GoodBYE Carlo.

Remember that cute commercial by Purefoods in the '90s? I know, I know I am revealing my age here. Well, I remembered it today because I was trying to make a mental note of some salty and carbo laden food I need to avoid because of my recent lab works--- my blood tests is gone AWRY.---
like ka-ray-ZEE. Watch and then scroll down to read my version.


Dear Diary,

That dress waved at me today. ( Pan the camera towards me)
It was calling my name---  ( insert booming voice) "hello there pretty."
Pero ( but then ) I was FAT--- (ZOOM camera to ME...)
Kaya, from now on...
Goodbye steak, goodye burger, goodbye---(pan camera to--- PALABOK--with lots of eggs and chicharon and galuggong).
Hmmmp--- GOODBYE dress.
HAPPY MUSIC
END

Privacy please

If you're like me, basically a freak when it comes to the neighbors being able to see IN your house ---- well then, sorry to tell you, it's really a scary world. I am not scared-y type,  but I am ka-ray-Zee like that--- no neighbors please. Puh-leeze. In fact I like my curtains down, except when Mr. Hubbs is home. Maybe I should go live in Texas or Utah, where they sell houses that look like dollhouses in those huge land so my next door neighbor is a  whole 6 miles.  I am dreamin'. Dreaming of the suburbia life? Nah.

But lucky you! I have a cheap yet effective project to share so that you can still have a lot of daylight coming through but not those preying eyes... ***enter horror movies soundtrack****. All you need is a little creativity and time and a friend like ME. Kachaaa!! Here's what you need to cover  glass windows and doors.

1. Transparent/ clear Contact paper. Buy yours at Wal-Mart--it's cheaper. $5.74 ---can it be any cheaper? For your privacy?
2. Soapy water
3. Your trusty old credit card. At least those nasty plastics will have some use. Or if you are like me, in love with vinyl decors, then you have one of those flat cardboard ones.

You are ready to go baby. Get those booty working.

Step 1. Read the manufacturer's instructions. This is important. Why? So I can skip explaining this part. Ahahhahha.

Step 2. Measure the part you need to cover up. But if you're lazy like me, if the Contact paper is shorter, then consider it architectural design. Kinda like a beveled mirror. Let it stay up in the middle. The important thing is, you are not visible form the outside and that you get a sense of security that no one can see you, yet you can see shadows from the inside looking out.

Step 3. Then this is where it gets tricky and messy. You slather your soapy water all over your desired area. Basically, just wet the Contact paper and smooth it with your plastic. Squeeze out--- I suggest to the sides and down. Patience is a virtue, so werq it. Werq werq werq.

Step 4. Pick up your mess. Only if you are like me--- MESSY.

Step 5. Now, this is really important. Do not miss this part.  Sit back, have your TEA.



Step 6. Admire your masterpiece of the day.

Isn't it lovely? Uber love! See what I meant in the beginning where your Contact paper does not really fill up the whole window or door? Make it like la-a-zee me. Looks like you intentionally wanted it that way, ain't it?

Let's see some before and after shall we?
Now you see me.....

Before--- anyone casn see you in all your glory--- or gory.

 Now, you don't. All for $5.74.

Beautiful privacy fo cheap!



As Josh would say... "Mom, you know EVERYTHING- aev-ree-thang!!

That's it for today folks. Have a wonderful St. Patrick' Day!

PS. I do not know ev-ree-thang.

PPS. Don't tell Josh.

Weekend update

I know, I know. I promised to update my "weekend" series. But I am a working mom, see? I am BeeZEE, like ka-ray-zee! But here's what happened this weekend.

I worked 2 shifts Friday so you know the drill--- 3pm Friday to 7am Saturday. Dropped off my handsome young man to Milton Academy, for his once a week class. Mr. Hubbs had to work Saturday morning so I was tasked to do this--- in fairness, he usually does it. BTW, did I tell you I broke my phone? Yup, peeps... I have been without a phone for over a week--- beat that! I was trying to call my friend Sol to tell her that Abercrombie have those $9.90 shirts available again-- she was so freakin' jealous when I had them and she was able to score ZERO! As in, NADA. So,  between trying to eyeball the shirts and grabbing each and every sale item, I tried to look over a black hole that is my bag, and dang!!! splat! woosh! There goes my ever reliable SiPhone. Goodbye my dear. And dealing with AT&T for giving  me a break regarding my phone upgrade is a nightmare. Ghoulish AT&T should die!!! I hate you! You have been sucking my hard earned moolah for so long and you can not adjust it for 3 months? Helluva lot of bad words in my mouth but ----I kept it calm like always---NOT!

So, on with what happened this weekend. I was sore all over. My mind, body and soul. The Japan tragedy was all I could think of. Backtrack a little bit, after I dropped off Pherry, I headed to Borders to pass time. I did not want to watch TV and feel traumatized over and over by those pictures. Starbucks coffee is my bestfriend in times like this and I ended up reading a whole chapter of Suze Orman's book. What's beside Borders?Why , Pier 1 Imports of course. So I floated away in my self described wasteland. They have spring lovelies... so run and go to your Pier 1.

Them, time for DreamLand. As the story of my life goes, my sleep is rudely interrupted by KC screaming; " Mom, it's time to pick up Koo-YAh!" ( Kuya-- big  brother). Oh! %**#@. But, yes I get up and go merrily. Whosoever created the term "stressed" should get the Nobel Prize, because I am STRESSED!!!!

