I am fond of reading books! This is absolutely one of the hobbies that I'd like to pass on to Chesska who is about to finish her pre-school (thankfully) this coming 3rd week of March. As much as I want to teach her how to read in advance, I had no idea how to begin doing it until I stumbled upon an article over a couple of weeks ago which says, the most basic way of teaching children how to read is just simply read with them over and over again.

We used to read books together during my free time and her fondness towards books was evident as she loved flipping the pages, naming pictures, and even pretending reading.  But ever since I gave birth to Psalm, then resumed to my work, we weren't able to do this routine again. I felt guilty for not spending quality time with her as you know I am wearing hats simultaneously. But just last weekend, I had a lightbulb moment that if I would not continue the things that we were used to be doing, she might be losing her interest.

So starting last Monday up to now whenever I am free, I began to read with her again especially before she took a nap in the afternoon or before going to bed at night. It feels so great to see my child smiling and having the feeling that she was given the attention that she needed.

By the way, here are the books that we kept on reading by Read at Home which we bought at Booksale, SM Ecoland for 150 pesos only. Excellent finds!

Well, one of the books that captured my attention was Kipper's Weather Week by Roderick Hunt. The book tells obviously about the weather and days of the week, just in time with Chesska's lesson last week.  Another one is The Spaceship.  Inside the cover page, I saw some helpful reminders how to teach children about reading and I am so pleased to share them with you.

Children learn best when reading is fun.

1. Talk about the title and the pictures on the cover.
2. Discuss what you think the story might be about.
3. Read the story together, inviting your child to read with you.
4. Give lots of praise as your child reads with you.
5. Try different ways of helping if they get stuck on a word. For example: read the first sound or syllable of the word, read the whole sentence, or refer to the picture. Focus on the meaning.
6. Re-read the story later, encouraging your child to read as much of it as they can.


Reading with my child is a great opportunity for me not only to make up the time I missed with her but also making her feel that reading is fun and she will learn and discover a lot from it.

Disclosure: All the opinions expressed are 100% mine. 

I mentioned in my previous post about dining at Kuya J.  I kept watching its commercial from TV a couple months ago, endorsed by celebrity actor, Jerico Rosales, and mentally noted to try this new restaurant one of these days. So last Thursday, during my birthday, my family and I went to Kuya J at SM annex, Ecoland to try some of their dishes.

Here's what we ordered and my honest review.

chicken salad with sesame dressing for 150

I was anticipating mainly more chicken meat in the salad but I got surprised when it contained more lettuces than the former.  It was my fault for not reading the description in the menu book anyway. As much as I love vegetable salad,  the taste is not a winner for me. I disliked the crispy pastry wrapper (on top of the lettuce) and the lettuce is a little bitter.

creamy seafood and soup - 150

This soup is too creamy and flavorful. I don't know, but it's hard to please my taste bud now after getting rid of vetsin (msg) each time we cook at home for almost two years now. But don't get discouraged to try this, maybe what is awful for me is tasteful for you.

calamares for 130

No complaint about Calamares. It did taste good!

Grilled Scallops for 165

The grilled scallop is Kuya J's best-seller. The scallop itself is tender and I dearly love its cheese and butter toppings. I almost consumed half of its number. My husband and mother like it very much, too. Of all the dishes we ordered, this one is a champion!

Kuya J Chicken (half) for 200

We first ordered lechon kawali but it sold out fast so we opted to order chicken since Chesska loves it very much. I find their chicken as ordinary as the other chicken out there. Probably, I am just a huge fan of Mang Epoy's litson manok in Puan which is tastier and juicier than Kuya J's.

Cebuano mango cheesecake - 110

For our dessert, I ordered Cebuano mango cheesecake which contains graham, cream cheese, and mango. The cream cheese is yummy but the mango is not as sweet as I expected. The graham at the bottom of the jar is so tough to scoop out with a spoon. Perhaps, it was overly frozen.

If I were to describe their foods, place, price, crew,  and service in one word, it would be:

Foods: GOOD.

Place: CLASSY!

Price: AFFORDABLE.

Service: GREAT.

Crew: ATTENTIVE.

My Family

Baby Psalm

FOODS

In front of Kuya J

Taking picture in front of hearts display since Valentines day is fast approaching

Hello, February! It's a no-brainer, this month is my favorite month of the year. Since I will be turning 35 next week (OMG), and since I want to uncover more about my thoughts, feelings, and myself  myself  (hehe),  I responded to the 34 questions from the blog that I came across online. I just add one more question to make it  35. Ready to know me better? Here we go.

1. What Do You Do For A Living?

2. Who Do You Love?

Of course, I love my husband, children, mother, brother, and God.

