Most of my friends these days are so bent on saving enough money so they can get their own house by next year. I guess we are all at that stage where we want tangible proof of our accomplishments and something we can really call our own. I realized that things like this should have been thought of and planned for at the very start – even when one was still single. At my rate, I would extremely be lucky if I can get my own own house by the time I hit 35.

Everytime we go to Tagaytay, we pass by a highway where most big and beautiful houses are located. I would love to invest on a property there. It’s a good thing me and the husband have the same taste with regards to home design – the only hurdle is saving and coming up with enough money to make it materialize.

We were discussing condo units, townhouse units, down payments, prime lots and everything related to owning a house over at Twitter last night. Though a condominium unit in a prime location would be a very good investment, I doubt I would like to live in there. I’d still want a big lot where my kids can play and where I can enjoy my cup of coffee in the morning, surfing online with the chirping of birds on trees as my music.

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….I love my hair. My mom can now charge per haircut. I say this because my Dad didn’t throw a fit when he saw my hair, but he laughed and said, “Hi Martha Kulit!” I will let my mom post pictures of me soon. I’m just letting her be lazy for a few more days. See you! ~ Martha

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Got this from Wifespeaks.  I underlined my answers.

He says, she says…

1. When watching television, custody of the remote controls belongs to:
a. the husband
b. the wife
c. whoever turned on the TV
d. whoever is stronger
e. whoever can find it underneath the cushions

2. Entertaining friends for dinner should be:
a. a catered affair
b. a sit-down meal lovingly prepared in your own kitchen
c. served buffet style (but ordered from restaurants since I don’t know how to cook hehe!)
d. pot-luck
e. food brought home in boxes

3. A new car should be selected based on:
a. its purchase price
b. its performance, repair and insurance costs
c. what your business associates are driving
d. its color
e. the arrangement of the cup holders

4. The toilet seat should be:
a. down, with the lid closed
b. down, with the lid up
c. left up
d. left up or down, it doesn’t matter (then whoever wants to use it will either lift the lid up or put it down)
e. up in his bathroom, down in her bathroom

5. The proper location for dirty clothes is:
a. the clothes hamper
b. the floor near the clothes hamper
c. the floor in the room where the hamper is located
d. on the furniture in the room where the hamper is located
e. near the bed so you can wear them again the next day

6. In the middle of summer, it’s best if:
a. the air conditioning is in full blast, at all times
b. the air conditioner is on, sometimes
c. no air conditioning, the electric fan will do
d. no air conditioning and no fan, a pamaypay will do
e. the windows are left open for the breeze to come in

7. Any home-cooked food is best if:
a. it is eaten immediately after it’s prepared
b. served with candlelight and soft music
c. it’s made the way mom made it
d. it has catsup on it
e. the fire department didn’t have to be called

8. The best way to travel on vacation is:
a. by plane (if we have enough money)
b. by train
c. by car
d. on foot hiking through the wilderness
e. separately, to different destinations

9. Trips to the mall should be made when:
a. there is a specific item that is needed (not really my answer but this is the best among the choices given)
b. there is a big sale
c. it’s raining and there’s nothing else to do
d. you can’t find what you need at a tag sale
e. you have a new credit card

10. The volume on the stereo should be set:
a. low enough to allow normal conversation
b. loud enough to fully appreciate the quality of the recording
c. low enough so the neighbors don’t complain
d. loud enough to feel the vibrations
e. just low enough to avoid significant structural damage

11. Laundry should be done:
a. twice a week
b. weekly
c. every other week
d. monthly
e. when you run out of clean underwear

12. My idea of an exotic vacation destination is:
a. Hawaii
b. Thailand
c. Boracay
d. Tagaytay
e. Luneta Baywalk

13. Repainting the living room should be done by:
a. a licensed professional
b. the two of us working in harmony (i wish we can do this)
c. the college kid down the street
d. whoever’s idea it was to repaint the room
e. the time your mother arrives to visit

14. When buying a new TV, it is important to consider:
a. the size of the room in which it’s located
b. what will fit in the entertainment center
c. your budget
d. how many people you’ll be inviting over for football games
e. whether you can fit it through the door

15. Before having children, you should be together for:
a. at least one year
b. at least two years
c. at least five years
d. at least nine months
e. one last quiet, romantic evening

16. Eating in bed is:
a. inappropriate under any circumstances
b. okay if you’re sick and can’t get up
c. acceptable if served on a proper bed tray
d. good to do while watching late night TV
e. an effective way to avoid having sex

17. The best videos to rent are:
a. the newest releases
b. classic films
c. romantic comedies
d. action dramas
e. found in stores with XXXX on the sign

18. When one of you feels he or she should lose weight, the other should:
a. insist that their partner is perfect just the way they are
b. be supportive
c. join in the weight-loss program (right honey?)
d. buy him or her a membership in a health club
e. move out until the diet is over

19. When the female is upset or angry, the male should:
a. be comforting
b. ask what the problem is
c. try to solve the problem
d. tell her to get over it
e. apologize. She’s already decided it’s his fault anyway

