When lazy...

This is our kitchen when I have the time cleaning up after cooking. Oh don't ask how it looks when I'm cooking or when I'm too lazy :D Perhaps chaos would be the most appropriate description lol. I've always maintained that corner that way with a little netbook too. I've always depended on that netbook when I'm too lazy to think of what to cook. I'd google up recipes for the meat  or fish I have at the fridge and cook! It's just an ordinary netbook that hubby set up, not a new one and very much far from an  industrial pc (lol) but it does the job well though I really need to lift the pages of my recipe books...

Just attractive...

The ad reads :: how to lose weight fast!!! Eager and willing you click on it only to learn that it's just the usual info-website that tries to sell stuff, with random comments from people who have no bloglinks...you realize you've been there just that, the blogname is different....bingo! It's just another website like the acai berry pills....and you wonder why you always get attracted to click on them even if you already knew, it's just a trick...just like a moth to fire.

Scam?

That there's no path to afast weight loss has been established long ago...or has it been?

Remember Holly Rigby's fit and yummy mummy 28-day trial pack which the hubby didn't approve of since there are videos available on youtube too? :D They've stopped sending me emails so I was thinking maybe all that I paid for was really just that. I really hoped I had looked for torrents while trying to know if the program is a scam...That cost me around 30$ too... :( Anyway click here to learn more about effective weight loss.

Light or dark

Skin, that is. Back home, TV commercials are more of whitening lotion. Grocery shelves full of whitening soap, creme, lotion and other stuff that would lighten skin tone, particularly a woman's. I wouldn't deny trying a certain lotion back then, to no effect. My skin only lightened a bit when I started living in Manila. It must be the wind and the water lol.

When I came to Vienna it was the other way around. People prefer tanning lotions and these are prolific in the stores here. I remember a colleague said she wants to have the same skin color I have... :) Well, I think it really is a matter of being satisfied...I'm particular with how safe changing skin color is...

Biggest Loser

This TV  show centers on overweight contestants attempting to lose weight to fight for a cash prize. There are different variations of the Biggest Loser around the world. Each country has made its own adaptation to the show; however, the contestants always have the same goal: to lose the highest percentage of weight (or most weight) to become the Biggest Loser. Austria doesn't have the show yet and no, I don't really hope to join lol...hopefully I'm not qualified (haha) but I really get encouraged seeing those contestants lose that much weight and getting fit. Also, they're purely training and diet, no talks about the best diet pills for women, fat burner supplements and other easy way out stuff...

The car cake (again)

Hubby was nagging my older brother to get even a cheap auto insurance for his car last time we were home. I bet it's because he knows how much repair the car needs. He's been telling me that it really needs tuning up. If only cars are baked like how they did in this video then it would be much easier. lol. I've posted this video 2 years ago but still find it amazing until now. I bet this tasted good too (they were kind enough to include a list of ingredients). Yes, 5 kilos of cocoa powder! :D

Piano lessons update

It has been a year now since my daughter started her piano lessons. In the course of that year she learned Beethoven's Ode to Joy, Für Elise and Mozart's piece of  Twinkle twinkle Little Star among others. She barely had the time to practice in summer since we were always out and about. Also, my older sister's keyboard was not at home so dawty doesn't have something to practice on.

I 've always associated "Opus" with classical music. Well, it does denote the number of the work of a musical composition that's why. So when I read somewhere the  opus x, I immediately thought it to be a piece of piano composition. It was far from it though. Anyway, dawty is now learning number 7 of Opus 823 (The Little Pianist) by Carl Czerny. I haven't heard it much played since I mostly listen to Pachelbel, Bach and so on but the piece is surely one of the best too. I'd post a video as soon as I'm able to capture one.

Be friendly!

It is very seldom that I write about my frustrations. Seldom do I write about negative stuff I encounter in this lovely city. Believe me, the people here can be as cold as a noh mask even if they are at the information desk, the cashier or government service.

If there is an award I can give for being the most friendly government agency, that would go to the MA 10 (Kindergarten Amt) led by Ms. Hetz and her very willing group. I always go there with confidence because I know that they'd be welcoming everyone with a smile. I get subsidies for Kindergarten care and after school care from them before and they're always helpful to let me know what should be done.

They'd be followed by the  office just below, I forgot what they're called exactly but they do the registration for those who should serve the military or civil service. Hubby did his civil service requirement 3 years back and the people in the registry were so nice. There's  just one who won't smile nor look at you when she speaks but she was helpful too.

