The people close to my heart in the States: Part 1!

May 29, 2014 by feyma

The people close to my heart in the States: Part 1!

I was just looking at my FB feeds when I came across the headline in-front of me that read:

“So many things to look forward to this month! With all the birthdays, my bachelorette party in Vegas, getting married and honeymoon in greece, I can’t contain my excitement!”

I had to read it again and double check. My goodness the kid that used to be toddler when I first arrived in the States, that person that wrote the message on top, she turned 2 at that time. My gosh now she’s getting married. Her name is Shaina. A beautiful girl. I asked Bob right away if he saw the news feed of Shaina that she’s getting married? He told me no. I immediately told Bob that we are getting old already. I said look at Shaina, she’s one of the kids that we knew there and when we left she’s just a tween, now she’s getting married. Big sigh, its depressing, it just shows we are already over the hill now. LOL

Close to my heart

When I met the mom of Shaina I was just on my few months living in the States. Bob knew her dad Steve, but didn’t know that he was married to a Filipina. When I went to work with Bob and helped out, that’s how I met Steve. He asked me if I’m a Filipina or a Chinese? Ha ha ha, he can’t figure it out. I told him I’m a Filipina, and told him that Bob is my husband. He was shocked. He told Bob that “Oh, I didn’t know that your wife is from the Philippines. My wife Sylvia is from the Philippines too”. He then told us to come to there house that weekend, which we did. I was so happy seeing and knowing Sylvia. Sylvia’s husband Steve, he is an engineer, and a retired worker from Boeing. Sylvia was really like a big sister to me there. She’s the one person I can really be proud to have known in the US. I’ve never had any issues with her. Sylvia and I used to get together fairly often twice or more a month. More often during summer time with family. We had a few parties with our Fil-Am friends during summer and Christmas party during winter time. Few places for venues; either our house or at Sylvia’s or at one of our dear friend Connie from Oregon.

Shaina has a little brother name Patrick. He’s just a few months older than Chris. That’s one reason that Sylvia and I met up almost every week for the kids to have playtime together. Shaina was really a good big sister to Patrick and to Chris too. Very talkative, playful and funny. She’s also close to my mother-in-law. She’s just like a grand daughter to Mom. Sylvia and family including Shaina are still close to my mother-in-law. They visit mom when they have time.

I also met Sylvia’s sister Bebe when she first came to the States. Bebe was engaged to a guy from Oregon. Mom was the god-mother during her wedding. We all became close and more when Bebe became a mother of 2 kids. So we all get together at Sylvia’s house almost during weekends so that the kids will bond and play together. I saw them (Sylvia and Bebe and Bebe’s kids) when they came here to the Philippines for a visit. They’re from Cebu, so I flew there to see them. It was really nice bonding with them again. I really told Aaron to see Sylvia & Steve when he goes to the States.

To Sylvia and family, I really miss you guys. I will never forget you Sylvia no matter what. To Shaina & Michael (husband t0 be of Shaina): Congratulations to the 2 of you. Wishing you both the happiness in the world. I’m so happy for you Shane. Have fun on your honeymoon in Greece. I hope to see you all again someday.

May 22, 2014 by feyma

Looking for good shoes!

I am not a shoe addict. I just want something that I can wear comfortably. I don’t wear high heels, the most heels that I’ve worn occasionally, that would be 2 inches, 3 inches at the most. So in short I’m looking for flat shoes. I am a sandals or flip flops kind of girl. Lately I’ve been really looking for more comfortable shoes, so I was shopping at Naturalizer shoe store. I used to wear the Naturalizer brand. They are lightweight with excellent support. I often have foot pain, but not with these shoes. I love these shoes. Over the years I have been trying other brands too. Some brands are comfortable, some are not.

Lately I have been having problems in my heel. So Bob told me to get a good and comfortable shoes. Immediately I was looking at the Naturalizer brand. SM Ecoland used to have Naturalizer store. I guess they just closed the store early this year. They have Naturalizer in Abreeza mall. So a week or so ago I went there. I heard on the radio that they had sale of up to 70% off. So I went to see if I can get a good deal there. I was so disappointed when I went there, yeah they had the 70% off only on the high heeled shoes. The heels were like 4-5 inches just guessing the height. Geez how can I walk on that? Plus it will make my foot more painful.

Shoes – where is the right one

While shopping at Abreeza I was happy finding another store and another brand, its by Aerosoles. First time seeing the brand here. I went in and tried some of the sandals and I felt it so comfortable too, just like the Naturalizer. I didn’t buy right away, I told my daughter that I have to check the brand out on-line and read the reviews on that brand. It’s not a cheap shoes too. Similar price with the Naturalizer. When I get home and look at the internet, I saw good reviews. So I will check good sales with both brands when I’m ready to buy.

For running shoes, I felt had a pretty good one. It’s comfortable to wear. I got that half price thankfully. It was an expensive shoes. One of the problem for me finding shoes, I have a wide foot and high in-step. If any of you had the same problem with me, I will not be surprise if you had to go to a lot of shops before finding the right shoes. Good thing Davao and the rest of the country already has so many malls that carry good brands from other countries. Thank God for that. They even have here those super ridiculously expensive shoes that were endorsed by the NBA stars. I always called them “The eye popping highly price shoes”. Ain’t buying those for sure.

