This hot Saturday afternoon, I broke routine and did something I don’t normally do: attend a  seminar that promised to help me MAKE MY MONEY GROW.

Oh the idea of growing my money! Last year, I got to read Bo Sanchez’ very short but totally eye-opening book: My Maid Invests in the Stock Market… And Why You Should Too! So I’ve been thinking about investing in stocks, but months later, here I am probably poorer than the day I read it. Thinking about it isn’t the same thing as doing it.

Then sometime this year, I caught a rerun of a Pesos and Sense episode. I liked their Facebook page after the show, but again, it didn’t take me any step closer to investing.

A few weeks back, I saw the above image on the Pesos and Sense Facebook page. Minutes later, I filled out the registration form. I paid the PhP 495 fee on Tuesday. I attended the seminar earlier this afternoon.

Am I any closer to investing? I’d have to say YES.

The seminar was held at the premises of Citisec Online, a brokerage company, at the Philippine Stock Exchange Building. At the back of the room, there were sign up forms, which were quickly snatched up by attendees. I didn’t get a single one. No biggie, they’re available online. Citisec is also the company mentioned by Bo Sanchez in his book. The presenter, Aya Laraya, is also affiliated with the company.

But this seminar isn’t specifically about investing in the stock market. Other investment options were discussed as well. What the presenter tried to do was give us basic information to help us decide where to invest. Before he did that, he of course made a quite convincing case for why it is wise to invest your money NOW, and why yesterday was the best time to do it.

Am I any richer for attending the seminar?

Hmm richer in knowledge YES. But I think I could have skipped this seminar altogether, only because I am already convinced that I should invest in stocks. I do recommend this seminar to those who need more info, or even those who are not yet decided on what is the right investment for them.

Would I attend other seminars? If it was more specific to investing in stocks, then yes I would! And they are cooking up more seminars, this is the just the first in a series. For COL, Aya Laraya also holds seminars twice a week.

He didn’t look sick at all –

Now, in 30 years of my life, I have no memory of my Dad ever being hospitalized. He’s been to the ER several times in the last 10 years, but he’s never had to be kept overnight. So this was definitely something new. He stayed for two nights, and was discharged by Sunday morning. He might have overdosed on his new BP meds, so they lessened his medication. He is also on a strict diet now – dunno how long he’s going to sustain it though.

Mom mostly stayed with him, but he didn’t really needed to be looked after. On the first night they took his blood pressure and blood sugar readings hourly. I only stayed until around 8 or 9PM. The next day, readings were only done every four hours.

Guess who else went to visit on Friday afternoon?

He’s really grown up na! He is 10 years old and he’s wearing a shirt that he and my parents got from their Pagudpud vacation when he was such a small toddler! Haha Anyway, he stayed in the hospital until it was time for me to go home. We had argued about dinner too. He wanted Mang Inasal while I didn’t want to have to get off the car to buy the food. It was too hot outside and I was already up a long time by then – my laziness has been amplified. Hihi. In the end he agreed to Jollibee drive-thru. Chicken Joy for him and the boyfriend, Burger Steak for me.

We ate our dinner together at home while Alfred was still sleeping (his shift wasn’t until 3AM). He asked for extra rice and I was so surprised! He’d worked up an appetite, this kid. No wonder he’s growing real fast. Back in the day he would be so picky with food, and would hardly finish his plate.

Anyway…

I went back to the hospital around lunch time the next morning. All I did in the intervening time was see two movies on Fox Family, sleep, wake, dink water, and sleep again. Saturday morning plans had to be scrapped, it was officially time to catch up on sleep.

Shortly after I got to the hospital, my brother arrived – bearing food and drinks too! Hah! And just in time because I was really hungry by then. Amir was supposed to go in for a checkup but they cancelled it on account of Dad’s hospitalization. Since we were there already, Mom took a few hours to herself and went home.

It wasn’t long until Dad was his nutty self – he actually wanted to go out and get himself some coffee. I managed to convince him otherwise and Alfred went out to get him a cup of coffee without sugar. Still, he wanted to walk around. He wasn’t hooked up to a dextrose by then but the IV tap was still on his hand. He had just taken a shower and we were waiting for a change of linens, so he thought he was free to roam around. I couldn’t stop him entirely, but he didn’t go very far. He wasn’t gone 5 minutes before he came back in again.

He kept talking about going home and I really couldn’t see why – the air-conditioning was such a welcome treat. Imagine not having to roast while you sleep?! With everything covered by the HMO, he hadn’t to worry about cost really. But yeah, nothing beats the comfort of your own home. Or maybe he just wanted to go home so he could eat all the oily and sweet food he could grab!

Seriously though, just so thankful that Dad is okay. Thankful that we live so near the best hospital in the country. Greatful that I have a job with free HMO extended to Mom and Dad. Now Dad really has to take better care of himself now. He needs to get back to his old exercise routine, and a better diet. Hopefully that rubs off on us too.

It was the first time I drove that far and without a guide. Fun!

Everything still looked familiar, and yet new, all at the same time. Funny how they were familiar sights, but I’ve not been to many of those happening spots around the City. And on this trip we again went to an old familiar place for their famous Bulalo, and spectacular view: Leslie’s.

The view, captured through my camera phone:

It was a nice and windy afternoon, with scattered rainshowers. I wasn’t too worried about the rain spoiling our day. Come to think of it, I didn’t bother checking the weather forecast. I probably would have if we actually planned the trip.