The best award for most friendly cashiers would be those at the Penny Markt near our place. They are always greeting you with genuine smiles, a joke or two and sometimes really a good conversation (if you bought a lot). Plus the fact that they have the lowet prices among groceries here, buying is always a pleasure.

On the contrary, if there is a frown award to give to those who are not so friendly, I have a long list...For now I may have forgotten some so let me rethink. Ahhh...the woman at the Wohnbeihilfe (housing benefit) office! You know there's often a long line of applicants there, so you get a number then you get called accordingly. Imagine after waiting for like an hour you came into the office and the person inside doesn't even greet you nor offer for you to sit down then talk to you without bothering to look at your eyes...yeah, that's how bad. You'd easily think that person must be racist. Well, I at least do since many of those who apply for benefits are naturalized citizens.

Another bad experience I remember was at McDonald's Johanesgasse. This branch has a lot of pinoy crew, hubby at one point worked there too. One time, I came in queue to who I thought was Chinese...and friendly. Turns out she's a snob. Never had eye contact, no greeting, no thank yous...I learned later on that she was Vietnamese because I saw her photo on hubby's phone with the name Nguyen...(that's a very common Vietnamese surname no?) My annoyance to that person didn't stop there because we met her once after we watched a movie. She was so friendly with the hubby and talked with him for like 15 minutes without bothering to say hello to me and the kids....more, she was with his boyfriend who she didn't introduce to hubby at all. I actually left at about 3 minutes seeing them there too engaged in a conversation and brought the kids farther from them. Hubby came looking for us later on lol.

Well, I thought maybe for her it must not be their culture to go greet a person's wife or family or it may not even ben their custom introducing their boyfriends but it still gets on my nerves. I wonder why such people work where there are lots of people.

For me people who does not know how to smile shouldn't be doing jobs that require contact with people. I always regard, government service, customer service representative work and the likes are for those who know how to deal with people regardless of their color, language, height, eye color and even smell. :)

Rivals

With the new iphone 4 out, you'd think hubby and I are ecstatic to have one. Well, he at least. He's a gadget freak so whatever new comes in the market he'd certainly get his hands on it. This time he didn't, much to a friend's surprise. It was because I have been having problems with my iphone and network. He's thinking of switching to another company and getting another phone.

I was surprised that tonight he came home with a windows phone. lol. It's still a prototype...I think. He got it as a sample because he works for the company's online ads so it's so sort of like having an idea about the phone.

(I'll ask him soon if I can borrow the phone and have a photo uploaded here.) SSShhh...It's not as sleek as the iphone looks. :)

Drought

I can give all the excuses why I haven't been writing. Oh I have wrote a topic or two about a weight loss product, facial creams and topics that has nothing to do with parenting. It's not that I am running out of things to say but I honestly can't find the time.

My bookshelf has been collecting spider web and dust.  So I decided to read those books that I have begun reading before for about 10 pages. (I would forget that I actually started reading them. Talk about age!) For now though, I have to go attend my Pilates class. :D Yes, I've ventured yet again into another class...and each session really gives me bodyache! :D Gotta love it!

Slipcovers

I was cleaning our living room earlier when I noticed our white leather sofa's black spots. :( I really felt bad because hubby and I has given it good care since the time we bought it; but as he said, all furnitures have their "end." The sofa has been with us for five years now, has 3 kids jumping on it and sometimes eating there as they watch movies.

I sometimes put on a slipcover, well two pieces of cloth that serves as cover but not the one pictured here. I think it's only online that I've seen such suede, twill cloth slipcover, there is also a recliner slipcover and dining chair slipcovers but I haven't seen one that's shaped like an L as our sofa is. If only there's a tailot/seamstress (if that's also what they're called for such products) who can make one for me....hmmm.

Practical home furnitures

I really enjoy the show; The World's Greenest Home. I enjoy the designs and the fact that they were made earth-friendly. If you notice too, most of them are designed by owners themselves, mostly architects. I also enjoyed viewing furniture pieces from tv stands, side tables, cabinets, kitchen tops and sets to bathroom accessories, flooring and carpet.

Anyway, here is one of the more amazing videos you'd probably seen already. I mean, we have that sofa bed but theirs is much cooler!

Sweaters

It's officially autumn. Pumpkins are all over the place, that was why I was prompted to cook ginataang kalabasa with shrimps.

