My three morning essentials: Coffee, pastry and my laptop

Microsoft products have made my life as a WAHM (work-at-home-Mom) a lot easier. My laptop and I are inseparable, whether at home or when I’m working at a virtual office (a.k.a. a coffee shop with no kids running around). Windows is a huge part of family life — from organizing documents to entertaining my kid. Office has been integral in helping manage my professional life – from freelance writing to consulting. I’m a bit OC (obsessive-compulsive) with the way I file my documents and prepare my presentations, so I think I’ve met my match with Office. I personally believe their technology can be empowering and is a great vehicle for channelling creativity. The greatest thing about it also is that it’s not that hard to learn That makes for better productivity and faster output. I get to spend more time with the baby. Yey!

My toddler watching family videos on my laptop

If you too have been looking for a vehicle that can help you manage your work load at the same time keep you entertained and connected, then now is a great time to buy a PC for you and the whole family!

I think it’s a great time to flex more WAHM muscle with a new Windows 7 PC. Go ahead and try it yourself.

*This is a sponsored post.

Of course old is relative. In this case, it means ads that came out in the ’80s and ’90s. Yes, that can already be labeled as OLD!

Aside from the TV commercials I wrote about in the article, there are many more that have made a strong mark on my memory. Let me know if you remember any of these ads! Ah, old commercials, how you entertain us so.

Chuckie Dreyfuss, Isabel Granada and Jennifer Sevilla (Colgate)

“I remember yesterday the world was so young…” (Bear Brand)

“Dear Diary, Carlo sat beside me today!” (Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog)

“The beauty of the Philippines come shining through…” (Philippine Airlines)

“I’m getting ready, getting ready…” (MILO)
This ad really worked for me. I did drink quite a lot of Milo back then.

Christmas ad from Mighty Kid (Rubberworld)

One of the many fun Joey commercials (Royal Tru Orange)

“Langhap Sarap!” (Jollibee)

“Kung walang ice? Kung walang milk? KUNG WALANG WATER?” (Ovaltine)

Lamok siguradong tepok! (Dragon Katol)

“I can feel it!” (Palmolive)

PAGODA COLD WAVE LOTION!

Siboom siboom! (San Miguel Pale Pilsen)

Bilmoko n’yan, bilmoko n’yan, HA! (San Miguel Pale Pilsen)

“Di lang pampamilya, pang-isports pa!” Family Rubbing Alcohol

TV ads I can’t find online that I sure would love to see again — RA Homevision, Goya Chocolate Factory, Knorr Real Chinese Soup (Just add one egg… GOODAH!), Electrolux (I’m gonna knock on your door, ring on your bell, knock on your window too…), Johnson’s Wax (Tumatagaaaaal!), Close-up with Jaime Garchitorena’s “Just a smile away”.

Do any of these ring a bell? If yes, then… you’re just as old as I am give a take a few years. Hahaha!

I hope you enjoyed the show!

Nuffnang is Asia-Pacific’s first and leading blog advertising community. I’ve met some of the Nuffnangers from the Philippine office and they’re one dynamic and enthusiastic bunch! I’m proud to be part of this family.

If you’re interested, you can read my interview with them at their website. Obviously I had a lot of fun answering their questions as my replies were quite lengthy. Heehee.

Thanks again to Nuffnang for this wonderful surprise. To all those coming this way through the Nuffnang site, a big hello and welcome to you guys! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy checking this blog out.

“I’ll color your world if you’ll color mine…”

“Every color and every hue is represented by me and you…”

Mmmm, don’t you love the smell of new crayons? This is Timmy’s first “big boy crayons”. The current crayons he has are the chunky ones, so I was a bit worried that he wouldn’t be able to hold these thinner ones properly. I was also a little apprehensive that he would start breaking them. Ah, what a worrywart I turned out to be. Timmy immediately got started on his artwork. No broken crayons or handling issues. Timmy handled the crayons with, uh, flying colors. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun!)

“Hmm, do I crosshatch or try some etching exercises?”

This is Timmy’s first artwork with his Mongol crayons. I’ll call it “An Experiment in Cerulean and Orange.” I’m sure you can come up with a better title!

“I found the masterpiece in you…”

While Timmy was busy with that piece, I was checking out the different shades. It’s been a long time since I’ve played with crayons! My favorites were these shades of red and blue.

Choose your lipstick shade!

Cerulean on the left, blue green on the right. Which do you prefer?

