibility of keeping and protecting any file delivered to us, hence we need to be particular on what type to choose. There are different sizes and different materials used for it, which you may want to check first. Aside from protection, mailboxes can be of an embellishment to your home or office. You may choose one that already has a post with it, or you may choose a wall mount mailbox. For these kinds of residential mailboxes and commercial mailboxes, you can always check www.mailboxixchange.com

My New Baby

Yes, you read it right! I have a new baby. Yesterday, I finally opened up my newest spot on blogland named “The Pink Blog”. You may click to visit and I hope you can link it too. I wish you’ll give it little of your time and try to visit over and over again! Thank you guys!

The Postponed Despedida

Despite the floods around some places in Metro Manila, Ondoy’s ravages didn’t stop us from giving M-i-l a Despedida Treat. According to Niece-in-law, the foods she cooked for the supposed Despedida Outing the day before were all stocked up in her freezer. We could have used it up but we all decided to just meet up at SM North’s Sky Garden. The guys chose Lamesa Restaurant for our dinner then had a drink or two at Padi’s Point while listening to the not so good Rock Band. M-i-l’s brood wasn’t complete but the presence of few seems enough for her. The get-together ended till early midnight of Sunday, September 27.

Thursday, October 1 – Hubby and I drove M-i-l to NAIA Centennial Airport at 5:00 am.
She was supposed to be assisted by Hubby inside the airport but hubby was denied permission to enter and assist. We just endorsed her instead to one airport crew for her assistance.

After only ten hours or so we heard words right away that she had safely reached Sydney. She’s now back to her youngest daughter's family, attending to her beautiful blossoming garden.

The Mid Autumn Festival

The third major festival of the Chinese calendar is celebrated on the 15th day of the eight month. It corresponds to harvest festival as observed by western cultures. The Mid Autumn Festival is also known as Moon Cake Festival. It is called as such because a special kind of sweet cake (yueh ping) prepared in the shape of the moon is served as a traditional Chung Chiu delicacy.

Days ago, my Chinese friend Susan sent me this Moon Cakes. She never forgets to send us these delicacy every year just like the Tikoy she’s sending us every Chinese New Year. Thanks again, Susan. You are as sweet as these moon cakes!

My Musically Talented Father

Back when I was about 4 years young, the very first memory that was embedded in my mind was the image of my father (may God bless his soul) holding and blowing his own Trombone. It was when he was marching along with all members of the marching bands in the Town Fiesta of Binangonan, Rizal. The innocent me was then on the side of the road, watching the parade passing by. I was the naive little girl that time, that was in total awe with his father who could give a harmonious music with an astonishing instrument. I can only recall to be very proud of him that I couldn’t help but tag along beside him while holding onto his uniform pants in the parade. It was only when I became matured that I realized the great embarrassment I brought my father.

Fast forwarding the years, I can’t understand why only my big brother (may God bless his soul too) inherited all my fathers musical talent. Father could very well play Trombone, Clarinet and Harmonica while my big brother could play all three plus many other instruments like accordion, keyboards, piano, guitar and little on drums. I was interested in the guitar too when I was young but obviously now, the talent in me wasn’t as much as theirs.

Anyway, I still see the musical talents of my father down on grandchildren and great grandchildren. One plays the guitar, the other drums and another can play harmonica. These talents they greatly acknowledge came from their grandpa, my musically talented father.

"To travel to the U.S.!"

I remember that phrase has always been my quick reply over and over every time I was asked what my dream is. That was my ultimate dream when I was young but I do admit, that dream remains till now. I have traveled once or twice to other countries but the desire to see Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland, Statue of Liberty and the Grand Canyon in the U.S. of A. won’t leave my mind until this very minute.

Hubby knew of this long time aspiration of mine thus, he once planned on having a U.S. Holiday for us so we can tour to even just few of the places I have mentioned. However, obtaining Visa for USA isn’t that simple. I supposed, Tourist Visas anywhere in the world, not only in the U.S.are all the same. They are all pretty hard to obtain. As Visa applicants, we had to pay to a specific bank the Visa Application Fee. Only after paying certain amount that we were given application forms. We were required to have made sure that we have gathered the various legal documents we need before we would make a call to the U.S. Consulate for a possible interview appointment. But that wasn’t all. There were other things to organize to be assured of an appointment for the interview. We learned that availing Tourist Visa at this point in time is much tougher than in the past. Applications are subject to a greater degree of scrutiny of which more often than not would result to the disappointing visa denial. I'm sure you made a good guess! Yeah, hubby was impatient and gave up on our U.S. tour.

But I don't lose hope especially now that I found Global Visas! It's a world leading authority on immigration and visas whose expertise could well be depended upon. With Global Visas, realizing my dream is at arms reach.