Category: The Other Half

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French Maid For Halloween

Halloween costumes are all up for sale everywhere in the mall and I’m tempted to dress up too this year. Last year – the girlfriends all dressed up for Halloween – and some were in a cat woman costume – another was in a french maid costumes and had joke that this costume comes in handy for other occasions too – like spicing up their love life and we had a good laugh about it too. So this year – I told the spouse – we should join in the fun with Chloe and get dress up too – afterall, we are never too old to be in costumes right? and it’s HALLOWEEN!!! so what kind of costume will you be in ? let me know eh.

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Making Time To Play

I didn’t grow up playing with my dad – because he never came home – well, maybe once a year – but still we never play – nor read a book or anything. He comes home – my mom would serve him dinner – and then we all would already be packed in the room and getting ready for bed even though it is 7pm in the evening and the sun i still out. Yes ! we were that obedient – yet – my dad never appreciated it.

My siblings and I grew up being afraid of my dad – because he was only home to punish us – therefore, I never want Chloe to grow up this way – because it sure was a sad way to grow up. But we are always so busy at work – even though chloe comes to work with us everyday – therefore, we make sure we stop and play with her – even if we were busy. I also want Chloe to grow up to know her grandparents – so I make PB call his parents – to take her for a few hours if they can’t for more – that way – she doesn’t grow up not having played with her grandparents like myself. I grew up with regrets – regrets that i didn’t know my grandparents, my dad nor my cousins and relatives – so I don’t want history to repeat itself – I want Chloe to have a good childhood – so making time to play is an important exercise that I practice because of Chloe – what about you? is your spouse too busy to play with your daughter? if he is – make him make time – I do.

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EllenWood Park For A BBQ

I have been in this town for 10 yrs to date and this is the first time that PB brought us to Ellenwood Park – yes! you see how adventurous PB is. So you all can start feeling real bad for me now – hahahha!! No food – no traveling – no adventure – and gotta deal with some verrrryyy.. verrrry.. strange people at times. PB’s parents/relatives think that I’m outspoken/blunt – but wait till they meet some of the people we meet and have to deal with.

Thank God for good people like Mr B & his family – they invited us for their son’s birthday – at Ellenwood Park for a BBQ – and if you know me – i heart BBQs. So we had a day of outing and we had beef stew ready for dinner/supper when we get home and I did all my housework on Friday night – and PB went out to get groceries with Chloe while i cook and shower and off we went. Ellenwood Park was great – next summer – we have to come here more often for swimming.

The lake was pretty clean and all – but mannnn.. the toilet !! i heard no plumbing ! bad management on the town or the government here – such a nice lake.

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Insuring Chloe’s Future

As you all know – Chloe and I are very dependent on PB – and I never ask for money from PB except for food and the necessaries – nothing more. I don’t feel a need for money truth be told – i’m pretty contented as long as I can get some food from home. But we have to think for Chloe’s future – in case anything happen to us. So a few weeks ago when PB’s insurance guy was in – we got an insurance quote from him and we decided to buy a policy for Chloe just in case anything were to happen to us. You see – the house is insured and so is the business – so there won’t be any debt left for Chloe – should something happen – but we also want to make sure she don’t have to struggle and if nothing happens – well – she still can have the money – when we are not around anymore – when she turns into an adult.

When we were young, our parents weren’t able to buy bonds or any insurance for us – we pretty much have to fend for ourselves. Therefore, when I had Chloe – I never want her to be left with nothing – when we are gone. The business, the house – whatever that is ours – will go to her when we are not around – we want to insure her future. What about you? what have you done to insure your kids’ future?

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Hanging On To Summer

So how was your summer? summer is almost ending for us here – since the summer camp is over for Chloe and school will be starting in 2 weeks. This summer – we didn’t go anywheres – because we were busy re-vamping the store and even though we didn’t get to go to the city – Chloe got to play almost everyday at the camp and going to her grandparents on Saturdays. So yes – this summer was different – i also did a few things different – like started exercising – started going to cut my hair regularly – going for the infrared sauna – started doing my facials as well. I’m not planning to go to the city now – because it would be too rush for us – plus I know I’d already spend a lot on the hair and facials – that i wouldn’t do – if i had gone to the city – so migrating – being a mom and being an owner by association is by no means living a life of luxury – hahahahah!! we still have to weigh our pros and cons before spending any money. Like the spouse said – we are staying ahead and don’t want to fall back. What about you? do you just spend on your credit cards first and pay later..??

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Special Boys

Today we went all the way to Briar’s Lake to meet up with Chloe’s cousin from Ottawa. I am glad we went – because PB wasn’t too keen on going – because we had things at home to do – and housework to catch up on – plus he wanted to rest – i’m guessing – since Sunday is the only day – where we don’t have to work. But family is very important to me – I didn’t have cousins to grow up with – not because I didn’t have cousins – but our parents weren’t closed at all – due to hierarchy and who is rich and who isn’t. But over here – it didn’t matter if you were rich or poor – plus I also want Chloe to know her cousins – even though they are so far away – and don’t come often enough and we don’t go and visit either.