Check out the crayon box and you’ll notice the trademark Mongol band at the top. I really loved this touch. The band is such a strong branding property that there’s no mistaking this box of crayons is Mongol. The advertising geek in me super loved it.

Like pencil, like crayon.

But the box was put aside because I prefer putting Timmy’s crayons in a recycled tissue box holder. This way, Timmy gets quicker access to any colors he wants.

Use a tissue box holder as a quick and easy way for a toddler to get crayons.

A box of Mongol Crayons 24′s goes for P44.75. Hey, that’s not bad at all. These crayons are of really good quality. They’re also non-toxic. Check them out at National Bookstore and at other bookstores and department stores.

It’s Day 8 of Timmy’s crayons and he hasn’t broken a single one yet. Woohoo! It also looks like I’ll be attaching more nostalgia with Mongol, this being Timmy’s first “real” crayons. Holy cow, my toddler’s using big boy crayons. Sniff. Before I know it he’ll be getting from my stash of #2 pencils and sketching in his journals. How blissfully sentimental that moment would be but wait a minute! Not so fast! Today, crayons. Tomorrow, pencils. One colorful, artsy growing up step at a time.

Booking
After a friend recommended the hotel, I booked via the hotel’s website. I took a Deluxe Twin for P3,800. The rates are cheaper when booked online, and I got a personal email from the staff once it was all confirmed. No robot emails! That was already an indication of the great G-hotel experience we were about to have.

G-Hotel by Waterfront

Getting there
The hotel was easy to locate. It’s right along Roxas Boulevard and a few buildings before Manila Diamond. There’s a secure parking lot right across and beside the hotel.

We’re here!
We stayed there around the Christmas holidays so the lobby was decked in silver and white. Super lovely and sophisticated. You’d think all the black and metal colors would make you feel cold inside, but no. The staff was really warm so it felt quite homey.

Once we were at the reception area, I presented our hotel voucher and got a great surprise. (Does G in G-Hotel stand for Grrreat?!) We were being upgraded to a suite! Ooh la la. I didn’t know why, but maybe it was because we were staying for two nights.

Our G-Hotel suite
As soon as we stepped into the room, I knew we were really in for a great stay. WOOD FLOORS!!! I’m not a fan of carpets, you see. You never know what’s lurking in between those fibers… Warm browns, tans, wood and wicker welcomed us when we stepped into our suite. I really fancied living there.

Living room area with a super comfy couch

Breakfast nook

Mini-kitchen with mini-ref behind those counter doors

A suite entails a separate bedroom, and it didn’t disappoint. It was spacious and cozy at the same time. We had trouble getting out of bed the next morning because it was just too darn comfy.

Bedroom bliss!

Our official hotel bed tester approves!

The view from the bed — sala to the left, TV right at the center, bathroom to the right

Bathroom goodies

After we did a little tour of the suite, the family got busy relaxing. My husband settled in front of the TV. My son played with his cars on the living room table. I played online games, thanks to the free wi-fi. Ah bliss.

The original plan was to check out the Manila sights once we were checked in. Check out the bay, drop by a mall, maybe go to a museum. Nah. We just chilled out at the hotel our whole free time. A hotel staycation.

Eating at G-Hotel

There are a lot of good restaurants in the Manila area, but like I said, we just wanted to stay in. We were very happy with the food! Here are some of the yummy food my family and I enjoyed during the course of our stay. Yes, I recommend you give them a try! These were all ordered via room service.

Teriyaki Chicken Burger – Teriyaki glazed chicken breast with mango, tomatoes, grilled onions, lettuce, mushroom and cheese – Php 330

Yolkless Omelet – Egg white omelet with tuna, cheese, onions, mushrooms, served with hash browns – Php 260

Smoked Salmon and Baker’s Bagel – Grilled bagel with Norwegian Smoked Salmon, with capers, onion marmalade (YUMMMMM) and sun-dried tomato cream cheese – Php 440

Tangerine creme brulee – served with mandarin orange slices – Php 275

They’re typical hotel food prices, but I’m telling you! They’re worth it. The food was really delicious.

Poolside, anyone?

On the 7th floor, G-Hotel has a pool bar called Mirage. The pool looked pretty inviting too. It wasn’t open when we went up, but I’m sure it looks pretty cozy in the evenings. It would be great to have an evening party here ‘no?

Overall Experience
We had a wonderful time at G-Hotel. We had wanted to stay here for New Year’s Eve but it was fully booked. Eep. The staff was warm, the room was wonderful, the food delicious. I loved how this boutique hotel was intimate and comfy. The service was premium. I am looking forward to our next stay there, whenever that is!

