Welcome 2012, Happy New Year to All

$10 Subway gift card giveaway

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Now is your chance to join the Gift Card Weekend which is an annual event. Every single day from Dec. 23-31, a winner of a $10 Subway gift card will be given away. Gilbert the gift card giving machine will be giving away 100 gift cards a week which leads to the gift card weekend. All you have to do is click on the Facebook Like of the page and share the opportunity with your FB friends. Whoever joins you because of your invitation gives you the extra chance to win. Be sure to get back often as there will be surprises as the days pass by.

If you still have not given a gift to someone special, why not make use of the participating brands and increase your savings at the same time? They are JCPenny, Regal Cinema, Subway, Sephora, Applebee's, Bass Pro Shops, Adidas, Buca di Beppo, Lowe's, Spa Finder, Marriot and Giant Eagle. The gift cards can be used from January 6-8. Giving one of these makes your gift more valuable. If you are the recipient, all you have to do is go to the participating retail partner and choose from among the items listed which you would like to receive.

Remember, like the Gift Card Weekend page on Facebook, share with FB friends, check back everyday for surprises and wait if you have won. It's that easy.

Artsy Day and Painting

I think it was the children show Olivia that influenced this little Miss to wish for painting and paint brush. She's been asking us to buy her painting and brush too and told Santa about it. She wanted Barney and Painting. We bought two set of painting stuff for them and wrapped it as Christmas presents. Today, I allowed them to paint and they both enjoyed it. The little Miss constantly uttering the words "I'm having fun Mommy".

How To Get Slim, Fast

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Getting slim has been a problem for many people. Those who have actually given up just ignored everything and let themselves be: bigger by the bite. While others blame it on genetics, most have self-control as the culprit for growing ever so big. Realizing what is happening is the first step to take to slim down.

It does not stop there. Realization without action brings no one nowhere. Sadly, with the many products that come out here, there, and everywhere, you cannot seem to figure out which ones work and which ones do not. While many of the products are chemically-induced giving you the initial loss working so great but some of them tend to let you laze around, thus, you get back to your usual big self.

I have tried the no-rice diet for sometime and it worked pretty well. It's just that when I started to eat rice, I did so all the way and forgot my diet. Being on the computer often also prevented me to exercise more than I should, though I know it is a key ingredient to slimming down.

If you're like me, why don't you try the Slim-Fast method where you get to eat 3 snacks composed of 100-calorie snack bars, nuts, fruits and/or vegetables, 2 shakes or meal bars and 1 500-calorie balanced meal everyday. It's called the Slim-Fast 3*2*1 Plan. It will be a tasty diet treat and you can buy them online or from stores like Walmart, Target, Kroeger and Safeway.  For updates and information, Like Slim-Fast on Facebook.  With different flavors available, I'd like to try all of them! Then the coming holidays will not be so cruel to me.  How about you, what product from the Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan are you most excited to try?  Fell free to leave your answers in the comment section.

Many Thanks and Merry Christmas

Christmas has come and gone. In behalf of my family, I would like to thanks all my friends online and offline for the warm and sincere Christmas greeting. I want to thank my dearest online friends who greeted me on my birthday. Thanks to you Dhemz and Lulu for the special post and gifts. Thanks to umma for the call. I love you guys. Many thanks also to all my friends back home who always remembered my birthday (Charina,Romebeth,Graziela,Alice,Esterlita, Haidee.) Thank you also to my online friends who greeted me a Happy Birthday (Dhemz, Lulu, Chloe, Sir Mel, Jacris, Willa, Ruby). To my sisterettes chel,weng and leiza. Thank you all (FB groupmates and blogger friends) for the greetings, I appreciate it.

Dinner with Friends and Christmas Ornaments

Jake and I decorated our Christmas tree few days ago. I thought we lost a box of Christmas ornaments but luckily today we found it in one of the cabinet. So, we finished putting some of the ornaments and icicles too.

Greenfield is just a small town in Pittsburgh but they have nice Christmas lights along the street post. A couple friend invited us for dinner and it was a bit dark already at 5:00 in the afternoon. Jake was enthusiastic and fascinated with all the Christmas lights in the neighborhood. I want to thank these two amazing couple/friends who invited us tonight for dinner. Thank you guys for the scrumptious dinner and presents for kids and us.

Christmas is few hours away. Allow me to greet you all a Merry Christmas. Enjoy the holiday!

