My Journal

Summer time is around the corner!

What better way to spend summer looking beautiful and knowing you’re protected from the sun’s harmful rays?

During our trip to Cairns last October, the lady (Trisha) at the tourist desk counter at Novotel Oasis Resort commented on how good my make up looked prior to engaging in a day’s activity. I hadn’t even promoted SeneGence to her. I simply said ‘thank you’. Anyway, after a day’s drive visiting Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge and Palm Cove which included swimming, eating seafood lunch & afternoon tea and sun-baking, I arrived at the hotel resort at 8 pm with Trish saying if my make up was re-touched because I still had the same ‘look’ as was when I left. It was then that I handed her my business card and shared with her about my fabulous cosmetics. The next day I saw her she was excited to say that she had visited my website already. She had also sent me an email asking for samples when I go back to Brisbane. I still have to do that – naughty me! I’ve just been so so so busy!

If you like flawless skin without the idea of your make up melting on you, try the 3 must-have from SeneGence.

1. The MakeSense Foundation are –

• Waterproof! Sweatproof! Budgeproof! Transferproof! Scratchproof! (Yes, scratch your face and you won’t see anything on your fingernails)
• Wax and emulsifier free!
• It has the proprietary blend of SenePlex® complex which is a patented blend of nature and science that provides ANTI-AGING properties to the skin.
• Non-comedogenic (non-clogging) - if you’re too tired to wash your face before going to sleep, you won’t feel guilty. It lets the skin breathe!
• Sun protection equivalent to SPF 15+ WITHOUT the sunscreen chemicals
• Mineral based
• Can be applied once for sheer cover and a couple of layers for better coverage
• 12 shades to choose from

2. LashSense Mascara are –

• Waterproof!
• Sweatproof!
• Panda-eyes free!
• Covers each lash.
• Comes off easily without rubbing around the skin around your area. Constant rubbing causes wrinkles!

3. LipSense

• Waterproof! Kissproof! Smearproof! Featherproof!
• Patented formula
• Waxfree! Ladies consume 2 kgs of wax during a lifetime from wearing wax-based lipsticks. Yuck!
• Lasts 4 – 18 hours on your lips depending on body’s acidity as it’s a natural product
• Contains SD40 cosmetic grade alcohol for antiseptic properties
• Mechanical shield from sun’s UV rays
• Hundreds of colours to choose from
• No need to line your lips as colour doesn’t bleed through the cracks. It will even heal the cracks!
• 1 tube lasts 5-6 months on daily use; 3 year shelf life.
• 2 shades can make 8 different colours; 3 shades can make 27 different colours!

• Use shea butter-based Moisturising Gloss to seal the colour and nourish & your lips. Choose different types of glosses from Matte, Glossy, Glittered, Pearl and coloured.

I’ve owned hundreds of lipsticks and make up in my lifetime as I used to perform at an early age. I’ve tried lipsticks from $2 from discount stores to $100 glosses & lip liners from high end brands like Chanel, Dior, & Lancome and nothing compares to LipSense lipsticks.

I am passionate to share these products to all women. I wish all women owned & used these make up not because I sell them but I think they are the best make up around. What other cosmetic companies offer a 60 day 100% money back guarantee?

SeneGence cosmetics are truly revolutionary as they are the only cosmetic company that produce mineral-based make up that PROTECT and NOURISH the skin and are also LONG-LASTING and ANTI-AGING.

If you take great care of your skin, it will take care of you.

Visit my website: www.wowlippy.com

If you are interested to try any of the above products, you can email me at Dixie@wowlippy.com or call +61 401 610 796.

Paypal payment method accepted.

When I attended church one Sunday one year ago in the Philippines, the lesson that really stayed with me was the message from the books of Proverbs 22:6 which goes:

“Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

In this day and age, children are exposed to so many stimulus from toys to television shows, and from fancy foods to toy characters. The onus is really on the parents to provide the ground rules of choosing what experiences they wish their children to engage in. Most ‘normal’ parents wish only for the best. I know I do. So what is best for the child depends greatly on the values parents wish to impart to them.

