PNR or Philippine National Railways and What to Expect

Last week, I celebrated my 28th birthday! =)

I can't believe it! Ang bilis lang talaga ng panahon. There were days that I think of me as the 20 years old young, dumb and broke version! hahaha.

Anyway, just like last year, I didn't file a day off from work. I actually went half day just so we could have a blowing of candles at home. Daryl bought cakes the night before to surprise me in the morning! Ang sweet ng Babe ko na to! Hahah =)

He actually asked me to choose the cake that he'll buy but I was torn with Mary Grace's chocolate cake and black velvet nila. There's a Mary Grace Cafe branch in Naia Terminal 3 kaya nakabili sya. Na surprise naman ako na dalawa talaga ang binili nya for me. =)

I woke up early then woke Jami and Daryl up so they could sing me happy birthday song! Lol! Haha. Yun din naman ang instruction ni Daryl the night before, gisingin ko daw sya pagka gising ko. I cooked them breakfast and ate the chocolate cake. We also bought Pansit ni Aling Lucy's Panciteria. Super mura kasi doon and masarap naman talaga. They only have 2 branches and bought are in Las Pinas. Good thing yung isang branch, walking distance lang from home so kayang- kaya bumili anytime na biglaan. We didn't plan anything grand for my birthday. Alam nyo naman, hindi talaga ako sanay ng mga bonggahan birthday. Laging birthday celebration at home with family and closest friends lang.

As a promise to myself last year, I planned on doing something new or experience new things yearly as much as possible. Regardless if it's big or small things so long as it's something new and helpful to me as a person. Lol! I actually can't think of anything else and doesn't want to spend a cent until one rainy day, I thought of doing something that I wished I have done years ago.

If you're living in the south of Metro Manila (e.g Las Pinas and Cavite), you are probably experiencing heavy traffic in Coastal Road given the improvements on the expressway. Sobrang traffic that the last straw was when I spent 3 hours on the road just to get home. It was the worst! I never dealt with that before and 2 hours of travel time is the longest that I can bare these days. I have a son whose waiting for me back home so I don't want to be staying on the road doing nothing while this could be used for a bonding moment with Jami or Daryl diba?

Anyway, a day before my birthday, I finally decided to try another route. Walking distance from the office building was a PNR station. I always think of PNR is worst than MRT. I can see their trains are old and rusty, over crowded and not well-maintained stations. However, I always wanted to try to ride someday and I guess that someday was the day before I turned 28th. I thought this will be a good additional experience for me.

I promised myself I’ll do and experience something new each year before saying goodbye to the old me. Paragliding ❌ Bungee Jumping ❌ Out of the country ❌ Hiking ❌ Riding PNR ✅ 🤣🤣 It may be a small thing, but it was a brand new feeling! I am a happy 27 year old woman! 👩🏻😊 #thrillseeker #ayearolder #imjbirthday #imjevent #imjcelebrations

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Jun 13, 2018 at 5:10am PDT

I was so scared since I don't know what to expect. I heard a lot of horror story in the past about PNR like people living along the train tracks are throwing things (worst? Poop) on the train, a lot of pickpockets, mga ganyan! Hahaha! But I also had that exciting feeling na finally makakasakay na ako and I have something new to do. Sobrang babaw lang ano? But I made the right decision sa pag discover ng pagsakay sa train.

How was the experience? It was great actually. I have been riding the train since then. I have listed down the Pros and Cons.

Pros:

1. Cheaper. Yes! I am able to spare Php10 off my daily transportation budget which I can add on my expenses for the day or additional savings.
2. Since I get on and off their last station (Alabang), I always have some time to sit down before going off the train or save myself a seat and nap for 20 minutes before going to work.
3. Timely. They have a scheduled arrival and departure of trains. There were times na mejo late ng 2-10 minutes pero bearable naman compare sa MRT and LRT na hindi mo alam kung may darating ba o wala. Hahah!
*Edited - I actually experience a delay of 30 minutes. This was during heavy rain fall. 
4. Train Marshals. Yes! They have train marshals
5. Slightly bigger trains with overhead open cabins for your things. It will make it convenient for those that are standing kasi they could put their bags overhead para hindi masikip masyado.

Cons:

1. Crowded. Just like our other trains here in Manila (MRT and LRT), crowded din naman talaga but since they have wider trains, mas maraming kayang i accommodate. 
2. AC unit not enough. During times na sobrang crowded, the ac unit could not cool the train properly so mejo nagiging mainit sa loob but you are always welcome to open the windows. They have screens na so in case of emergency na may nangbato, hindi naman tatamaan yung mga pasahero.
3. Railways are not maintained. Since madaming nakatira sa paligid ng railway, I guess mahirap tuloy i maintain ang facility. Open area ang bawat stations although may guards naman, hindi din basta basta makakapasok ang mga hindi pasahero.
4. Due to settlers living near the train tracks, laging bumubusina yung train to let people know that it's coming. Minsan kasi, may mga bata talagang nag lalaro along the tracks kaya madalas may naaksidente. Most of the time maingay yung train due to constant honking.
5. Inaccessible during heavy rain fall. Since PNR has stations in Manila area which gets flooded easily (Espana), train gets delayed and worst, cancel it's scheduled arrival.

Above all these, I am quite happy with the experience and it was something I always look forward to nowadays. It's a perfect break from all those traffic and it makes my day interesting. I have been working in the same company for 4 years and finding new ways to transport is one of my way to make sure I am not bored on my daily routine. =)

Again, Happy Birthday to myself! A tap on the back for always being happy despite of the life trials! =)

The Highest Meralco Bill I ever paid!

It was a good thing that summer is over so makaka move on na tayo sa pag a unlimited aircon hindi ba mommies?

When Daryl and I started living together, we of course have been paying our own bills. I am so glad that we now have wonderful jobs that give us food on our plate and enough money for our needs. Bonus na lang kung merong pang 'wants'. Anyway, our ac unit is broken since last year after summer. It broke exactly the first week of rainy season so hindi ko na muna sya ipinagawa dahil tag-ulan naman na. The problem was the frion. Hindi lumalamig yung unit because it ran out of Frion na daw. Since June last year, we contented ourselves na walang ac. Okay naman, nabuhay naman kami because the weather was not that humid unlike kapag summer months talaga diba?