My kids have a big problem also shopping for shoes. My oldest Chris wears size 13, Aaron & Jared our youngest wears size 12 (American size). I’m more worried about Jared later though, because he is just 14 years old and he already wears a size 12. How much more when he will be like Aaron’s age? For his school shoes I am ordering to be made by a shoe company here in the city. A friend suggested to have it made here locally. But for the tennis shoes I had to search the whole malls here in the city to find the shoe that fits him. Jared’s problem also he has wide foot and high in-step. He got that from Bob and my side of the family. Thank God I don’t have shoe problems with our girls.

If malls don’t have it in stock, I can easily have my friend get it for me in Manila. For sure lots of places to get shoes in Manila. So for any of you that have some concerns about shoes for bigger foot, there’s hope now for everybody finding a good shoes here in the Philippines. Too many good brand from other countries that’s for sale here. Just have your wallet ready.

Have fun shopping!

May 15, 2014 by feyma

Book fanatic!

I am a fan of reading books.

Guys not the encyclopedia Britannica. Lol. I’m just a fan of reading romance novel books. In short pocket books.

I’ve been reading the old school way with book in hand for a long, long time. Well, when the Kindle was introduced a few years ago, Bob was asking me if I want to read on kindle? He told me that he will order it for me and have it sent it here. He explained to me the whole thing on ordering the books and how easy it is to read on the Kindle. I told him I have to think about it. I’m kind of iffy about reading on the gadget. I didn’t get back to him for a long time. But I keep continue on reading with the book.

Reading on a Kindle

A friend was visiting from Iligan and he had Kindle. Bob borrowed the Kindle of our friend and showed it to me and explained the functions and such. I still held off at that time after I saw it. I was still not convinced by it. Finally Bob put and let me test the cell phone apps that functioned like a Kindle. He told me to try it for a few days and if I don’t like it he will uninstall it. Ha ha ha… Surprisingly I liked it a lot. It’s so awesome knowing that I learned new things and remained liking it for the long haul. LOL

The good thing I liked about having the Kindle apps on my cell phone, I can read during night time at my lounging chair even if Bob was asleep. No need for me to have over head light on. My cell phone’s light is good enough already. So happy to have options like that. I would never get rid of the cell phone apps ever. Every time time I will have a new cell phone, I will have Bob or Aaron install the Kindle apps for me. Can’t live without now. Ha ha ha.

My niece Glenda is into reading also. She mostly read the Tagalog romance novel. The only thing is when I was browsing for a free sample to read. No free Tagalog novels so far that I know. I have to look more I guess. That’s one thing I like about the English novel, so many free ones on the net. I haven’t ordered yet so far. I want to read the free ones right now. I might order and pay pretty soon because there were some novel that I read and it has a continuation to part 2 and 3. Option for me to read the rest of the story, I have to pay for it. It’s so interesting that I am thinking of ordering the rest of the story. Bummer.

I got into reading on my Kindle just right before Bob was hospitalized. It’s been over a couple months now. I’ve read so many books now. Luckily all of them were free. Bob’s been telling me that I can order if I want. He already set me up that it’s just automatic for me to order. He really spoiled me with this one hobby of mine. Love him to pieces for that.

When I was younger I usually go to bed late at night and just read. But lately I will read till 11 or 12 midnight. Then get up early for my early walk with my daughter Jean. That’s our bonding time. Aaron also got hooked to reading on Kindle. He is like me. He also reads until late at night.

Friends, are you a Kindle reader or still read the old fashion way? Either way is good, whatever works for you. Have fun reading!

May 8, 2014 by feyma

Good deals I found in Davao!

A few weeks ago Bob mentioned to me a set of pots and pans that he saw at S & R. He was explaining to me about it and it really got me interested. But when he mentioned the amount it just turned me off. I will not spend that kind of money unless I really like the items.

He told me that next time I go to S & R to take a look at that pots and pans and let him know whats my take on it. He told me if it were not that expensive, he would have already bought it for me.

The Dutch Oven I got last year

So finally I went to S & R to go shopping. I saw the pots and pans that Bob was talking about. I checked it out and it is a good pan to cook with and it look durable. I liked it a lot. But I told him with the price tag, I’m not really interested. With the high price I would rather have a different set like the pan that he bought me last year and it worked out good for me. I really liked it a lot. Bob bought me a nice porcelain dutch oven cookware the round one ( I’m not that crazy with the red color, but it will do for me right now). It’s good to cook in stove and in the oven. Since I I had the round one, I saw on line that they have now a dutch oven oval shape and I want the bigger size than the round dutch oven that I had. You guys probably wonder why I liked the dutch oven, the one that Bob bought really is nice. It has a nice and thick insulation inside. So now I had my eyes on that. It’s not the Le Creuset brand, I’ve seen that brand here and it so darn expensive. I’m okay with the brand that Bob bought for me.

