4 Facebook Accounts

I started joining social media in 2002. Friendster was so famous then. Through the years since the boom of the internet, the only applications I got involved in (aside from Friendster), was Multiply and Facebook,  I also maintained both my blogging sites. 

Like everyone else, I enjoyed the whole idea of being able to connect with friends from distant places. Schoolmates whom I haven't seen for years, and just the whole idea to be able to connect to people and voice out ones thoughts. My story goes around why I ended having 4 Facebook accounts in the last decade.

My first Facebook account was running smoothly. It was linked to my blogs and I'm very much friends with everyone until... it was hacked. My life was so open and sharing stories on my blogs thinking that I'm just an ordinary mom, I have nothing to lose.

The problem started when somebody tried to get log-in info through my details online. You see, aside from blogging, I am also an active gamer until 2013. I play World of Warcraft online. W0W requires so much and if millions are playing it, millions are also interested into getting an account for free, no matter what. To be able to join, one should purchase the game itself, create an account and pay on a monthly basis for game time. My account was a gift from my husband by the way.

Throughout the process, an account with a good setup can also be sold (for a good amount) to another interested gamer. Given that, later on, aside from my Facebook, my Blizzard account was also targeted for phishing. I deactivated my Facebook immediately, I changed all of my account info and I simplified the things I put on my blogs and online over-all.

My second Facebook account was made as soon as I deactivated my hacked FB. It stayed for awhile until... My husband requested me to deactivate it for a very important reason. You see, my husband is a private person, he is my opposite. If I like posting stuff, you won't hear a thing from him. So prying  irks him a lot. If they can't get through him, the next person was me. It just so happen that I wasn't blogging as much too and I seldom make posts that's why this next deactivation process was not difficult to do.

My third Facebook account is supposedly for business purposes. With the deletion of my second FB account, my husband got rid of his own too and we decided to create this third as a business marketing instrument. For about a year, we were able to run a specialty loaf business. Then mid- 2016 we went out of the country for a long vacation. When we got back, everything changed, our lives changed and we did not push with the business anymore. 

Coming from a good 4- month vacation, me and my husband agreed that I convert this FB "business" account as personal so we can share photos to our families. Later on, this third account went crazy (even with the most private setting) I got several requests from people I/ we have no intention of adding. When I mentioned crazy, there was just too much going on that it was already annoying so... deactivation time.

This fourth Facebook account I just made yesterday was carefully considered. I must admit, Facebook has become an essential in a sense that we want to be in touch with the "important people" in our lives. This account will serve close family members, relatives and friends I want to keep and "I'm actively" in touch with. Not much posting, no comments, no likes (maybe) but I'll be there for anyone who wants to share a conversation.

4 Facebook accounts... 

Throughout this transition I also learned a few things specially when it comes to privacy. From having hundreds of contacts composed of family, friends and acquaintances, I was able to filter it down to less than 50. People worth keeping are those who were and still are very supportive and generous of their time to us, those who inspire us, precious beings we value because we matter to them...

My family is in transition, we want a fresh, clean beginning, and  this is one part where we choose people we know that are true to us and who can be part of this new journey we're taking.

Minimalist Living

My understanding of a Minimalist Living is running under the "less is more" perception.

It is also going back to basics at some point and it was just recently when I became fully aware that this way of living has always been our set up at home and it is called Minimalism.

We started this kind of approach the moment we started a family. Life began from the very bottom. We get by from paycheck- to- paycheck. This kind of situation has taught us to become wiser. We saw the positive effects in "having less". We get by with what is only needed and we spend less time hanging out.

Lifestyle is a key player in our lives. Its impact takes effect instantly. Sometimes it is stressful and there are moments that can be inspiring.

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A Minimalist's life for me is simple living. As for our function as a family, we were able to learn and appreciate the art of detachment. It is one way to unburden oneself and clearly an easy path to get rid of items that we don't need and we feel will only serve as clutter. Time management is also important in setting one's priorities.

At Home

• My goal everyday as a stay at home mom is to make and keep a well- balanced household. It all starts within the four walls of our house. Having a conducive environment at home helps one overcome the mess that is outside, like a downpour of work or just the nonsense one has to deal with everyday.

