Garvan Woodland Gardens

Our Valentine adventure continues at the Garvan Woodland Gardens, a 210-acre wooded peninsula transformed by professional designers and craftsmen into a world-class botanical garden. Hubby and I love to go to gardens and anything that makes us closer to nature. But the funny thing is, we seem to always visit at the wrong time of the year when flowers don't bloom and animals do hibernate. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the view the garden has to offer. We had fun taking photos and exploring the entire garden. It was a fantastic way to date on a Valentine's Day. We did more than just a stroll in the park, we literally marvel at the natural beauty unfolding in front of us.

Looking your best on the big day

Planning a wedding and deciding the details of a wedding are overwhelming. I am glad my sister Jingle helped me pick out gown designs for the whole entourage. The wedding, they say, is mostly all about the bride but you know what, I think it’s also important to decide what my groom would wear on the big day. Jeff and I agreed that he should wear a tuxedo. He doesn’t want to buy one because he said he’s only gonna wear it once but I don’t know if they would let us rent one here in the U.S. and return it after a month. I’m not even sure if we could rent something in the Philippines that would fit on him since he’s very tall. We might just have to buy it…we’ll see!

Brain Drain

Work was pretty challenging today. I didn’t learn something new but we’ve been experiencing issues after issues with our network. Consequently, the calls from users were non-stop. I had one hard drive crashed on us today so I had to reformat a new one and install drivers and utilities in it. I stayed pretty busy today and it made me exhausted mentally and physically. Hubby’s day was pretty much like that too, he said he was so ready to go home as early as 7:00 A.M. That bad, huh! Anyway, I’d much rather work than stay at home but when pressure from work keeps building up like this and it seems to be draining off everything of us, I sometimes think about just quitting and do home based business. Unfortunately, I don’t think I have the capabilities and the right business ideas. Tsk...Tsk...Tsk...

Back to exercising

I am more determined than ever to lose some pounds. I feel motivated to go back to using my treadmill that’s been sitting around in the house for quite a while now. We bought it last year for $2,000 and it’s a shame that we hardly ever use it. But now that I only have at least 10 months before my wedding in the Philippines, I feel the urgency to shed off pounds. I just got to develop a workout routine after work. Walking on a treadmill can be boring most of the time but I’ll probably incorporate it with some Hip Hop Abs routine which incidentally I have a dvd of. I hope it’ll work because I really don’t want to take diet pills as much as possible.

Knowledge is power

Health is wealth. It may sound cliché but it’s true. The last thing we would want is to get some kind of incurable illnesses. We may not realize it but there are certain things around us that causes cancer and it’s important for us to be aware of it. Did you know that exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma? If you know someone who’s stricken with this illness and need medical guidance and help, it is always good to talk to a Mesothelioma lawyer. You may feel uncertain, but you are not powerless. Learn more about your condition by talking to a professional.

One ordinary day...

It’s a typical Monday. Finally, I get the chance to start reading Twilight. Hubby and I are supposed to read it together but he’s not in the mood for reading yet. I am now at Chapter 7 and I guess I’ll just have to read it all over again when he decides to read it with me. I like the book. I’ve seen the movie and I guess that makes the book less interesting because I already know its plot, nevertheless, I love reading it. It’s kinda late here right now so I’d better start doing my EC rounds. Oh, before I forget, I need to take a look into term life insurance as we don’t have one yet. Happy blogging, everyone!

Light at the end of the tunnel

In this tough economic times, we see thousands of people being laid off from work everywhere. Regardless of what industry, there seems to be shortage of job hiring all over the world. Despite the negative things in the job market, I still see hope. A couple of days ago, I’ve seen an article from Yahoo Jobs about the in-demand jobs for the next 20 years. Most of it is in the healthcare department. You don’t have to invest time and money to go into Nursing school, as a matter of fact, you can get into a medical assistant training school, and still be guaranteed a spot in the healthcare arena. Don’t lose hope, there’s still a chance in the future. Study your options.

