I know, I know. I haven't been around for a while.

Pardon me, but I was trying to get the hang of caring for a toddler and an infant.

Issen has turned two recently, and Kobe has grown to be a very handful baby at seven months. It's been a crazy ride, but at least Issen has been a really good big brother so far and has been making it easier for us to deal with them two boys.

We didn't get much new stuff for Kobe since Issen's baby things are still in very good condition, especially the clothes. Once Mr. Frost has decided that Kobe is big enough to bring with us whenever we go out, we knew there are things that our boys couldn't share or at least, use at the same time.

Strollers, for example.

We bought a second-hand stroller for Issen when he was younger. And since we don't go out that much, it's still in an excellent condition. We needed to buy another for Kobe, but since Issen has practically outgrown the old one which we will call "Blue", we decided to pass it on to Kobe and buy a new one for Issen. Thus we bought "Green".

Getting a new stroller was not an easy feat, mind you. There are several types of strollers to choose from. We have limited budget, but so many requirements, mostly related to safety, so it was kinda hard for us. Lightweight and umbrella strollers can be convenient, but if you have a big kid like Issen, you might think twice about it's durability. Of course, there are those that can be durable enough, but they can come to be expensive.

We considered all terrain strollers, but they can be very bulky and heavy. If you travel with kids by yourself, it can be pretty hard. If you have other grownups with you, it's fine so somebody can watch your kids while you put away the stroller to the trunk of your car.

I wanted to get one of those tandem strollers, so the boys can sit side by side, in line, or face to face. Unfortunately, there aren't much tandems in our area. The ones we found are quite pricey. Like I've said, we have limited budget, so even a five-thousand stroller can still be expensive for us.

We settled on one of those full-featured, single strollers. It has a roomy basket, a canopy, easy to fold, it reclines, and most importantly, it's big enough for our 20-kilo two-year-old boy.

So now we go around, mostly when we bring the kids tothe doctor for their check ups, with two strollers. It's fun when Mr. Frost and I walk side by side, one stroller for each, and seeing Issen trying to reach Kobe from his stroller.

I can't wait when Kobe is big enough to try and reach for his big brother. But by that time, Issen is probably big enough to walk on his own for long periods of time and we won't need a stroller for him anymore.

Labels: sideline, stroller

Our friend Don has already migrated to Australia to be with his wife. He's been there for about two years now. Our circle of friends are still in touch, of course, and Don never stopped convincing us to go there and visit him. He must really miss us that much. :)

Anyway, he's in Middle Park, Queensland, but he said he's willing to meet us anywhere in the country if that would be more convenient for us. He raved about the Sydney Hotels and Melbourne Hotels. Apparently, staying in hotels in those cities are not as expensive as we think, but much more comfortable than we could expect.

A couple of weeks ago, he and his wife spent the weekend at one of the more affordable Brisbane Hotels and went to the 2008 Brisbane Adult Sexpo. Of course, most of his stories were about the expo he attended, but he never forgot to mention how comfortable they were in their hotel.

He even offered to bring us to the beach where the family of the late Heath Ledger held the ceremonies before his interment. The beach is apparently just near the best and most affordable Perth Hotels. I'm not a big fan of Heath Ledger until recently when I saw the trailer of his latest movie, Batman The Dark Knight (his performance as The Joker was comparable to Jack Nicholson. He's that good), but I won't say no to a good swim on the beach. :)

Maybe when the kids are old enough to travel, we'll find ourselves on a vacation down under.

Labels: sideline

When I was trying to familiarize myself with poker in preparation for the newbie poker tournament my friends organized last month, I signed up to a number of online casino websties. From time to time since then, I have been receiving their newsletters, updates and latest promotions. Just the other day, I got a rather interesting promotion from one of them.

It turns out that these online casinos don't see each other as competitors all the time. There are times when they do cross-promotions and review of each others sites to increase traffic and membership sign ups. Like what FlopTurnRiver and Full Tilt Poker is doing.

I thought at first it was some kind of pinball game, that's why I clicked their link. Then I found out that Full Tilt is holding a tournament and they have what they call the Full Tilt Bonus where they will be adding $500 to the prize pool, no matter how many players enter the tournament. All you have to do to get started is register at the Full Tilt Poker website and enter the Full Tilt Poker referral code and voila! You are now eligible to enter the special tournament.