It is now I realise that had it not for my parents’ consistency in participating the whole family in serving and attending at church masses daily and involving us in extra activities organised by the church and helping the poor of the community, then I wouldn’t have implemented in my actions the things that I now hope would be ingrained in Xavier’s beliefs & values.

 

Ever since I conceived Xavier, I prayed that he will be a God-fearing, God-loving human being. So even while in my stomach, I prayed and I prayed. I consecrated the life that I was bringing into this world to our Creator. Throughout the exciting developments of Xavier‘s growth, God was always listening to my wishes. He kept us safe, blessed and showed us immense love.

When Xavier was born, I gave thanks and praise to Him for a safe delivery and a healthy baby. I also prayed for guidance & wisdom in knowing how to raise him.

Now, Xavier & I would give thanks together every night and bless everyone before going to sleep. At barely 2 ½, the other night while I was driving the car, he started saying his nightly prayer and started blessing the names that he knows (including Kung Fu Panda, which is his current favourite, and the names of his babysitter who is our next door neighbour, and the names of other kids she takes care of including her 3 daughters).

From the moment I took him home from the hospital, I started humming & singing songs I learned from church when I was pacifying him and making him fall asleep. His eyes at 3 months old would light up when I sang in an operatic manner ‘How Great Thou Art” and “Alleluia”.

Now he sings “ ‘luia” in church whenever the choir sings even though that’s not the song being played. He has also learned a few kiddies’ Christian songs which he has managed to sing in a medley in his own terms - songs such as “Jesus Loves Me”, “He’s Got the Whole World”, and “Joy in my Heart” and somewhere in between he would squeeze some Michael Buble songs that my hubby sings.

 

Ever since that unforgettable Sunday message, I became adamant in letting him hear God’s words, apart from the liturgy of Sunday masses, of course. I began to read to him children’s Bible stories. I knew then that he would just be simply amazed by the colourful pages being flipped in front of him being only 1 ½ yrs old. Little did I know the gradual Bible story-telling would bear the sweetest fruits.

Now, these stories are his favourite night time reads. He would prefer them over the other numerous books he has. He can even recognise a few Bible characters just by the picture and symbols included.

When I started feeding him solids, I intentionally did the Sign of the Cross and said Grace even though I knew back then he would not have understood what we were doing.

Now, he is the one who finishes off the phrases of the very same prayer before meals but his Sign of the Cross is still a work in progress.

During our night time prayers, I also make sure we pray for the ‘poor and the sick children’ before we ask to bless him. I am hoping that in doing this, he will learn to pray for others & put their needs before him.

When we face the Crucifix, I have been telling him that when he’s a naughty boy, Jesus will be sad and is ‘yayay‘ or hurt.

Just yesterday, he said, “ Jesus happy, baby XED good boy”. So I smiled!

I am glad that the discipline I had in implementing the actions that speak of my values and faith is bearing fruit. I will continue practising the proverbial message because this wisdom has stood the tests of time. In doing this, I am certain that Xavier will be armoured with what he needs when he grows up as a man. And I hope he will do the same to his children.

Last Sat, 1 November 2008 marked one of my first big projects – that is the organising of a concert mainly involving a live band that formed from scratch 5 months ago, 2 main acts namely Jai & Kevin (my hubby), 2 front acts, and back up dancers.

It was an overwhelming experience having to apportion my time among work, family, business and this concert. I didn’t have much to do with the major content of the production itself except for the stage and foyer set-up. However I was in charge of the sundries such us solicitation of sponsors, ticket dispersal, promotion, finance and printing amongst many others. Some people thought I was crazy for undertaking this but I had so much enthusiasm in ensuring that the event becomes successful.

I was the most nervous person before the first few spectators showed up. I think the participants were too as they couldn’t stop pacing to & fro in the backstage area and others had nervous smiles on their faces. The adrenaline was definitely in the roof!