Upgrade to LG DoublePlay™

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you are like me, you probably wish that your cell phone did more, like something that allows you to text, check your facebook status or twitter, surf online and more.  All these can be possible with LG DoublePlay™ allows users to perform multiple tasks at once.  It's time to upgrade your gadget to something awesome and advance.  LG DoublePlay™ has split QWERTY keyboard and dual capacitive touch screens.  This device also offers multiple messaging options, including Cloud Text™ and Group Text™, giving users the ability to send and receive texts from a PC or tablet or create group chats on-the-go for faster, more efficient content sharing.  You can update your social networking such as Facebook pages while simultaneously surfing the Web, texting or checking email.  How cool is that?  The LG DoublePlay™ features Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) with access to Android Market™ and delivers complete user customization with seven home screens and up to nine touchscreen shortcuts for one-touch navigation.  This phone is available exclusively at T-Mobile.    

How many text messages can you send a month?  How many hours do you spend on Social Networking on your phone each month?  Well, if your answers is more than you can imagine, then this LG DoublePlay™ is the right device for you.  The QWERTY keyboard allows you to text fast and conveniently.  Moreover, the LG DoublePlay™ also comes with a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recorder, allowing users to capture and share pictures and videos via messaging, email or Facebook.  You should check out The LG DoublePlay™ today for more details and information.  As you learn more and more about it, ask yourself the following question.    

How would you think The LG DoublePlay™ would change the way you text or interact with your Social Networks? Leave your answer at the comment section.  Thank you.
 

Help and Pray CDO and Iligan Victims of Typhoon Sendong

Perhaps, you've already seen heartbreaking videos and pictures of all the victims of typhoon sendong (Washi) that hit Southern Philippines especially Iligan area and Cagayan De Oro. Few of our blogger friends and their families got affected by the said Typhoon. If you could spare a cents to help them out would make a huge difference. You can send your donations to admin@pinaymommies.com, via paypal, Subject: "PMC Cares for CDO".

1. Karen Chayne Sanchez and Family (Balulang, Carmen)
2. Joahna Vern Filoteo and Family (Balulang, Carmen)
3. Grace Bombeo Fancubit and Family (Balulang, Carmen)
4. The Affected Family of Lalaine Caballero (Balulang, Carmen)
5. The Affected Family of Eleanor Mordeno Aguilar (Balulang, Carmen)
6. The Affected Family of Ruby Ricafrente (Macanhan, Carmen)
7. The Affected Family of Crislyn Dagandan-Nierva (Macasandig)

To those kind hearted individual who is willing to help the victims of Sendong, you can check out the following links below as they have all the information and details on how and where to donate.

Donate to Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.ph/donatenow


Where to Send Help for Victims of Typhoon (Washi) Sendong posted by Pinay Mommy Online

PMC Cares for the Victims of Typhoon Washi posted by Pinay Mommies

Iligan Bloggers Society: https://www.facebook.com/iliganbloggers

CDO Bloggers: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CDO-Bloggers/274883635862259?sk=info

HelpCDO.com: http://helpcdo.com/

Thanks to Miss Ruby Ricafrente for organizing and gathering all the information above.

Holiday Themed Eyeglasses Frames from Zenni Optical

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you done putting your Christmas tree up yet?  Well, if you do then it's time to wrap that gifts up and don't forget to include a pair of holiday themed eyeglasses frames from Zenni Optical.  Your friend or any member of your family that receives this kind of gift will certainly appreciate because it's not only useful and valuable item, it is also fashionably trendy.  You might like this flexible plastic full-rim frame with a designer temples (photo above.  The flexible plastic adds to the lightness and durability of this executive-style frame.  You should check it out all the fantastic eyewear has in stock from Zenni Optical.  Lots of amazing designs that you may find fantastic and attractive.  Many of these frames come in your favorite festive holiday colors such as green, red, and even pink.  i don't used eyeglasses yet but when the time comes that I really need to use one I now know where to go, ZenniOptical.

ZenniOptical has cheap eyeglasses because they manufactured their own brand which is Zenni so it is expected to be a lot cheaper compared to others.  They have different type of eyeglasses including prescription eyeglasses that cost way cheap and you can also buy at their store eyeglasses for your fashion style and trends.  ZenniOptical.com sells quality eyeglasses very inexpensively.  Celebrate the holiday by showing off your colorful eyeglasses frame.  Buy eyeglasses that fit to your needs and budget only at Zenni Optical.  Which frame or color of eyeglasses frame is your favorite?  Visit their website today and let me know by leaving your comment below.  Happy Holiday!