Some of the  leaves of trees turned yellow now and the ground are covered with them when the wind blows. I can already feel the cool breeze. So most of the sweaters, boots and thick pants have been pulled out from their slumber...this is the time that my son (the one with bronchitis) should be kept warm to avoid heavy-breathing attacks.

It's also the best time to cook up soup but first learn new ones...

The Vienna Opera house

Finally got the chance to be out on a night again. :D I had long wanted to take some night shots of particular buildings in the city. The Opera house is one of them. See, isn't it so beautifully lit?

For the longest time too that I wanted to watch a concert with the kids there, I have not booked concert tickets yet nor have I bought from Mozart impersonators around the city. :(

(to be continued...)

Burn!

I’ve been having stomach pains since lunch…I haven’t eaten rice the whole week and it has been my first time today. I think my stomach wasn’t used to digesting rice anymore.  I’ve been having lots of oatmeal and I think my tummy got used to the fiber, now, rice is too hard to digest. During the week, I had more hours on the wii doing aerobics, boxing and hula hoops…that’s my attempt on burning those stubborn fat. I could of course get those fat burning pills, that would be easier but I don’t really believe in them, well if you do, you can always check about stuff like thermogenic fat burners .

On acne

Pimples, and a lot of that at my age? You must be kidding! That was my initial reaction when I first had a breakout, that was 2 years ago..my stopping from taking in contraceptive pills triggered not just acne but weight gain as well. Frustrating - that's how I feel. Imagine your clear skin suddenly looks so dirty and unhealthy! I've been through many different adult acne treatment even heeding advice from acne treatment reviews here, some recommended by those who experienced the same, some from what I read from online forums, then there's also the teraphy given by dermatologists and I even underwent facial treatment from a skin expert. None helped, and for a whole year, I had to face my embarassing face with contempt. I shed money (not weight) for the topical lotions, creams, toner and all that and for the supplements that I thought would help stop the breakout. (See photo)

I finally found one that has helped me.....in all honesty...Vitamin C & E :D . It didn't only stop the breakouts but I now have glowing, healthy skin...There are still occasional pimples coming out but I know, soon this will pass. :D

Math problems...again

The first month of school is over. I'm thankful that it has not been as chaotic as last year...I had problems organizing the kids' homework back then. (If being in a language school with a teacher who doesn't really teach can be used as an excuse).

We left school a week earlier for our summer vacation so we were able to get the report cards only when school opened. Big boy was so proud to get all 1's while dawty was a bit sad to have gotten 2 for math. Like me, she had difficulties with numbers but excels with languages. I seriously wanted to have a free math help - student for her whom I can teach English in exchange...no I can't do the tutorial myself, my head spins when I see numbers. I was not a math problem solver to begin with...

For two hours at most, I spend time with dawty with math homework help - the method of writing is quite different from how I used to and it was easier so I teach her that way. She gets confused with that though lol. So I sometimes seek online for free homework help. I learned that online tutors are  becoming a trend nowadays. So in case in the future my daughter would need more tutorials for College algebra, Factoring polynomials and Math word problems, I wouldn't hesitate to pay for a competitive online tutor.

Let your faucet open

“Talent is like a faucet, while it is open, one must write.”- Jean Anouilh

The past week has been a productive one for me, in writing that is. I know it's not how I used to, it's not my style but I thank the opportunity that I am still able to do something I love.

So what does the picture have to do with this post? Nothing, it's one of the many kitchen faucet designs that can be bought and shipped free as of today! Since I got a faucet quote, I thought it appropriate to include a photo! ;-) I probably need to work on that, choosing which photos to include in an article and how to relate it well.

Design versus SEO

There's been much debate on this, and I see lots of bloggers changing their layouts optimizing it for search engines. The little home I have is no exception. If you have noticed I have changed layouts 3 times just last month. I wanted a simple, clean layout that is easy to navigate but the husband, a web designer, doesn't approve of this.

However, being the busy bee that he is, he can't sit on it and make a decent layout. He did gave me a tip: black background with white fonts is easier to read. His programmer friend seemed to disagree though; "white background, black fonts!" was the strict answer.

Aesthetic or Traffic? Well, why not both? *sigh* I noticed that the page loads slower but I'm anyway sticking to this layout for now...unless I see another one that interests me more. Well, there are always free web directories to submit one's blog to...or for paid listing, onewaytextlink.com offers that too (they also gives out SEO optimization secrets there!)