• The reason why we bought a condo is because it is more manageable. Less maintenance, less headache. It's smaller than a house but it is still spacious enough to decorate and play around with. A basic square cut is always recommended so in times you want to rearrange or redecorate, it's easy.

• Get rid of old items especially those that are not being used. Toys, clothes, shoes etc... Not only you get to declutter but you also get to wear or keep newer things. In our case, we donate our old items. 

• Avoid excessive decorating. 
• Have plenty of storage and store items you want to keep properly
• Build a personal space in a corner of a room.
• In the kitchen, I also have the basics. Baking tools are on a set basis only.  When I got my KitchenAid mixer, I gave the old stand mixer back to my mom. 
• I have 2 sets of plates one for formal dining and another for everyday use.

These are just examples, the list goes on.

Benefits:
Less clutter, less stress to the eyes and mind.
More room, more space for meditation or quiet time.
Less clutter, less dirt, less bugs and pests.
A clean house dictates clean living and a healthy lifestyle.

Food

• The main goal is to avoid wastage and to equip your kitchen with your preferred essentials.

• Buy the ingredients or items for cooking that are often used. In a week, I was able to practice to come up with a menu good for 4 and that becomes basis for my grocery list both perishable and dry goods. Not only you avoid wastage but you replenish your fridge with fresh items every week.

• Establish what is needed to be bought in bulk and in minimal amount. 
• One of the things I love about the products we have in the Philippines is the "value pack". It gives the exact amount you need in one cooking or recipe.

Closet/Clothing

• Let's say, for some of us, it is when we go shopping we greatly damage our budget or savings. One of the perks of being a homemaker is I'm not required to dress up everyday. Shopping for new items for events and gatherings or even just to replace whatever I have are the benefits I enjoy with having less or just the basics in my closet.
  

• For whatever season it may be, "invest" on the basics and just do mix and match.

• When it comes to footwear, storage can be an issue. Shoes have a life span whether it is often used or not. I personally have "one pair" of what I think is essential. A pair of flat shoes, strap- on/ sandals, flip flops, slip-on, walking shoes/ running shoes and I have a heavy duty pair  which I can use during the rainy season.
• Accessories, make- up, perfume: Basic, what you prefer of course,  and just enough to consume at a certain period of time so you can treat yourself to a new set again.

Most of this basically hits on the amount we tend to buy and keep for a long time.

Travel

• One of the things I keep in mind when I travel anywhere with my family is to pack light. On our recent trip to America, even if we were given an allowance of 2 50lbs each (x4), aside from our personal bags, we opted to bring 3 large suitcases only: 2  for our clothes and a luggage filled with pasalubong/ gifts. With kids in tow, it's always best to travel light especially for long haul flights.
• Set your mind on souvenir items that are going to be useful when you get back home.

• It's a different case when you've done major shopping at your destination. For us, we shipped the items we bought ahead of the time of our departure.
• Based on our experience being around the East Coast, for a family of 4 we survived our daily tour with just my personal crossbody bag and a medium backpack in tow. 

• Wear the most comfortable clothes and shoes, the set of clothing you're willing to let go or you'll often use throughout your travel so you don't have to pack it.

Social

This is going to be more on a personal perspective.  In 2015, my husband and I got rid of our personal Facebook accounts. Many wondered, a lot made speculations... and it's just Facebook! Whatever accounts we have now are just active for communication purposes.

For me, the only active accounts I have is Instagram which is on private and with chosen few as my contacts, plus my blogs.

Simplify your world online. The thing we don't like about social media is prying, and there's too much negativity circulating.

We choose the people we hangout with as well. It's cool to have a few friends that you can trust and be open with, than a lot which you barely know.

When it comes to social media or on mingling, filter your activities. You don't have to get rid of your accounts just filter everything and be wise on what you post and share online.

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The reason why my husband and I are able to achieve goals and meet them on our specific timeline is because living with less gives us a wider perspective of things, of life itself.

Avoid getting too sentimental.

Don't ponder and overthink too much.

Choose to Live in the moment.

We can plan well, relax, look at our options, and study everything before we plunge into something. It gives us a huge amount of time, at least some room to breathe.

Being a minimalist helps us achieve goals. It also teaches our children how to live a simple life.

No one is getting deprived by the way, Minimalism is simplifying things. It's humbling and it shows the brighter side of life itself.

