I grew up receiving mails personally. We didn’t have a mail box on our front gate so the post man would always personally hand any mail to me or to anyone who answers his call. When I started living in Manila and in a condominium, I started receiving mails and bills through the commercial mailboxes visibly and usually installed in the condomimium lobby. To this day, checking our mail box in our apartment in Seoul has become a daily habit.
But nothing beats the romance in seeing classic mail boxes in front of lawns or porches in the American movies and TV series I loved watching. Yes, for some reason, I have always thought mail boxes are romantic. They could either bring happy or tragic news… but romantic, nevertheless.
There is a good website where you can choose the style of the mail box you would like to have. I think mailbox posts are my personal favorites. They could be strategically and aesthetically located in your front gates. This reminds me of those American movies and TV series I loved to watch:-).
My toddler and I are going to the Philippines mid-September. With a pregnant belly and without hubby around, I couldn’t carry much baggage so we decided that we avail of the My Pasalubong service - a door to door service for OFWs to the Philippines.
Good thing, I still have the Sambayanan newsletter which I got from Hyehwa in 2006 (so long ago). The company had an advertisement in the newsletter’s May 2006 issue and they still have the same contact number. I asked for a Jumbo size box without really knowing how big it would be. Aside from the necessary stuff that we need in the Philippines (those that I can’t include in my luggage) I ended up putting as many old clothes and shoes as I can. Our families back home do not really expect much pasalubong and so I just had to buy 4 boxes of Maxim coffee to fill up the box. LOL. Oh, plus boxes of those Korean chocolate sandwiches that are often on sale. Fillers!
Contact numbers are 02-929-7766 and 010-3212-3100 and you may ask for Ms. Precy Niebres. The cell phone number reflected in the box was just changed recently. Somebody will deliver your requested box. Just call them again when your box is ready.
Rates are as follows:
|
Destination
|
Regular Box
(715×59x56)
|
Jumbo Box
(715×59x73)
|
| Metro Manila |
W 85,000 |
W 95,000 |
| Luzon ACavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bataan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Zambales, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Baguio City |
W 85,000 |
W 100,000 |
| Luzon BQuezon Province, Ilocos Sur,/Norte, Albay, Appari, Isabela, Sorsogon, Quirino, Cagayan Valley, Ifugao |
W 95,000 |
W115,000 |
| Off-shore Islands and VisayasCatanduanes, Masbate, Marinduque, Palawan, Romblon, Visayas Islands |
W 110,000 |
W 130,000 |
| Mindanao |
W 115,000 |
W 140,000 |
I have blogged before about the safety and convenience of the transportation system here in Seoul and since our family of three rarely goes out of town unless well-meaning friends invite us (and drive us around), we have not had any reason to get a car. This is going to change, however. With another baby coming in December, it is imperative for us to have one already.
I am now checking on some hybrid cars and there are just many manufacturers and even many more models to choose from, my head is spinning. I have never been interested in cars and I, maybe, am one of the few remaining women out there who thinks that choosing a car is a man’s domain. In fact, I wouldn’t know what brand one is driving. I can only say, “She’s driving a silver car”. On a get-together with friends last Saturday, I opened up the idea of buying a second-hand car. Somebody suggested that we just get a brand-new one as we intend to have a car for the children, anyway. So, here I am dutifully checking cars out.
Good thing, aside from the car photos, there are also reviews available on the internet. The internet is really a one-stop-shop for anything and everything. Anyway, the photos and reviews are really helpful. I may not still be able to confidently say which brand one is driving but at least, I have less reason to declare I know nothing about cars.
Since we are living here in Seoul, it is practical to choose a Korean-manufactured car. Saying that imported cars are expensive is an understatement! I focused reading on made in Korea cars, particularly Kia. Personally, I would prefer an SUV so I could just throw in all of the kid’s stuff inside and still have ample room. I checked the 2009 Kia Borrego and I like it. But, of course, hubby is the authority on this one so we will have to wait and see.
Freebies and discount coupons are just some of the things that I love about living here in South Korea. I am starting to pile up on discount cards and point cards. I make myself perennially aware as to where or which store a discount card or a point card is applicable. Even online purchases have discount coupons. As of now, I only go to a Korean site, Gmarket, for my online shopping. Pretty soon, I’ll accumulate my own Gmarket stamp and mileage and get more discounts.
I need to be more savvy to make shopping more enjoyable… with discounts, one could actually make saving and shopping go together. These days, the most convenient way to shop is through the internet. More than the convenience, I am actually lured by the offers of online coupons. Who doesn’t love the idea of shopping at a discount? More so shopping from home, sans tired legs, equipped with online coupons to make buying a guilt-free experience.
Amazon offers various products so it would help to check out Amazon Coupons every now and then for updates. I will be personally waiting for online coupons for books, especially children’s books. For services, it would be exciting to be always on the look-out for Expedia Coupons. There are so many places to explore and to enjoy. Hubby and I would always make room for our Plates Collection from places we’ve been to. I would love to go on a cruise and Expedia would be a good source for these discount cruises. How I really wish this will be a granted wish!
These nights my Little Dynamo’s favorite bedtime story is “The Berenstain Bears Go On A Ghost Walk”. He especially loves the spooky characters. When we are in the page where the bears go to a party goods store, he stops me from reading. Instead, he points and identifies all those Halloween spooky characters and decors.
I’m sure he would love it if we would have a chance to visit one of the stores of Halloween Express. The stores have a large selection of costumes, masks, decorations and accessories. I could only wonder what he would like to be. Spiderman is a classic for him. He fancies his daddy to be batman. He also likes Captain Hook but I would be happy if he prefers Peter Pan:-).
