Mommy Practicality

Friday, December 27, 2013

A Different Christmas

Christmas day had passed. Truthfully, I was super stressed the past few weeks before Christmas. Two weekends before Christmas week, I had flu. (It was that weekend I scheduled gifts shopping for family and friends to avoid the rush, but I couldn't move a muscle, so I just rested two days at home to prepare myself for a flight come Monday.) Several days before Christmas, I brought Dandre to St. Luke's Emergency Room for fear of having Dengue fever (thankfully it wasn't, it was a viral fever.)

The last weekend before Christmas, was hubby's family reunion. I had to rush shopping for gifts and wrap them afterwards.

That Sunday, was another Christmas rush shopping and I think the number of gifts I wrapped was the number of acne and blackheads that surfaced on my face due to stress and pressure. Sorry, no photo of the be-pimpled haggard face. This is when #Selfie cannot be allowed.

The day before Christmas was our family's pre-Christmas potluck lunch. It was a wonderful reunion with my brothers and their families, happy gift giving and endless sharing of life events.

Lechon, Fried Chicken, Chicken Pastel, Cheesy Baked Fish, Macaroni Salad, Buko Pandan and Leche Flan

The Fandiños

Christmas Day

This has got to be one of those different Christmas eves in my life. We didn't have Noche Buena and didn't wake up the kids to open their gifts. I was too tired (spell dead tired) from the celebration with the family that I could barely wake up from sleep. So Macky, knowing how stressed I was in the past days, didn't pressure me to come with him to his parents' house to have Noche Buena.

The kids got the gifts they wished from Santa. My 10-year old nearly caught me sneaking Santa's gifts near the Christmas tree that morning. He was closely watching for Santa's arrival, so I had to call him up in the room to "help" me bring down some stuff. Of course I made his task very difficult for him to carry the things I asked him to, which meant, more time for me to run tip-toed downstairs with Santa's gifts (then I had to silently go up and pretend to come from the other room.) My mission was a success! He still believes in Santa Claus. The little one has just started to believe in Santa Claus so I have no trouble hiding yet.

We went to mass that morning to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! Here are my boys at the altar after the mass.

After hearing mass, we went to Macky's parents to for lunch and gift giving. The kids had fun playing with their cousins while Mac had to go to work for his holiday duty. I know it's Christmas and I should be giving myself a break, but I had to do some groceries after putting the little one to sleep. Oh by the way, I still have no yaya up to this day which adds to my stress during the busiest season of the year.

Post-Christmas Sad Events
The following day was a regular working day. That's a working mom's life, I didn't have vacation leaves left and I was tasked as an OIC by the boss. But what I WAS excited about was the last day of work this year (which is actually today.) My office mommy friends and I planned to bring our kids to work, watch the lights show at Ayala Triangle, have dinner and exchange gifts. But when this morning, my little one was crying because of mouth sores. He couldn't eat anything and was in pain. In less than an hour, I noticed rashes on his feet, ankles, elbows and stomach. I got so alarmed, Macky and I brought him to the ER to know what's happening.

He has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. It's a viral disease which is highly contagious. Healing will happen after five to seven days. Which means, we'll be welcoming 2014 with this. I fear that Dandre might also get this anytime from today until next week. I pray not.

Loves, please do pray for my son's fast recovery and that he may soon eat, even soup. Because since this morning, he hasn't eaten anything.

But as what Martine (DaintyMom.com) wrote in her post And The Soul Felt Its Worth

"Christmas means that everyone can HOPE. There is always hope. There is always a Savior for the different seasons in our lives."

With this, I do hope for my son's speedy healing. I pray that he will sonn eat and that his sores will all be gone in no time.

How about you? How did you celebrate Christmas? Were you also stressed this season? If not, good for you! Merry Christmas!"

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas Greetings

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Trees, A Merry Feature

Monday, December 23, 2013

Meralco Advisory Plus Energy Efficiency Tips

Have you seen your latest Meralco bill? I already did. I'm sure like me, you were shocked at the power hike in the latest electricity bill. And because I handle our household budget and take care of all bills payment, I am very privy to increase or decrease of rates and prices of our bills expenses.

Last month, our Meralco bill came with a bill interpretation and explanation why the power hike.

Now here's their latest advisory for December which was released in major broadsheets too. Humanda na mga muthers, wag mashoshock:

"Whaaaat?!!" that was my initial reaction, I'm sure you too! But if you would read and digest Meralco's advisory, due to shut down of Malampaya gas facility, the only natural gas source in our country, two power plants (Ilijan and Sta. Rita) had to obtain fuel from more expensive sources. Hence the price hike amounting to P4.15 per kWh which will be charged in 3-month installment plan: December (P2.41) February (P1.21) and March (P0.53).

After reading it, Meralco didn't actually increase their distribution charges. But generation, transmission, and taxes did. To help us all better understand it, here's their YouTube Meralco Advisory for December:

Ayan loves, so the power rate hike has taken effect since last month, but will soon stabilize after their scheduled maintenance. Christmas season pa naman and for us, it's one of the most expensive months because of Christmas gift-shopping and also due to electrical Christmas decors such as our Christmas lights.

As you may all know, I'm really practical with our choices and I manage our budget, I make sure we efficiently use energy without sacrificing comfort for the family. I, together with other bloggers, found out more about these energy saving tips during a luncheon with Meralco last week.

Here's to share with you Meralco's Bright Ideas on Energy Efficient Tips:

Switch off appliances not in use - Those appliances which have standby modes, unplug them because energy is still running.

Use a power board - You know those extension cords with switches? That's a power board. Multiple appliances plugged on it may be turned off all at the same time with just one switch.