G-Hotel Manila by Waterfront
2090 Roxas Boulevard
Malate, Manila
Tel.: (63.2) 525.0888
Fax.: (63.2) 400.0876
Website: www.g-hotel.com.ph

It’s Christmas time! What, you’re blue? You’re broke? You’re buried in last-minute meetings before the break? I can help! Well, only with the blue part and the destressing but not the broke part. Two out of three is still a good thing. Anyway, get into the swing of Christmas my listening to Christmas songs! Like right now! It’s an instant mood booster.

There’s an iPhone app I love. It’s called Christmas Radio. It’s a free app where you get to listen to Christmas radio stations from all over the world. I put it on when I’m getting overwhelmed by paperwork (destressing!) or when I’m cleaning the room (blue!). I guess it can help with the broke part too since you can enjoy it without spending a cent.

Thanks to Linnor for telling me about this app. I listen to Christmas songs even when it’s not the holiday season so this app so it’s a great app for me. Let me know if you like it too!

“Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg…” Do YOU listen to Christmas songs to get the spirit too? What are your favorite holiday songs?

This morning I was rushing for work when my husband suddenly said out of the blue, “Hey, Felicity isn’t that bad! I liked it!”

I stopped washing my face and looked at him. “What?”

“I watched one episode when you fell asleep. It’s really good! The story is simple but nakakakilig (thrilling). And there are a lot of subplots but they mesh together well.”

“Oh!,” I grinned, honestly surprised that my husband enjoyed the show. “So what happened after I slept?”

He made a face and I figured he didn’t want to talk about it. He took a deep breath then went, “Well Felicity has this roommate who has spells, then Felicity said she didn’t believe in magic but she believed in faith. Who’s Felicity’s crush?”

“Ben.”

“Ben. So he got a job that meant he’d drive and be gone for two weeks, so the group decided to go on a road trip together. But the pseudo-boyfriend of Felicity… what’s his name?”

“Noel.”

“Noel. He said it was awkward because they were friends but they were still kissing, so going on a road trip would be a bad idea. And then Ben’s girlfriend broke up with him.”

What followed was a very detailed explanation of the episode. I was hiding a smile the whole time I was getting dressed for work. My husband went on and on about the show.

“…and then it’s by J.J. Abrams! No wonder it’s good! The girl who played Felicity was in Mission Impossible too,” he continued to gush. He looked at me and asked, “How far down am I this season?”

“I think that was the finale you just watched. From your story it looks like everyone’s going away for the summer,” I responded.

“Yeah. Then there were moments between Ben and Felicity, as if they were going to kiss but they wouldn’t, now Felicity is torn between telling her best friend or not…,” then he continued to gush. My husband. Fascinated by Felicity.

I was late for my ride by 20 minutes but it was worth it.

That was the highlight of my morning.

—————-

P.S. I know I’m like ten years behind on the show but I’m only on Season 1. No spoilers please!!!

My husband got it for me after I started gushing over it. Thank you Husby! Isn’t it cute? It makes for a nifty coin purse or a cellphone case. My camera fits into it too. We got this pouch from Rustan’s.

I wonder if kids born in the ’90s can still relate to this post. Maybe they don’t even know what a cassette tape is. Eek.

The best mix tapes were made by my best friend in high school. She was the master mix tape maker. She knew the songs that went well together and her mix tape flowed like it was just one long melody. I loved them. I wonder if she still makes mix tapes. Well, CD style now.

If you got a mix tape from an admirer (baaaaack then), you could consider yourself quite lucky! I think that a lot of effort goes into making a mix tape more than burning a CD. There’s just more manual work involved.

The cheesy mix tapes were the ones that had all the love songs and then (surprise!) your boyfriend’s/suitor’s/admirer’s voice would suddenly surface like a DJ. I didn’t get any of those but I did hear some tapes like that and they were funny. Preciously sweet but, on hindsight, hilarious.

While we’re on mix tapes, here’s one of my all time favorite songs — “Mix Tape” by Butch Walker. I think it’s from one of the One Tree Hill soundtracks which makes it doubly awesome.

Did you make mix tapes? Did you make them for yourself or for someone else (yeehee!)?

*Title of post from Butch Walker’s “Mixtape”
*I got deja vu writing this post and after searching through my archives realized I had written about mix tapes before. AND I had the Butch Walker song lyrics. Haha!