Fast forward to late March when summer started, grabe hirap na hirap na kami matulog. Our room has a direct sunlight in the afternoon so imagine the humidity inside our room when the sun sets. Sobrang init talaga! Daryl and I decided to get the ac fixed. We contacted someone via Facebook which happened to be our schoolmate in High School.

We were charged Php3,300 ata which includes the total renovation of our ac. Inayos pa kasi yung mismong makina dahil butas butas na daw (he showed us naman na totoong sira na) plus the Frion charging and cleaning. Pikit-mata na lang sa pagbabayad kahit over budget ng Php800. Hahaha! Our budget kasi was only Php2,500 to get it fixed pero dahil no choice na rin naman, inisip na lang namin na magiging maalwan na ang pagtulog namin sa gabi.

Finally!! Goodnight sleep na latuurrrr!!😌😌 #imjweekends

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Apr 14, 2018 at 1:29am PDT

Or so I thought.

Came April, the appliance usage was soaring high!

Late night use of TV which usually only up to 10pm. By that time, umaabot ata ng 1am.
Almost everyday na pag gamit ng washing machine (dryer).
Nataon pang night shift si Daryl so meaning, he has to use the ac in the afternoon to be able to sleep well sa hapon. And since sobrang init nga, I let them be para na rin kay Jami. He tends to stay inside our room kapag naka on ang ac.

I was really nervous come end of April when our Meralco bill usually arrives. I was expecting it to be more or less Php 2,500+. Our usual bill was Php 1,000 to Php1,300 during cold weather months while it goes up to Php 2,500 every summer months. When the bill came? Halos maiyak ako! Hahaha!

Pinaka nakakatakot na nakita ko! Mas scary pa sa insidious 1!! 😱😱Tumaas ang balahibo ko at kinabahan ng todo! 😨😨 Para akong nanlamig sa takot, tipong binuhusan ka ng malamig na tubig habang nakatitig sa maliit na papel na ito. Iyak na mga momshies!! 😭😭Musta bill nyo? 🤯🤯🤒🤒 #infinitybills #meralcobill #budgetruined

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on May 28, 2018 at 5:58am PDT

Don't be fooled, dalawang bill talaga yan. We had one that's due since last month for Php 1,800+ plus the new bill of Php 3,500+.

Even so, I was so surprise to see na sobrang tumaas yung bill from Php 2,500 with ac usage (previous summer months) to Php 3,500 for only a month this year! I was told tumaas nga din daw talaga ang singil ng kuryente. When I posted this photo of our bill, ang daming naka relate! So basically nag taasan nga lahat and almost everyone had the same horror story.

I was just glad that summer months are over and we are starting to have rains. I remember when I was younger, tuwang-tuwa ako kapag summer, ngayon sobrang scared ko na kasi ang taas ng bill ng kuryente! hahahah! It wasn't that hot in the afternoon anymore so no ac usage while we limit to only 3-4 hours come night time. We also watched the usage of every appliances at home and make sure they are turned off when not in use. I am expecting it will lower down to Php2,000+ for the month of May 25 to June 24 cut off.

How about you guys? What are your Meralco bills horror story? =)

Our Photobook Experience

Two months ago, Mommy Bloggers Philippines was given a chance to try Photobook Worldwide app. We were given a code for free 6x6 hard bound 20 pages photobook. 

I had known Photobook Philippines since 2015, purchased a discounted voucher code twice or thrice but always got no chance to start creating the book. I was too lazy to consolidate photos because mostly had low resolution and unclear. Codes had expire and no books arrived.

When I figured out that the voucher given to us was for Photobook app, I immediately downloaded the app to check on how it works. I was glad to know that I only have to upload the photos, re-size, and arrange the sequence according to my liking. I want our first photobook to be Jami's growing years so I collected his photos from Day 1 to recent. Since I can only put up to 20 photos in it, I have to carefully choose those photos that reminds me so much of his childhood.

When I was confident with the layout, I finished the order and paid the shipping fee thru Paymaya. Photobook has 7 days guaranteed shipping which made me really excited to see the outcome. Due to holy week, my order arrived after the holidays. I had it delivered in the office and was so thrilled that the courier (DHL) sends a text message as to when the package will arrive. Surely, they arrived on the  day they said they will deliver.

Finally, the wait is over!! Our first photobook was #dwyanejames growing years! Can’t wait for the next one to be delivered! #oneofmanyfirst #photobookphilippines #mommybloggersphilippines

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Apr 1, 2018 at 7:10pm PDT

I can't contain my happiness upon seeing our first photobook!! I liked the quality of the paper and the print of each photos came out clear. They even arranged the photos because I didn't know I could re-size them when I submitted the order. Lol! Super excited lang mag order haha! The book had a hardbound cover which made it easier for safe keeping since it will not deform easily.

With the success of my first Photobook, I had a feeling of wanting to order more. Nakakaadik pala yung happiness to see your social media photos printed. I decided to buy vouchers from Metrodeal of 6x6 40 pages soft cover photobook for only Php20. This time, I will have to use the website to create the book. It was quite easy since they have thousands of templates to choose from or if you have the eye for designing your own book, you can do so.

Since this one carries more pages than the first one, I decided to collate all our photos for 2017. Every month, I selected the highlights for the past 12 months and include it in. I got the option to add more photos on each page versus what is already on the template. I also had the chance to put or add my own designs or even arrange it according to my liking. I find the website versatile than the app. I even had words and messages added on each pages to make it more dramatic and memorable. I want to remember every story of each picture so I put in some keywords on each photos.

Here’s how @photobookww looked like from the inside. This was the simple 6x6 hardbound photobook for 1,200 plus shipping. Pero merong life hack jan. Share ko next time pag dating nung isang inorder ko 🤣🤣 I love the book and this is so addicting! Review on the blog soon!😘😘 #mommybloggersphilippines #photobookfever #photobookworldwide

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Apr 2, 2018 at 2:08am PDT

Part 2. ☺️☺️ #mommybloggersphilippines @photobookww #photobookphilippines #photobookfever

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Apr 2, 2018 at 2:13am PDT

Just like my first order, the second one arrived on the 7th day from order date. I was so satisfied with the outcome since the images look crisps even if some are low resolution photos. As you know, soft cover lang yung second book but it doesn't look like it will deform easily, unless you intentionally do so. It was like a smaller version of glossy magazines so this made me really happy.