3. Do You Have Enough Money?

Since I began working online, I could say that I have enough money as compared to my income in teaching. Unlike teaching, I need to allot budget for make-up, daily travel, and foods. Working home-based, on the other hand,  I don't need to commute and groom myself. The great thing is I could work even with messy hair (hehe).

4. Are You Healthy?

It's been two years since I stopped eating pork and sipping soft drinks. I have been a semi-vegetarian for six years now (if my memory is right). So I believe that I am now in the pink of health.

5. Do You Think You Are a Good Person?

6. How Old Are You?

I will be turning 35 on the 9th of February. Thank God!

7. Who’s Your Best Friend?

Personally, there are certain criteria to consider someone as "My Bestfriend". One must be truthful, a good listener, and ready to lend her hand without setting any condition.  Yes, I do have plenty of friends but I don't know someone whom I can consider as my best friend at the moment. They don't pass my criteria yet.

8. What’s Your Childhood Dream?

As a kid, I often dreamt of becoming a Civil Engineer but it did not turn into reality. The university that I was in during college days did not offer engineering courses so I ended up choosing an Education course.

9. How Often Do You Laugh?

To be honest, I laugh easily but not as often as during college and teaching days where I was surrounded by friends having a sense of humor. But right now where I am working home-based, I have no one to talk to except my family.  But it doesn't mean they are boring, it so happened that we've been facing lots of responsibilities - taking care of our young children, household chores, and job -  that have caused us to forget laughing, which is not good at all.

10. What Makes You Smile?

Anything that will make me smile.

11. Who’s Your Most Dangerous Enemy?

Someone in authority from our Barangay ( previous address) picked a fight with my family and tried to grab our excess lot after our community got burned.  But seven twelve years has already passed when the incident happened so I already forgave her.

12. Where Do You Live?

I won't give you my exact address but I would say that I am living in a comfortable home with great neighbors and peaceful community.

13. Do You Think You’re Strong?

Of all the ups and downs that I had been through in my life, I considered myself as a strong woman. Roar!

14. What Was The Most Important Thing You’ve Done So Far?

When I quit teaching and decided to work at home as Virtual Assistant to devote my time to my family.

15. What Was The Most Stupid Thing You’ve Done So Far?

When I privately messaged some of Duterte's detractors in Facebook during campaign period telling them to stop spreading lies and defaming our candidate. Eventually, I found out that they were trolls!

16. Do You Love Yourself?

Yes, I do! You cannot give what you don't have. Meaning, you cannot love others if you don't love yourself first.

17. What Do You Fear The Most?

If one of my loved ones dies (knock on wood three times). I am not ready for it.

18. What Is Your Favorite Word?

What's on the top of my head as of the moment is the word "AJA." A Korean term means never give up, or never stop fighting! Whenever there are challenges along the way, I tried my best to never give up.

19. When Was The Last Time You Cried?

Oh, I could barely remember the last time I cried because my husband is not quarrelsome (hehe).  Maybe when I was watching the documentary news and saw a situation something relatable to my experience when I was younger.

20. What Is The Best Thing That Could Happen To You Right Now?

I may win the lottery (lolz).

21. What Is The Worst Thing That Could Happen To You Right Now?

I have been optimistic in life so I am not expecting a worse thing to happen in my life ever. I've always prayed to God to guide me in my endeavors and get me away from troubles and accidents.

22. Picture Yourself In 5 Years From Now

I (we) probably have a brand new car and drive the car myself since I don't know how to drive yet now. Perhaps I have a new, small business. Our savings should have contained more.

23. Do You Regret Anything?

If I could only turn back time especially during college years, I might have corrected the mistakes I had made like making immature decisions in life.  I won't give much the details. Well. That's why there's a word called "REGRET."

24. What’s The First Thing You Do In The Morning?

Drinking lots and lots of water.

25. What Are You Thinking Just Before Going To Bed?

A lot of things are actually spinning on my head before going to bed like thinking about the future of my children, talking to God to help me raise my children to become good persons,  or what if out of the blue I won the lottery and how would I divide the money.

26. What Was The Highest Point You’ve Ever Been To?

The highest point that I've ever been to so far when I climbed 200-step stairs just to see the chocolate hills 360 degrees in Bohol.

27. If There’s One Thing In Your Life You Want To Change Right Now, What Is It?

Lack of self-confidence by not believing my potential.

28. What Are You Proud Of?

My life had not been a bed of roses as a kid. I proudly finished school with my own effort and successfully got a job which makes my life far better than before. Of course, I couldn't have done that without my husband's help.

29. Sum Up Your Life In One Sentence

I am a versatile woman who is ready to do anything for the welfare of my family and children.

30. Name The Thing That Annoys You The Most

When I see clutters in the house and no one was mindful to clean them up. And when I am distracted by the noise outside while I am in the midst of work doing something very important.

31. What Is Your No 1 Question To God?

Why are there poor and rich?

