Back to posting! It just feels weird for me not to update this blog even for just a couple of days. In any case, I’m not abandoning the blog. I’m simply on a ‘vacation’. How I wish this is one of those leisurely vacations, where I could just count
challenge coins, eat a lot, have a massage and just walk about a new and exciting place.

My father is sick and I simply cannot stay and wait for news. So my husband and I have decided I’ll fly home and stay in the Philippines for a few weeks at least to help my mom and also I’d like to be given the chance to take care of my father. I know its a tough task but I could only remember how he has sacrificed a lot for us and at the very least I want to show my endless gratitude by being there when he is in pain.

I think everyone goes through something as painful as seeing a parent sick and almost coming to an end. I don’t want life to end for anyone but who am I to say life cannot end. In the end, we have to accept things. I can only wish that he won’t suffer too much pain because seeing it just breaks me. It’s also tough seeing my mom deal with it so I have to be here at least to lend some support. There’s still a tough road ahead, so please pray for my dad and also for my mom.

I hate being melancholic when I post something, but this is exactly how I feel right now. I’m sad, but grateful too because now I realize that really there are people who are there to support us.

I’ve been doing some self-auditing and we figured its high time we go into a mega thrift mode. Having savings is a priority. I mean, a definite portion of our income will be set aside from savings, not just the excess. Thankfully, hubby is really good with handling money so he keeps me in line. I think its a wise thing to save and invest while you can still work.

We also have a lot of big purchases in the offing, so I wanna have some cash handy. And in the next two years, were rebuilding our house here in Phnom Penh. Nothing grand, just something ‘liveable’ and sturdy hehe.. We bought the lot a year after we got married and thank God for hubby’s insight in buying this piece of lot. It’s located well within the city, in a safe and accessible neighborhood, very near the market. The only problem is the access road which is small. But its a prime location which we bought for almost a pittance and can you imagine that last year someone wants to buy it from us for more than 10x its original selling price? I think its a great investment and we’ll be building a much better house on it with a couple more rooms to accommodate guests and a home office for me.

After were done with this, we have plans of purchasing another place in the suburbs. Phnom Penh is growing exponentially, it won’t be long when the city would be like bursting in its seams so we really want to have a place to settle in, have a small garden, sunshine, a lot less chaos and noise. Sort of like a retirement home and we want to save for that early and buy it at least while we could still afford it.

Wouldn’t it be just awesome to walk out your back door and see this view…

So with all these big expenses were planning we both have to work more, save more and invest some. I’m thinking on investing I’m not sure yet which kind. Should I go for real estate, penny stock picks, high yield {but high risk} investments? All this would be given ample thought and research of course. For now, I’m quite excited. Lol! That might be hard to believe but the prospect of seeing something solid out of the work you put in is exciting and very gratifying. Wish us luck!

Image via Photorack.Net

It’s a new year, so I made up a list of things to do, to accomplish. Haha at least looking at this would wake me up out of my lazy stupor and start to do something.  I hate procrastination with passion but why do I end up doing it on crucial moments. I vow to be rid of it.

This is what I love about new years! It inspires me, and for awhile I tend to develop a tunnel vision hehe  I fervently wish I could retain the whole year. One thing hubby and I have decided for the year 2011, it’ll be our tighten our belts, and save a lot year.

Here’s a list. You might ask, why the heck are you posting this, well its an added motivating factor. Haha somebody else got to read what I intend to do so I feel like I have to put in double effort.

One, save and save more. We got a lot of big purchases planned for 2012. We were supposed to have our home extension/renovation done this year, but since hubby would be based somewhere else again starting August till December then were putting it on hold and doing it 2012 or early 2013. It’ll be a huge expense as were almost starting out from scratch and not just replacing a bathroom sink, so I think we have to double the saving effort.

Two, eat healthy and maintain the right weight. Started this last December and it has done wonders for us. I want to keep eating healthier so I really won’t need to worry much about the added calories.

