Whew! This blog is now alive back! Yay! Just today I accidentally write in the search bar of this blog,  untintentionally (after checked countless times like weeks ago after I renew tgis blogger domain. And yep you read it right, you can see this post. Sonhere yah go... 😘

Yes, as I checked my email it said I can still renew my MJBM (My Journey Being a Mommy) blog even if it was already days that had been expired. As I can remember, it had been already three (3) years that I kept renewing such domain as I still had the urge that one day I'll be back actively in the blogland. I actually tried to log-in to renew it but forgot my username of my MJBM blog to which in the back of my mind, it says why can't it be renewed or one for all accounts so it's  not that hard to log-in if in case you forgot the username or password. Ha! And that I have to check why it was not automatic renewed again. Ah! Alright, I already went up and beyond as usual but decided to just let it go. So there you are, my blog's domain of myjourney-being-mommy(.)com with its name: My Journey Being a Mommy is not alive in the Internet anymore. I could have put it on blogspot but I do not have thinking on my mind right now. I just hide in my dashboard. It is some kind of hassle of my mind right now, somehow. Ha!

I also gave-up a year ago my other blog "TIR" (or its blog name:Thoughts, Ideas and Resources) with its domain name: www.thoughts-ideas-resources(.com). I cannot keep up anymore so, I just let it go too.

So just to let you know that those two (2) domains are not associated with my name anymore.


~ Cacai M.~

From this side of the world, Los Angeles California with a Pacific Time, time check: 3:24 PM as I began to type and we are about to go for a blood draw, but all I gonna say is "Happy Tuesday!". However you are feeling right now as being happy, sad, frustrated, furious, or what, remember to just slip it away. It won't be forever. Yeah, you bet it is easier than done, but free up yourself. Being angry doesn't help, but being abused not either! I always go for peace, but inner peace is better! You just gonna exercise that confidence and stand up for yourself. If you can't, then accept the fact, hey don't give up yet! Alright, what I have been talking about is just to uplift everyone reading this or how you gonna use this as long as it is for good, I'm all for that! Hey, yeah! And so, have a great day! Let's just  be optimistic as well as being realistic, okay?! Thanks and I'll see ya soon.. For now, I'll just have to get ready going to my other journey, appointment or something like that. It is for the health, so I have to go. Bye for now! Smile. ^__^ (time check: 3:33 PM)

This was taken about two weeks after my birthday this year. This was at Los Angeles County Arboretum. I love how serene the place is, with birds, peacock and maybe insects (although I haven't seen one) thinking about hectares of flowers/gardens. This place also has small fountain, big swimming pool and other one in its other side. Although, I doubt the the two swimming pools are good for swimming but just for decoration, geese also are there, but the good thing is it is not that dirty as you think, thinking about lots of geese swimming and such. It has a lot of areas and a lot to do for trekking at the same looking at the wonderful plants and some gentle animals, those creations! Two hours wasn't enough. One advise I can give is to go there first thing in the morning so you can enjoy your fee, ha! Okay, so you can enjoy as much as you like or better yet, go there one area at a time. It's great for picture-taking! :-) There's an area (where a big decoration pool is located), is usually being used when having a concert and such. It is large enough to accommodate lots of folks! There's an area where the white house is located which is being used when there are events as well, actually there are many big areas one can use if thinking of hosting an event. Great, isn't it? Ah, serenity, nature, those flowers, cacti and alike!

Whether you are traveling alone and want to meet new people or are traveling with a group of your friends or family members, some resorts bring people together with ease. If you want to get involved in group activities and bond with your group or people that have the same interests as you, stay in a resort that offers all sorts of group activities. Many resorts offer activities for all ages to enjoy and bond over.

Welcoming Fireplaces
There is nothing like a huge fireplace blazing in the winter time to draw in people who want to get warm and cozy. There are many resorts that have large fireplaces in places where everyone in the resort can enjoy them. There may be games like chess available right across from these fireplaces and places for people to sit and get to know each other better.