World of Coca- Cola Tour

Location:265 Park Ave W Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30313, United States

The World of Coca- Cola is situated within the Centennial Park District. It's just a few steps away from Centennial Olympic Park that was built for guests during the 1996 Olympics. It is right beside the Georgia Aquarium.

The World of Coca- Cola was the 2nd tourist spot we went to in Atlanta. Aunt Mel treated our whole family to the World of Coke as a welcome gift, but we were able to go during my eldest son's birthday last September.

 I love Coke! It's my go- to drink if I want something refreshing on a hot day or just to unwind and while watching a great movie. This tour was one of the highlights of our US trip last year because we visited the home of Coke, where it all started.

John Pemberton Founder of Coca- Cola

Information Booth for interested guests

The Lobby

Here, folks will welcome you with Coca- Cola drinks.

This is also where you will find the Coca- Cola bottle sculptures and the waiting area that will lead to---
 The Loft

The tour officially begins at The Loft. You will find memorabilia that represent the 125 Years of Coca- Cola from 30 different countries.

Our tour guide was very excited and asked each guest of their country of origin. It was amazing that the groups and families that we were with was composed of travelers and tourists from around the world. Switzerland, Korea, China, USA and even Greece. Of course, we got very excited to announce to all that we're from the Philippines.

Coca- Cola Theater

At the theater, a short film called Moments of Happiness was shown. It revolved around stories and moments of people from around the world with different cultures, how they celebrate and share their most valued journeys with Coca- Cola. It was a heartwarming film about love, life and family. The joys a drink can bring to our hearts.

I did not feature some of the other places we went to during our tour because we weren't able to take pictures. But you can visit: https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/ for details.

Pop Culture Gallery

Bottle Works

 Coca- Cola Polar Bear

The finale of our Coca- Cola tour was the Taste It! Experience. Here, we're able to taste over 100 Coca- Cola products from around the world. I guess, on what we've tasted so far, a country or continent's beverage is represented based on their culture or way of living.

Coke dispensers from places around the world: North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America

I took note of the following drinks I've been eager to try:

Japan- Vegitabeta ( not too sweet, refreshing, a bit bland)
Madagascar- Bonbon Anglais (unexplainable!)
North America- Gold Peak Sweet Tea (my new favorite in Georgia)
Korea- Joy (fruity)
North America- TAB ( gave me a nostalgic feel, milder taste compared to Coke)
Italy- Beverly (it's like vodka with sparkling water)

Over-all, I'm amazed on how Coca- Cola was able to recognize and come up with the distinct flavors that made each destination unique. I am proud to say that Asia has the most balanced set of beverages.

 My eldest son trying Coca- Cola products from Europe

Aside from the Taste It! experience, a section was also made available for other Coca- Cola products we're more familiar with. Keep your cups cause you might want to extend your Taste It! journey with some Coke Life, Cherry or Vanilla Coke, or with the Original Taste we all love. My second best choice was Raspberry Coke!

 Happy Me in My Happy Place

 More Coke for take home!

 Coca- Cola Store

We truly enjoyed our visit at the The World of Coca- Cola. It's one of our most memorable in this trip. It introduced a greater meaning than just recognizing and drinking a bottle of Coke. This whole experience showed us the other side of a famous soda brand, how it brings joy to everyone. I am very grateful to have experienced The World of Coca- Cola with my family. I mean, we love Coke!

Personal Tips On Getting Your Dream Condo

It has been 2 years since we've officially moved to our new home and I'm loving every moment and everything about it. I decided to make this post about our new home purchase so I can shed a little light on what basis should you use in order to get your money's worth on purchasing a condo unit, at least coming from an ordinary person's point of view.

I've talked to certain individuals who were having difficulties on weighing things if they should get a condo or a house and a lot. First of all, an investment will depend on your perception or simply what  will work for you not only now, but in the future as well. For me and my husband, throughout our married life, we've been staying/ renting in a condo. We saw the practical side of condo living, but we still plan to invest at least on a lot property if not a house and lot. We need to remember our personal reasons and purpose why we want and need to make this investment.

This whole entry will focus on our personal basis and experiences on choosing the right developer, the condo must-haves, location and other important things as buyers.