One thing I didn't quite like was the photos I uploaded near the binding. Due to binding of the book, the photos inside look like cropped. It was partly my fault because of the template I chose. It would only be perfect for photobook with flat layout.

The softcover version has arrived! Thank you @photobookww! I love it!! 😍😍 #photobookfever #photobookphilippines #keepingmemoriesalive

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Apr 9, 2018 at 7:20pm PDT

Anyway, I learned my lesson in choosing my template and arranging photos so I know my future photobook will be as good as this one. I actually bought two more vouchers which I am planning to use in the future.

A tip to those who don't have a paypal, credit or debit card, you may download a Paymaya app. This app could give you a virtual card that you can use to purchase things online. You only have to cash in money thru their partners (I cashed in through 7-11) then you can use it immediately because the posting of money is real time. =)

Do I recommend photobook? A big YES! Imagine being able to print out more than 140 photos in one book made it more appealing. Did I save money in it? For me, it's a Yes. I only paid for the shipping fee of Php200-250 and additional Php 20 for the voucher and I got 140 images. Lumalabas na less than Php 2 lang per photo. Although hindi ito kalakihan (some are 2x2 size), I had no problem with it since nakikita pa rin naman. I just have to arrange the sizes of the photos and give emphasize to each photos na feeling ko ay maganda at deserve maging highlight per page.

Our new photobook carried 143 photos in total. Would you believe I paid only Php270?? So that’s less than 2pesos per photo and I don’t even have to worry about buying a photo album to keep them together! 😊😊 The voucher was from Metrodeal for only Php20 while shipping costs Php250. Was it worth it? Definitely Yesss!! Perfect pang gift din ‘to. 😍😍 #photobookphilippines #photobookfever #keepingmemoriesalive

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Apr 9, 2018 at 8:46pm PDT

Photobooks are actually a great gift for birthdays and anniversary (you name it!).

I am still thinking of when to you the codes that I bought. I stock them just in case I need one. Although lagi naman naka sale ang voucher ng Photobook in Metrodeal, I still want to have one for emergency situation. Lol! You just have to take down notes of the expiration of your voucher para hindi masayang! :) Share your work para magka idea din ako. I uploaded some videos of mine on IG (@its_mommy_jen) should you want to see more of these books that I made. :)

Mother's Day 2018

Hi everyone!

How did your Mother's day went?

So sorry for not blogging that much. Minsan wala lang talaga akong time o minsan, I don't know what to share. Haha!

Anyway, I tried reading back to see what we did for Mother's day in the last couple of years. I found out that I only started blogging about it since 2015, missed blogging about 2016 then had a wonderful and memorable 2017. This time, I want to make sure to blog about every special event that happened and will happen to us since it feels so nice reading back. I always feel surprise reading them all up. =)

So our Mother's day was nothing special this year. We stayed at home all day. Nakakatamad kasi maglalabas ngayon, super init talaga ng weather! Ang bilis pa naman makainit ng ulo when it's really hot!

I woke up at around 5:30 in the morning and found Daryl sweeping the floor. I realized nagbaha pala sa loob ng bahay namin! There were water everywhere! Sa sala until sa kitchen! Buti na lang, it didn't reach our room pa. We found out that the water pipe broke again. We had a water pipe going inside the house under our kitchen cabinets. There's a small hole in the cabinet where the pipe goes and that's the one that's leaking. We just had one fixed earlier that week. We thought that the pipe broke due to our ref being pushed to close to the wall. Later on we realized, that it was a rat whose actually causing the trouble! Could you imagine that? I actually spent Php800 just to fix the water pipe twice already in less than 7 days?!

Daryl said that there's a rat living in our kitchen cabinet whom might got bigger and was trying to get out in the same hole. Since he can no longer fit, yung way out is to break the water pipe! Grabe sobrang hassle! I was mad thinking how can a rat be so selfish! hahaha! Anyway, we had Dudut, the cat staying inside the house so at least she could trouble the mouse while working on the pipe again. I am hoping he would stop doing so dahil wala na akong budget to get it fix for the third time. =|

Pakitang gilas si Dudut the cat para kunyari nag hahanap ng rats pero ang totoo, lagi lang sya nakahilata. 🤣🤣🙄🙄#houserepair #wasakwallet #mothersday2018

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on May 13, 2018 at 8:28pm PDT

After the pipe repair, I cannot believe I was sweating a lot yesterday! I don't sweat so much even if I'm working out not unless yung mga tipong Aerobics talaga or dancing. I was wondering ganun ba kainit yesterday that I sweat this much when I wasn't in front of the fan.

😩😩😅😅 #imjweekends

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on May 13, 2018 at 12:30am PDT

We ended the day with an impromptu family post dinner na kanin pa din! hahaha! My sister and I met for paper works and treated us in Jollibee.

Impromptu Mother’s Day special 🤣 Pa jollibee ni mayora! 😂😂 Sayang wala ka, Dang! 😅😅 #imjweekends #mothersday2018

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on May 13, 2018 at 6:38am PDT

We had some take homes for Daryl because he didn't go with us anymore.

Anyway, our day was quite common but at least we prevent ourselves from spending so much on days like this. It was not in our budget for the month which I intentionally did. I didn't foresee the water pipe fix so our eat out budget has been used. We don't go out often these days to be honest because we are preparing for something big. Lols! Kidding.

So how did you get to celebrate our day, Momsh?

Valentine's Dinner in Ramen Kuroda

So it's the end of February na pala! I lost track of time and didn't realize na hindi pala ako nakapag post ni isang entry sa blog for this month. Lol!

I need to learn time management. I easily get distracted so most of the time, hindi ko nagagawa yung mga dapat kong gawin. Hehe.

Anyway, what I really want to talk about was our Valentine's Dinner at Ramen Kuroda. Being a picky eater, I have very small selection of food that I like. However, as years pass by, I am more open in trying different food than those that are super familiar for me. I always hear my officemate talk about ramen and I wonder what's in it that makes them salivate for just thinking about it.