Group Activities
Some resorts offer group activities like daily hiking trips or yoga classes. These activities can help people have a good time together.

Outdoor Entertainment
There are many activities that people can do alone or with their family and friends. Fishing and swimming is fun to do in the warm months, and these activities can help groups get closer together or will give people traveling solo a chance to meet others. In the winter months, cross-country skiing or ice skating can be a fun way to spend time around others. Some resorts offer garden tours or have horse back riding or carriage rides that can be very entertaining. If you enjoy nature, you can always spend time with your family or friends in the great outdoors.

Dining
When you are staying at a high end resort, you can enjoy having delicious dining options on-site. Many people enjoy spending time together over a good meal. If you stay in a resort that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, you can always schedule a time to eat with your fellow travelers.

Suites
If you stay in a nice resort, you can reserve a suite for your family or group to stay in. There can be separate places to sleep, but a sitting room to connect everyone. People staying in a suite will be able to spend plenty of time together when they are not enjoying other group activities around the resort. When families or groups stay together, they can have a fun time relaxing together.

If you are looking for a way to reconnect with your family or just want to spend time with your friends, reserve a room at a resort that offers all sorts of interesting group activities. If you are traveling solo, you can enjoy getting to know people during your stay thanks to all of the chances you will have to connect with others. Get the most out of your trip when you stay at a resort that helps bring people together.

In case you are wondering that you may see me in your FEDJIT. In case you think why I did not leave a message, comment or such. Just in case. I just want to let you know that I am updating my BFF Links in here.

Now you know, or so. :-) Just sad to say that some are already too busy to let me know that they did not renew their domains anymore or just to let me know that they can't have it anymore for whatever reason. Or maybe that's just the way they are. Okay, just kidding. Enough of the drama. :-)

Have a great day/night everyone! I hope life is treating everyone fairly well. Smile. :-)

Whew! It has been long time having been here!

How's everything, how's everybody? I hope everyone's treating you fairly! As to my end, nothing much, just my birthday the day before this day. Mayo Cinco, eh? Yep, together I celebrate such commemoration!

So how was it?

I don't really had a blast, but all went fairly well. My DH (Dear Husband) is a home-buddy type of person, as in he likes to stay at home 90% (if not 100%) and it's a little "really" thing 'coz you know, it's some kind of a boring thing, but then, that's what he is. Though, he is like that, he still goes out sometimes or should I say drives me and our daughter to somewhere, well it's only sometimes 'coz there are many appointments during the last day of the week for either one of the three of us or for all of us. You don't want to imagine. That's how hectic our schedule is. Also, I could not remember we traveled together for a week or two-weeks vacation. He use some of the hours in a day to have an important appointment, so it is still totaled into full vacation of two-weeks in a year or so, only that it is being spent through getting hours to hours for as I said important appointments. It is some kind of kinda weird but we are saving it for the future, or the money that could be spent for such just has to be saved, or something like that. We are not an extravagant little family. And we're hoping that one day we could spend it the way we deserve. Okay, so much for that. I will be crying if I could go on and on. Whew! And so I can only wish for a site-seeing for famous attractions nearby to which I was not able to enjoy of about five years of stay here in USA with my husband. I don't like to complain.