The no.1 rule we learned on making an investment is not to rush into things. Take time and do research, do ocular and inspect the exact location of the building itself.  Usually, developers have model units, don't hesitate to go and ask around. Share your plans and goals with trusted people you think can help you, especially those who already made a good investment.

Purchase a property that will not give you headaches or any inconveniences.

It took 5-6 years for us to finally land at the hands of the right developer. We almost bought a property that we're not sure of. We went to several loops on choosing and making an "almost" bad decision. But from a casual talk with my husband's friend from work who found out about our intention, he gave us some points. It all began with that simple conversation, and now we're living in our dream home.

Location:

It's an investment, take into consideration the location. It's accessibility whether you have car or none. A lot of condos are being sold for an irresistible price, don't get hooked! There's a compromise. It's cheap but location- wise it's not family- friendly or it's situated near a slum area or low lying area. Worst of all, it may be resting on top or beside a fault line.

Accessibility is important, "as much as possible" find something near your work place. Look for nearby grocery stores, sari-sari stores even, banks, churches, schools, hospitals, commercial establishments. Check whether it's linked closely to major public transport such as trains and terminals. Lastly, make sure that it has ample parking space.

Our location is in a prime area of Quezon City. We're near major establishments. There are schools, and hospitals nearby. We're just a jeepney ride away to Cubao, we can walk to a known shopping location. We're beside major roads. All these, yet we get a nice, family- friendly environment. Once we get inside the premises of our condo it's quiet and peaceful. We have a jogging path, a swimming pool, a playground and an outdoor gym. We basically feel like we're in a resort.

Developer:

Once you've set your mind on the perfect location. Look for a developer. Be aware, most agents like profiling.  How you dress up or what car you drive are some of the things they look into and it's a sad, pathetic truth.  Be honest, show them who you really are, don't clothe yourself to impress. Anyway, just the thought you're interested on investing makes you a very capable person.

This can be tricky, but usually, the best in the business has something built in major locations. It's an investment right? spend on a good/ best developer. The one who can guarantee to meet your expectations. When I say guarantee, it means the developer has money that they don't wait for down payments to pay for the construction of the building. With that, pre selling offers will come in handy. They can give you flexible terms. Just like what happened to us. Since our developer has money, they can afford to adjust according to our terms. Of course, that is with further study and approval. This goes with a reliable bank the developer is linked with.

Here are other important things to look for:

Amenities:

We're basically looking for a home that can give you more than a clean environment. Nowadays, a community offers amenities such as a pool and a playground. Look for these. It will add as a good find with the investment you're about to make. In our case and as mentioned above, aside from a swimming pool and a playground, we also have a clubhouse for events, a jogging path, an outdoor gym and a grotto where mass is held on special occasions. Make sure that the amenities are already available for use when you move in.

Cut of the condo units with major fixtures included:

This is one of the reasons why it took us quite some time to finally nail the right condo. We've been to several condos and one of the things that greatly bothered us was the unusual cut of the units, which I think is the trend nowadays. We were looking for a condo that can give us the feel that we're living in a house. It's small yet a basic square cut can give us room to make adjustments or plan our interior properly.

Choose a condo that already have the basics: a clean cut unit with dividers, working bathroom fixtures, kitchen with a sink or at least shelves. Look for a grease trap as well.

Balcony:

Get a unit with balcony.  It will serve as your garden or special nook.

Water:

Look for a condo where water is not affected when power is down. If you get the best developer, piping and all are at its finest.

Emergency Power System:

A condo with emergency powers is a plus. There's a working elevator, you can use an outlet, the fridge is running when power is down. We have all these in our condo and it will make you feel secure when there's an emergency.

Maintenance of the building:

A building has a life span, imagine a "not so well- maintained" one. We're very fortunate that our developer handles the building maintenance. Clarify with your developer on who'll provide maintenance. There are instances that the homeowners association is the one in- charge. There are cases when there's not enough funds, they skip this process, so through the years, the unit owners end up with an old- looking, cracked up building.

Our building is new, but you know what, they just repainted it. Our community is composed of 5 towers, and each are repainted and maintained properly. 

Security 24/7:

Make sure that the condo you choose has reliable, strict security services. Each tower in our community has its own lobby, concierge and security guards. We're also equipped with CCTV cameras. Aside from that, we have guards and an emergency personnel roaming around the premises, a guard at the walk- through entrance and several at the main gate and parking.