FlopTurnRiver is also doing a similiar room promotion with PokerStars. A PokerStars Bonus Code will enable you to to receive 100% of your intial deposit up to $50, which you can only get if you're a newly registered member making your first deposit.

Labels: sideline

It seems that online casino really is a popular thing nowadays.

Several friends who used to be all books and no play are now going crazy over online gambling. They actually prefer playing online than going to real casinos.

Among the very familiar sites I hear from them is Rushmore Online Casino. Apparently, the fairness of the gaming environment is more transparent than other sites that they have played on. And their bonuses are much bigger also.

Of course, one of the main considerations of many players is the security. And I believe Rushmore Online Casino won't get this big if their security is not up to par with the most advanced, technologically capable casinos in the world.

Maybe I should give it a try. If only have the extra moolah to spare. :)

Labels: sideline

Here comes another thing to think about.

I'm pregnant and due to give birth in a couple of weeks, right? Now, at this point, I should already have been able to buy baby stuff that we need to bring to the hospital come delivery day. When I was pregnant with my first son, my hospital bag was packed and I was ready to be rushed to the hospital at least a month before my due date. I was ready to give birth because my government maternity benefit was released on time.

Now, I just found out that my maternity benefit will be processed after I give birth, and the amount will depend on my manner of delivery, normal or caesarean.

I'm not really worried about not being able to pay the hospital bills because I am blessed to be able to give birth in an efficient hospital with unbelievably low fees and charges.

Anyway, I was kinda expecting to use my maternity benefit to buy the baby stuff I need, which isn't really that much because I got some hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law who gave birth last December. I still have kept most of the necessary stuff I used with my first-born, so I don't really need to buy a lot of new baby things.

Still, we need some cash for anything unexpected that might come up during that anticipated day. Something gave me the idea to go to Jewelry buyers and try to sell some jewelries. If only I have that much valuable jewelry to sell. All I have are some fancy stuff that were given as gifts and I doubt it would amount to even a few hundred bucks. I'm not a big fan of jewelries and until now, I didn't realize their value as investment.

I know somebody who got through an emergency by Selling Watches. Then again, I don't have many watches either. What few pieces I have turns to be not among the models that are accepted by watch buyers.

Somebody told me to try Diamond consignment transactions. Right. I wonder what made her think I own previous stones such as diamonds when she was the who jokingly called me too uncivilized for the finer things in life. :)

My last paycheck from my previous company is due to be released this week, though, so we're not totally penniless. My estimate on the amount of the check is enough for the necessary hospital fees. It's just that I was relying on my maternity benefit to cover most of our childbirth expenses because that's how we did it last time and we didn't have any problem. It was convenient, actually.

Oh well. That's how life goes. Wish me luck. :)

Labels: pregnancy blues, sideline

The guys are organizing another round of newbie poker tournament by the end of the month. This time, they say, it's gonna be played like a real tournament. So what did we do last time? A kids' poker? :D

Anyway, they want me to play again. In fact, they're actually "requiring" all newbies who joined the first time to be part of the second tournament. And this time, the buy-in will be split between the pro and the newb "so that the newbie will feel how it is to play when you're own money is at stake." They say this will encourage the newbie might play more seriously. And they were looking at me when they said this.

They actually think that I didn't play my best last time. I don't know what makes them think that I'm really good with card games and I'm just playing terribly on purpose out of spite. It's not as if my pro partner is teaching me anything. During our briefing last tournament, when he was supposed to be teaching me some techniques, he said nothing but,"You can do this, I know you'll cream them. Pregnant women are lucky in gambling." Right.

I need a poker or a Casino Guide or something to help me through this. Oh wait, I'm probably on my way to the hospital delivery room by the time the tournament pushes through, so I don't need to join them anyway. Ha!

Labels: friends, sideline

My nesting period has officially started.

I remember when I went through this period when I was pregnant with my first baby. I literally drove everyone in the house crazy.

Now I look around the room and I see a lot of stuff that I need to put away to make room for our new baby. I need new cabinets for the baby's stuff. I'm sure I'll find a lot of things that I'll just throw away because I really need to make more space in our small room.

And the bathroom! God, I need new bathroom cabinets! The ones we have right now are practically hanging on for dear life on just a couple of screws.

I will be very busy once my maternity leave starts.

Labels: pregnancy blues, sideline

A lot of my blogger friends are into digital scrapbooking, or digiscrapping, for short. They lay out their pictures into a design and voila! Their pictures have are more meaningful, more beautiful, and more interesting.

