Cleaning Plans

I am sooo glad it's the weekend! I finally finished all my reports in time, and am pretty happy that next week will somehow be a breeze. Maybe we can refocus now on cleaning up the house, and packing away or getting rid of non-essentials (like shrink tube) that's cluttering and eating up so much of our storage space. But that's all in the planning stage just yet. We need to really get off our butts and do it.

Going on breaks

We are now back to the daily grind, much as we hate it. I've had a pretty long weekend because of the recent celebration of Australia Day. We didn't bother going away to some South Coast town. Instead, we just stayed at home, lounging around during our spare time. I'm sure a lot of people went away for the weekend. Going on those long drives must have made them think twice about auto insurance quotes. Well, to each his own. Others may take the long break as an opportunity for them to get away. We found it as opportunity to rest and recharge from busy daily lives.

Tired

Yes, I lack sleep, haven't been eating that well. In no time, I am sure nodular acne is on its way, not to mention the dark circles around my eyes and the lack of concentration. Work has been so unmotivating of late, that it does not help. I know we just came home from holidays, but I need another break!!! I cannot wait for the long weekend up ahead. As Mondays are my days off and Tuesday is a public holiday, I just may get the opportunity to recharge my worn down batteries again. We'll see.

Moisturise!

They say your hair is your crowning glory. And apart from my skin, I try my best to take very good care of it. Unfortunately, salons here charge expensive fees for simple haircuts, so I make lots of use for DIY treatments at home. With the very dry climate here, it is not unlikely that you could turn to hair loss treatments. But the key really here is to moisturise, whether it is your skin or your scalp. It is a ritual that needs commitment. But in the end, all your diligence will have been worth it.

Empowering Parents to Manage ADHD

In the midst of surfing on the web (that includes all sorts of stuff and colon cleanse reviews are not exempted, by the way), I found another announcement from the ADHD Society for another seminar/class for parents who have children with ADHD. Details are as follows:

Title: Empowering Parents to Manage ADHD

Time: 1:30 - 4:00 PM

Venue: Rm 110 ISO Bldg, Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City


Topics for discussion include communication skills, understanding feelings, behavior management, anger management, creating a learning environment, friendship building and advocacy.

Register now! Only 15 slots available!

For registration and inquiries, please contact:
ADHD Secretariat Office - 927-3463 / 426-8568 / 0918-9079159

Source: ADHD Society of the Philippines

Kudos

I have heard and seen several weight loss success stories on the news, but I have never really known anyone personally who has gone through such massive change, until now of course. My sister-in-law was a bit on the chubby side, but she is now actually down to 2 dress sizes. Amazing! She said she just watched her food portions and did very regular walking for exercise. Everyone's noticed it, and some are even envious of her, because we all know it is such a difficult hurdle to overcome. But we are all happy for her. It is certainly something she can very proud of!

Frustrated

Will someone please tell me the fastest way to burn fat? Everything else has cooperated except for this mummy tummy of mine. It has been the hardest to get rid of and to maintain in shape. I guess I will have to accept the fact that once you have had kids, things are certainly not the same anymore and you need to work doubly hard to get things back in shape. Tough luck, eh? But that is the sad truth, and we got to live with that.

Terrible Two's

After successfully keeping all of Erin's eczema and other skin problems at bay, we were then faced with her mood swings. Yes, she was no exception when it came to the terrible 2's, but it seems to have waned as we draw near her third birthday, which is just 2 months away from now.

I had a squiz over at BabyCenter once again, and this little paragraph was certainly an eye-opener.

Everyone talks about the twos being terrible, but they fail to see how much two-year-olds love helping around the house! They want to be part of the world around them and they love and admire you. Your little one may want to help you set the table, fold the laundry or pick up toys - and now is your chance to get some eager help while encouraging good habits. Don't forget to reward her with big appreciative hugs and kisses.

We have focused so much on the terrible ones, that we have almost failed to recognise the other things as well. And yes, I would have to agree that the little girl sure loves helping out in the house, that is, if she is in the mood for it. If she really is, she helps pack away all her toys come night time before we head off to take a bath and sleep. She also helps me out with hanging and getting the laundry. And she has become this very conversant little toddler, trying her darndest to speak to us in sentences if possible! So yeah, even the 2-year-old phase can be quite tough, the positives definitely outweigh and make up for all the negatives.

Refresher Course on Parenting Kids with ADHD

Guess who's kept us busy? The little girl of course. It has been more than a week now since we've arrived and she is slowly still adjusting the time difference and going back to our regular routines, which I really thought was well established before we left for the holidays. But yeah, all this adjusting can be very stressful and I am on the verge of searching for the best wrinkle cream out there. Wrinkles in your 30's is certainly not ideal!

Anyhoo, before I ramble on, here is a repost of the event announcement we have on my other site. This course is specifically targeted at parents who have children with ADHD

When & Where
30 January 2010 (8:00 am - 5:00 pm)
2nd Floor, Conference Room, Manila Observatory Bldg.,
Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University,
Quezon City

The refresher course is for those who already have attended the 8-week parenting module. It offers a chance to reflect and build on your experiences after you had graduated from the Parenting Class. A major plus is a workshop that is focused on concerns regarding your children in the preschool (up to 7 years old), 8-12, and teen age-groups.

The refresher course is a good way to review and strengthen parenting practices. It is also a good way to meet other parents.

On Sickies

It is not easy having a sick child, especially when they are very young and totally dependent on you for care. My little girl is sick once again, having caught an infection from her playmate while we were on holidays. As with all sick kids, they really tend to be very high-maintenance people. I am just praying (to all the saints including st thomas) that her condition does not get any worse, so life will be easier for all of us.

Moving around

I don't like cross country moving or any sort of uprooting that much. I've uprooted myself several times in the past. Unfortunately, all of which were not my personal choice, and thus explains why I am not so keen about it. Hubby on the other hand is very much interested in finding ways to go back to the Philippines, and settle there for good as soon as possible. I have just gotten here myself, so I am not ready in any way yet to go back. It is certainly something that has been a topic for discussion lately, however, I am not giving in just yet.

Looking back

Speaking of the new year, here comes the reality check when we are faced with our credit card bill. There is nothing more shocking than seeing your bill after going on holidays especially during Christmas time. And I am sure you will all agree. It's times like this when you want to rethink that auto insurance quote and scrimp on just about anything. After all that spending, you just might want to punish yourself by tightening the belt once again to save up and pay for everything. Soooo not looking forward to that. But then again, when you look back at the good times (which is priceless by the way), it all seems worth the cost.

Welcome 2010

So how did your New Year celebrations go? Fun I hope. Ours started with a sumptuous dinner, followed by a mid-evening snack, then by fireworks watching and finally ending with a yummy champagne toast with the entire family. Fortunately, even with all the eating, nobody had to rush to the American Standard toilet for any emergencies. It was an awesome way to end 2009, and welcome 2010. It really cannot compare to way things are being celebrated abroad, where we only get to watch the fireworks on TV. That is why it is always good to be home, because there is no place like it!