32. Do You Have Secrets?

33. What Makes You Laugh?

Funny movies. Funny chit-chat. Funny things. Anything that is funny will make me laugh easily.

34. Are You Happy?

35. What is the most significant change you've seen in the world in the last 10 years?

This question was asked to Ms. Maxine Medina during the Ms. Universe pageant held last Monday that drew lots of reactions from social media. At that moment when the question was asked, what's in my head was like this.

The significant change I've seen in the world in the last ten years is the fast evolution of social media where people of different races around the world can easily communicate, express their thoughts, share, and receive information which, if used properly, are advantageous to make their life better and more convenient. That's all thank you! hehe

I know birthday leave is not a valid reason in some companies. Unless you have a generous employer like mine who always grants whatever you ask for. However, I didn't tell her the main reason why I have to be absent today unless she will stumble upon this post. But one thing for sure, she won't get angry.

The primary reason behind my leave is just simply I want to feel the moment of my natal day. Life has been stressful for the past weeks, juggling online job and looking after my two kids, trying paying attention equally. I came to realize that being a WAHM (work-at-home mom) is not always beautiful. I feel like I am always drained even before I start the day. So I resolve to take a break and enjoy my birthday. I say with conviction, I DESERVE A BREAK!

via: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/35th-birthday

Here are the happy things I will be doing today to help me release my stress and at the same time make my day more fun.

1. Go to Church and Pray

2. Go Out and Dine with My Family 

3. Gift Myself Something Nice

I must confess, shopping is my stress reliever. But ever since I became a mom, I am always on a tight budget. So I can't help but just drool over the dress displays at the mall.   But just for one day, today, I want to buy something nice for myself. Dress has always been my obsession and maybe I will buy one later.

Milk Products	gm/kgs	Price
Alacta (0-6 months)	1 kg	409.50
Alactagrow (1-3 years)	1.2 kgs	536.50
Bonna  (0-6 mos.)	900 grams	429.50
Bonnakid (1-3 years old)	900 grams	424.50
Bonamil  (6-12 mos.)
Bearbrand Jr  (1-3 years old))	1.2kg	476.50
Bearbrand Jr  (1-3 years old))	1.6kg	631.50
Enfalac (0-6 mos)	1.2kg	1169.50
Enfalac A+ Lactose Free (0-6 mos.)	900 grams	1189.50
Enfagrow A+ (1-3 years old)	1.2kgs	999.50
Enfapro A+ (6-12 mos.)	1.2 kgs	1518.50
Isomil Advance (0-6 mos.)
Gain Plus Advance (1-3 years old)	1.8 kgs	1444.50
Lactum Choco(1-3 years old.)	1.2kgs	598.50
Nan Pro 1 (0-6 mos.)	800 grams	894.50
Nan HW 3  (1-3 years old)	800 grams	854.50
Nan HW 3  (1-3 years old)	1.3 kgs	969.50
Nestogen (0-6 months)	1.3 kgs.	509.50
Nestogen (0-6 months)
Nestogen (1-3 years old)	1.3 kgs.	504.50
Nido Junior (1-3 years old)	1.2 kgs.	529.50
Promil (6-12 mos.)	1.6 kgs.	1234.75
Promil Gold (6-12 mos.)	1.6 kgs.	1580.50
Progress Gold (1-3 years old)	1.6 kgs.	1299.50
Similac Plus Advance (0-6 mos.)	850 grams	1124.50
S-26 New Formula (6-12 mos.)	1.6 kgs	1424.50
S-26 gold Newborn (6-12 mos.)	1.2kgs	1344.50

• Alacta  (0-6 mos., 6-12 mos, 1-3 years)
• Bonna  (0-6 mos.)
• Bonnakid (1-3 years old)
• Bonamil  (6-12 mos.)
• Enfalac  (6-12 mos.)
• Enfalac A+  (0-6 mos)
• Enfalac A+ Lactose Free (0-6 mos.)
• Enfagrow A+ (1-3 years old)
• Enfapro A+ (6-12 mos.)
• Isomil Advance (0-6 mos.)
• Gain Advance Plus (6-12 mos.)
• Gain + Advance (1-3 years old) 
• Nan Pro 1 (0-6 mos.)
• Nan Pro 2 Gold (6-12 mos.)
• Nan Pro 3  (1-3 years old)
• Nestogen
• Nido 1+ (1-3 years old) 
• Promil (6-12 mos.)
• Promil Gold (6-12 mos.)
• Promil Lactose Free (6-12 mos.)
• Similac Plus Advance (0-6 mos.)
• S-26 gold Newborn (6-12 mos.)
• S-26 Gold original (6-12 mos.)
• S-26 Gold Progress (6-12 mos.)
• S-26 Original Progress (6-12 mos.)
• S-26 new formula  (0-6 mos.)