Project Nursery: Soleil and the Elis

I'm about to give birth but it's still taking me forever to complete this project. If i had my way, this would have been done weeks before but thanks to hubby's 'busy sched' (:D:D:D) we're still finishing up.

Ok, so im inlove with the yellow+gray combo, one other thing im so loving right now is the CHEVRON PRINT! It's just so adorable and can be used as background for anything. So i used it for Soleil's corner nursery and added some colors to make it more lively.

Materials:
1. Canvas prints. (But since canvas printing is way too expensive, i just printed mine on tarpaulin. Just use the 'wrong side' or the side which isn't glossy for a canvas-like finish)

2. Scrap wood/molding
3. Gun tacker
4. Paint/brush

Procedure:
1. Make frames from scrap wood or use thin moldings available at any hardware store.

2. For the 'soleil' art, paint frame with desired color. (i used white)

3. Let it dry.
4. Gun tack print around the frame.

5. Viola!

Easter Sunday Planning

Couple of weeks to go before Easter Sunday and i haven't made any plans yet on what Gab will be doing on this day. Browsing the web, i found these two offerings from metrodeal and ensogo which look really fun and exciting.

ACE Water Spa Easter Event goes Wild West




For P450, you get to save 25% for a kid and adult pass to this event which features:

* Bull riding
* Magic Show
* Puppet Show
* Face Painting
* Egg Painting
* Finale Easter Egg Hunt!

The pass will also include snack and drink for the kid, 1 food cart stub, goodie bag and a photo souvenir.

The event will be held at their Pasig Branch (which we haven't been to yet) and will last from 2PM-6PM.



Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern's Easter Egg Hunt




For P299 per person (kid/adult), you get a pass to the Hotel's event which includes:

* Buffet Lunch
* Program for Kids
* Magic Show
* Easter Egg Hunting

plus - Use of Hotel's swimming pool for kids under 12yo after the event.



Im thinking the Ace Water Spa offering is more sulit and Chard and Gab can go for a swim after the event since we still have that 50% discount from my BDJ planner, but of course it will all depend on our driver/yayo/hubby who happens to be the BIRTHDAY BOY too so he'll have the power to choose OR REFUSE to go to any of these two.



Or..... we can just stay home to avoid the crowd and paint all those eggs we papier mached then do our own egg hunting around the backyard. This is a definitely cheaper option but i just don't think it would be as much fun with only one kid competing against himself to find eggs!  What to do... what to do....

DIY Wall Art: Love

For the second installment to my EAT, PRAY, LOVE wall art series (hah!), i found this unused picture frame which was given as gift just lying around the house. It was a bit small for the LOVE i had in mind but i used it anyway instead of buying something new.

LOVE

Materials:

Picture frame

Paint ( I used yellow and white)

LOVE cutouts

Instructions:

1. Paint the frame and the board white (or your desired color)

2. Let them dry then arranged letter cutouts on the board.



3. Using small brush, paint the edges of the letter cutouts moving outwards.

4. Let paint dry then remove letter cutouts. Using back of brush, blot dots on the letters for polka dots effect.

5. Let dry completely then reattach board to frame. Viola!

Delivery: Part 2

When i became pregnant with Gabriel, birthing plans were already made early in the pregnancy. This second one isn't that smooth-sailing. I had to change OBGYN a few times before i finally found someone i like. My previous OBGYN (Dr. Luisa Acu) was ok, infact i liked her a lot, but she is only affiliated to two hospitals: Capitol Medical Center and St. Lukes, the 4 and 5 stars of hospitals when it comes to rates. With expenses constantly rising, i thought it isn't practical anymore to give birth to any of these two. Plus, CMC is a teaching hospital, a problem i had when i gave birth to Gab. Interns were constantly bugging me with the same questions, the worst was they took turns doing internal exam! It really added to the discomfort of labor!

I just found an OBGYN i liked for this second one when i was almost on my third trime. Browsing and reading through parenting forums in the web, a lot of moms have recommended Dr. Visitacion Toy. Her clinic is very near our place and she is also affiliated to hospitals we are eyeing to give birth to: FEU, Commonwealth Hospital and Medical Center and The Medical City.

As of now, we are still inquiring about maternity packages to finally decide on the hospital and Dr. Toy gave these quotations:

FEU
Php 45-55K (With PhilHealth)
NSD (Normal Spontaneous Delivery)
Epidural
PF included (OB, Pedia, Anes)

CHMC
Php 35K-45K (With PhilHealth)
NSD (Normal Spontaneous Delivery)
Epidural
PF included (OB, Pedia, Anes)


*** I only inquired for normal delivery rates because im not having this baby any other way. HAHAHA!



I also found these additional information in the web.