Smartphones and Christmas Tree

The youngest cell phone user in town. My Santa was feeling generous this year and bought extra Christmas presents for extra nice housewife. Thank you Babe!!! Justine thought the pink smartphone was for her since it was her and Joe who went to T-Mobile to look for new cell phones. Jake and I followed them to T-Mobile shop after we dropped the mail to the post office. I gave to Jake my old Black berry phone and Joe gave to Justine the Samsung phone.

She was pretending texting and calling while walking heading to the store. Joe wanted to get the phone back as he was afraid the little girl might dropped it. Jake gave the phone back to me but this little Miss fought for her cell phone.

Anyway, these are our new toys. Pretty neat eh. I am now have textmate namely, Dhemz, Chloe, sissy and hubz. I can also check facebook now with this cool gadget. I tried to blog but the keyboard is too tiny for my fat finger and takes forever for me to finish. The picture looks clear with this baby, I've been using it taking pictures and sent it to my wall in Facebook. This Christmas tree with Jake putting ornaments on was one of the sample photo.

Lots of our Christmas decorations are missing and we do not know where we put them. I think we left it in the old house when we moved.

Great Holiday deals on Android™ powered EVO 4G

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you planning to get a new cell phone any time soon?  Well, if you do then check out the Android™ powered EVO 4G devices and take advantage of this great deal for limited time only.  This could be an ideal gift for your kids and spouse.  Update your cell phone unit now and interact with your friends and family through different social networking such as Facebook and twitter.  Make use of your old phone by trading it to a new phone.  Get up to $250 for your phone with the Sprint Buyback program.  It doesn't matter if it from another carrier.  It's a win win situation as you are helping the environment and great savings to your wallet too.

Do you know what other neat features with Android™ powered EVO 4G or EVO™?  Well, HTC EVO™ 4G or EVO™ is fast no doubt about that.  As a matter of fact I just bought a new Android powered smartphone which is a 4G.  I am having fun exploring all the amazing things I can do online with my handy phone.  Visit your nearest cell phone shop or go to sprint.com to buy yourself a new HTC EVO™ 4G or EVO™.  You can enjoy the free shipping offer plus free or waived activation for new lines of service.  This offer is only good online.  So what are you waiting for?

Keeping your Toddlers Away from the Toys Section

How would you explain to your kids about when is Christmas and when they supposed to open their presents from Santa?

We were busy shopping for presents since last Thursday. It was Immaculate Conception and since Joe's work place is a catholic so they had holiday. This past few days, Jake was into Santa Claus and the presents he wants from Santa. We've been receiving gifts on the mail and he wanted to open all of it but we had to explain to him that he can only open those presents on Christmas.

It was exhausting explaining to a 3 year old about when is Christmas and Santa coming. Every time we explained that to him, he ended up on time out because he doesn't want to accept the fact that he cannot open the present right away.

At the Toy's R Us, before we went inside we explained to Jake and Justine that we will just looking around. He saw his favorite toys and was itching to grabbed one of them. Justine wanted to try the race car display and did not want to leave that area. They both did not want to leave the store without something in their hand so I opted to buy the $2 toys for each of them and went outside. Joe was inside the store paying for the toys but we don't want them to see what we got for them so we stayed in play area and spent all my quarters with this machine.

They switch turns riding in this elephant ride. While Jake was waiting he was also playing with this grab and go machine. We grabbed Santa only and spent 10 quarters because it was .50 cents each 20 second or minute game. I'm not sure how many second that machine would last but seems like it was so quick. I spent most of my quarters too in that Elephant ride because Justine was so quick in asking quarters to put in.

Right now I am using Santa to explain about the Toys. I will tell Jake that Santa will put the toys under the tree and he had to sleep lots of nytnyt before Santa gets here. Every now and then he would try to ask where are the presents and thanks to this Santa stuff toy because explaining to him makes it a little bit easier.