We began to become excited when we saw that the 250 seats were getting filled. That’s what we expected. However, groups of people still kept on flowing into the room. We had to instruct the venue coordinator to bring out more seats and they put an additional 50 more. During the night, there were still people standing up at the back. We were glad!

The event was a success. The feedback and reviews were great. I was particularly pleased with my husband’s rendition of Gary V’s Christian medley and his hair-raising duet with Jai of The Prayer. At the end of the night, adulation and congratulations came flooding in. There have also been critiques for the betterment of future shows.

Future shows? I say. Well, text messages started coming asking when the next one is. A couple of people already have concepts of what they’d like for the ‘next’ show. Upon my reflection, there were lessons learned from an organisational and financial aspect. And I take on board whatever improvement is required to entertain the people with a greater show!

Overall, I am one HAPPY LADY!

Lately I’ve been going gaga over home shopping. No, not internet shopping. I’m so over that! You don’t even want to know how much ebay points I’ve clocked up!

I’ve been a hostess for 4 consecutive weekly parties (going on 5) for direct selling companies for products such as jewellery, cookware, cosmetics, perfume, lingerie & clothes.  Why? Well here’s why:

-         I got to invite my girlfriends whom I haven’t gotten in touch with in a while and catch up on ‘stuff’ in the comfort of my own home.

-         We eat and drink and put our feet up while we shop and we don’t get tired from it.

-         We get honest opinions from the girls.  You know how women talk?

-         We get personalised and customised service we just don’t get in the shops because there are other customers around fighting for the sales attendant’s time.

-         The service you get is superior as the consultant/distributor/seller is well versed, is passionate and loves her products to bits.

-         The seller who conducts the party is usually a referral by someone else so you know you can trust her.  You know this person is not going to trick you into buying some dodgy product because her integrity is on the line aside from giving respect for the referrer.

-         The products are superior in quality that’s why they just don’t want to display it on the shelves of any shops. Nonetheless, they’re remarkably cheaper in comparison with other retail products because they obviously don’t have to mark up for costs of staff, rent, marketing, amongst many other things.

-         Not many people have these products so you feel a little extra special if you have it.

-         The hostess (ME!) gets a lot of freebies and great discounts (ahhh..once again retail therapy)

-         You get good guarantees and much better refund policies than what retail shops offer. Sometimes guarantees are lifetime!

-         You associate the purchase of the product to good times because when you bought it, you remember the company you are in. In short, you don’t feel bad spending. And you also don’t feel bad about not buying. Your friends understand you have other obligations. But what I say is, your obligation is to yourself first (wink!wink!)

-         You’re helping your local business person and not making the rich already richer.  You’re giving a little more pocket money to a home-based business owner than some multi-zillionaire CEO of some designer label and not to mention the models they are paying to be paper-thin!

If you’re having a party, consider inviting me as long as it’s in your home and you’re up to having some fun!

I’ve just recently discovered that the mother of a close family friend has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Suddenly, I felt sadness not only for her mother but also for my friend who was obviously stricken with pain.  Then my feelings shifted to worry as I imagined if it was my mother or someone else very close to me that was diagnosed with cancer.  The very thought of it made me sick in the stomach. What if it was me that had it? Odd enough, I felt more concerned if other people had it than if I had it. 

There were coincidences yesterday that reminded me that cancer is prevalent. At work, my workmate forwarded an email about lighting a candle as a tribute to Mrs McGrath who died of cancer and those struck with cancer.

Another incident was another friend happened to email me to ask if I still wanted to do colon detoxification or cleansing with her. Yesterday she thought about me as she was going to order her 2^nd bottle.  It was yesterday she remembered that I expressed my interest a while back about getting me a bottle of that colon detox concoction the next time around.

When I got home, guess what was waiting for me in my bundle of mail? An introductory magazine about foods that can prevent diseases especially cancer! 

Anyone and everyone can have cancer.  There is no one solution for us to prevent the onset of it in our bodies. Genetics, environmental factors and what we eat and do to our bodies are a combination of what can trigger the inherent cancer cells in our bodies to cause damage to our health.  There is also no one solution for the cure of cancer. 