Some designs are just so artfully done that their creators would have them printed, framed, and displayed in their homes or offices. But of course, they don't want to spend too much (who does, anyway?) so they try and look for companies that offer cheap printing.

Finding a printing company that offers good, high quality, and affordable printing services is not that easy, but there are companies like that. You just have to know where to look, both offline and online.

Labels: sideline

Anybody can deliver some dried flowers to your doorstep, but it takes a special kind of company to have Fresh Flowers delivered to your home or office in a timely manner. That company is Vogue Flowers. Whether you're sending blue lilies or Red Roses, Vogue Flowers is the Online Florist of choice. With a selection that can't be beat and customer service that will make you feel like family, it's no accident that Vogue Flowers has established themselves as a leading provider of Flowers both in person and on the web.

Labels: sideline

A computer printer has become an essential tool not only for businesses but for home use as well. From the simple machine that user an inked ribbon, printers have evolved into something as multi functional as the printer-scanner-fax-copier-in one, using different kinds of inks, toners, and cartridges.

Having said that, the demand for ink and toner refills have risen, encouraging the manufacturers to raise their prices for more profit. Fortunately, there are different suppliers who have answered the consumers' call for lower prices, like Inkers.

They offer high quality inks and cartridges at just a fraction of the cost of branded ones. They are so sure of the quality of their products that they even offer a 30-day no questions asked return policy. Add to that the convenience of online shopping, with several payment options, and free delivery to Continental US orders.

Labels: sideline

I got a call earlier this afternoon from the lawyer of my credit card company, the one that I haven't settled yet. He didn't give me the usual lines about me getting a civil case because of my non-payment. He merely asked about my plans, if I have any, of settling my debt to the credit card company. It was a pleasant conversation, no hard feelings or threats whatsoever. :)

Anyway, that call made me panic unnecessarily again. My balance isn't that big anymore, but the last guys I talked to before today told me that I have to pay it in full already. I really have to work on settling this credit card debt for my own peace of mind.

Makes me wonder why there are no consumer credit resource here in the country. I believe there are entities in the States that help consumers with bad credit rating. There are so many establishments offering such services that another group of service came out, one that helps in analyzing what credit offer is the best for you.

Some of their services include debt consolidation, where they can consolidate all your debts so you only have to make one payment with low interest rates and reduce your total balances up to 60%. Another service is their personal loan, where you can get cash loans for whatever purpose you may have - pay bills, financial emergencies, buy a new gadget. They'll give you instant cash loans no matter how bad your credit history is.

Ah, I definitely need to come up with something. If only BadCreditOffers.com cater to international clients as well, then I wouldn't be this worried.

Labels: sideline

After my episode with the newbie poker tournament with some friends, I'm starting to understand why people get hooked in gambling, online or in real life.

My friend who found solace in online casinos is now very serious in learning the tricks of the trade. Her favorite websites include one that that lists the Best UK Casinos. Apparently, these websites tell her what to look for in a casino. She plays on the online casinos too, but she feels it's time to try playing in a real casino.

My friends who organized the newbie poker tournament are also talking about trying to play on online casinos. Thing is, they want to play all at the same time so they can play against each other. I mean, what's the point of going online to play poker if you're gonna play with the same people you play with off line? Those guys are ridiculous.

Anyway, these are my friends who found in gambling - online or in real life - what I found in gaming - online, LAN, console, or street. We all found comfort and a sense of expertise, something we can say that we're good at. And that's important in boosting our self-confidence.

And we need all the self-confidence we need to win our gambles and games.

Labels: sideline

We all want to save money. Individuals who try and stick to their budget find ways on how they can save in their expenses and purchases. Many people, homemakers especially, find solution in coupons that they find on newspapers and magazines.

As online shopping grows more and more popular, it's a good thing that online stores have their own versions of coupons to enable shoppers to save.

You'd be surprised as to how much savings you can get from these coupons. There are some, like BabyUniverse.com, who give 15% off on all items of a particular brand, plus free shipping on other items. Homeclick, on the other hand, gives you $100 off of your purchases amounting from $1000 and above, plus free shipping if your orders exceed $199.

You can browse through coupon offered by a specific online store or by categories, like babies, apparels, kitchen, music, and many others.

Of course, my favorite category is Baby, Kids, and Toys. :)

Check out Couponchief.com for coupons on stuff that you're planning to purchase online.

Labels: sideline

This is a long-overdue post. Remember the newbie poker tournament some friends were working on? Well, it finally happened last weekend.