Yep. This was an impromptu roadtrip. We were supposed to just go see a movie when I suggested a driving adventure instead. Alfred took me up for it, surprisingly. Imagine, we’d been together 12 years and this was the first time we went to Tagaytay together. Haha!

Alfred toted Deena around and snapped some photos too. I haven’t looked at them yet. Here’s another one framed with my phone:

I wish we had used that hut! What an amazing spot, no? I thought you had to pay extra to use it but as it turns out, you just have to request for it at the front desk. Maranaw 16, I think. Next time, we’ll try to eat bulalo from this spot. And maybe have a drink or two (not for me, I’m driving). Or doze off even? Haha!

But the next time we drive up, we probably won’t be eating at Leslie’s or at least we’ll try not to. There are so many other good places there that deserve to be tried at least once, so I hear. Or we’ll take our own baon and have a picnic at the park. Someday. One day.

Oh and checkout this photo of us, from this trip too.

Summer really is officially here. Dad bought an inflatable pool for Amir and the little guy loved it!

Hello water bill! But as the Visa ad campaign would say – laughter and smiles from a one-year old: priceless.

We initially intended to leave early (we were up very early on Sunday morning and watched ‘Real Steel’ in bed), but Amir happened. By that I meant, he ruled our morning and we just couldn’t leave as soon as we wanted. And we also had our mid-morning nap. Plus my Dad prepared Sunday lunch and I didn’t want to leave home and miss that.

So anyway, we ended up arriving at the mall at around 5PM. We’d been to Mrs. Howard’s for a bite, and then a long queue at Megamall’s Parking Building C. It was a nightmare! I won’t ever park in that building again. It is poorly designed. Plus there was this dude who dared take my slot from me! I guess all that delay made me even more pumped up for a visit to Forever21. Yes, I was once again at my favorite store! Checkout my loot from the first visit.

So I guess you already know where this is going. The boyfriend knew it before I did, but I was really there to shop for myself These are what I came home with:

Looks familiar? Yes, it’s pretty much the same as my first F21 skirt that also happens to be my favorite. I know this one will be another favorite. I love it!

Now what about this open cardigan with crochet trim? I was drawn to it when I saw it. I love that it is black AND colorful.

I wanted to try on some sparkly blouses and a dress, but maybe now’s not the time for those. I don’t any events they’d be appropriate for anyway. But next time.

And of course, I wouldn’t leave that store without a stash of lovely accessories!

No dangling earrings this time.

As F21 was our first stop, the department store was next. Sadly, Alfred didn’t find anything that he liked so it really ended up being my shopping day. We didn’t leave SM without picking this up though:

I bullied Alfred into getting me this Retro Phone, on sale for only PhP 399.75 for SM Advantage customers. Got him convinced it’s be a most appreciated post-Valentine’s gift. It’s available in all SM malls and comes in a variety of colors. I was tempted to get the pink one, but the red one was calling to me too. They have it in dark blue and yellow too. It is lightweight and if you already bring a bag everywhere, it won’t take up too much space (be creative!).

I first saw this handset at the Dimensione, but it is way pricier there, so this was a good deal.  I’d been using it for my phone calls today and I even hooked it up to my work PC to listen to calls in lieu of speakers/earphones.

What a day it was. So much shopping done in under 2 hours. Of course I could have bought a new computer cabinet instead, or saved the money for our bike fund, but isn’t this more fun?

• Rock Rizal concert
• Manila International Book Fair (I even dreamt about walking between the aisles and checking each trade show booth and spending a fortune on new books!)
• Mercato Centrale
• UAAP Cheerdance Competition (Would have been nice to be in Araneta to witness it, but I did watch it live on TV)

The concert and the book fair were both held at the far MOA. Had the boyfriend been around on Friday afternoon, it would have been a possibility. But he was out on a road trip with his parents. Mercato would have been possible this morning, but I really wasn’t up to it. After all, that one happens every weekend.

And I don’t really mind missing out on those events. There was nowhere else I’d be than home, so I couldn’t miss out on these:

Amir is growing up so fast! He can stand now and he’s always up. He knows to reach out and ask to be carried. At nearly nine months he’s two front teeth are out. And he makes a lot of noise!

We’re just so glad that he’s still healthy, and maintains his happy disposition.

I love you Amir! And we loved having you home for the weekend!

Lemonade | Orange Soda | Sprite | Coke Float | Water

I wish I could say my drink was the last one, but I guess everyone would know who had the float eh? Water was for the boyfriend.

These were our drinks for our very late dinner at Johnny Rockets Eastwood, Friday last week. We stopped by for burgers and fries before seeing a movie. So if I had the float, and water was for the boyfriend, who had the other drinks?

We had a date with my three nieces! It was September 2nd and Chiki (middle) turned 17. Shanti (left) turned 17 a few days before that. Of course we couldn’t go and leave Dal out of the picture. I hadn’t been out with these girls in a loooooong time. Our last movie date was three years ago! OMG!

So what film did we see? We were supposed to see Zombadings, but ended with up Crazy, Stupid, Love. It was hilarious, even the boyfriend has to admit that he enjoyed watching. I drove the girls home way past their bedtime (3AM). I think we just might do it again too. Next time though, I’d stay away from Johnny Rockets – that meal burned a hole on my credit card!