I am, by no means, an expert in this matter as I have never come face to face with it but what I can infer is life is too short.  Our days are numbered and all of us have the same final destination called death.  God loves us so much that He gave us a chance to be conceived and to live.  Be thankful of the life He’s blessed us! Be thankful of the will He has empowered us with to make the decisions for a life well-lived - cancer or no cancer.

This weekend being a long weekend gave me a taste of many
experiences in life that I compare with an appetizer, a delicious beginning of
more delicious things to come.

It all started on Friday afternoon with my long overdue
haircut, followed by a long overdue pedicure and a not-so long overdue massage (I have massages quite regularly, you see). I love having these treats for myself. Mothers often forget to have their ‘me’ time and I now diarise in advance my regular pampering sessions. It is unregrettable!

Saturday was business as usual. I had to 2 make up parties
and got to meet with the loveliest ladies. I also got to practise the strategic process of goal setting I learned 2
weekends ago from the life-changing seminar I attended which is called Time
Line Therapy. I was quite surprised how well it worked upon
application for this particular exercise. True enough the results the strategy said it would deliver, delivered its promise as I made double the amount I would normally make. I bested my
expectations. As I was driving home, I remember shaking my head due to the amazement of how well it all worked.   If I continue exercising this process to my business, and it does work, I can see not having to work for anyone sooner than later.  How awesome would that be?!

Sunday was a fun day full of games and food, and more games
for Missy’s baby shower. Missy (sis-in-law) is
due to give birth to baby Zac in about a month’s time and I’m very excited to have a nephew for the first
time. I remember when I had my baby shower. The opening of the baby gifts was more exciting than the gift-opening
during all of my birthdays combined!

Labour Day (Monday) was quite relaxing. I slept in until

9.30 am

and ambled my way through the day with
the chores. The best part of it was spending QT with XED. It’s amazing how quickly he’s grown up. He’s going to be 2 yrs old at the end of the
month -a baby no more! Today we did our drawings, reading and learning the
alphabets. To date, he can recognise 16 letters. Hopefully by the time he’s 2, he
can recognize the complete set of alphabets.

The experiences this weekend, I hope, will be a start of many more wonderful fruitful weekends to come. 

 

Today being Sunday (

16 Mar 2008

), I attended Mass as usual.  I didn’t realize how that it’s only less than a week before Easter holiday or as I fondly know it back home in

Philippines

, Holy Week. 

The Filipino priest mentioned how the Australian environment is not conducive to really make this Christian event the meaning that it is due. He mentioned how all hotels seem to be booked around this time yet the churches hardly get filled with people during the service.  The people would rather spend time relaxing at the beach than praying reverently to remember why we have this ‘Holyday” anyway.   This has struck a cord in me in that I felt some guilt about not preparing as I should as a dutiful and thankful Christian.  The first thought that came into my mind as I approached Easter was where we would hold our Easter egg hunting for the kids.

I remember in the

Philippines

, usually we would have already planned which church we would go to for confession and reflection on the Stations of the Cross.  I really miss the times when we used to visit 14 different churches to represent each Station of the Cross.  It was indeed a sacrifice and penance in itself to do this since in

Manila

where we used to reside, traffic was (and still is) congested not to mention the humid and heat and squeezing in the packed churches all day and all night long.  It was an arduous task indeed to fulfill this. However, as we finished the 14 stations we would suddenly feel a certain relief that we’e done something to honour and remember Christ’s death and resurrection. 

As I recall the angst of guilt longer, the more urgency I feel in wanting to do something to really make this a reconciliatory and cleansing ‘holyday’ period for me.  My prayer apart from being ‘resurrected in Christ’ is that more and more people will know the true essence of why we have this holiday.  Let the Easter egg chocolates we consume during this Holy season remind us of the beautiful and delicious new life Jesus had given us by His sacrifices and His rising in heaven. And it’s ours for the taking! 