Despite all the help I got from friends, my poker pro partner, and even the Online Casinos that I visited, I lost the tournament. And it's not because of lack of understanding (although that sort of part of the reason), but more because of lack of comfort and too much pressure that my pro partner (and the rest of the guys) put on me.

You see, most of them were rooting for me because of my gambling background. No, I'm not a gambler in its fullest sense, but I used to "own" my brothers whenever we play another card game, "Tong-its" in Filipino, I dunno what it's called in English.

Anyway, the pressure got to me. I was doubting every move and decision I make. My bluffing was so terribly lame. Even I wouldn't buy my own act.

One thing I learned is that, to win a poker game, you need to have self confidence. Lots of it. I'm talking endless, unwavering supply of self confidence. Nobody will buy your bluffs if you yourself won't believe what you are bluffing about. If you waste your time questioning every single move or decision you make, you're better off playing Lucky 9 with the kids.

Oh well, I didn't lose money or anything. I was able to brush off all the trash talking with humor and smart-aleck comebacks, so I guess it's not that big a deal.

So much for trying something new.

Labels: friends, sideline

I mentioned awhile back that I need to be more careful in managing our finances because Mr. Frost's company (a subsidiary of the international company I recently moved to) decided to release employee salaries once a month.

Most companies in the Philippines have a twice-a-month salary release setup. Most common is on the 15th and the 30th of the month, but some do it on the 10th and the 25th of the month. But according to Mr. Frost's finance department, this once-a-month salary release arrangement has enabled big multinational companies to be more efficient and more productive. Sure.

Anyway, I've already drawn up a new budget sheet and adjusted it to this new cash flow. So far, we're on track and on top of everything. If we really stick to this budget until next payday, we won't need to find somebody to give us cash loans, which by the way, are very helpful for those who are in dire need of cash for unexpected situations and emergencies.

Anyway, our own finance department did a survey a couple of weeks ago, about adapting the once-a-month salary release setup. We were made to choose what setup we would be comfortable with, once-a-month or twice-a-month. I chose the latter because that would be more flexible for us, but unfortunately, those who voted for the once-a-month setup outnumbered us. There's no announcement yet as to when this will take effect, but I'm adjusting our budget sheet again, just in case.

Wish me luck, please. I want to overcome this financial struggle. :)

Labels: about me, frosts, sideline

Recently, there have been discussions in one of the email groups that I belong to about internet connection. What is the best choice for internet connection? DSL or broadband?

To each his own, I say. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. It really depends on what your internet activities are and your definition of "best choice".

I am using wireless broadband internet at home, and so far I am satisfied with the connection speed. I recently saw a broadband package that includes a free hub, which will enable you to have internet connection for all your broadband-capable gadgets. Sans the wires, may I add. And that's very convenient, especially if you keep on lugging your laptop all over the place, working on your blog or online shop while doing chores around the house.

I hope they offer the same stuff here in the Philippines. Well, first, I hope I'd be able to buy my own laptop that I can bring around the house to enjoy my wireless internet connection with. :)

Labels: sideline

I remembered somebody asking me if I have tried online gambling. That was about a year ago. When I said no, she looked at me as if I just threw up all over her couch. She told me that I'm so not "in" with the new things on the cyberspace.

I have an argument, an objection is more like it, and I was ready for a night-long discussion about my awareness of the new and "hot" stuff on the internet, but I've never seen her so eager and enthusiastic to be finally showing me something on the internet that I let it pass by. She's not really into technology and modern age innovations so I gave in and let her show me her new addiction.

Online Casinos.

She showed me a lot of online gambling websites. She doesn't necessarily play on all of them, but she sure has an "informed" opinion of what's a good online casino and what's not.

Apparently, there are websites like Mi Casino Portal that provide information about online casinos available on the internet. They have reviews of these sites and descriptions of what features and bonuses those gambling sites offer.

Casinos on the internet are not exactly new to my ear, but the way my friend told me everything she knew about them, I felt like I've never heard of playing cards at all. I see ads of these online casinos left and right, and I actually ignored them and considered them as spam advertisements. It is only recently when I myself needed some information about poker that I found these casino review sites helpful for someone who are in dire need of gambling information.

I thank them not only for the information they offer, but also for giving my friend something to keep herself busy with other than bug me with her chaotic lovelife. :)

Labels: friends, sideline

We just had Christmas, didn't we? And summer is almost here already? Time flies, that's for sure.