And so, a day before my natal was a plan to go to Aquarium of the Pacific and yes, hubby is okay for that as I said a birthday treat as a family. Wink. Wink. And I can only be excited. That day will be Sunday, a weekend. So we have to be there at opening time @ 9:00 - 10:00 A.M. to bet the crowds. That's the plan. And I did plan too of what to bring, prepare, and these and those. Night came. And you bet, our princess was not able to sleep early or, sleep @ 7 P.M. and woke-up @ 11 P.M. then up until 2 A.M. Whew! And yes, I was so tired to wake-up early and I was thinking of our princess. So we slept what our body needs. And decided to go to Huntington Botanical Garden and there we go but they're only up to 4:30 P.M. And we left at home 3:00 PM,hubby drove. "is it worth it? " -- that's what was on our mind in the middle of the road going to Huntington BG. And we talked about it. And suddenly I just said, "we will just go to Rose Garden" in Exposition Park in Los Angeles as hubby suggested as he knows the place and he used to go there as it is near where he live when he was a child until high school. As it's already late and we could not enjoy fully the HBG (to think its entrance is $23 each, though free for child and parking) but Rose Garden is free and up until 6:00 P.M., just pay for $10 parking. And hubby thinks that I enjoy roses very much. Just as we were about to turn to San Marino (it's already near the HBG), hubby turned the wheel on to Rose Garden, just was we decided. Yay! Off we went. Hubby started to talk about his used-to-be life whilst in the Exposition Park and told me what are those big buildings are, and these and those. It was great listening and talking to him!

Yes, Rose Garden in Exposition Park is fantastic! It has 145 varieties of roses. I enjoyed looking at the beds and bushes of beautiful fantastic roses. Then I remember the classic story of a fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast where a place of amazing beautiful roses can only be found. And I don't know if there's a place that you can compare of it. Sure enough, I so enjoyed it there. And the moment we found the area to rest to which it is one of the white-painted beautiful rest house inside the Rose Garden. The moment we rested, I then grabbed a corn-in-a-cob and the "suman" that I brought. I got cold drink. The two (my hubby and about-3-yrs old daughter) didn't want anything but me, so off they enjoyed gazing each other in the walking area of the roses' bushes. I got the chance to capture some great memories of them whilst munching on. Then I was done eating. Getting ready to explore the whole garden. Hubby was tired driving and gazing each other (with my daughter), to which he enjoyed. He stayed with the stroller in the big fountain where it is located in the middle. Just so you know, we stayed in the farthest side, so he still was able to enjoy the half-way, although he used to enjoy it (as I said when he was a child until high school). The little lady and I tour around the garden and take pics, running after each other, laugh out loud and even lying the cool clean grasses. Just pure laugh. And the little miss kept saying "hi" to people she saw whilst they look at her. She's my friendly little bug and I can't be more proud. Smile. And ooh did I say that some big birds flying and did its sound. And I got a shot of such! Sounds cool, isn't it? Yeps, it was great surrounded with beautiful 145 varieties of blooming bushes of roses. We wanna go back there next spring!

On my very day, the husband handed me a beautiful big birthday card (with bucks of course. he he he!) with a meaningful and wonderful message, just what I want. :-) A happy birthday, indeed!

(Some pictures in the Rose Garden to be uploaded soon)

Tomorrow (Nov 28, '13) will be the Thanksgiving Day celebration here in United States of A. So this is a pre-day greeting to all of you folks! Am I the first one to greet you? I hope so! Ha ha!

And so, what is your plan for tomorrow? What will you be preparing? Turkey, green beans, mashed potato and some wine? Some music? Ah ha! I bet it would be a lot of fun for family, friends or colleague. That is so awesome of  you guys! I also think you would go to the church as a basic solemn place to thank God above everything else, or it is not really necessary to go there if it is not possible. One can even pray in the solemn place in the house, but of course it is great to be in the church --- whichever works, right?

Once again, Advance (for tomorrow) Happy Thanksgiving everyone! For me, I'm always thankful that I'm still here doing some posting. I'm thankful of you!

Have a great day and continue to be grateful for every challenge and of course the smiles. Be optimistic as well as realistic. Don't forget to be happy despite of the downs or trials in life, it's just spices. Hold your ground. Smile! :-)

Medicines, is important in our health. Whether you like it or not, I don't believe you haven't taken a medicine ever once in your life, be it as you're a mom, dad, granny or even if you're a teen and such. We just need medicine in our life. I know right, many of us that as much as possible we love home-made medicines or herbal products and opted taking it first before such medicines. I used of doing that before going to the next level, as in if it cannot be healed through such. True enough, when I was still in my birth country Philippines, I used to take such proven over-the-counter medicines and even until now that I'm already here in United States of A, I still know those. And anyone who wants my suggestions of such specific ones, I can still say like flanax is good for flu, or that enervon hp for individuals supplement for strong bones and muscles. And the list could go on. Ask me and I can tell you more. My folks told me about it. And I can never be more thankful of them for teaching me basic over-the-counter meds to which I need to take when situation calls. We don't need to rush to clinic or to doctors if it is not necessary, such are just enough as first-aid.