After almost 2 years of being on maternity leave, I’ve returned to the workforce.  Just a week old, I wanted to see how my separation anxiety would be with my son being taken care of by someone else than me for longer than 8 hrs .  True enough, I was affected by the ’separation’ issue more than my son.  He seems to have not missed me at all..huhuhu! 

From the moment I became a mother, it was really fun being at home and seeing my baby grow up.  I enjoy every second of being a mother. If I could stay with him for as long as I can, I would. Yet the need for 2 things arose and these are the reasons why I’m back in employment: 

1) Supplement my hubby’s income which I, so far, managed to squeeze for our daily needs .  Actually, I got better at budgeting and paid all bills on time (unlike before where we knew the money would just roll in and didn’t worry about due dates)

2) Update my technical skills in the field that I’ve been trained in for almost a decade. It would be a waste to just let it go.

When you’re a stay at home mum, you worry! Worry especially about finances because you just make do with the one income that you’re not used to. Once, I was independent and could pay for everything for myself: car, holidays, shoes, clothes, jewellery, etc.  When you become a mother, suddenly life becomes simpler.  You make do with just the essentials. The priority is your offspring and providing for them the best way you know how.  Yours take a backseat. And inevitably, you are torn by 2 things: time & money.  Do you sacrifice your time from home by bringing the buck home or do you sacrifice your finances and cutting out your wants by staying with your child? I’m sure there are many mothers out there who’ve tirelessly thought of this predicament.  I salute any mother who has stayed at home totally, and also one who has juggled motherhood & career simultaneously.  I also cannot fathom how being a single mother would be like.  As it is, my situation is already a big issue for me with a husband, let alone if you do not have a partner to help you out with everything. 

As a stay at home mum, you consider things like working from home or starting a business that works around your family’s life. I’ve been blessed to come across a wonderful business that helped my family out and provided for extra things.  Being self-employed has its own stories and issues as well.  But I recommend it to all who are strong, highly motivated and sociable.

Anyway, my first 3 days was ok. It’s all coming back to me now.  And I can say I’m on a roll again. I’m happy to be a part time employed, part time self-employed and part time stay at home mum.  I still consider myself a full time mum, nonetheless.  The only thing that will deter me from being the former is if we have a sibling for Xed. Now, that will force me to revert to being a stay at home full time mum which I will embrace openly.  But then again, that will require more $$$ and thus will probably make me go back to earning the bucks later.

Early this week, XED had his 18 month check up with the child health nurse. 

Kevin & I are very happy with his progress. On his red book, the nurse signed off XED to be “an extremely bright boy”.  Ehem! When someone outside of our little family makes such a comment and with a proof to boot, it really makes us proud of ourselves.

I must say when people have asked us lately how old XED is, they are amazed that he is only 18 months old.

I need to transcribe this so I can relay this to him as I might not be able to remember when he asks me.  So here goes:

XED knows parts of his face when you point at them

-          hair

-          ears

-          eyes

-          nose

-          teeth

-          tongue

-          lips (or crocodile lips when he cries out loud and he closes it coz he gets conscious

-          chin

-          cheeks

-          mole

XED knows parts of his body

-          kili-kili

-          elbow

-          hands

-          bellybutton

-          knees

-          bumbum

-          toes

-          feet

XED can make animal sounds of

-          dog

-          birds

-          monkey (with matching action)

-          cow

-          sheep

XED can say words such as

-          ears

-          eyes

-          apple

-          ball

-          ball for balloon

-          ba for banana when he sees and eats one

-          ba for bellybutton when pointing at it

-          ba for bed when we fix the bed in the morning

-          bol for mole

-          boon for moon

-          cow for clouds

-          cook

-          chees for trees

-          birds

-          duck

-          dug for dog (because of his bisayan persuasion hehe!)