When Daryl asked me about our plan for the day, I immediately told him that we'll just eat ramen. I guess Daryl liked the idea since it will be another first for the both of us. I did some research of restaurants that we can go to along Pasay. It was our halfway point and it will be easier for us to go home. I also thought that there will be a lot of people going in malls, watching movies etc., so to avoid the crowd, we went to the newly opened Double Dragon Plaza near Blue Bay walk.

I have to choose between Ramen Kuroda and Ramen Metro which are both very near to jeepney terminals on our ride back home. I was also given by Zomato an option in Mall of Asia to try Ippudo and the rest I actually forgot.

Ramen Kuroda newly opened in Double Dragon Plaza around December or early this year along with other known fast food chains. We arrived just before 7pm which gave us ample time to settle down and find a good seat. The place was really nice and somehow gives you a Japanese feel. 

As I said, it was both our first time so looking on their menu gave us a hard time. Haha! I have no idea about ramen so I don't know which one I'll like. Good thing, I did some research so I pretty much had an idea on what to order by looking on their menu in Zomato plus asking questions to my officemates. Daryl and I ended up with their Set meal which includes rice meal, a solo ramen, seasonal fruit and hot tea. We added an iced tea for our drink to cap off everything.

Ramen Teriyaki Pork Don Set Php 320

Ramen Teriyaki Chicken Don Set Php 340

Iced tea costs Php50 pesos for one serving. By the way, you can choose which ramen to get along with your set meal. I got their Shiro Ramen while Daryl had the Aka ramen which the lady said was spicy pero it wasn't too spicy naman.

When the food arrived, we asked the waiter to take photos of us together. We were told that they have a promotion that we should post our photos on our own facebook profile with a hashtag ramenkuroda.ph and get a voucher of their 4 pcs gyoza on our next visit. We were also encouraged to post each so we could get two vouchers. It should also be done before we pay the bill. We participated because we were definitely happy with the food and surely have reasons to go back. 

I actually cannot say anything about the ramen. It was my first time and I have nothing to compare it to. I like the noodle though since it wasn't that soft or malata. The saltiness was just fine while the pork melts in your mouth. We both enjoyed the food and kept on talking about it for the next 3 days. Haha!

Our experience was satisfying for the price that we paid. It was a really heavy meal that I have to ask for a second serving of hot tea (no extra charge). I know I couldn't sleep at night being too full. Now I learned my lesson to order ramen with no rice meal na because it was really filling with just ramen alone. I wasn't able to finish my food which I felt really guilty after. =( Yung feeling na gustong-gusto mong kainin kaso suko na talaga yung tyan mo? Hahah! I would like to also note that the staff were accommodating and smiles to you when you call their attention. I just hope they would continue to be mabait not only because bago pa lang yung branch.

Ramen Kuroda
Ground Floor, Double Dragon Plaza
DD Meridian Park cor Macapagal Ave,
EDSA Extension, Pasay

A Look back at 2017

This 2018 felt good! It is said to be a year of the Earth Dog based on Chinese Calendar. There's something in this year that I felt I should be looking forward to.

I know this will be another year to continue reaching for our goals. I have written some on my old planner just so I could polish them before writing it down to my new planner. I was kind of unsure at this point since we have a lot of things planned for the year. I have to consistently communicate with Daryl to make sure that we are both in line with our mission this year.

I have decided to write this year down as #Amazing2018. I can't wait to become close to those goals and it's very exciting to actually think about achieving them. I will blog about our goals as soon as I am satisfied with it. It wasn't just a simple dreams that I write about. I want to have a game plan and a strategy on how we could achieve them. Hindi na kasi pwede yung SANA SANA lang or the dreaming stage lang and wait until we achieve them without a concrete plan of the HOW diba?

Anyway, I want to look back on our 2017. Not just what happened to the goals but also the good and the bad that happened last year.

JANUARY

• I had trials at work specially that I felt a superior doesn't like me. What made me happy was I finally got hold of my dream phone! Lol! Pero hindi brand new although in good condition naman. What's important is I got it fully paid in time. =) 

FEBRUARY

• We had our annual physical exam in the office which made me realize that I am gaining weight from the previous APE. This was the same month when I decided to push myself to the limit and go on a strict diet. I blogged about it here. 

 

 MARCH

• I was meant to be promoted at work. I had an existing memo until mid-March. A day after the memo was lifted, I applied for a position and yes, I was hired by the end of the month! :D
• I joined the new team's outing in Calaguas Island. It was free for us while I paid extra for Daryl. I tagged along Jami and Daryl since they allowed family members to join us on this trip! :) 

APRIL

• Daryl's birthday month. We celebrated at home since we just came from Calaguas the day before. 
• Weight loss became noticeable by 2-3 people. 
• I was able to secure my SSS loan by applying in their amnesty or SSS Reconstructing Program which I blogged about here.

MAY 

• We had a quick getaway at Stilts Calatagan for Mother's Day with Daryl's side of the family.
• I stopped going on a diet at 57kgs. My initial target was 60kgs but people missed me in my chubby self hahah! Anyway, I was happy with 57kgs although it's 2kgs more than my average weight for my height.

JUNE

• My birth month. We had a short celebration, just the three of us in Shakey's Mall of Asia. We were looking to claim gift sana for birthday celebrant kaso you have to have a membership card which will cost Php400. Okay sana however, the freebie also cost the same amount. I thought about it for a while and decided not to get the card because we won't use it often. 
• Jami started going to school. He was enrolled in a small school around the area and so far, I am glad with how he's performing. 
• Daryl started his new career. I was so glad for him he gets to work in the airport which somehow co-related to his college degree. He was also happy and contented with work which was a lot important. 
• We struggled financially this month since Daryl and Jami were both starting. We don't have fund to support the additional expenses which ended up taking loans left and right. 
• Gigantes Island - Guimaras - Bacolod trip with Jami. 

JULY

• I started accepting baking orders again to help us cope up with finances.

 

AUGUST

•  I manage to get a new business partner and very active re-seller of my baked goods. 
• Finally had the chance to experience Dreamplay for my nephews 7th birthday. 