I haven’t seen Gabriel for a few years now and Xavier – well – i haven’t seen him at all. But both boys are so intelligent and so enjoyable to be with. I know Chloe had a good time and Renette – the boys’ grandmother is always so hospitable and warm. We had a great time – chatting and just catching up. So what did you do this weekend.

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Moms Going Back To Work

Some had asked me when I am going back to work – now that Chloe is almost 7 yrs old this December and I’ve given some serious thoughts about it. You see all my life I’ve held management jobs, whether I was a management trainee or a business center officer – they are all considered management – whereby i only report to the big boss. My last job a office manager to a Spanish firm was also a management job where i got to travel a lot with my bosses and engineers or the regional director. So you see – when people ask me if i am going back to get a “real” job – i often wonder what there is here for me – to work as.

Don’t get me wrong – I would do any kind of work – when the need arises – but if what I am doing now – makes the same amount of money – why would i need to go out and get a “real” job right? Now if I were home or in different part of the world – maybe things will be different? or if we move to the city? maybe it would be different? I enjoy my time with Chloe and being there for her – I enjoy being able to do what I want – when I want – but not without restriction – since being owner by association to the spouse’s business doesn’t really quite seems to be what people think. And yes – if an opportunity arises – and an offer is placed in front of me – or my ex-bosses called to ask me to go work for them – I would even travel overseas to work – if the pay is right and the remuneration package meets my entire family needs. But for those moms going back to work – I feel the same way you do – all the anxiety of leaving your kids on their own – and having to fit in again – with the younger generation and all the new technology – you have to get use to. But yes – as moms – we all know we can do anything – if we put our mind to it and if you are anything like me and keep yourself up to date – then you are all set. And to moms going back to work – I salute you all – because you are the greatest!

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Tech Savvy Kids

Kids are so smart these days – I wonder where they get their smartness from. A friend of Chloe’s came by the store the other day after reading some desktop computer reviews, for they were thinking of getting a computer for their kids too. So knowing that Chloe has one at home too – they had come by to ask our opinion/s about what to get for theirs.

PC or desktops are quite the common thing at anyone’s home – Chloe had her own computer because we didn’t want to share ours with her. And I’m sure a lot of parents out there too – bring their work home and is understandable. Now what you put inside the computer or how much you want to spend on it – depends on how old your kid is. These day – you can get a computer for less than $400 – but of course, if you have an older kid – who is into gaming or forsee that – then you should plan ahead and get one that is upgradable. The rams and hard-drive also depends on what the kid/s wants to do with their computer – do they watch movies or download music – or do they need a burner for school work. The younger the kid – the less you should spend – and if you were anything like us – we would get a used one or a re-furbished one. Chloe’s computer came with parts that were used – only the computer’s case was new. So there – you have it from a el cheapo mom.

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Slide Show Of Home

While I was enjoying a day at the park with ducks – Chloe had asked me more about home and my parents. I thought of a slide show that I can make for Chloe and decided to do it – to let her know abit more about my parents/siblings and more about where I come from. I gave it a little more thought – as to what I want to show Chloe and thought about my mom and Chloe. You see – Chloe and I are brought up quite differently – Chloe’s childhood if shown on a slide show to her grandchildren in the future would be nothing but happy memories – where else mine wasn’t so much like that.

While i grew up with a screaming mom – who would cane us in public – Chloe has never been harshly dealt with in her entire life. But do I want to show her a slide show of my childhood with so many bad memories? of a childhood without a parent or grandparents to love? A childhood without any toys nor bed to sleep on? I only started to have a decent life after i turned 26 – when i decided that I didn’t want the past to hold me back. That was when my life changed – for the better – but how do i tell my child – who is currently so curious to know who my parents were? I don’t even really know my own father – for he was never home – my slide show for my childhood – is but a very short memory to me. It is a past – i rarely want to remember but it gets trigger back once in a while.

As much as I would love to tell Chloe the whole truth – i feel that she is still very young to understand – my past. For now – I’m putting together a simpler slide show of my past for her – a simplified version just for now. I’m just happy that Chloe’s slide show – of her childhood will be a so much happier and blessed one – for her dad and grandparents are nothing like mine.

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Upgrading Home & Store

It had been a really busy summer for us – in fact – so busy I had to cancel my pedicure a few times now in the last 2 months. The store is doing some revamping with new fixtures and our home ? we are getting our patio all fixed up with mosquito nets – so that we can enjoy sitting outside without the buzzing of mosquitoes and bugs. The zapper that we had bought a few years ago – didn’t seems to help – so I told PB that we really needed to get the mosquito nets up. Afterall, what is good with having a patio and a golf course for scenery when one don’t get to enjoy it. So off we went looking for some Baldwin hardware for door knobs and other accessories. As for the store – we got new fixtures for the movies and games and cabinets as well. The store is beginning to look “proper” now and most of the handmade shelving by PB were taken down. I think he is a little nostalgic about them – hahahha!! for they had followed him for 11 yrs now. So yes! if i haven’t answered your emails or gone on Facebook – it’s because we are busy running around looking and shopping for stuff to fix up our house and store.