We all stayed home after that just watching college basketball, well except for my 12 year old locking himself up---refusing to do ANYTHING with us-- anything that involves TALKING TO US. Did I say he is 12. Yeah, I know. But I had crafting in mind! I need to go! So, around 7pm, KC and I went to Michael's to buy me some yarn and felt paper. For a Spring project!! Spring makes me want to dance!!! Like floating in the Boston Islands. La la la--- Spring, please come soon. And this is what I made Saturday night... I am so proud... Spring is here my lovelies.

Baby pink yarn will be my company for this cold Saturday night

nothing beats the old fashioned yarn for me

Here is my weekend project folks....

Here's a close-up shot of those uber pretty Spring flowers....

Here's one more shot just because I want you to be super jealous.....

We miss Precious so much we had to pick her up for her regular weekend sleepover. Well, they have to
have something to do, right? So, they bought this little house to paint. See, beautiful, right?

 Funny how they turned on the TV and Josh said to put the volume down because "Dad is asleep" and Precious said, " I can't have popcorn without TV, so I need to watch." AHhahaha. Forget about fair warning Josh. She need to watch TV with her popcorn--- and it's got to be loud or nothing.

Well, Sunday is family mass day, The Quincy Llaga(s) and The Quincy Surwez--- yes, I am naming my family and friends like that-- all go to St. Joseph's Quincy. After mass, we had a sumptuous Italian lunch at Chateau and then we all went to the South Shore Plaza for a much needed relaxation----- SHOPPING!!! Yeebah! Shopping! I love me some shopping time! My friend Sol and I spent most of our time at Nordstrom shopping for some much loved MAC Ruby Woo. Victoria's Secret---just to ogle, coz I can't fit into them--- Bare Escentuals and of course--- drum roll please--- my ever favorite to shop--- abercombie and fitch. Did you notice it's the a&f---for KIDS people--- for kids... because I can't fit into those darn clothes. Their XL fits my ARM-- yes peeps--- my arm. I never step onto that shop. But I can buy those cuties--- for my kids. Meanwhile, model turned mother Miss Fridah was tending to the kids--- 5 in total, ranging from 12 to 1! Ahhh! My life is so blessed when she's around. I can actually savor shopping like NORMAL people--- because me rush rush----all the time! ka-ray-zee!  Then, off to a dinner ( unexpected-i-invite-myself) dinner at a friends house--- talk-talk talk----then off to another dinner, this time closer to home--- at Fridah's. Yup folks, after I let her take care of my kids, we go and eat dinner at her house. Whatchasayin? Lucky me? Yeebah! MissHG is so jealous because Sol and I have been together for a whole day she wanted to come for dinner--- uninvited! So we all spent the night eating and laughing while the boys paly tong-its.

The end.

Today

We were all inundated with the sad and tragic news of the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. The images are all but disheartening. I tear up easily, so it goes without saying that when I told my kids to turn on the TV while we were having breakfast ( I already knew about the disaster), I wanted to implant some good lessons in them---LIFE lessons. Much has been said and I do not want to flood you with videos and pictures that could break your heart.

Oftentimes, I complain about life way too much. I grinch when people are so incapable of my expectations. I easily fire up when I seem to fall behind schedule. I overreact when my kids misbehave. I silently swear when my husband seems too tired to have a good conversation. I hate the snow. I hate the  gas delivery man. I hate the mall opening at 12 on Sundays. I hate the all-too-short- hem of my dress. I hate the barista at my local Dunkin Donuts for adding too much cream on my coffee. You get the picture. I hate. I hate. I hate. Easily.

But we all do that. C'mon. I am coming clean. So you need to open up too. Yeah, that's the way it goes. I come clean, you come clean. There are so many ways we can handle things but we choose HATE. We pester ourselves and loved ones with so many trivial things. Yes, they are trivial. That non working laptop is trivial, that not-so-bright lamp is trivial, BTW, that no signal phone connection is trivial and so is that slow wifi connection. TRI-VIAL! Not so important! But we make it a big DEAL!!!! I can't log on to FB? TRIVIAL!!!

We focus on the trivial things. As I sit here typing this entry, I am at work overlooking the courtyard of Harvard Medical School, the sun is shining bright. Yet, I am focused only with 2 things: 1. I need to go and sleep, I have been working 2 shifts... blah blah blah. 2. Will this shitty computer work any faster? I fail to see that I am overlooking  THE Harvard Medical School and I disgress to admit that I am not appreciating Mr. Sun. I do not realize how I still have a job. A good and stable job. You see? See what I mean? ISn't it sad that I am feeling so much pain knowing that this is not me. What happened to me?

Maybe, I need to refocus my priorities. I encourage you to do so. That earthquake/tsunami is giving me  a lot of perspective. Sure, there have been a lot of world disasters that happened in the past but for some odd reason, this hit me really hard. Am I just getting old, therefore too scared? Or is it because I see my children and I see a darker world for them? Whichever it is, I know in my heart, yesterday was a HIT, not HATE. I got hit in the heart, really bad.

I am starting this beautiful day with this in mind. My life is beautiful. The world is beautiful. Life is precious. Nothing is more important than an aprreciation to this wonderful life the Creator gave us. That includes the shining sun, the bright sky, the chriping bird, the latte, the working barcode reader at Wal-Mart and that cheerful  Dunkin Donuts barista around the corner of my house.

Time to reflect and refocus!!!

hae a good day peeps!