Housekeeping and In- House Maintenance:

Housekeeping does the internal stuff like cleaning and garbage disposal.  These are 2 essential roles that does internal maintenance 24/7. If you need something fixed in the middle of the day and night, they come to aid you.  That extends to the amenities.

Staycation? No need to go out, I have everything in my humble unit, better than a hotel.

It's a good investment for those working or living abroad and for those who frequently visit the Philippines.  

Whatever I shared here are just based on our experiences when we purchased our condo. Most of you might ask who our developer is. For security reasons, I will not mention our location and the exact property we purchased, but we are proud to share how happy and satisfied we are with Ayala Land.

Life of Positivity

To be honest, it's a total let down everytime I go online and the only thing I see are bad stuff that people say about other people. I try not to dwell so much on issues that I know has a solution, but no one would give a damn. So I thought maybe creating a more positive mood here on my blog might inspire a reader.

The environment is on fire with so much negativity, the next thing we might want to do is to avoid adding fuel to it. Pull the good from that same negative state instead. Let's set our pride and ego aside, remain grounded, be mindful of your surroundings and be a little sensitive towards others. Contribute something constructive. Be open to criticism and learn from those, be inspirational. Listen and don't over think. Help wholeheartedly, don't expect anything in return. Life is taken one day at a time so relax.

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With all the negativity circling the world let us counter that with a good deed each day or at least do things with a sincere, kind heart.

3 Seasons of Happiness

In my life, it was during our vacation that I was able to experience and enjoy the change of seasons.

 When we arrived in America, we were able to love the coolness of the last weeks of Spring. Most of our journey went around Summer and now it's Fall. The seasons played a big part on this travel of ours. As we all know, in the Philippines, we're stuck with 2 types of weather system---wet and dry or rainy season and summer, plus a certain level of humidity on top of both. Which is why I promised myself that if I get to travel abroad, I'll make it memorable by experiencing at least parts of the so- called 4 Seasons.

Early in June 2016 was the date of our trip. For some practical reason that was when my husband got his approval to get some time off from work, we had to take it. But given the choice, we prefer November in time for Fall and to experience the transition to Winter, you know, that whole concept of a White Christmas.

Anyway, the June date turned out great! We were expecting it to be hot knowing that Summer in America comes around at this time. To our surprise, it was still Spring and it was pretty cool when we arrived. One of the things I learned from this trip is that seasons change with a snap of a finger.

 Magic Kingdom, Disney World Orlando, Florida

The day after we arrived in Orlando, Florida it was announced in the news that it was officially Summer. So I thought maybe it's still a bit cool only lesser. But when we went out for our tour at Disney World, yup! it's Summer. All of a sudden it was hot, like "flat iron hot", it's dry, but definitely not as humid or sticky to what we have in the Philippines.

Come to think of it, we kinda extended summer from the Philippines (April- May) to America (July- mid September). This one is for the books--- 2 summers in 2016! Summer in America is different. I like it because it's dry. Using the Philippine summer as comparison, I'd rather have it hot and dry than hot, sticky and stinky hehehe! Anyway,  any place we go nowadays to is air- conditioned. 

The kids were treated for some swimming lessons at a nearby water park. Quite an experience, my kids learned more from this class. They performed well. Not only they became more knowledgeable, but they also showed interest on making swimming as a sport, especially my eldest son.

 Swimming Lessons with Ms. India and Ms. Chanel

Aside from swimming lessons, the kids enjoyed frequent visits to the water park for fun. We also go to a trail park within the vicinity.

We take long afternoon walks, "we try" to stay healthy considering that food in America is magic and  to warm up because we're on the go all the time and with kids in tow. We walk "at least" 3-4 km or 3-5 miles or at least meet 10,000 or more steps everyday. 

Our Summer tour went around with visits to Florida, North and South Carolina, New Jersey and New York! I must say, there's a good feel to go on tour at this time, because you don't get to wear and carry layers of clothing as you walk around, which is not bad, it's an experience as well.  Its just that summer has its own perks and benefits. 

 Main Deck Empire State Building

Summer in America is as fun as our summer in the Philippines. The thing we loved about summer in July was a cleaner setting, it is not polluted and humid. You know it's hot but at least what you breath in is clean, fresh air. 