 

SEPTEMBER

• I started my Mutual Fund with Sunlife Asset Management (SLAMCI). I saw an online promo from Tipid Mommy's facebook page where you could start investing for only Php500 rather than Php5,000. I met a financial advisor na sobrang maasikaso and very helpful. Should you need one in the future, please let me know. =) 

 

OCTOBER

• I finally had the feeling of having passive income! hahaha! Although super duper small, it felt good thinking that it will grow big in the long run. 
• Jami's birthday celebration in school. 
• Took a life insurance from Pru Life UK which I will blog about separately. 

 

NOVEMBER

• Approval of my Life insurance application.
• Started building our Emergency Fund. 
• Renewed my passport.

 

DECEMBER

• Successfully saved coins from July to mid-December. Jami was able to save around 2,000+ including monetary gifts while I had less than Php3,000 of 10s and 5s coins. =) I intended to use the money for our New Year's eve budget while Jami bought a new toy and saved 50%. 
• For the first time, I celebrated my NYE away from home. =)

You know somehow I felt that we had a good 2017. I mean it was surely a roller coaster ride but nevertheless, it gave us a lot of things to learn and that we were able to start on something new. My personal goal was to become a wiser version of myself and I felt I was able to pull it off. Anyway, I believe naman that the most important thing is that you learn and ready to start again. New year never fails to replenish my hopes that I am one step closer to my goals. I somehow felt na nag mature ako. Ganito pala ang feeling, Lol! #Adulting101. Hahahah! Tita na talaga.

It's day 10 of 2018. I hope you all have a wonderful year ahead.

#GreenTeam for #Amazing2018

Re-visiting Goals 2017 Part 2

So it's 2018! Just like that!

Grabe sobrang bilis ano?! I didn't even realize that December is about to end.

Hay nakooo!

Anyway, I had a wonderful 2017 and I always wanted to look back by writing them. Good thing I discovered the use of a planner because reading everything that I have written down in the last 12 months give me so much satisfaction with the year that passed. I have realized sooo many things and even remembered some at that instant which I completely forgot happening. Weird feeling actually. Hehe.

Well, I said I had a satisfactory feeling after 2017 being able to accomplish so many things. I had a go-go energy as per my Chinese calendar prediction and I guess that was true. I did a lot of new things, gained new friends, acquired new skills and learned new stuff. It was a roller coaster ride but I really feel contented. I even reviewed my goals in August to check if I am in line with my goals. Part of it was great and some were not. I intentionally not complete all of them based on my priorities.

Should you wish to look back, click here for my 2017 goals and an update here in August 2017.

I was able to still complete some before the year ends and that made my goals for last year at 70% done. I'll write down those that I wasn't able to complete na lang to make it short. The rest that aren't on the list are completed.

Personal Goals

• Attend Workshops - No, I didn't attend a workshop still. Although this could enhance my baking skills which I use for earning extra money, I wasn't ready financially since my extra income helped us get back on our feet when things got rough in mid-2017. I am looking to at least do this in 2018 and save money for it. 
• Vaccine - No vaccine for us in the entire year. Good thing we only caught colds twice a year and no health issues far more than that. Thank you Lord!
• Loose Weight - I was able to maintain it until last month where I gained 2kg. I let it be since it's the holidays where there were food left and right. Sweets are my weakness! I don't crave rice, bread etc. But sweets?? Please! Let there be peace on Earth. Hahaha! Nag uubos na lang talaga ako ng food from New Year's Eve tapos I'll go back on dieting.

Family Goals

• Staycation & Photoshoot - are the very least in our priority this year so I intentionally didn't put an effort to it. Maybe in the coming years na lang.

Relationship Goals

• Eat Out/Date Night/Movie together/Spa Together - Yes we had some eat outs with just the two of us and we used it to talk about some things and you know, just reminisce the old time. Hehe! Hope we could have one at least once every month or every 2 weeks. I am looking for a movie or spa together which weren't completed.

Financial Goals

• Beef up Emergency Fund - Hay nako etong Emergency Fund na ito, taon-taon na lang. hahaha! But hey, we had some improvement before the year ended. I was able to save some although really small lang compare sa aming goal but at least, we had something saved. It's a big leap of adjustment but we were there. Tuloy-tuloy na ito! Wala na ng SANA, para magkatotoo naman. Hahahah!
• School Fund -  No school fund yet but this is included on our 2018 goal.
• Travel Fund - No travel fund yet since we had other much more important goal to achieve like the first two above.
• More Sideline/Additional Income - compared to last year, the holidays of 2017 gave me lesser orders but I am not complaining. The money helped us cope up faster than expected so it was a really big help. Besides, I didn't do a lot of marketing this year since I felt I need a lot of sleep at times. 

So there you have it guys! I didn't write down those that I was able to complete just so I could completely tick them off. Although I had some that are not completed, I felt happy with 2017 for being a #WiserMe version. I can't wait to start my #Amazing2018 and to see what's in store for me and my Family.

Thank you for your continued support guys! We may have a prosperous 2018! =)

Mercury Drug Suki Day Book 2018

We have 3 more days remaining before saying goodbye to year 2017.

I personally liked this year, somehow I wish it won't end but yeah, we always have to move forward.

There are a lot of things happened this year. Some I didn't actually remember! I was surprised to read about it on my 2017 planner which I bought from National Bookstore.

This year, I have found the trending Mercury Drug Suki Day book in social media particularly in Facebook. It went viral due to it's nice cover colors and interesting additional features and articles inside. I have also found out that it only requires 30 points to claim one as long as you have a Mercury Drug Suki Card. I had one years ago so I only waited until the end of December to get one.

Why now? Ayaw ko kasi ma over excite sa kakasulat eh. Lol!

Anyway, I finally paid attention to social media posts from Mommy Pehpot Blog on Facebook about buying packs of Kotex which will give you instant 10 points. I have mistakenly bought 2 kinds of Kotex that aren't included on their item of the month so no additional points on that. I initially have 14 points on my card so I only needed 16 to get the day book. I bought two packs of Kotex so I have 34 points in total before claiming.

Today, I called several Mercury Drug branches along Pasay and Makati hoping they still have some in stock! Sobrang trending nya, laging out of stock. I was even told by a lady in the cashier that their allocation of the planner has been consumed so there are chances not to have some delivered to their branch anymore.

