That’s what our status is, health-wise. Generally, we have been spared with the flu virus going around. Many of my blogger friends’ kids have had it even my blogger friends as well. I’m doing a reverse quarantine of my kids (and myself) that we have not been going out even to my parents’ place which is a 5 minute walk from our place. Afternoons have been foggy, soggy (with the rain) and cold so I avoid going out.  A visit to their doctors are still on my to-do list before Christmas starts though. The problem is I dont want to have them go to Manila because I am so sure they will get sick.

Anyhow, we have received news that an aunt finally have been issued a visa and she is flying to the US by March of next year! She hasnt travelled outside the country in her whole 65 years of life! She is one of the Executive Bosses in one of the premium hospitals in the government and she is retiring next month. So she is going to treat herself out to a vacation. She will be going to the west coast first and then going to the east coast. I have an aunt who lives in Philly and Im sure she will take her to NY. It’s just a boat ride away. She is also reading about everything about tours and have read about New York Bus Charters and how it will work handy with touring NY. She deserves the break - Im sure she will have fun!

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I have never been someone who loved playing cards. The most I can do with is play solitaire. Solitaire is the only game I don’t suck at with cards So when we had our advanced Christmas party-get-together with my online friends and their families, their suggestion of having the dads play poker sat well with me. I thought maybe I can now learn to play poker. One of the fathers brought his poker card game set and even a poker table. Unfortunately though, they wasnt able to play because most of use were busy with the kids and the place was jampacked with toys it was so hard to get around. It was a good thing the poker table was light and had foldable legs.

Poker Tables are usually bought from American Gaming Supply (like the table we had during that night). They have the widest selection of tables and 90% always has stocks for it. They have an extensive offering of poker chips and game sets too so that’s an added bonus. With free shipping, who would shop somewhere else?

Now, back to my story, did I learn how to play poker? Sadly no. I didnt even see the poker card sets. But there is a promise that the next get-together we will really have the daddies play together so us mommies can actually bond together. Here’s hoping I can learn by then.

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I have been having serious bouts of insomnia or sleeplessness lately. It was cured about a week ago but the sad news was my daughter who is just 3 had it! She would sleep at awful times – 3AM until 12NN then I will try to keep her awake until 10PM but by 7PM she would be all sleepy already :(. I tried keeping her active or going out when the naptime starts but she would just throw tantrums. I know it’s bad for her, she lost weight already but Im just really clueless on how to reverse her body clock. Any suggestions?

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Back when I was working, I worked for an outsourcing company for five years. The job paid really well, and I lasted five years serving American clients. (I did a good job I suppose because before I resigned, I got promoted). Back then, around 2003, outsourcing services boomed because the US economy started dropping and businesses were looking for ways to keep their services at a cheaper maintenance costing. Before, customer service is the only one being outsourced but due to the good performance and rave reviews of clients, it has extended to technical support even IT support for overseas clients. There is even one huge company who maintains most of the big companies’ IT system. If you are in a business, IT support is very crucial and can even help you run it better. If you would prefer to keep things small since having your own IT department would mean costly equipment (and space), you can consider getting outsourcing. NY IT services from iCorps have been getting a lot of rave reviews from their clients.

I must say that outsourcing maybe a bit risky but I would strongly recommend you go for it most especially if it’s going to be cheaper for you at the moment and you NEED support.

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Who doesnt need a car these days? I know there are a lot of people switching to hybrid cars as of late because of the instability of gas prices these days. However, the need for a car (a mode of transportation) is still there. I never thought I would even talk about needing a car - but where we live at, we really need it to go around otherwise it will be doubly hard. And even if we commute, transportation prices are so high! For example, when I go to the grocery, I need 50 bucks to commute BY JEEP! (That’s how far it is, LOL). So yes, car=necessity. It is a good thing that fuel prices have had a drastic price cut for the past month. This means we can be assured that if ever we will have a car, we have money for gas to drive it around! Edil might get the car he has been promised for by his boos. I certainly hope so. He needs it to make calls in hospitals in his area. A  Car allowance plan might have been the trick for the company to have been able to issue its employees the much-needed transport benefit.