We were pulled over by a cop!

Scary, huh! Imagine how scared I was when we were pulled over by a police officer on our way to our dinner and movie date last night. Yes, we were heading to a Chinese restaurant in Russellville when a cop flashes his blue and red lights right behind us. I actually didn’t realize it at first as my mind was occupied with food and movie but Jeff surprised me when he pulled right straight to an empty parking lot beside the road. It didn’t look like we arrive at the restaurant yet so I was bewildered when he turned off the ignition key. I asked, “Is this the place?” He answered in a calm voice, “We were pulled over, didn’t you realize it?” Then I glanced at the side mirror and there I saw the disco lights flashing at our tail. Oh my! was my first reaction. What did we do wrong? We weren’t overspeeding, were we? I panicked inside. It’s my first time to be pulled over and I got scared of course. But the police approached us calmly and introduced himself and told us that we’re driving with one burned-out headlight. We didn’t realize it. I suppose we were too excited to go out and failed to check the preliminaries. He asked for Jeff’s license and proof of insurance and waited for like eternity before the cop went back and told us we were just given a verbal warning and that we’d have to fix the headlights as soon as possible. I felt so relieved. I thought he’s gonna give us a ticket or worse send us to jail, hehehe! I’m such an idiot! It was a lesson learned and at least I know that a cop usually asks for your driver’s license, vehicle registration and a proof of auto insurance. I realize that no matter how some auto insurance sucks, it’s a necessity and we should comply. There are so many of them out there and if you want to buy auto insurance online, you can do that too.

Mid-America Science Museum

Our first stop on Valentine's Day was Mid-America Science Museum. I've been to several museums but I must say, this one is the most interesting and exciting experience for me. Unlike most museums where you would just feast your eyes on the exhibits, Mid-America would actually make you touch, see, feel, hear, smell and do things. It is very hands on and they have something for young and old alike. The Tesla Coil presentation was worth mentioning. This "caged lightning", as what they call it, produces 1,500,000 volts of electricity. The Tesla Coil is enclosed in a massive 2-1/2 ton steel Faraday cage which protects the visitor from the "lightning" (corona discharges). I marveled at it but had to cover my ears to muffle the loud noise created by the voltage. We also had fun inside the Underground Arkansas Cave. A few kids and a couple of adults trekked with us through the gigantic indoor cave filled with awesome twists, turns, tunnels, and slides. We maneuvered swinging bridges and climbed rope ladders and I have to admit, we wished we were 20 years younger so we'd have the agility, energy and flexibility of kids, lol! One day, when we have kids of our own, we would definitely take them back to Mid-America Science Museum. It was indeed an exciting experience!

The entrance

An electrical thing that goes ZAPPP!!!

Jeff in action

Making a whirlpool

Caged lightning presentation

Static electricity ball

I got a kick out of this cute girl's hair

Fossilized Mastodon Skeleton

Hot air balloon

All legs, no bodies

I wonder what this is....probably these kids are thinking the same?

An elegant choice for your lighting needs

Choosing the perfect wall light fixtures for your house can be a daunting task. But not anymore, with the birth of expert designers from LightingandLiving.com, you would be assured of the best product designs in the market. I browsed the site and I personally like this Brulee Gold Wall Light. Inspired by antique European design, this wall light fixture exudes elegance, and will definitely look lovely in your living room. Next to design, price is an essential part to consider when making a purchase. It’s comforting to know that everything in their website is priced reasonably. They have a wide selection of lighting and accessories, so start browsing now.

My Valentine moments with hubby

We had a special Valentine's trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas last weekend. It was fun, romantic, picturesque and memorable. Me and hubby both love nature trips and I was glad that he took me to Hot Springs because the city is filled with natural beauty and wonder. We stayed there for 2 days and we didn't think it's enough so we plan on making another trip this summer. We visited the Science museum, wax museum, botanical gardens, national park and mountain tower. For our Valentine's dinner, we ate at an Italian restaurant and enjoyed a Japanese dinner the next day. The whole trip was kinda like a date for us, so we took it slow and we enjoyed every minute of it. I love taking out of town trips with hubby and this is another memorable time with him.