I tried calling 6 Mercury Drug branches and was only told they will 'hopefully' restock in January third week. Sad! The 7th branch I called which was Mercury Drug Malibay branch (Pasay along Edsa) came out positive! I tried to immediately reserve one pero madami naman daw stock and all colors are available pa so no need for reservation.

I took my lunch and went there agad! Claiming one was easy, just need to present your suki card.

Some people came inquiring about it while I was there so I suggest to call the branches before going there to see if they have the daybook in stock. Sayang kasi effort eh.

The daybook is available in three colors: Green, Blue and Peach Blossom.

From Mercury Drug Facebook Page

I like the Pink Blossom but I loved the Green! I also realized that 2018 is the year of the Earth Dog so very timely sa color Green! :D Pwede din naman blue, I just like how the Green looks papansin. Heheh!

You can check Nheng's wonderland vlog about unboxing of Mercury Drug planner here.

MY TAKE:

Seriously, Mercury Drug did a good job this year since the colors of the daybook are very millenial so it caught a lot of attention. I also loved the cover, the designs are embossed so may texture. As mentioned, it has colorful articles and minimal activities like sleep tracking, eating habit, water intake etc. There are plenty of space to write down your thoughts too. 

The only thing that disappoints me was, it has no calendar. I meant it has no usual dates on each pages like most planners. I was expecting it to have one and felt sad for 1 minute. 

However, I realized hindi naman ako araw araw nagsusulat. Some days are just plain boring and has nothing to write about so I guess I could work with that. I just have to write down the day or even allocate the pages month per month to make it more organized. 

Nevertheless, the planner was really nice for the price of Php125. Some even said they only have to spend Php50 for it. Not bad at all right?! I am just happy with it plus I got the color I was eyeing for so I felt complete now that the year is about to change! 

Happy New year guys!!

After Christmas Rush

Okay so it's official, tapos na ang Christmas and all are well rested na somehow.

Last couple of weeks kasi, sobrang aligaga ng mga tao, they are everywhere so sobra din ang traffic here in Manila.

How did you celebrate your Christmas? Did you stay at home with family & friends? Went out of town or out of the country? Shalaaa.. Regardless on how it was celebrated, I hope you had a wonderful time.

Well, I know I have mentioned before that I didn't grow up celebrating Christmas day. The day I always look forward to was celebrating New Year's Eve. It was a special one because it reminds me so much of my childhood. Super exciting!

You might be confused but yes, you are reading it correct. We don't celebrate Christmas because we grew up in Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ).

When Jami came, we always go to my byenan's house to spend the night. Walang gift giving actually. I never get used to it even those aguinaldo's so I don't pity Jami for not getting one this past few years of Christmas. I strongly believe in the religion I grew up with so I never felt "kawawa" growing up for not having what everybody else has. I believe na hindi din sa perang nakukuha yan to feel the joy of Christ being born and saved us from our sins. Diba? So don't be judgemental that some are "kawawa" or "sana ganyan ka din" because they don't get money from Ninongs and Ninangs.

Okay too much negativity. hahahah! Sorry, I just have to release that.

In a matter of days, it's 2018 and I feel so excited and somehow not ready. I was looking forward to it last month tapos biglang anjan na pala and I am not "that prepared" pala. Lol!

You might ask, prepare saan?

For the coming year, syempre. I felt I have all the chance in the world to start over, be wise, make good decision etc. Eto lagi yung exciting part ng New Year so this what makes it feel special for me.

This time, we might celebrate it to my byenan's house. Feels weird kapag naiisip ko because I have been having new year's eve sa bahay namin. I feel sad somehow but I think I'll be fine. Besides, we are celebrating it with family pa rin naman. That's what's important.

Let's cherish the remaining days of 2017! Happy Holidays guys! =)

Re-visiting Goals for 2017

It's 5 months before the Holidays!

Can you believe it? Sobrang bilis ng panahon!

Imagine! August na ngayon? How could it be? Samantalang parang kahapon lang nung nag birthday ako?!

So how're your goals doing? Are you on track or lost? Last month was the perfect time to reassess your goals and re-visit the plans you have listed down. The next best time is today. We still have 5 months before the year ends and for me, there's still a chance to go back on track.

If you wish to look back on the goals I have written early this year, please feel free to read through.

I seriously had some ups and downs this year and there were areas that I felt I achieved earlier than what I expected while I lack some courage to push on the other.

To make my goals a lot more manageable, I divided it into sections.

Personal Goals

I wrote down 7 goals and I am at 3 out of 7 at the moment. I am looking to accomplish more than that for the remaining months of 2017. I am happy how it turned out so far and I'll do my best to make it happen. =)

• Attend Workshops -  I haven't done anything related to baking so far since I got so busy and focused with my new role in the office. Gusto ko muna kasing magamay ang lahat although I am looking to go back to baking anytime soon since it's almost BER months were baked goods are at its peak.
• Hair Transformation - Eto wala pa talaga because I have a lot of financial things going on at this point that are much more important. However, this can be done throughout the year.
• Vaccine -  rainy days are here and virus are everywhere due to inclement weather. Last year, we were able to get a cheaper price here in the office but it's different now. It's 50% price increase so I decided to look elsewhere. Good thing Jami isn't catching any virus just yet. I will have to contact his pedia for a cheaper flu vaccine in the coming days/weeks.
• Loose Weight -  I was able to loose 8kgs in a matter of 3 months. I stopped at 57kgs since I am hearing a lot of side comments na wag na daw masyadong magpapayat. Honestly, I like my body now, I just need to have to work it out to make all muscles firm. Next move: Maintain the weight. :p
• Read another book - I wrote that I want to read new books about finances. I haven't done one but I was able to read Harry Potter books - all of them. Next move: Read another book.
• Be Punctual - This doesn't apply to my work at this time since we have a flexible schedule. I am part of another team now that handles back office tasks so schedules aren't that strict. Just as long as we go to work at a time we are expected to, all's good. I would like to tag it success because I was able to limit the amount of late to only twice in the first 3 months of the year which resulted to being promoted to work. =) Next move: Continue the hard work.