What about you, do you take over-the-counter medicines?

Of all the things we spend money on each month, some could be considered things we need, and some could be considered things we don’t need or just a want. But the distinction between the two is not that easy to make. What must we buy? Well, we have to wear clothes everyday and have shoes on our feet. If we get sick, we may need a prescription medicine to help us get better. Other products or services, such as haircut or cosmetics, are less necessary, but have become an important part of today’s lifestyle.

One problem a lot of people have with clothes is they buy something and then never wear it. I have some shirts I bought and then never wore, even though buying them seemed like a good decision at the time. Buying clothes is both a practical and an emotional decision, and you’re going to make mistakes. There is really no good solution to it. So what I recommend is, go look for something you would be proud to wear. Buy it and wear it.

Winter season is fast approaching, though this Autumn season, snow already showing.

During this winter/cold season, one of the most sought after outdoor activities would be skiing. There have been ski camps these days that has been prepared solely for the cold season and for the long holiday break. There are also camps that can accommodate visitors all year round. They are located in the highlands wherein ices don’t melt. The best ski camps in the world are those that are located in the northern part of the globe like those in the cold European countries. Switzerland got approximately 200+ ski resorts while Germany got almost 200, though Eastern part of United States is the best place too!

 These countries can offer the best ski experience more than any country in the world and they got the facilities as well. They can even hold international ski tournaments as well as luxurious ski escapades. If you’re planning to enhance your ski skills, then you should visit these places. Who knows you’ll become one of the best ski players in the world and check out these places. It would be awesome, isn't it?

  (Guest post)

This picture (which is pixelated, I know, sorry about that) was taken more than five years ago. I was just few months after I arrived here in United States of A. I was there together with my friend Au & her hubby. That was in Our Lady of Angels here in Los Angeles, California. It is quiet famous as many tourists went there. Though, it is just 15 minutes away from where my little family live, still it is quite far as it will be crossed in a freeway. It really needs time to go there unlike a chapel here near us (three minutes drive or seven minutes walk *walking is a good exercise*). I can always look at it when passed-by going to my daughter's appointment in Vermont Ave, Los Angeles (plus the Jollibee food chain) once a day, every week, though. Anyway, this picture doesn't do justice, this church is beautiful in actual much more nowadays.
 
I plan to go back and spend time there one day soon. Can't you guess, I also miss by slim bod here. Ha! Reminiscing. Now I'm already 120-124 lbs. Whew!

People create handicrafts for various reasons. As much as Americans and other people around the globe, Filipinos love and enjoy expressing themselves artistically as they create objects like wood carvings, woven baskets, lampshades, trays, home décor and many others. And one quality of the Filipinos have, is that Filipinos love to make and do things with their bare hands. They learn the craft as a challenging and entertaining hobby at the start. They do it during their free time and/or during weekends.

Engaging in handicraft is a very interesting passion. But what usually starts as a hobby can be a good source of livelihood, too. Some Philippine handicrafts are exported to the United States, Australia, some part in Europe, and co-Asian countries. In the Philippines, tourists crowd handicrafts stores to buy souvenirs items to bring home. By the way, just a short note, Miss Philippines has been crowned as Miss World 2013 which was held yesterday in Jakarta, Indonesia. Congratulations to Megan Lynne Young. She makes Filipino proud.

I received the products below complimentary from Aurorae for review or testing purposes.