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To be honest, I really dont understand how the global financial crisis came to be. It just don’t understand why multi-billion financial companies can go belly up without warning! I understand the economy of the US is in the down low for months but I guess I never fully came to grasp the whole situation up until I read an article that people are losing their homes because they can’t pay their mortgages anymore (This has happened to a few family friends, unfortunately). And where do they need to pay the mortgages? BANKS. When banks do not get paid on loans, where would they get their money? It doesnt even help that they have invested their stocks and money on REAL ESTATE! How ironic is that, right? Debt Collection must have hard for financial companies. Now, I do not understand the pros and cons of the government bail-out and why citizens of America feel strongly for it (I guess they should, it is essentially THEIR money) but I really hope that it will help solve the crisis. The US is a strong and powerful country and seeing it go through a financial crisis speaks of impending doom for third world countries like ours.

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Another scandal involving China. I swear they need to really be better in quality control or else their export industry will be gone for good in no time!

Melamine Milk Products Banned in the Philippines

Today, a lot of Filipino consumers are deeply worried because of the reported news that a lot of people from China were hospitalized and some even died because of melamine in milk products manufactured in the said country.

Philipine Government Responding To Milk Products with Melamine
The Department of Health and the Bureau of Food and Drugs have ordered the testing of Chinese milk imported and sold locally. In connection with this, DOH and BFAD ordered the banning of dairy food products from China for public welfare . This is certainly a wise move to protect Filipinos from hazardous effect of Melamine Products.

What’s Melamine?
Melamine is a chemical organic compound used in a number of commercial and industrial applications, is unsafe for human consumption. It is also used in the manufacture of kitchenware and floor tiles and among others.

According to some medical experts, melamine can potentially cause serious complications by crystallising and then blocking tiny tubes in the kidneys, thus, causing kidney stones.

For Public Safety
Given this breaking news, we hope that you put extra caution in buying milks, dairy and other related products with suspect melamine content in your favorite grocery stores. Remember the old saying, “prevention is better than cure”.

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It’s the time of the year again – Christmas time! I am so sure that the kids will receive more toys and money than they can ever receive in a year so as early as now Im wading through their room looking for stuff I need to throw, give or sell. I also am trying to convince myself we dont need to buy them all the things they want for Christmas (especially for Matthew). Times are hard and my husband and I talked that we will just give them 2 big ticket item gifts this year and the rest will come from other people. Children & Education books are on top of my wish list for Martha though. She is turning three next year and I will be enrolling her in summer class to see if she is ready for school!

I want to convert a small area we have as a sort of study/recreational area for her. Im buying her lots of books too this year. It doesnt really need to be expensive as Im a fan of BookSale However, I would love to collect the collection Roger Hargreaves, Litte Men and Little Miss Classic Library.

How is this for starting a collection? Ill get her the Little Miss Chatterbox and Little Miss Sunshine books – which is very suited for her!

**This review is sponsored by Borders.co.uk.

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All the partying during the weekends must have been hard on our bodies – all three of us (my kids and me) have been dealing with tummy aches and mild diarrhea for the past two days. It doesn’t warrant us to take medicines yet but we have been going to the loo more often lately. It must be all the sweets, caffeine (Coke) and food we are.

Edil has been trying to get back into the health and fitness track too. He has joined the basketball tournament for parents at Matthew’s school and as support, we all usually go to his games. I noticed he tires a lot easily now and his play is not that fast anymore (he’s not agile as well). I told he better stop smoking or at least lessen it. I know professional athletes even take BSN Supplements (FitFuel.com) to enhance their physique, physical performance, and well being. Edil doesnt really need to take them yet but if he needs protein, the BSN Supplements line is the best I’ve heard feedbacks from.

For example, the Lean Dessert Protein Diet is a delicious protein supplement that satisfies your dessert cravings & appetite - without the guilt! It is designed to be thick and satisfying so that you wont feel hungry right away. You feel really full after!

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MSG is Monosodium Glutamate.

My mom told me not to eat foods containing too much MSG and I never listened to her. Until I found out about this site:

Independent research has identified the following adverse reactions to MSG

• Headaches/migraines
• Lethargy
• Sleepiness
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Mental confusion/disorientation
• Insomnia
• Nausea/vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Bloating
• Asthma attacks
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or tightness
• Runny nose/sneezing
• Extreme dryness of the mouth
• Hives or rash
• Palpitations
• Flushing
• Mouth lesions

MSG has been shown to cause lesions on the brain, especially in children. These lesions cause cognitive, endocrinological and emotional abnormalities. In children excess glutamate affects the growth cones on neurons. Growth cones are vital in laying down chemical pathways in the brain to enable the brain to operate effectively. Studies show that rats who had been fed MSG from birth could not escape mazes or discriminate between stimuli as well as non MSG fed rats. The implications for human children are that MSG could seriously affect their cognitive skills and cause learning difficulties.

Be careful of what you eat!

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