Three, visit the parents in the Philippines. Plans are in the works, but it’ll probably just be me flying over coz of schedule conflicts.

Four, be a little less cluttered and more organized at home. Heeehehhe this is giving me the heebiejeebies just thinking about the work involved hahaha.

Five, work on getting myself enrolled on the diploma program that I want. This is where a big weight of procrastination went in last year, so I have to get this rolling this year. I should really stop wasting time.

Six, Finish my dangling web projects started late 2010 and get on with the new ideas on board. I’m setting a new earning goal this year from my web projects, but how much would be a secret.

Seven, look into business opportunities. This is one of the things I want to focus on this year. =)

Eight, enjoy life more and take some more rest and relaxation time.

Nine, see more of Cambodia. Visit at least one or two more different provinces.

How about you? What’s on your new year’s resolution list?

Sowee…This week I’m not really much in the mood to blog. Which is normal and considering Christmas is fast approaching (and I’m giddy like a kid!) and it always makes me busier and a lot more pre-occupied. I’ve also started on a new diet and I think most of my thoughts are directed to that.

Also, hubby is coming home in about 10 days so I’ve got to prepare the house and stuff. Lol! He also already has a list of foods he wants to eat when he gets here. Top of the list is…. whatelse but Filipino sinigang soup? He wants pork sinigang, then fish sinigang the next day, then the next sinigang with shrimps. I’m actually bracing myself, for sure that would be our food for a whole week or so. Hahaha, that’s how much he likes this Filipino sour soup.

This week also, I’ve been running a lot of errands and sometimes I just feel so beat. Hmm, I even skipped this week’s Peluka Sister’s coffee day! Hmmm, I have actually not been very productive, and the most work I could do is to create one digital scrapbook kit. That’s it.

I’m a bit pissed too because after I bugged hubby last time about having stocks of hp ink cartridges, well just recently found out that our printer is not working. Whew! This thing annoys me really coz I’ve got stuff I need to print. Should I just have it repaired or should I just get a new one. Sigh..

Thankfully, tomorrow is holiday here. Yes, again! So I think I’ll just sleep in and take a bit of rest.

** updated: added photos..

Here’s another one of my ‘living in Phnom Penh‘ blurbs. Were now in the middle of September and I’m feeling a blue. For a lot of reasons! And since this is my blog, I’m just about to bore you with details of my boredom which I know,  you don’t really want to know.. Lol! So what!  I just really wanna get on, write my feelings, then later I’ll take a long bath, cut my toenails, make a momentous decision to keep or not to keep my toe nail cuticles, and perhaps I’ll pack on some msm cream or maybe get a face mask, and I know I’ll feel so much better.

So why so blue? One reason is all about Hi-ace. I wrote about it already a few posts ago, so just click here, here and here to see what I mean.  What’s making this thing doubly sad is that we’ll be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary next week and he’s not here. He’ll be with me in thoughts, he says. Anyway,  I was a bit mollified when two days ago, he sent me something. I know from the date on the package say it was sent August 30th (so wohoo I know he’s been thinking ahead) plus it has a little note that says: “For My Beautiful Wife. On our anniversary and always, I love you and cherish the life we share. ” Now, who wouldn’t melt with that?!  I just wish he’s here even if for a day..

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During the weekend, Chinks had Global Art classes, it was for two hours so Ouwie and I went to have a little coffee and pastries in Gloria Jeans then we took a leisurely walk along Norodom Blvd. before picking up Chinks. Then we went on to bring Chinks to a hairstylist so she could get a haircut.

I have photos of this I’ll update this post soon as I can transfer it from my phone. Anyway, this made me want to do my hair too, but maybe some other time. I wanna have it cut and then I”ll have it perma straightened again but that’ll cost a bit so I’m holding out for awhile.

** Here are the snapshots of Chinks getting her haircut. And this is how she really is everytime she’s in front of the mirror: she likes making faces.. I didn’t get to take a photo of her new haircut coz she refused =) she said ‘next time Mommy”.. But she now resembles a siopao but a very cute one!