If there’s one thing I have learned from the health forums I visited recently, it is this: balance your trust on your doctor with your mother’s instinct.
A baby or a toddler who has recurring fever may be diagnosed with pharyngitis or throat infection. Doctors always say not to worry as pharyngitis is common to babies and children. Even my doctor-friend repeatedly assured me that throat infections are common to children. In some cases, doctors would meticuously check the ears for ear infection. Throat and ear infections are visible to the eyes (doctor-trained eyes).
When the fever does not stop despite the medications, a mother should be on her guard already. You could actually suggest to your child’s pediatrician. Don’t just sit down there and trustingly listen even if you know very well that something’s amiss. I think every parent should be equipped with the confidence that you know your child more than anyone else.
In some cases, throat infections are just outward symptoms of something that needs more medical attention. Most often, upon seeing symptoms of throat infection a doctor would easily prescribe medication to cure the visible problem. It is not uncommon that throat infections can actually sidetrack a parent or a doctor’s attention from urinary tract infection (UTI). Uncured, the child will have a recurring fever.
Some pediatricians make it their standard operating procedure to have the child undergo an ultrasonogram after UTI is detected. Other pediatricians do not. My opinion on this is: your child’s health is foremost and shall be monitored well. An ultrasonogram is non-invasive and does not have any side effect to the child. Have it done! The primary purpose of the ultrasonogram when UTI is detected is to check on the kidneys.
UTI significantly affects the kidneys especially when left untreated. It could just start with a fever diagnosed with throat infection. The throat infection is cured but the underlying UTI is not. Another bout of fever attacks to be diagnosed with the same throat infection. Medication will again serve the throat infection but not the UTI. When UTI is diagnosed after several medications for throat infection, there is a great possibility for kidney scars. Kidney scars can be detected through ultrasonogram. That shows how important an ultrasonogram is, even during the mildest symptoms of a UTI.
I am not a finance person. But watching “The Taking of Pelham 123” made me realize how valuable gold is as a “crisis commodity” when the Wall Street collapses. If you have watched the movie, you’ll know what I mean:-). If you haven’t, well, let’s talk about the movie some other time.
As a crisis commodity, there’s a good site on how to put gold in an IRA (individual retirement account). This kind of investment survives war, inflation, high oil and gas prices, weakness in the US dollar, budget deficits, stock and bond market turmoil, bank failures and default on loans. Anyone who had the foresight to invest in gold before the current economic crises happened would have had greatly benefited from these economic conditions that contribute to the profitability of the gold IRA.
There is a performance data that began with a $25,000 investment in 2000 for the gold 401k account that has surpassed the asset value of other kind of investments that can be included in a retirement account. In the performance data, the initial investment has grown to $74,777 in 2007. That’s a lot of increase in your investment. And if one invested 401k gold coins in IRAs in the 70’s and held on to it despite the economic roller coaster from the 70’s to the present, the investment’s current value is twenty times more than it’s original value.
Currently, the IRA gold coins allowed by the US government are Gold American Eagles and Gold Proof American Eagles. Major investment markets around the world recognize and accept these gold coins. For those who are interested, the Gold Coins Gain website shares 3 easy steps on how to establish a Gold IRA.
Each embassy has their respective policies for visa application and approval. This is especially hard for Filipinos who need to have a visa to enter almost all countries except countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Hubby had so far been given special arrangements and lesser “waiting time” for his visa applications. However, a business trip to Italy was delayed for two weeks because the Italian Embassy had to strictly implement the two-week processing policy. He was finally able to go to Italy last month after receiving his approved visa.
The strict policy is understandable as Italy is one of those countries implementing the Schengen Agreement. So, an approved visa to Italy means validly entering and freely moving in the territory of these countries with the Uniform Schengen Visa. These countries include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Germany
- Denmark
- Spain
- France
- Finland
- Greece
- Italy
- Iceland
- Luxemburg
- Norway
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Hungary
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Malta
- Poland
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Switzerland
Filipinos who wish to go to the countries above on business or as tourists need to submit:
- valid passport
- proof of sufficient financial means (bank certification, statement of bank account, at least 3 months salary slips)
- proof of employment
- return ticket or sufficient means to purchase it
- 1 passport size picture
- fill-out the visa application form
Do you feel comfortable talking about finances and financial management with your spouse?
My husband is a certified public accountant but he hasn’t been a practicing one. Since he got his CPA license, he opted to go the way of consulting reasoning out that auditing is not the only field for CPAs. The auditing and consulting firm he first worked for had a strong and well-supported consulting group so he was well-trained and well-prepared when he was pirated from that firm. But his CPA background is never put to waste that’s why I always rely on him when it comes to financial management.
I have no worries about his spending habits. He has to worry about mine (joke!). We rarely do impulsive buying but last Sunday we had so much fun trying on some sunglasses that before we knew it, we got each one for us. That came as a little bit of a surprise for us and we had a lengthy discussion about finances after that. Good thing, there’s a sense of comfort whenever we have our money talks so I don’t need check for some tips to combat irresponsible spending habits.
How I wish I could dance! But I do love to watch people gracefully dancing. It is even more delightful to watch graceful and well-dressed dancers.
There are many dancing and dance styles but ballet is perhaps the most classic you could ever watch. However, I am more enthralled with Spanish and Latin dances. They have colorful and lovely costumes, too. The shoes should always be carefully chosen or else… you’ll end up with cracked toes. I am sure for dancers, they need to have reliable dance accesories so they could comfortably go about with their dancing unmindful of any pain.
If I am going to have a girl (my husband hopes so), I would be happy to see her enjoying music and dancing. I will support her interest all the way and enroll her in her choice of dance lessons:-).
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