-          peg for pig

-          baby

-          cwoc for crocodile

-          eya for elephant

-          ta for tiger

-          to for thomas engine

-          oooooh for anything remotely scary looking figures such as dinosaurs, etc

-          airpun for airplane (would you believe he learned this after being in the plane 4 times)

-          Ahbee for Jollibee

-          Jink for drink

-          Foo for food

-          Baah for butterfly (matching action)

-          Eeesh for fish

-          Cooo for when he sees play school starting

-          Topus for octopus

-          Tika for chicken

-          Batyuta for computer

-          Wowow for flower

-          Kuta for kuya

-          Tiko for Tito

-          Tatos for potatoes

-          Ca for carrots

-          Ice for Rice

-          Hat

-          Take a bath

-          Door

-          Bell

And he can recognise the letter “A”

XED can do the following things when asked:

-          throw his nappy in the rubbish bin

-          pack up his toys with mummy’s help

-          read a book in the right direction (he usually changes it when he knows it’s upside down)

-          when he sees a crucifix or pictures of Jesus and Mary he does the sign of the cross and clasps his hands in amen.

-          Combs his hair

-          Cleans his ears

-          Takes his shirt, short, socks and shoes off

-          Washes his hands

-          Brushes his teeth

-          Higa for lie down

-          Hi 5, align

-          Shake hands

-          Dance when he hears any kind of music especially to Hi 5, Kapamilya Deal or No Deal, Happy Birthday,

-          Raises his arms for Praise the Lord and then Amen

-          He can put shapes in his Tupperware ball

-          He can hold a crayon and write on a paper

-          He knows how to count with his fingers

-          Dribbles the ball when you say dribble and shoot the ball through his mini basketball

-          He does a flying action with his hand with matching noise if you say airplane

-          He makes a bubble with his mouth when you say car.

-          Stamps his feet when we say left, left left right left march.

-          Knocks on the door

-          Rings the bell

-          Kisses and embraces when asked

-          Can do the ‘bless’ to adults

-          Shakes someone’s hand

Nursery rhymes he does actions to:

-          The 3 little kittens

-          Row row row your boat

-          Fly fly fly the butterfly

-          Humpty Dumpty

-          Eency Weency spider

-          Hush a bye baby

-          Where is thumb man

-          Twinkle Twinkle little star

He loves:

Hi 5

Happy Feet

The Wiggles

Bananas n Pyjamas

Thomas the Tank

Kapamilya Deal or no Deal

Going Bulilit

Playing basketball

He loves to eat newly cooked rice, banana, apple, pasta, minced meat, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, ube, noodles, grapes, fish. Anything, really.

That’s all I can remember so far.  I’m sure I’ve missed out on a couple.

His other milestones when younger:

At 1 month he could lift his head when on tummy

At 3 ½ months he could roll over and eat semi solid foods

At 5 ½ months he could sit up on his own and crawl everywhere

At 6 months he could stand up

At 9 months he started walking

At 1 year he was running

At 18 months he is still breastfed.  According to the child health nurse, it is still good to breastfeed at this time. God knows how much money we’ve saved from buying formula.

He sings with a loud high-pitched voice when he hears someone sing a high note especially Jed Madela.

He calls both mum and dad, da and dida respectively.

I think the Babyplus prenatal system really worked and reading and talking to my child since he was born facilitated in his progress. I also believe that when a child is surrounded by a lot of people and given lots of love and affection, you won’t go wrong with raising a bright one. The communication skills are honed earlier and their vocabulary is wider as they are exposed to more people and more words.  Also, never limit the child’s capability to understand what you’re saying or what you’re teaching.  A child’s brain is like a sponge and is thirsty to learn and explore new things all the time.

All in all, we are very proud of how XED has turned out to be so far.

I only pray that he will continue on progressing well.  Trying to be the best parents is a definitely challenging task but I would not swap it with any other job in the world.

It’s been a while since my last blog but rest assured how much I do wish to put my thoughts here. There have been many things I wanted to share with you all (for those who read this)but I just couldn’t find the time to be inspired to get it all together. Many events. Many precepts. Many actions. Many lessons. More journeys to come. When life is good, time flies.