Late in August, we decided to go to Washington D.C. and spend at least a week to discover the nation's Capital and a quick stop to Maryland.

NYC and D.C. are a must when in America. 

Plan it, get a map, set funds, bring an adventurous travel companion and head to these places. 

 16th st. NW, Washington D.C. going to the White House

Since we're on a budget, instead of flying or renting a car, we rode the Amtrak. Our home- base near D.C. was Annandale, Virginia.

When we got there it was still summer. It was blazing hot, but as we move along the week, it became cooler. Virginia is up North of GA, before we left we were advised that it might get cooler at this time in August. In the middle of supposedly a "hot summer", we enjoyed a cool one while in Virginia.

It was just right to ease out the skin from the heat of the summer sun, but also enough to enjoy and wrap yourself with a cardigan or lightweight jacket.  Last stop of our northeastern trip was Bethesda, Maryland.

Bethesda, Maryland

When we left D.C. it was already September. Anytime, I was expecting for a change in temperature. My mom-in-law mentioned that Fall was near. I got excited, like everyday I check the weather. It was still hot until they announced that it was officially Fall in mid- September, and just like that, the temperature dropped. 

I've always wanted to see the beautiful colors of Fall.


It's everyone's wish to experience Fall. I never thought of it as a dream but I've always wanted it. This I have to say marks one of the most memorable on this travel of ours. Not only we get to feel Fall, but we are witnessing its transition day by day.

They say, it's best to climb the mountains and appreciate it even more thru its foliage and people do that in GA. Maybe one day, we can too.

  Fall also marks the beginning of the Pumpkin Season and preparation for Halloween events and Thanksgiving. We were able to bring the kids to a traditional pumpkin patch with hay under our feet, country music playin' and pumpkins of different sizes everywhere. (in a different post)



I call it 3 Seasons of Happiness: Spring, Summer and Fall. 

It pulled out our young hearts and got us to our jolly feet throughout this journey. This is the most important for me as a person and as a parent, the effect, the result that was gained from the hard work we pour everyday, was surely worth the wait and of course, worth every penny.

One lesson I also learned from this travel was not to rush into things. It took us years to make this travel happen, but boy, it was big and definitely an extraordinary one!

I am very thankful to have experienced parts of the 4 seasons, grateful to have created this memory with my children and my forever partner in everything--- my dear husband.

 It was truly incredible and unforgettable!



 Winter is just around the corner, in GA, I heard it gets icy cold and this will have its own story soon.😉

A Good 10 Months

Travel has always been included in our timeline, but it was never a priority for we have more important things "we thought" we must take into consideration. A good 4 months was all we needed to get off the rat race smoothly. My husband and I came to a point when we realized that we needed to do something new and different, a refresher to keep us on the roll despite the chaotic environment we live in. 

Our 12th wedding anniversary gift to ourselves was this travel abroad. Since it was our first time to travel as a family, we looked for a destination where we can enjoy and learn a lot from.

Why America?

1. The original plan was to go to Japan. Who doesn't want to visit Japan, it's the perfect destination for everybody, but...

2. Family is in America.

3. America is a melting pot, it's a vast piece of land that house people of different cultures from around the world. 

4. We get to experience everything from one destination. The change of seasons, food, culture, environment, architecture, life and what makes each State stand out from the rest. In our case, we were able to explore the East Coast.

I really love the fact that "travel" was made as a point of learning and as an eye- opener to things out of my comfort zone. It was a humbling experience for me. I saw the real version of what life is in America. It's not all good, like every place in the world, but it has its own charm as well like every place in the world. It's different if you stay for a month and just tour. It's way, way different to be on tourist mode at the same time, there's a need to adapt in order to make the most of our stay.

We took courage and made plans to go for a long vacation and just said, let's go!. Courage and a positive outlook? because it greatly involves time, money and the possible impact on us (which may be good or bad) of this move we made. 10 months was all we needed. 6 months to prepare and another 4 months for the whole thing to happen. With God's Grace, always in His perfect timing, it was easy. Everything was laid out for us perfectly.

Onboard Statue Cruises to Ellis Island and Liberty Island 

I always believe that if it's meant for you, it will always be made easy. Yes, there's going to be a second trip and even a third and a fourth. For as long as family is there, we will keep on coming back.