Family Goals

Family  is really important for me so to strengthen the bond, I separated my goals for my family. So far, we were able to reach 3 out of 5.

• Travel - this year, we had more travel than what we have expected. Having that said, I could say we could stop at that for the year and plan na lang where to go next year.
• Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte
• Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort, Calatagan Batangas
• Gigantes Island in Ilo-ilo
• Guimaras Island
• Bacolod City
• Next Move: Save up for for travel fund (for next year).
• Family Time - I am glad to say that we are spending more time together because we only have limited time everyday. Daryl started working last month so we barely see each other during weekdays or weekends. His rest days are on weekdays and mine is on weekends. Even so, when we get the chance at home, we often cuddle and make time for each other including Jami. Next Move: movie time. =)
• Home Cooked Meals - We have been working on eating home cooked meals. Aside from the fact that we are trying to cut cost, I want to make sure that the food they eat are clean. So far, I would say it's a success since I am planning our food sometimes. Next move: Consistency in planning meals! 
•  Staycation and Photoshoot - are the two least priority of all. When our finance allow, we'll proceed with it but surely, I can go by without these muna because I need to focus on building funds first.

 Relationship Goals

• Eat Out/Date Night/Movie together/Spa Together - Well, Daryl started working and we have different rest days so we really can't do this soon. Quite frankly, we don't have a budget for it and we are trying to live below our means so this can wait. I sure enjoy the days we spend kulitan in the house and I am contented with that. 
• Cuddle and Kiss more often - Yes! We are cuddling more than the previous year! Hahaha. I mean, we fight less now since we have one thing to stop fighting about - money. I also realized that we have to cuddle and kiss often to keep the fire burning so if there's a chance, before he goes to sleep or vice versa, cuddle cuddle muna. =)
• Complement more - I do complement him not that often but if I get the chance and he does something really need to praise. I thank him for his hard work now that he helps with the bills and rent. I also say nice things when I noticed something new with him like hair. 
• Understand each other more - It has always been me who's hot tempered among us so I did a lot of effort to at least minimize the amount of negative thinking. When we are about to argue, I am trying my best not to let the arguments get longer or if I am being sensitive to what he's saying, I am trying to think less. Although I am hot-tempered on some minor things, I could easily forget what I am mad about after some time. With that, we kiss and make-up quite easily pero he has to get ready with explanations when I remembered why I was mad 2 weeks ago. hahahaha! Baliw lang.

Financial Goals

•  Beef up Emergency Fund -I know! Eto na naman tayo sa emergency fund hanggang ngayon wala pa rin! Hahaha! We just had a lot of expenses the last 7 months so it was really a struggle to save money. Also, I don't know what happen but because of debts, I was so scared to budget our money because I know it's going to be negative. It turned out really bad for the last couple of months. Good thing Daryl started his new job in June which means we will be able to catch up on this part. We still have 5 months before the year ends so hopefully kahit 1 month worth of expenses lang makapagtabi kami. Next move: Save at least a month worth until December.
• School Fund - I was really looking to pay for Jami's tuition in cash however, the second quarter of the year went quite bad so we took the installment instead. The amount is manageable and since I started budgeting the money again last month, it's going really well and never felt a burden. Next move: Start saving in November up to May for next school year.
• Coin to Piggy Bank - Just last month, I got hooked in saving 10 peso coins! I have read a lot of 50 peso challenge where every 50 peso bill that comes in to your hands, it's invisible for spending and should go to savings immediately. Since money is tight, I know the most that I can manage is 10 pesos and so far, I have collected some that I am looking to deposit to my ATM which will be used for the coming holiday season in December. =) Next Move: Continue collecting and deposit the money on ATM for holiday fund.
• Travel Fund - No travel fund for the rest of the year since we had a lot of traveling for the first 6 months. I am looking to save some when our debts are fully paid. Next move: Plan our next travel and save for it before summer next year.
• More Sideline/Additional Income - we are restarting our business so we could pay our debts faster and get more money saved. Next move: Earn from these sidelines to finish paying our debts.
• SSS Loan Update - I was able to take advantage of SSS' loan restructuring program late April so I am now paying my old salary loan slowly. So far, I managed to pay 4 consecutive months which I'll share with you on a separate post. Next move: Continue paying for the next 20 months.

These are the goals I have listed down when the year started and the status of each goals so far. I am so glad that I am making progress in most of them. It's a good thing to look back at them once in a while to make sure that these goals are up to date and will have at least a tiny progress.

How about you guys? Kamusta ang mga goals? Buhay pa ba? Hehehe!

My 27th Birthday

Two weeks ago, we celebrated my 27th birthday!

Grabe! In 3 years time, 30 years old na ako! It feels weird thinking about it. Hahaha!

Anyway, we had a very simple birthday celebration. Alam nyo naman, hindi ako fan ng mga bonggahan with matching madaming bisita type of birthdays so it was just me, Daryl and Jami who went out after office hours.

Honestly, this is the first time that I worked on my birthday. For the past 9 years, I always celebrate my birthday at home. Automatic yan, naka leave ako from work. For me, birthdays are to celebrate with family. This year was different and it felt weird. Tumatanda na ata talaga ako! Hahaha!

I went to work just so I could earn more leave credits. Halos sagad kasi ako and it was only half of the year. I know we still have plenty of time to celebrate after work so I opted not to go on leave.

So after work, I went to pick the boys up from Ma Belen's house. We were deciding where to eat at that point but the original plan was to try those Buffet restaurant like Vikings. I don't eat in places like these because I find it a waste of money. I don't eat a lot so hindi maluwag sa dibdib ko ang magbayad ng almost Php1,000 just for less than a plate of food. I think my birthday is an exception since I am free while I only have to pay for Daryl. He eats a lot so sulit talaga. I am just trying to convince myself that Php300 is worth to pay for Jami's head but I really felt na hindi makatarungan. Hehe!

Although I am not very willing to pay for the amounts of these buffet resto, I am very welcome with experiences specially when I am with my family so maybe once in our lifetime, we could try. I thought my birthday was the perfect date but when we were talking about it on our way to the mall, nag back out ako because I really felt it was a waste of money.

We asked Jami what he wanted to eat because we really can't decide.