20. Household chores should be done by:
a. the wife
b. the husband
c. both of them working together (plus the maid)
d. the maid
e. the kids, that’s why you had them

21. When decorating your first home, the furnishings should be:
a. the latest style
b. an eclectic blend of antique and new
c. the best you can afford
d. purchased at tag sales
e. whatever you can swipe from your parents’ homes

22. You should attend a place of worship:
a. weekly
b. monthly
c. on major holidays
d. when your mother’s in town
e. when you find one that serves 1995 Domaine d’Auvenay Criots-Batard-Montrachet for communion

23. Taking out the garbage is the responsibility of:
a. the husband
b. the wife
c. whoever put the last item in
d. whoever is going out anyway
e. the household staff (or the husband if the household staff is on vacation)

24. My idea of the ideal birthday party is:
a. a romantic dinner for two
b. cake and coffee with a few friends
c. a small gathering with family members
d. a surprise party with everyone I know
e. a celebration that would rival a Presidential inaugural

25. If we have an argument we should:
a. kiss and make up before we go to bed
b. sit down and discuss it like two rational people
c. go to separate rooms until we cool off
d. contact a marriage counselor
e. make sure all lethal weapons are out of reach

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We, well I actually, have this project to complete by the end of the year – and that is to finally complete everything for the house. We have been on our own for almost a year now yet we still need to buy a lot of furniture like shelves and even beds to complete our house. One thing leads to another and the money allocated for them seems to mysteriously disappear all the time

I also do not know the saying “Big things come from small things.” Whenever I want something, I want it big time – no installment on small pieces. Take for example, my son’s bedroom, we have had a plan for it for the longest time already but we haven’t started anything. I want a bed, shelf and customized study table for him but since I don’t want to buy one thing at a time, it has never materialized.

Except for the boy’s bedroom, I want to add some little pieces here and there. And I really want to organize our kitchen and bathroom.

Small things become bigger things.

Big things come from small things.

Somehow I need to keep that in mind.

Start small.

Remember.

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I never really got to sharing how I got obsessed with make-up a few months ago. I even went as far as watching make-up video tutorials in YouTube! I never knew people could be so addicted to cosmetics ! There are even YouTube videos of people describing their latests “hauls” – a term they use for shopped make-up items.

We started with quality but affordable (read: cheap) items like Everyday Minerals (EDM), NYX, drugstore brands and the like. However, it is really true that high-quality make-up can be on the expensive side because it stays longer, non-comodogenic (doesn’t clog pore) and has really strong color quality.

I stick to my tried and tested brands though. I am prone to breakouts because I have sensitive skin so with regards to skin care, I stick with Clinique. Another good buy is the Urban Decay Glider Pens – I will never use another eyeliner brand ever again. It’s that good! It doesn’t smear and is very creamy. I have yet to try another good recommendation: NARS because I cannot afford one anymore!

I’m all shopped out with regards to make-up. I’ve got everything already and I don’t even go out that much – I just stay home most of the time. Now I’m going to be planning a more expensive shopping bonanza – furniture shopping

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I’m taking the first day of the week off to stop and smell some roses.

I have been working too hard the last week that perhaps even e-mails need to be unlooked at, for 24 hrs.

I need to unwind.

I’m going to do that tomorrow.

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Ever since we moved near the mountains (or should I say in the mountains), our need for outerwear – sweaters, blazers and caps – have increased tremendously. With the weather being so unpredictable lately, our outerwear are never stocked into the cabinet. They are always hung, ready for grabbing, whenever we go out. The kids have more than five pairs of jackets each, with long sleeved shirts and sweaters even, because as hot as it gets during the day, by early afternoon, fog hits our roads and the winds get really chilly.

The husband needs a work jacket though. He currently has hooded jackets and a nice agryle jacket I bought on sale at OldNavy.com last December but I’m telling him he needs a structured one like a soft blazer when he goes to work. (That’s just me wanting to see him in a nicer dapper look – not his usual jeans and tees get up)

These are the ones that caught my eye:

I love how blazers look these days – it can really make an outfit. The schoolboy blazer is a classic piece I’d want to get one of these days (I really need to make sure I lose weight now).

I can see my sister’s style in the middle

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No budget for a designer bag yet? Don’t let that get you down. I spent a whole afternoon just browsing stuff at StyleHive.com. I call the site my virtual mall for window shopping. There are a lot of styles which I never would have given a second look save for the recommendation of other people there. I highly recommend you check it out.

And with that I read an article about getting a purse for just under $100, sense and style not sacrificed. There is a slideshow you can view here. But I’ll give you a rundown which ones caught my eye.

MAXX New York Monte Carlo Shopper Tote | De Leux Pintuck Satchel | Plumage Washed Tote

These bags you can get at Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters. They usually carry a sale and the sale items are such steals. I’m a fan of sleek, sturdy and over sized bags (because I’m a big woman who needs to carry notebooks all the time) so I picked those three. The first bag you can get at Nordstrom and the last two from Urban Outfitters. Out of the three, I fancy the last bag the most. Let’s hope I can score one just like that before the year ends.

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