I WON!

Yahoo baseball fantasy is over. The last stats that were counted were the games last night. Although there are still teams that plays today, their stats will not be included anymore.

I did win. Two trophies for my two teams in different league. I am happy. This is my first time to join and I won right away. Hopefully, by next year i will have another trophy and perhaps a bigger one....

This is the trophy i won and this is how my profile looks like with the trophy in it.

In Her Throne

I finally been able to assemble the high chair. Surprisingly, Andrea likes it. It is handy for me too since I can put her in her high chair while I am doing things in the kitchen or while I am cooking. When we eat our dinner, she sits in her high chair and joins us. I bet she feels like a big girl with that set-up.

Here's a few of her pics

The first time i put Andrea in her high chair

Andrea's first time to eat in her high chair.... Take note, the tags are still on..

Andrea eating butter beans... she is still learning to eat with the spoon.

Caught in the Act

Andrea loves to crawl under this table. Whenever she does something that I don't want her to do, if she is caught she would give you a very GREAT smile. I couldn't help but be tickled everytime she gives me this kind of smile. She just love crawling under this table. Actually she would crawl from one side to the other. At first she would cry everytime she wants to be out of it but recently she just discovered that she get out of it herself without my help.

The picture below is just so priceless.

Going out with Mom Lori

It is bonding time for me, Mom Lori and Andrea. What's the best way to bond than SHOPPING! We all love to shop. Andrea is a born shopper. She always loves to be rolled around the store in her little stroller.

We went to fill my prescriptions, food shopping, and grocery shopping. We finally got a high chair for Andrea. It took us long because the one I wanted is always out of stock or if they have stock it looks like it is a returned item based on the products packaging and condition. For today, we decided to choose a different brand that is why finally we got a high chair for our girl.

I was trying to assemble the high chair but I stopped because while I was busy with it Andrea wanted to help, grabbing every piece she can, so I ended up putting it aside. I will just continue assembling it when Andrea will be asleep.

Perhaps, I will let Dave assemble it... hehehe

Anyway, Thanks a lot Mom... We love you!

Skin Exzema

I went to see Dr. Leong today. Mom Lori drove us because Dave needs to work early.

Dr. Leong said that I have skin exzema. She prescribed me with a dose pack to stop and avoid swelling of my skin. She also prescribed me with Atarax for itching (at bedtime) and I have to take Zyrtec (when i am awake).

My skin became really dry so she told me to use aquaphor ointment after every shower.

What is skin excema? Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis. Doctors do not know the exact cause of eczema, but an abnormal function of the immune system is believed to be a factor. Some forms of eczema can be triggered by substances that come in contact with the skin, such as soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry, or sweat. Environmental allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) may also cause outbreaks of eczema. Changes in temperature or humidity, or even psychological stress, for some people lead to outbreaks of eczema.

I remember 2 years ago, when I got here in USA, I also had skin itchiness.... I didn't go to the doctor, all I did was change our laundry soap, use neutrogena body wash and body oil. I presume that the cause of my skin rashes was the weather since it was winter then. But this one since it lasted long and it is not winter, I decided to see Dr. Leong.

Hopefully the medicines that I have to take will work or else... I have to go back and see Dr. Leong again.

Going to see Dr. Leong

I am going to see our PCP (Primary Care Physician) Dr. Tammy Leong tomorrow. I have been complaining with my skin itch for a while now but it is just so hard to get an appointment with our doctor. She is in demand for sure.

I have had similar skin itch last year but it didn't last long. As I remember, all we did is change our laundry detergent. We used for sensitive skin and I was doing okay. This time, I used a sensitive detergent, use different body wash, use different lotion but no change so I decided to go see the doctor. Hopefully, I will not end up like my sister. She has allergy to a lot of things and she has to undergo treatment and the treatment is allergy vaccinations every week. And mind you, it is not just one... The first one was 20 in the left arm and 20 in the second, a total of 40needles in one day... ouch!!!!

Well, I will know what will it be tomorrow!

Azure Dreams

Dave and I are both addicted to Azure Dreams. We play almost every night since we bought this game. We spend so many hours playing this game but until now we are not yet bored with it. We have a goal of making all our monsters up to level 99 and breaking the bank.

When we got this game, I was not into it. I don't play video games then. Dave always encourages me to try it because he kept on telling me that it is very easy and he was sure then that I will enjoy it. I kept on saying no but Dave was persistent. So I tried. At first it gets frustrating since I am not used to the controls yet but after I got used I got hooked.

Here we are almost every night, playing and on the quest for Mazarr, Pita and treasures while building different monsters.


----
Azure Dreams...The game involves a boy named Koh from the town of Monsbaiya, which is set at the foot of the gigantic Monster Tower, which houses a plethora of monsters and bizarre creatures. At the age of fifteen, Koh has come of age and is entitled to enter the tower to slay monsters and live up to his missing father's reputation, his father being the greatest monster hunter who ever lived.
-----

Yahoo Fantasy Baseball still going on

Dave and I thought that yahoo baseball fantasy ends yesterday but obviously we were wrong. We didn't know that the finals is a two week competition. This means that I am gonna wait for another week to know if i will ever get any trophy. So far, I am doing just fine with my stats. Hopefully, it will continue to do so until Sunday.