A scary thought

Though I am not yet a parent, I’m pretty sure that parents couldn’t care less of what gender their baby is so long as they are healthy. I’ve always watched Wowowee on tv and the show would always acknowledge senior citizens and children with natural-born illnesses in the audience. I was moved when one kid with cerebral palsy was shown on the show and knew the lyrics of the song “Hawak-Kamay” by heart. It breaks my heart to see children born in this world with inborn health problems.

Travel with confidence

I love to travel and explore new places. How about you? Do you travel regularly for business or leisure? How long do you usually have to stay on the places you traveled? Well, I’m curious because I’ve read that securing an annual travel insurance from a reputable market is beneficial if you travel a lot. If you’re like me, you could probably be thinking by now how insurance can be very complex most of the time, but if you do your research and compare quotes and prices online, you could get the one that works for you.

Clearing cloudy skin

I’ve always had problems with skin breakouts. It seems to worsen when I first got here in the U.S. I’ve tried different kinds of acne treatment but to no avail. One particular product helped me get rid of the nasty ones on my forehead but every now and then, I still get visited with breakouts. It’s not as bad as before though, so I guess that’s a consolation. Anyways, I’ll be updating my blog with photos from our Valentine trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We had so much fun and I’d love to share to you guys our photos from the said trip.

I Stand in Awe of You

For days, I had this song stuck in my head. It’s one of my favorite worship songs back in the Philippines. It was a blessing when somebody from the church has sung it on last Sunday’s service. The lyrics just pierces through my heart. The melody takes me back to the realization that our God is nothing ordinary. Indeed, truly beautiful beyond description. And I stand in awe of HIS majesty. I so love the chorus, I remember I’d get teary-eyed sometimes when we sing this song on Sundays back home. Here I am, reminiscing again! Enjoy the video...

Not only for kids

When I was a kid, I love to play dolls. I know there are adults who still love to collect dolls. They can be pretty expensive but looking at a dollhouse miniature website, I can understand why some people make it as a hobby. I love the Batrie Williamsburg Dollhouse Kit. It has all the exterior and interior features that you would need in a dollhouse. Bring out the creative style in you, choose from a wide variety of designs and products at Zoolabees.

Can't decide...

...what to cook for dinner! Du'h! So we're heading out to town to grab a couple of sandwich maybe. I feel bloated right now but I gotta grab something because later tonight, I know I'll be hungry. Pizza sounds good but I guess I'm not that famished so I'd probably just settle for something light. Haay..American life...Kapoy!!! I'm craving for a Crispy Pata, lol! The first thing that I'm gonna do when I go back home this November is to go to Cafe Laguna and binge on Pinoy foods. I don't care if my wedding gown fits me or not, I'm just missing tasty Filipino dishes.

Want to improve your craft? Get certified!

Our job’s main purpose is to help the bank employees fix their computer troubles. But we can only do so much for them. When it comes to hardware issues, we usually call our supplier’s technical support for possible unit or part replacements since we’re under a certain warranty agreement with them. For the past couple of days, I had to call Dell’s technical support for a hard drive and video card replacement for one of our computers in the Credit department. In all of the emails that were sent out to me, I noticed that these people from Dell are Microsoft Certified Professionals which is awesome, because it assures professionalism, expertise and efficiency in our dealings with them. If you’re an IT Professional and have not gone into MCPD Training, check out QuickCert, your tool to a successful IT career.

What's in store for this year's Day of the Hearts?

