What Simply Works!

I would love to get a back cleaning or peel one of these days.  I haven’t seen a dermatologist about it yet but I believe I have some form of acne on my back.  Eeeww!  I would not know of it if not that it gets terribly itchy at times, especially on warm to hot weather.  I guess whatever type of body acne treatments the dermatologist will recommend will surely give relief.

I am dead serious in keeping fit that I have started to take multiple vitamins in order to supplement what I am missing in my daily diet.  It scares me to think of getting sick and leaving my poor babies on their own.  Of course, the husband will be there to look after them but of course, he has work to take care of, too.  I eventually want to do some light exercises to augment my vitamins intake.  Any form of light exercise such as walking or biking sounds interesting to me.

I have given up at the thought of getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight.  First, I don’t know of any diets that work.  Second, family and friends have said that I look better now than when I was super thin.  Third, more than dieting, it is important for me to keep healthy.  That is because looking after my family is my top priority.  I can’t afford to spend precious time and money on vanity.  Well, that is not to say that I am not taking care of myself.  I just happen to know where my priorities lay.

I’m getting quite excited about what lies ahead in our very near future.  With our youngest child turning one this year, my husband and I foresee that we can start making plans for our respective careers.  Will I find a job that I would love to do?  Will my husband be able to make new arrangements with his job?  Well, we don’t know the answers as yet but hey, this waiting bit makes it all the more exciting.  Bring it on, Lord!

I was shopping like mad yesterday for a variety of stuff for our apartment.  Since almost every thing in Australia is expensive, I decided to buy them here in Manila.  Stuff like towels, bath rugs, covers for TV stands and center table.  And also because we have a big weight allotment for our flight back to Sydney, it’s just practical for us to maximize it.

I brought copies of my digital scrap-booking kits to Manila in the hopes of completing my 2010 calendar project here.  But with barely five weeks left before our return to Sydney, I still can’t squeeze in time to complete it.

I found two shops at the nearby mall, which does customized printing.  I haven’t inquired about the pricing and I hope it won’t cost a lot.  Anyway, in the absence of a good printer (like an Epson TM-T88IV), I am dead set to complete this.  One of these days, cross toes, I will.

This early, we are preparing our apartment for the coming winter in Sydney in June.  We are getting our apartment cleaned-up (done professionally of course), our column heater repaired, new clothes dryer purchased.  We need to be a bit more careful after our then newborn son went through a bout of allergies during spring time last year.  Good thing winter in Sydney is not that harsh and will not require that we have an Amish fireplace.

I’m looking forward to a lot of things happening this month.  First, my hubs arrival from Sydney next week; second, our first Christmas eve with our new bub and third, Christmas lunch with my family and relatives arriving from abroad.  I am sure my mom will be busy preparing for our Christmas lunch and I will have no excuse not to indulge in the feast!  However, with or without the best diet pills, I will for sure keep a tight watch on my weight, especially now that I’m figuring out a way to get rid of my flabs.

Since the kids and I arrived in Manila, I have been asked a few times already if we are settling in Sydney, Australia for good.  Almost always, my reply is that it’s too soon to tell and that we will only decide in probably a year or two.  I also share with them that my husband and I do dream of owning a house, with every detail (such as Murray Feiss lighting) carefully chosen and decided upon.  It’s just that some things, like deciding on a country/place to settle in are just out of our hands.  But we believe that the decision will come at its perfect time.

My youngest brother who is in university taking up Physical Therapy will be graduating next year.  Yey!  I’m sure my parents feel the excitement and relief seeing their youngest child finally finish school.  When I got the chance to talk with him, he shared that he is looking forward to eventually work and be employed at a really good hospital.  He said that he now feels comfortable being with patients and being surrounded with medical equipments when years ago, just before he started university, he was unsure whether he likes the course he’s taking.  And like a typical big sister, I encouraged him to continue keeping an eye on his goal and like my parents, I too will share the happiness seeing him achieve his dreams.