Anyway, back to that pan that I saw at S & R. Bob really wants to buy it for me. I didn’t know that he was really wanting to get it for me. So last week I went to S & R, then I was just passing by at the back section of the store and I saw the box of the pots and pans on their damaged goods and returns area. I was just curious how much was the price of the damaged goods. When I saw the price it’s around 60% off from the original price, I looked at the tag because it states there the reason for selling at a low price. It states on the outside box “factory defect”. So I just didn’t think about it. I just continued on shopping.

When I got home, I told Bob that they had one box of those pans that we liked there at S & R that’s defective and its 60% off. Bob immediately asked if I know whats the problem with it, I just told him that it says factory defect. He immediately told me to go there and see what’s the factory defect. So after eating our lunch, Aaron and I immediately went back to S & R again. Thankfully nobody got the box of that pan. So we loaded the box to our cart, as soon as I saw one of the sales person I asked him if he had an idea what’s wrong with the pan. He told me that we can open it up and see for ourselves. So we did.

When he opened it, we both inspected the items. To be honest we didn’t see any major problem. The only thing that we saw that’s wrong with it were the rim of the lid that wrapped the glass, the aluminum, the gap on the inseam it’s not totally closed enough (maybe like less than 1 mm gap). Hardly noticed it. The one on display gap of the seam its too close that its not really visible. Also the one that I bought had a small dent inside of one of the pan, that you can’t even see it unless you try to feel the inside of the pan with your hand. So all in all, the items don’t have major damage. So I bought the pots and pans for the 60% off price. The only thing I’m not totally into was the color of it. But hey with the big discount I can live with it.

New Pots and Pans set

Most stores in the Philippines don’t even take returns, so they have so deals like this where a minor factory defect will result in a huge discount! S & R is different, though. They seem to operate more along the American business practice.

Talking about discounts. A few months back I was buying a ceramic jar at one of the malls here. While shopping I saw some items that I liked, but when I talked to the sales lady she told me that I had to buy the whole set. So I said okay I want it. When she’s trying to checked all the items one of the piece the lid of it the screw was missing and its not easy to put it back. So I ask her if I buy the whole set would you give me any discount since one of the piece the screw is missing? She told me “Oh no Ma’am, you have to buy at the same price”. I just told her politely that I’m not interested to buy the items like that without any discount. She said okay. I could tell she wants to give discount. The problem is the sales person here don’t have the say to anything, only the high up people can decide.

It’s just nice to see a store that will give a good discount/deals here. It’s been a long time since I’ve encounter deals like that. It’s just good to know that some stores do care.

May 1, 2014 by feyma

Cooking style in the house:

Since living back here in the Philippines we pretty much change the way we cook our food. Of course we had to, when we arrived here a lot of the stuff that we are used to in the States before were so hard to find here. So I had to adjust the cooking on what’s available here. Sometimes I’m lucky to find the right substitute for the product that I want.

So when Bob was hospitalized a month or so ago, I had to be careful on what to serve him. Jean or Glenda my niece , or myself, one of us were the one to prepare Bob’s food. We are gearing towards the diet that’s good for his diabetics. We are eating fish and poultry more and more now. We mostly grilled or cook it low fat.

Bob will eat light dinner now. A bit heavier during lunch time. He is into sa

shimi (tuna or malasugui), salmon steak (I cooked in the pan with a small olive oil. Just make the pan smoking hot and just drop the salmon to seal the outside. Feel it that it won’t overcook), Salad, just simple salad with arugula, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, turkey ham or lechon manok or shrimp drizzled with a small amount of Italian dressing. I also make pomelo & shrimp salad (with that salad goes with spring onions, crushed peanuts, and vinegar mixed with a little bit of sugar or artificial sweetener). We are also making some soup and chili. We are into mussels & clams now too, cooked with pasta and a small amount of olive oil, butter and white whine. Sometimes we grilled the mussels & clams and put some barbecue. Yum.

For breakfast if you want cereals you can pretty much find different kinds of cereals in almost every grocery stores in the mall. Like SM, they also have an organic store there “The Healthy Option”. I mainly buy the whole wheat or whole grain pasta there and the barley at the healthy option. I also make banana muffins or strawberry muffins for breakfast I used the splenda or a small amount of brown sugar and the rest I used liquid sugar-free. It worked for us. I try to be creative on my cooking now. I try learning it by reading on the net and watching cooking shows on TV. I’m so amazed by the resources nowadays, almost anything is posted online. If you have some difficulty on any recipes try to Google it and you will find answers to your query.

Bob’s been doing good on his diet for his diabetics. He really strives hard to eat proper food. I’m so proud of him. He really surprised me now. When I first met him he would not eat salad and some seafood especially mussels and clams. I guess only clam chowder and clam strips. Now he likes to eat mussels and clams cooked differently – grilled or cooked with pasta. I’m still learning and reading more on good diabetic recipes for us to cook everyday.

To our readers that live here in the Philippines and have diabetics too, good luck to you guys on your diet. If you’re a fish and vegetables eater not a problem for you then. You can pretty much find fish in the market and also different kinds of veggies there too. Remember, though, there are more and more diabetic friendly foods available in the Philippines than there were even just a few years ago. Many more healthy choices for all of us to enjoy.

Its really more fun living in the Philippines!