Switch off lights when not in use - Whenever we don't have any use for the lights, we all turn them off to save energy.

Utilize natural whenever possible. - During daytime, we open the windows and just let the sunshine in!
Use Energy Efficient Lighting - We already changed our light bulbs to CFL bulbs from the instant I learned that we could save a lot on energy when CFL bulbs are used. It's even brighter than incandescent bulbs. To give you an idea of how much you could save, look at the illustrations below:

Air Conditioning- Since I have kids, we turn on the aircon every night. But we use a timer and a switcher, that when it turns off, the electric fan turns on making the room temperature still cooler than usual. Also, do you know the new innovation in air conditioners? Yes, the inverter air conditioners. They are a bit pricey but more energy efficient.

Use solar screens or seal cracks or openings to prevent solar heat gain. - Make sure your windows are tightly closed and your room's door is closed to prevent cool air from getting out of the room. This way the aircon will not work doubly hard in maintaining the coolness hence it saves energy.
Washing Machines - Front load is more efficient than top load washing machine

Refrigerators - purchase those with energy efficient models those with highest Energy Efficient Factor (EEF) are better and more efficient.

Maintenance and Safety Tips:

Do not overload extension cords. Should be used temporarily only.

Call a qualified electrician - It's electricity we're talking about and admit it, mahirap makuryente! Instead of savings due to DIY attempts, hospital expenses ang abutin. For short circuits or whatever electrical concern, call an electrician.
Schedule Aircon cleaning and maintenance - Cleaning the filter of the aircon may be done regularly. Then maintenance should be done every six months.
Appliances should never be used near water. Alam niyo yan loves! NO NO yan! :)

Clean lamps and fixtures to increase light output. - Sometimes we think it's too dim even if we have the lamps on, alikabok lang pala.

Refrigerators - for manual defrosting, schedule defrost before frost builds and avoid unnecessary opening of the door. Make sure door seal is in good condition.

Because it's Christmas season, Meralco also has some Holiday Energy Efficient Tips:

So there you have it loves! These are very useful energy efficient tips or for a practical muther like me, I call them: Energy Tipid Tips.

What's more, Meralco also has a new mobile app which is both available for Android and iOS phones. It's called the MeralcO Vertual Engine mobile application or MOVE App for short. The app is really very helpful to us budget conscious moms who want to be sure where our money goes. Among its features, my most favorite is the Meralco AppCal. It calculates how much in a month you are spending for a particular appliance by simply typing how many hours you consume a particular appliance in a day or the frequency you use it in a week or a month.

Here are sample screenshots of the MOVE App (stands for MeralcO Vertual Engine Mobile Application.)

Available on iOS and Android Phones

Helps you find a Meralco branch or know where to pay bills.

My favorite, their Meralco Appliances Calculator

They include Bright Ideas on how we could save energy and get the most out of our home appliances

If you log-in, you could get your monthly bill online! :)

The increase in Meralco bill is one of the most discussed topics in the office, among my amigas and even in the family during our get-together. I'm glad to be part of Meralco's information campaign to spread the word why it increased and to also give energy saving tips so we become efficient users of our home appliances and at the same time help the environment by conserving energy when needed.

I hope I was able to enlighten you on this and able to pick up some energy saving tips (which I'm sure some you are already doing kasi nga practical mommies tayo!) For more information visit their website: http://bit.ly/Meralco4U. You may also view their monthly Meralco Advisory on YouTube: http://bit.ly/MeralcoAdvisory. Meralco is also on Facebook and on Twitter.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Cebu Trip and Then Some

Hello there! Nakakainis that I haven't posted something in a span of four days! This just goes to show that apart from my usual busy schedule, Christmas season has got something to do with it. Lol! Dinamay pa ang season.

Well it's quite true because everywhere you go, it's traffic and it gets harder to get a ride home that by the moment you're home from work, you're too tired to do anything, you just want to rest. Secondly, because Christmas is fast approaching, I have to chase departmental and finance signatories in the office for my projects because most of them will be on vacation leave already, so I exert double effort to get things done in the office. That being mentioned now makes me lupaypay-kind-of-tired at the end of the day, that I just want to rest. Yup, excuses, excuses! That's why here I am with my quick sharing about my short trip to Cebu!

What's nice about my job is that I get to travel every now and then. It serves as a quick get away from the routines of life. Last Monday, I flew to one of my favorite cities, Cebu for a training I will facilitate. I love my hotel room and I was given a cake as a gift!

How lovely right? I was traveling alone. When a friend saw my FB update that I'm bound for Cebu, she messaged me saying they're flying there too! So I really got super excited! My friend Joy and her hubby took me out that night to a wine place in Cebu called La Vie Parisienne. This is something you may not know about me, so secret lang ha, I love drinking wine, and occasionally I do drink some other types of beverages that makes one a little tipsy. So when they brought me in this French wine place, I felt ecstatic and soshal ng slight. Here are some photos of the place :

My flight back to Manila was scheduled the following day. My soul sister Joy asked me to have breakfast with her and hubby at Marco Polo where they're checked-in at the executive floor.

That being said, breakfast for their guest was of no charge! If you know me enough through my blog posts, you now know too show I love breakfast. So here's what we had:

Here's my soul sister Joy, who's been a friend some college (wag nang magtatanong what batch ha?)

Shortly after breakfast, I had to go but stopped at Marco Polo's grand Christmas Tree.

Oh well, it was a quick but fun trip to Cebu and I will be back definitely next January for the Sinulog Festival, work and pleasure.

But wait, there's more! After arriving Manila, I went straight to our team's Christmas party/R&R! Curacha lang ang peg. I was recognized with an award for some projects I did last third quarter. What a sweet ending to a superbly busy day! Aja!