Good luck to me!

Dining out @ Sta. Fe

After Mass today, we went to the grocery store to buy some baby food and juice and some other necessities. While walking around, Dave and I were thinking what would be best to cook for dinner. We could not think of what to cook so we decided to eat out.

The choices we had, where to eat was Ruby Tuesday and Sta. Fe. We opted Sta. Fe. We chose this restaurant because everytime we pass by Sta. Fe going to Walmart it seems like the parking area is always crowded so we presume that food must be good.

Dave's order was rib eye steak (served with rolls, french fries and mushroom) I ordered Western Vegetable Stir Fry and Shrimp (served with rice). We both had Sweet Tea for our drinks.

The restaurant was not very crowded but we were surprise that it took almost an hour for our food to be ready. We were not impressed with their service.

Here's my food review for what we had. The steak was good BUT I can cook a better steak. The french fries was okay (kinda salty). The mushroom was obviously from the can, we don't like it. The rolls were great. The stir fry vegetables were good and were cooked the way i liked it (half-cook, crispy). The shrimps were not very impressive. The long wait for our food was really annoying.

Overall, I don't think we are coming back to eat there again.

In Memory of Bert and Buddy

Bert and Buddy were Mom Lori's dogs. They are both basset hounds. As far as I know, those dogs were with Mom for so many years. She said that those dogs were with her during the trying times of her life and they were her source of joy and companionship.

The first time that I saw those dogs, a year ago, my first statement was... "Oh my gosh they are bigger than me!"

I admit, those dogs were spoiled.

Bert passed away few months ago. We never expected Buddy to live longer because we all know that he will miss Bert so much. After Bert passed away Mom and Dan adopted two more dogs Bosley and Buffy. I thought, Buddy was already settled in with the two new dogs. I was just so surprise when we woke up today to know that Buddy also passed away.

Mom Lori, we all know how awful you feel about the Bert and Buddy. On Buddy's case I think you should be glad that you didn't see him suffer. I know they are a part of the family and we are sorry for the loss.

Bert and Buddy will always be remembered.

Saturday Night at Lotlot's

I always enjoy being at Lotlot's. We always have fun with filipino food and enjoying each other's company talking Visayan and of course playing cards ( tong-its). We also watched shows in TFC (The Filipino Channel).

Andrea always gets a lot of attention too when we are at Lotlots. Her kids are just all over Andrea whenever we come over. For me, it will be good for Andrea too to be with some Fil-Am kids. For sure she will be following them when she will be bigger. She is the youngest of all the kids (for now), so I am sure she will be spoiled.

Looking forward to our next get together!

LSU @ Auburn

Yeheyyyyyy LSU won!!!!

The game was a good one. I didn't have my full attention to the game (I was busy playing card while watching the game too) but I was able to see them on the crucial moments of their game which ended into a big V... hehehe

Go LSU!!!!

New Hairstyle

Before (my long hair)
After (my shortest haircut ever!)

I have falling hairs, not just the usual falling of hair. It just got to the point that my hair is getting so long. I have been telling Dave that I need a haircut. Perhaps, a short one that way Andrea will not grab it all the time anymore.

Well, Mom Lori scheduled an appointment for me to her hairdresser ( all expense paid... thanks Mom) to have my haircut.

When I got to About Image Salon, I decided to have my hair cut short. I was thinking if it will not turn out good, after a year I am sure my hair would be long again. To make the story short, I had my hair cut into a short style. I look different when I saw myself in the mirror. Everybody likes my new haircut. Andrea just looked at me at first maybe she was wondering what happen why I look different but after a while she got used to it!

Thanks again Mom!

Bank Statement Reconciliation

I got busy today with bank statement reconciliation. I am already behind so it is really imperative to do it now.

Taking over our financial matters, has not been hard for me. I have been in-charge in terms of financial matters when I was in the Philippines although it does not entail bank reconciliation or check payments. It was just a basic day to day living with the meager amount we had.

My work experience, when I was in the Philippines, which deals with a lot of statement of account reconciliation made me an expert of doing our own finances.

I am proud of myself and Dave for keeping our receipts on debit purchases until i have recorded it, that way i won't have to adjust a lot when the bank statement comes. This would ensure that we will not be overdrawn in our bank account. In terms of bills, I am the one paying it and making sure that they are paid in a timely manner.

Bank statement reconciliation is just a piece of cake.

Coupons

I save and use coupons. It helps me save few bucks whenever we are buying our groceries. Sunday papers most of the time have coupons and my mom-in-law Mom Lori always saves the coupons for me.

It really helps specially with baby diapers, vitamins and other baby needs to use coupons because mostly the coupons are $1 or more. It may look just very small but if you add it up, it is a big savings.

There is a lot of coupons in the Sunday paper, it ranges from grooming products to housecleaning needs, laundry, and food. With the prices going up and up everyday, I think it is but WISE for us guys to save and use coupons!