Feeling Blue…or Grey

Contribution by Terrance Kirby

Over the years I have found that I have less and less time to watch TV. I am sure doctors and therapists alike would argue that this is probably a good thing. From a medical perspective, I am lessening my risk of heart attack, stroke, and obesity by lessening my TV intake. One could argue that instead of watching TV, I have found the time to explore hidden talents, exercise, or even read a book. The reality of it is that instead of settling in for a nice, relaxing evening in front of the tube, I am engrossed in packing school lunches, doing laundry, and sweeping up endless piles of dog hair. When I get a few measly moments to “plug in,” I skim back through the DVR on my Direct TV Thornton and catch up on the latest episode(s) of “Grey’s Anatomy.” In some small back section of my mind, I think I have secretly dreamed of being a doctor. The thrill of being so smart as to diagnose a human and potentially fix a medical issue or problem has an almost god-like control that is so appealing to the Type-A personalities like me. So, to quench that desire, I morph into the characters of “Seattle Grace,” and escape to the roller-coaster of emotions that the show offers. I triumph with Meredith as she channels the knowledge of her mother, the great Dr. Ellis Grey, through her career’s journals in an attempt to solve a problem during a clinical trial. I digest the expectation of perfection that Christina Yang hold herself to with each passing surgery and patient-crisis. What I never anticipate though is the sadness that the show evokes when a surgery fails, a patient loses a battle, or a relationship ends. This show challenges me to face my own fears and shortcomings by thrusting me into the plot and into the lives of the characters week after week. It’s not a bad way to take a break from laundry.

Fireworks at Greenfield and Santa

I do not know what's the occasion last night when all of a sudden a loud noise of fireworks banging around Greenfield area. Joe and I were in front of the computer when we heard it and looked at each other wondering. But the fireworks lasted for minutes I guess so we went outside and stayed at the front porch watching the fireworks. Our neighbor across the street told Joe that there will be a parade after the fireworks. So we rushed inside and dressed the kids up so we can watch the parade. We able to watched the last part of the parade with the majorette and Santa on a sleigh. Jake's eyes were all sparkled with excitement when he saw Santa. During our trip to Chicago, he had been wanting to see Santa and been asking us to go to the mall to see Santa. He believes in Santa Claus and keep saying that he wants to ask Santa for Bash, dash, and Ferdinand plus Fred, Annie and Claribel. These are all little engine character in Thomas and Friends. The little Miss also wants to ask Santa Claus for Barney, Painting and brush too.

Anyway, it was last night we learned that every first Friday of December, the community will light the tree and light some fireworks and parade afterward. Now we know, we hope next year we can watch the whole thing.

Mommy Moments - My Growing Bundles of Joy

Lately, I have been watching baby videos of Jake and Justine and thought how did they grow that fast. As they grow, we thought that lessens our job of watching after them but it won't because you have to watch them like a hawk actually as they get into lots of trouble especially at quiet time and be extra careful with every single words you say to them.

[Photo taken last Summer during our Vacation]

I have been noticing and observing these two with the discipline we applied to them. Of course kids learns from the things they see and hear around them. My husband and I are both new parents and we both have temper as well. We all know that parenting is not as easy as we thought and don't have a parenting manual that we could use in raising our kids. Jake and Justine have been using all the words that they heard from us in a random situation and don't even fit in it. Example is put them on time, spank them, and some other courtesy words. But every time they say something that sounded like me, it cracks me up. I think it was couple of days I guess when I was in our room and Jake said, "I'm gonna out you on time out" and I said Ok. he put me on time out because he asked something but I was not paying attention and so busy making the bed up. That line is a very popular line that he heard from us when he and Justine are misbehaving. This is how kids think, they thought they can put their parents on time out too and doesn't get the idea yet that they did bad and had to be on time out and only parents can put them on time out too.

Well, I had this little game also that puts me off guard. I'm a stay at home mom, and I watch the kids 24 hours 7 days a week. Sometimes, I get tired of hearing the word Mommy and Mama from Jake and Justine because they are just not stop demanding bout things and even if their father is already home, they won't ask him. They would say, I want to ask mommy!!! fine!!! I was in the bathroom Jake knocked the door asking me to open it and I was tired. He kept screaming outside Mommy, mommy, open the door, so I said. "Mommy is not here", and he said Sheila open the door," so I said, Sheila is not here either. So he asked in an innocent tone like, What is your name? I did not answer because I do not know what to say. If I say something he will be using it.

We taught them our names so they know what their parents name are. Jake and Justine were playing with us yesterday calling us by our first name. Jake had been telling me like "Your name is Sheila, you are not Mommy, Your name is Joe not Daddy" Well, he is a smart kid and he is just teasing us. I don't get affected with it but Joe was already annoyed because he doesn't want his kids call him by his first name. It gotten worst because Justine was also following Jake but instead of using the mommy and daddy, she just called us with our first name like, Sheila! Joe. Then she approached her Daddy and said Joe. I was smiling because it sounded so funny when calling us by our first name from a two year old kid. But she almost got spanked because when she approached her daddy and yell Joe! Joe! she also took a swipe on Joe while he was in his computer watching the game.

Am glad she stopped when I said, sweetie stop it. I explained it's daddy Joe and mommy Sheila. And the silly game was over. Do you have the same or similar experience in dealing with your little tots?

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