Me: Jami what do you want to eat?

Jami: Hmmmm...

Me: Spaghetti? Chicken?

Jami: Hmm.. No!

Me: What about Pizza?

Jami: Yess.. Pizza, Pizza!

So we finally settled to Shakey's. Unfortunately, mejo maliit yung branch nila in Mall of Asia so we have to wait in line for our turn. Even so, I was glad with their service and the food, of course.

We ordered the combos with pizza, pasta, chickens and mojos for Php1,300. It was a filling meal, we even had food to take home.

We inquired about their freebie for a birthday celebrant but you have to be a card holder for you to get a pizza. Their card costs Php499 (same as the large pan pizza you'll get as a celebrant) which will automatically give you 10% discount for your purchase. However, we decided not to get the card since it won't be economical to get a large size pizza with a card then shell out Php499 for one time. I couldn't tell if we will eat in Shakey's quite a lot so a discount card will be of no use.

At some point, some of their crew approached a table near us and sang happy birthday. Jami was looking forward to that! Haha! He might be thinking they were singing because of me, lol!

Anyway, I really love this kind of birthday - with family. That's all I could ask for. It's practical than celebrating with a lot of people. I never got used on getting too much attention on my birthday. Nahihiya kasi ako, lol! So yeah, I prefer my birthday's to be this special. =)

Looking back, I can't believe that for the past 5 years of my life, I did something new.

At the age of:

22, I was introduced with traveling. I considered it my "most traveled year so far".

Nov 2012 at Malacanang of the North

23, I became pregnant and a Mom to Jami.

24, I became an entrepreneur and managed my first online business.

Looking for nice yet affordable flats?! PM for inquiries or visit my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/jen.andres.alipio

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Sep 6, 2014 at 4:17am PDT

25, I learned the basics of baking and started earning money thru it.

My first time to deliver cupcakes in a party venue! Na stress ako ng slight. I secretly prayed, "Please cupcakes, make your mama proud." Hahaha! I received news later that it did! Dreams do come true! #dreambig #cupcakes #JamiSSweetTooth #chocolatecupcakes #bakedgoods #imjbakes

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Feb 22, 2017 at 12:02am PST

26, I overcame the fear of biking.

Today, I've learned something new! After 26 years on Earth, I finally know how to use bicycle 😭😭😭😭 Thank you @lalaidl and @len_alipio. See? Fast learner talaga ako eh 🤣🤣 #milestones

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on May 10, 2017 at 5:41am PDT

I can't believe I had some progress made. It was worth tracking them. Minsan akala ko, boring na ang buhay and paulit-ulit na ang ginagawa ko. Yun pala, I am making these small progress and I am a better version of me. Na- amaze ako! =D I was looking forward to doing or learning something new this year!

I am always willing to share the blowing of my cake candles with you, my love! ❤️❤️👪😍😍 Si ateng cashier, hindi thoughtful! Di sya naglagay ng candle! Yung kandilang pang brown out tuloy ginamit namin! Hahaha 😂😂😂😁😁😁 Thank you everyone who spent time to greet me. Much love from our family to yours 😘😘😘 #imjbirthdays

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Jun 14, 2017 at 2:16pm PDT

Family Trials

You know, I really love the month of June!

Aside from it being my birth month, I felt I receive more trials during this time of year, every year.

Hahaha! Exage! But yes, that's what I usually feel whenever my birthday comes.

The past couple of weeks, I was really stressed. Although we received good news too, I can't keep being happy for too long because of other things that we have to face.

Well, instead of dwelling into those negative things, I'll share with you those that are good ones. Sabi nga nila diba? Don't dwell on negativity. Be happy and the universe will conspire to make your wishes come true.

Char! Ako lang nag imbento nyan, but sort of like that yung mga kasabihan diba? Hahaha.

On June 14th, we had the chance to celebrate my birthday. I wasn't really expecting anymore since we have a lot of things to bear in mind first but Daryl, as he always does, want to make sure that I'll get to celebrate my birthday. We were originally planning to eat in Vikings but decided to eat somewhere else to save money.

Birthday Dinner! Thank you Daddy! Sobrang thoughtful mo kaya love na love kita kahit binubwisit mo ko lage hahaha! 😁 #birthdaycelebrant

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Jun 14, 2017 at 4:47am PDT

The past weekend, we celebrated Father's Day in advance. We ate in Bonchon kasi favorite ni Daryl yung Bibimbow nila. Also we bought school supplies for Jami.

Ang magulang na kayang kaya utuin ni Jami, Happy Father's Day, Babe! 😂😂We have a lot more trials to go through but our love for each other are much more than what life can throw at us. We love you Daddy!! 😘😘 And to my Papa whom I miss sooo much! 😭😭😭

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Jun 17, 2017 at 4:54pm PDT

We decided to buy Jami's things in Robinson's Las Pinas para maiba lang. We always go to SM Southmall which at times, gets really crowded. I would say that mas madami lang talaga ang options in SM Southmall.

Getting ready for school!! Ganto pala ang feeling ng Nanay na first time papasok sa school ang anak. Matatae ka na lang sa excitement at gastos. 😂😂😂🤑🤑😭😭🤢🤢 #JamiAtSchool #JamiNursery1 #JamiMilestones #imjMommyDuties

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Jun 17, 2017 at 12:23am PDT

Jami had his first day of school yesterday!! For the past two days that I am observing him, I'll blog about it in a separate post. This is a such a big milestone I have to document it. Hehehe!

Today marked another milestone for me and Jami. Our first day of school! 😁😁👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️☺️ #imjMommyDuties #JamiAtSchool #JamiMilestones #JamiNursery1

A post shared by Jen Alipio (@its_mommy_jen) on Jun 19, 2017 at 2:29am PDT

While I was really happy with Jami's new endeavor, I am equally happy with Daryl's first day at work. =) He was finally called to start and signed the contract. I know that he's excited with this just like I am.

So there, these are the things that I am really glad about despite of all the trials that the family faces now. To give you a hint, one of it was the "looking for nanny immediately" part. Since Daryl now have a job, no one will look after Jami. We need one really soon! I am hoping we could find one who would really take care of him, yun bang may malasakit.

Oh God! Please help us.