And while I'm preparing for my summer childbirth, the rest of the world is preparing for their summer vacations. Well, the rest of the country, at least, because many countries don't have summer until July.

Anyway, Filipinos tend to go to colder places during the months of March to May, when it is the warmest here in the Philippines. And among the most popular destinations are New York, London, and Dublin.

Of course, where does a tourist stay in a foreign country? If they don't have friends or relatives there, hotels are the number one choice. Thankfully, the mentioned cities have a variety of accommodation options to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.

New York, for example, has Mandarin Oriental New York. It's in the heart of the city so you can be sure that aside from the comfort and luxury only a five-star hotel can offer, you are just a stone's throw away from any of the must-see places the city offers.

Westbury Hotel Dublin and Covent Garden Hotel London offer the same kind of convenience and fancy accommodation while providing proximity to scenic places and must-see landmarks in their cities.

If you'd rather save on accommodation and splurge more on the activities you can do in the cities, worry not because there are more affordable accommodations available for the budget-conscious travelers as well. Although you'll find them all over the place, it would be better to check out online hotel bookings to find the best hotel for your taste and budget.

Labels: sideline

Working overseas has been very common for Filipinos. The most common destination for OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) used to be Japan and Saudi Arabia, but the list has grown long and you'll find a Filipino in almost every country in the world.

One of the most popular work destinations for OFWs in the past years is Dubai. Some has even migrated and brought their families there. I actually know several people who have worked there, went home in the Philippines to get married, then went back to Dubai with their spouses to raise their families there.

I also know some people whose work brings them to the city on a regular basis, those who are in Dubai almost every week, but fly to someplace else in the world frequently as well. They are in Dubai very often that I sometimes wonder about their living arrangements and if they found it practical to purchase some kind of living quarters in the city. I haven't heard much about hotel apartments in dubai, but apparently, there are furnished apartments in dubai that one can rent for a short period of time.

For those who want a "homey" feeling while in the city, dubai villas are the perfect choice. Comfort and luxury during a short visit proves to be very appealing to many travelers.

There are also dubai hotel apartments that provide more comfort than most of the accomodations available in the city. Their English-speaking staff prove to be very helpful and will make things easier for you when you are looking for convention center for your business meeting or for ideas to go to as a tourist.

Many dubai apartments available for rent are close to development and business areas. These usually cost more than those that requires you to have a few hours more of travel to get to your destination, but the comfort and proximity to the places you want or need to go to is well worth the price.

There are also self catering dubai apartments that cater to your every need. There are public and private pools, smoking and non-smoking rooms, studio-type rooms, etc. Most of these are handicapped-friendly so you don't have to worry if you're planning to bring your aging mom for a vacation.

Overall, there are self catering apartments in dubai that you can rent for whatever purpose you have in the city, and they all spell comfort. And if you are a traveling businessman, you know how important comfort is when taking a short break from those business trips. These dubai apartments allow you to relax and recharge, and get ready for your next business trip and/or business meeting.

Labels: sideline

Speaking of toys, a good friend is trying to talk us into getting a new flat screen TV. See, he bought himself a hot, spanking, new LCD TV last Christmas. And now, he's claiming that he just wants us to experience game and movie graphics like we've never experienced before, as he is experiencing now.

Just for the heck of it, I pretended that I have cash hard enough to get the best high-end, high-definition TV I could buy. I browsed through the internet, and clueless I may be for the factors I should be considering in buying HDTVs, I found some items really impressive.

I never knew you could get 19-inch LCD TVs for only $350. I mean, I know that these kinds of flats are common nowadays, but I always thought they cost much more. Well, the $350 type is definitely not at par with the more expensive, more complicated ones but hey, I grew up and am still using an ordinary non-flat TV so $350 for a flat screen TV is good enough for me.

I also stumbled upon great deals for those bigger, higher end LCD screens. They sure are making owning a nice toy of a 47-inch flat screen TV a lot easier with those price deals. Imagine owning one of the best LCD TVs in the market today while being able to save as much as $150. Imagine what you can buy with that extra $150. I'd buy something to enjoy my TV with, definitely.

Ah, the finer things in life. They sure make you want to have them every time you see them. Too bad I just had imaginary "cold cash". I would have bought myself a 57-inch HDTV just so I can see the freckles under all the make up of some actor in whatever movie I feel like criticizing. :)

Labels: sideline, toys