Meet Katherine Sparrow. She’s never felt at home at Riverview or Sunset Valley – must be the desire for adventure in her genes. She’s brave, charismatic, handy, a hopeless romantic and dramatic. Upon learning about a new place called Barnacle Bay, she immediately packed her bags and moved into a quaint little home that overlooked the ocean. When she saw the steering wheel letterbox, she knew she had found her world.

The home was messed up by a recent meteor shower, so she had some cleaning up to do. She was up to the challenge of meteor cleaning, thinking she could sell the meteors anyway and add to her savings. The house came with a lot of meteor rocks and…

…a tombstone. Creepy. She doesn’t look too happy about it. Later on she’ll discover that a lot of tombstones are around Barnacle Bay.

Then it was time to look for a job. Katherine was hoping she could make a living out of being a pirate, but was disappointed when she remembered Barnacle Bay was not an expansion pack. Oh wait, I mean she remembered it was just another world. So she got a job at Hogan’s Deep Sea Diner. If the closest she could get to being a pirate was to work in a pirate ship, then so be it.

There’s a new kitchen scullion in town. If you mess with her, she’ll knock you out with the wrench she carries around everywhere.

The next day she decided to go around town. She chatted up some strangers at the park, later on meeting one who works at the same place she does.

While they were talking, Katherine fell in love… with the bench! She thought it was a pretty clever use of old anchors.

After a brief talk with her co-worker, she went around town some more to explore. She especially enjoyed the library, the many beach coves and campgrounds. She wished she had brought along her friends who loved the outdoors and were anglers.

She chanced upon a death flower bush in one of the campgrounds. It wasn’t ready for harvest yet, but she knew she would come back for this later on.

While grabbing a quick roasted marshmallow bite at one of the campgrounds, Katherine noticed there was a tombstone right beside her. What the heck!

Later in the night, she checked out the cemeteries. Barnacle Bay has two cemeteries. Creepy. Guess who she ran into? Nina Caliente! Familiar name, Sim matey? Nina looks bored with Katherine’s sports talk. How about those Llamas, Nina?

Katherine had a surprise visitor that same night. A pink ghost! That’s what you get for having tombstones in the house.

Off to work, kitchen scullion!

After work, she went exploring again. She chanced upon a pirate’s hideaway! Were there any treasures?

Maybe…

She went to bed happy that night, comfortably snug under her warm pirate-themed sheets. She’d return to the hideaway soon and dreamed of blogging about it.

Katherine realized that there were not that many pirate activities at Barnacle Bay after all. There were some campgrounds, the ship were she worked, some new furniture and clothes, but that was it. She wondered how she could bring out more of her pirate spirit. She had the answer.

A new hairstyle! Katherine knew she really wasn’t in a world of pirates, but at least she could fully look the part. Time to report for work!

Here’s what I really think of Barnacle Bay:

• I like that I have an alternative to Riverview, Twinbrook and Sunset Valley. It would be a nice world for Sims who love the outdoors and fishing.
• The world’s characters were pretty interesting. I especially am interested in learning about the Caliente sisters. What are they doing in this world?
• The campgrounds and fishing areas were really pretty. I like how seamless they look. You’ve got a lot of options for that destination party. The waterfall leading to the river was well done.
• I wish it had more pirate stuff. I wish we could go into the big ship, but it was a rabbit hole! Darn it. There was a pirate’s ship in The Sims 2 Vacation which was pretty awesome, so I wish they had brought that same interaction here.
• “Vacation or staycation?” I thought that Barnacle Bay would be a vacation destination too. It’s not though. That line from the advertising confused me.

Overall, it’s a new, fun world for your Sims to enjoy. I had to keep reminding myself though that it was not an expansion pack. So manage your expectations too!

To get Barnacle Bay for your Sims, you need to get the latest The Sims 3 update first. Head on over to The Sims 3 store to download the world for 1,650 Sims Points (around $16). Install and enjoy!

Happy Simming!

Avast, me Simaholics! Want your Sims to go “Aaarrrrr!”? I don’t know what pirate speak will sound like in Simlish, but it would be interesting to find out. Electronic Arts has released their new downloadable expansion called Barnacle Bay. New objects! New locations! New characters! My favorite — new clothes and hairstyles weeeeee!

Here’s the trailer. Aarrrr!!!

Barnacle Bay can be downloaded from The Sims 3 store. You need 1,650 Sim Points to purchase it. Aaarrr!!! Now that wasn’t pirate speak but more of a frustrated “Aaarrr.” I’ll get this game soon!

Added 10.10.10: More Barnacle Bay screenshots after the jump!