I don't suppose we could get as much traveling this year than the last. It's just so hard to take vacations when both of us are working. Nonetheless, Valentine's Day has been marked in our calendar even a few months ago. It's very special for us as a couple and we want to have a worth-remembering date on this weekend. The photos below are taken from our Valentine Getaway in St. Louis, Missouri last year. It was so cold up there on a February but that didn't stop us from exploring the gardens, restaurants, museums and even the marvelous Gateway Arch. It was an experience of a lifetime. I truly cherish our vacation time together. I wonder what's it gonna be like this year! We'll be heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas this weekend, and I'm actually excited of the things that we can do there. Let's see, I know there's the Mid-America Science Museum, Bathhouse Row, Garvan Gardens, The Mountain Tower, Maxwell Blade Theater of Magic and of course my favorite part, a visit to the Hot Springs Mall, lol! And yeah, how could I forget, I'm gonna treat hubby to a Valentine's dinner at Kobe's Japanese restaurant. My camera is ready...Can't wait for Saturday to come...How about you? What's your plan on Valentine's Day?

Moi at the Botanical Gardens

A shot of the city of St. Louis from the top of The Gateway Arch

Windy day at the foot of The Gateway Arch

Mabuhay, lol! toink!

Gateway Arch up close

Gear above and beyond

Many of our American husbands had served or have been serving in the military. Years before I met Jeff, he served in the Navy for 6 years. We’ve talked about his good and bad experiences while he’s there. He learned a lot about life and made a few good friends. He doesn’t own a lot of Navy stuff right now but those that are left in his care are memorable to him and therefore, worth-keeping. One of it is a Navy peacoat that he said he’ll give it to me because traditionally, sailors would give that to their wives. I was touched, but laughed so hard when I realized that I couldn’t really use it anyway because it’s so huge, lol! Anyway, it’s a comfort to know that there are companies like Brigade QM which exist to protect and provide comfort to the men in the military. For over 30 years, they offer Special Ops Equipment through their catalogs, retail stores and even on the internet. Their goal is to make the products you need available when and where you need them at the best prices.

What do you Love about your Husband?

Valentine's Day is almost upon us. I'm pretty excited because me and hubby will be driving out of town to spend our Valentine weekend the simple and romantic way away from home. Now is the perfect time for me to blog about how wonderful my Man is. A lot of thanks goes to Michelle for tagging me.

What I Love About Him.....Here it goes....

• He supports me in everything that I do...(*shopping included* lol!)
• He respects me so much. He never raise his voice at me no matter how unhappy he is.
• He treats me as an equal even if obviously he makes a lot more money than me.
• He never complains even if I failed with my household duties as a wife. He never boss around. If there is something that needs to be done but I didn't do, he'd do it himself.
• He loves me dearly and he makes sure to tell me that everyday.
• He never sleeps without me, hehehe. Corny, eh! but true...it goes the same way for me. Our bedtime is usually 9:30 during weekdays and I'm proud to say that we go to bed together every night.
• He is so expressive of his feelings for me. Both words and actions.
• He is so simple and never materialistic. He can easily appreciate simple but meaningful things.
• He is smart and a bookworm which I appreciate a lot because I love to read books too.
• He takes very good care of me in all aspects.
• He's playful and a child at heart. We would sometimes play around the house by sneaking up on each other and yell "Bulagah" when neither of us expects it. I always get a kick out of his reactions when I scare the hell out of him, lol!

The list could go on and on...I'll have to stop before I'll bore you all with this mushy declaration of love. To sum it all up...Jeff is my everything and I love everything about him even his weaknesses...

Complete your outfit with a pink satchel

Not that I’m collecting handbags, but I must say that it’s one of the things that I checked out in a mall whenever I go shopping. I have several bags already but only a few of them that I can truly say that I really like. That’s why I still want to purchase purses whenever I have the chance. I ordered 2 more purses from a friend in Multiply and just recently, I came across with something online that sells fancy roca wear purse. The photo below is one of their items that I like. It looks classy, and it’s pink. I heart pink stuff, lol! Rocawear not just sells bags, you can also check out their ladies and men’s wear and accessories. This company pays attention to clever innovation in fabrication, application and design. Go ahead, shop online now!