Time check ---> 12:57 A.M. (Pacific Daylight Time or as commonly seen "PDT") as of September 29, 2013. One day to go before the September end day. So how's everyone, what's up?

Me? I have been caught up with a lot of things especially with a two-year old toddler. You know, it is really had being a mom juggling being a home-maker, as a mom and as a wife with no assistant or a help. I have to focus on my child but I also have to cook, clean and everything associated with that house work as well as being myself and keep my sanity intact all the time. I guess, that's all we are all working on, especially the latter, isn't it? Ooh well, you can't relate if you're not a mom yet.

Anyway, have a great Sunday everyone! Spread the positive vibes. By the way positive vibes doesn't mean it doesn't have negative aspects but rather, being positive means overcoming the negative/s! Be optimistic.

Once again, happy Sunday!

 A toothbrush is important to our health, specifically to our mouth part, the gums --- otherwise, we could have a gum disease due to our teeth/gum problem. And that will happen when no proper care or toothbrush to our teeth. As much as we love foods and chocolates as well as other stuffs that we put in our mouth, proper and consistent  toothbrush is what we basically need in order to keep it clean and healthy.


I assume (to which it is basically what everyone does) that we do brush our teeth regularly or at least three times a day (or even once a day), but, isn't it that the only thing we are concerned of? Way back years, I was not really particular of what kind of toothbrush did I use in brushing my teeth. Then one day, I came to my dentist and she told me that it has to be soft so it won't damage my gums. And I thought it won't clean that best because of such softness but then I still use it though I have other a little hard one in alternate or whenever I need to have it, so all in all I have two at a time. Then came this SlimSoft Toothbrush of Colgate which is said to be 17x Slimmer Tip Bristles for a Deep Clean complimentary from Influenster for me to review. And yes, it does did its job! As in I really like it because of the softness and like it says slimmer tip bristles! So I don't need to use two toothbrush at a time. Now, I switch to this toothbrush! The best so far, for me. I can guarantee its quality!

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

I have been keeping a journal since I was in high school. When I reached college, I wrote more or let me say, I made more that in later years. I had a hard time which place should I stock those piles. I don’t like the thought anyone going through my journals while I am still alive.

Someone asked me, what’s in your journal? I told her, oh well, they are personal experiences, mostly what my day was or a weekend like or my aspirations. I also recorded some love moments and even the fights and confused moments. I think keeping journal is a healthy habit. It may look weird for some because it makes an introvert person more introvert, but to me, it’s kind of healthy because if there is no one near you, or if one is not comfortable sharing her deepest thoughts, she has the journal to pour out her feelings.

Keeping a journal is not just for girls. There are men who kept one, too. Even great men have journals. Examples of men who kept a journal or diary are Ralph Waldo Emerson, Kurt Cobain, Ronald Reagan, and Captain Cook. These are just some of them. There are or course a lot of women who can add up to this list.

So, if you want to end up like any of them, keep writing! It does not matter if it’s only for your eyes, the important thing is you write about the moments of your life. :-)

About the end of the conversation in the Skype with my immediate maiden family in the Philippines, my youngest sister Lovely had a conversation in her phone from Unilab that they're going to deliver something. And I humbly shouted that it's the Swish that they gave out sample for review in exchange of my/our honest opinion. And I am one of the lucky juror (ah ha! Wink*) to be sent of this product. With the approval of my co-blogger who handle as a middleman, I have my my maiden family there as my recipient.

Mouthwash is a must here in our home in USA (and I bet in most home, if not every home) and alcohol-free is the best. The alcohol-free by the way is the new upgrade mouthwash from "with-alcohol" (apparently). Since this upgrade product is also new in the Philippines, I did not hesitate to say "yes" for my family there in the Philippines to try the new mouthwash, yes --- Swish. It's flavor is a taste of mangosteen fruit to which according to them is refreshing and they can really taste the fruit flavor on it. Yes, they like it! Their verdict is 5/5. Awesome. :-)