Pat Burrel

I admit... I am now a baseball fan and that is because of the fantasy. Pat Burrel is one of the players that I have since the start of the league. For the past couple of months, he has been a big help for me to earn those HR, RBI, R and Hits. For a while, he was slumping but I still kept him because I know that if I drop him my opponents would gladly pick him up because he has the tendency to be in a good hitting streak.

Months went by and lately Pat Burrel has been killing me in my fantasy stats. He has more nights that he is hitless so finally 6 days ago I decided to drop him for this is the final stretch of the league. I was even joking with Dave that since I am dropping him for sure he would start hitting.

Well, as much as I hate it, what I predicted happened. For the past five days that I dropped Burrel, he has been playing good... in fact, he has 2 HRs from the time I dropped him. Huh! what a luck for me!!! Oh well, the price I pay for trying to win the league, I have to find players that I think would help me earn stats.

Three more days to go, and I will know if I will ever win a trophy for my first year in fantasy baseball.

Banana

Andrea never like banana in a jar. I remember when i gave her gerber banana she would just not eat it and keep on crying. So since then, we never thought that she would ever like eating banana.

As she grow, she learned to eat different foods and fruits, now at 9 months she even thinks that whenever I am eating she has to eat too. She now eat some of the food in the table.

Surprisingly, she loves the real banana now. She eats it like a grown baby. She doesn't have teeth yet but still she can bite a good chunk of it.

Whenever she is a good girl, and not give me a hard time, I always reward her with a banana. Tonight, we went to Lotlot's and she has been a good girl. She played with the kids, played on her own, she even let Lotlot kissed her. Of course, she eats what we ate... fish!!!!

For being such a wonderful girl, and letting me have a good time at Lotlot's ... my baby girl deserves a Banana!

100 GRAND!

Yes 100 grand! but wait I am not talking about 100 thousand dollars nor pesos or any other currency. I am talking about the 100 Grand candy bar, a product of Nestle!

100 Grand is my hubby's favorite and I know why. Once you tried eating one of these, you will crave for more. The moment you chew the chocolate, caramel and rice crispies you will taste a heavenly taste. For me, when there is nothing more to chew the more the candy taste better.

I admit, I got addicted to it! Hmmm and as usual I forgot what diet is all about.




Feast your eyes on this... try it and you will love it!!!!

Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Dave and I are enjoying the Fantasy Baseball. This is my first year of joining the league. Thru the help of Dave, I am able to keep up with the game. It is almost over now and I am hoping to win a trophy. We are very much into the head to head games. Last week was the semi finals. From Monday to Saturday I was ahead 6-4 but Sunday games my opponent swamped me with 6 pitchers and I could not find any good ones so I had 4 pitchers for that night. After all the games, we ended up tied 5-5 but to my disappointment, my opponent was the one who advanced into the finals. I don't know what are the basis for it since we are tied. Oh well, I am now playing for third place... if I could win this one I will still have a trophy... very small one...lol

I am trying to monitor my players so as if my opponent will make last minute moves I can make my own too... Hopefully by Sunday i will still emerged a winner even if it is just third place. Well, third place for my first year is not bad at all....

More luck for me on the next season... who knows i will have the BIG trophy....

Super H Mart

I love eating fish, fish heads included. I seldom find fish in our grocery store nearby. Mostly, they only sell tilapia. I admit I am a fan of tilapia. I love fried tilapia. Paksiw tilapia ( cooked in vinegar and spices) And my most favorite, tilapia cooked in coconut milk.

Going to Super H Mart in Riverdale, Atlanta means more selection of fish. Yes there are lot of fish there. Fish that we usually buy back home in the Philippines. There is a variety of fish there that one can choose. If only Super H Mart is nearer to where we live, we will for sure shop there all the time but the bad news is Super H Mart is almost 2 hours drive from where we are.

During our last trip to Super H, I found Sweet Potato Leaves. I was so excited. I love salad sweet potato leaves. I was looking forward to coming home cooking it and i even planned on putting coconut milk on it... To my dismay, when i checked my cabinet, I don't have coconut milk anymore but nonetheless i still enjoyed eating the salad sweet potato leaves.

I also bought ampalaya (bitter melon), chinese eggplant, green-circle eggplants, purple yam, ginger and bananas.

Last week, has been a 'heaven' for me foodwise, I got to eat butterfish, milkfish and variety of veggies.

I still got a lot of fish in my freezer, so good for me... and yes i don't DIET anymore...lol

Back to Blogging

A year ago, i used to blog everyday. I blog on different things mostly what life has been for me in this foreign land (USA) whom I consider my home now.

Last two years, things has been really 'different'. I got married to a foreign guy, made a family, moved here and I became a MOM. Every day is a challenge for me. A challenge to become a good wife and a good Mom to my Andrea Lorene. Still, everyday I strive hard to be a good person and to be good to everyone.

I am back to blogging and I hope this is for keeps. I know there will be times when I couldn't find time to blog, but hopefully in some ways i could find energy even just for little updates.