I have been driving in Australia for nearly two years but it is still limited to places I am very familiar with.  I still cringe at the thought of driving to unfamiliar places even with the aid of a GPS.  It will be different though if I’ll be driving with my husband as the navigator.  With him beside me, I’d feel safe and won’t have to be looking out for exit signs along the way.

I confess, I haven’t bought my husband a Christmas gift!  Not that he’s expecting to get one or that he’ll get angry if he will not get any.  But the thing is, it has always been a challenge for me to think gift ideas for him.  He is such a simple man, with very simple needs and wants.  And with this very special occasion, the last thing I want to do is haphazardly get him something, like an xbox 360, which will not really make him happy in the end.  Sigh.  I only have two weeks left to think of the best gift I could get for him.  Any ideas, please?

My 3-yr old is due for a dental check. She has never seen a dentist because my husband and I felt that it will do her more harm than good at that time.  We were sure that her reaction to the routine check may only traumatize her and that alone is enough reason for us to forego the recommended dental check at age 2. But now that she’s 3, there’s no longer a reason for us to hold off bringing her to a dentist.  No parent would want her child/children to end up going through dental surgery (e.g. dental implants Plano).  Agree?

What they say is true that it is more difficult (or it takes longer) to lose weight gained during succeeding pregnancies.  I must admit that I was at the brink of resorting to appetite suppressant pills but my family convinced me that I look better now compared to my pre-pregnancy frame.  I agree to a certain extent because when I was much thinner, I look sickly and problematic but I’d be lying if I say that I don’t miss wearing my old clothes.  Ah, you can’t have it all.. can you?

If time permits, I will have two of my favorite family pics printed on canvass.  This has been on my personal project list for so long and either that I get so busy or I just simply forget to put this mini-project to fruition.  I’m no longer worried about hanging photo frames or canvasses on our walls because I found good frame hooks in the supermarket the other day.  I think those can hold the weight of the canvasses I’m eyeing for printing.  It is still a no-no for TV mounts though, which will definitely cause major annoyance to our landlords.

I am so eager to replace our current home furniture and some of our appliance.  Truth is, the stuff that we bought since we got married in 2003 are still very much in use and abused to date.  Hee hee.  They are still in good shape and does not warrant immediate replacement but there are days when I dream of a complete home renovation where we get brand new home appliance with matching contemporary furniture!  Okay, maybe not this soon but hopefully it’s not too far off, too.

I haven’t been to a one-stop-shop place (or mall) here in Sydney.  In the past, when we needed hardware or electrical supplies, for example, we had to check out different malls in different areas, which is so troublesome.  It’s good though that we have friends here whom we can ask about these things, otherwise, we will be like blind leading the blind when searching for important household items.

I didn’t realize that I am one vain woman until I gave birth to my second child.  Five weeks after delivery and I’m already so eager to wear my pre-pregnancy clothes.  And I hate the unsightly flabs so much that I couldn’t stand looking at myself in the mirror!  Boo.  I’ve never felt this way with my first pregnancy and I hope this feeling tapers off soon.  I will try my best to be patient and not give in to natural weight loss pills or any ‘quick fix’.

One of the things that I’m looking forward to do during our upcoming trip home is to shop, shop, shop!  I consider it as a reward for myself after my ‘challenging’ pregnancy experience this year.  Ha!  One of the must-buy on my list is the best eye cream for wrinkles.  I admit that I have taken myself for granted with all the pressing things that came my way this year so it’s now time for that much needed retail therapy and pampering!

I was talking with my mom the other day about getting executive check-ups annually and having special tests done, like colonoscopy).  I was told that by the time we reach the age of thirty, we should be extra concerned about our health regardless if we feel fit.  It helps to read articles about health (e.g. colon cleanse reviews), to engage in some form of exercise, eat a balanced diet and to sleep well.  But even then, a doctor’s clean bill of health can give any one priceless peace of mind.