The Capitol Medical Center (TMC)

Normal Delivery Package
-     Php 50,030.00                                            
-     Inclusive of Professional fees for Attending Physician & Anesthesiologist, Delivery fee              
     Room & Board (max. of 3days ward accommodation upon admission)                   
     Supplies (selected) - in excess of the supplies covered by the package will be charged as regular rate.    
 -     Inclusive spinal single shot anesthesia                                  
-     New born screening and hearing test for baby                             
-     6 hrs. stay in nursery                                            
-     Professional Fee of Pediatrician                                       
     * additional 6,000 for epidural anesthesia plus Anesthesiologist Fee (on top of PF included in the package)
Caesarian Delivery Package
-     Php 72,055.00                                                   
-     Inclusive of Professional fees for Attending Physician & Anesthesiologist, Delivery fee                     
     Room & Board (max. of 5 days ward accommodation upon admission)                          
     Supplies (selected), in excess of the supplies covered by the package will be charged as regular rate.           
 -     Inclusive spinal single shot anesthesia                                         
-     New born screening and hearing test for baby                                    
-     24 hrs. stay in nursery                                              
-     Professional Fee of Pediatrician                                              
     * additional 6,000 for epidural anesthesia plus Anesthesiologist Fee (on top of PF included in the package)      
                                                      
IMPORTANT:                                                  
1. Delivery Packages are based on Published Rate                                  
2. Delivery Packages may only be availed upon Attending Physician's assessment/recommendation.              
3. An initial deposit of P20,000.00 is required upon admission.                              
4. Private Room accommodation is not eligible for Delivery Package.                        
5. Above rates may change without prior notice.                                  
6  Per Government directive, rooming-in is required unless otherwise contraindicated.                    
7. Package will be forfeited for non-compliance for the rooming-in of the baby                        
                                                                                                             


Commonwealth Hospital and Medical Center


A. Normal Spontaneous Delivery (NSD) Package (with or without PhilHealth)
                Ward (4 beds)                                  -               15,000.00
                Semi-Private (2 beds)                         -               17,000.00

B. Cesarean Section (CS) Package (with or without PhilHealth and regardless of the type of procedure)
                Ward(4 beds)                                   -               25, 000.00
                Semi-Private (2 beds)                         -               35, 000.00

Note: The package shall include the Newborn charges, provided, the case is an uncomplicated one. Otherwise, regular charges shall be applied.
The above-mentioned package rates shall be exclusive of Doctors’ Professional Fees. Regular charges shall be applied to patients using the private and suite rooms.


I've checked CHMC's facilities through their website and since this is a relatively new hospital, their rooms are actually pretty clean and decent. Also, a colleague was admitted there recently and the feedback is really good. We're leaning towards this hospital but will still do ocular visit this coming weekend. Hopefully, it will all turn out ok.




_________________________________________________________________________________

Update: (late post)

So i gave birth at CHMC last April 2013. I only stayed overnight since took me only 3 hours from admission until i gave birth. There were no private rooms available at that time so we settled for the semi-private room which was okay at first since no one was occupying the other bed.Baby Soleil was immediately roomed-in. With these, we expected to be paying the lower ranged of what was originally quoted to us (35k-45k for NSD with epidural). Didn't happen!

For me alone, we paid P45K. P15k for the hospital and P30K PF for my OB and Anes. I dunno how it got to that price but i heard my OB's quite expensive because she does great sewing job down there. But what happened to the price quoted? Dunno.

For Soleil, we paid P10K. Newborn screening and 2 vaccines included. Also, she had meconium stain so antibiotics had to be administered.

We paid about P55K total for an overnight stay at CHMC. Should i have known it would be this much, i would have opted for TMC instead.

But that's water under the bridge now, at least i had a smooth delivery and Baby Soleil's all healthy.

Autumn

There's a gloominess lurking over the office right now. Project being dissolved, resignations here and there - people leaving. As one of my colleague aptly put it, the season is autumn - leaves falling off the tree, the DGP tree.

Everytime this happens, i can't help but get affected. Why shouldn't i be, i spent almost 6 years (wow, that long now?) with these people. You can't help but get used to their familiar faces. But I get affected, moreso, in a way that i get to wonder or reassess ... well... me. These people will be resilient and will head to something better. They'll be facing new environments and exciting challenges. Fresh faces, different address, probably make new friends... exciting!

But what about me? why am i still here? Over that six years i've been with the company, people have left many times already. Why am i still staying? Is it because i really don't have that much option with what i have attained so far? Or maybe because im pregnant? Or is it because i got so comfortable with this that i am afraid to go out there and try change?

I really don't know...
But what i do know is i love my job. i enjoy what i do. Corny as it may sound but it really is a constant and continuous acquisition of knowledge. And who would want that? I hear a lot of people complaining how - nakakabobo naman ang trabaho ko -, well i sure can't say that. What actually makes all the difference is the people that i work with. You don't hear me complaining about my work per se, but i can go all day ranting about my managers/colleagues. Sometimes though, they can be sweet and are bonuses to what i do. But most of the time, they really get into my nerves that i just want to strangle each and every single one of them :D That's just normal, right? I mean, obviously since not everybody thinks/acts like me (thank goodness for that!), there will be conflicts and misunderstandings. And everywhere you go, it will be like this. Other places can be better, but they can be worse too.

I can still think of a hundred reasons why i should leave, but since and probably beacuse im such in a happy place right now, the few good reasons why i should stay outweigh the opposite. The thing is, if you're not happy anymore then leave. It will be unfair to both you and the company. I know this is definitely easier said than done, but yeah - that's the way it goes. As for me, with all things considered - am happy. This may change tomorrow or the next month, but for now, i am.

For the colleagues who are leaving, i really wish you well. May the wind take you to those greener, happier pastures. Best of luck :)

Organique vs. Nail It

Staring at my chipped, ugly nails - i can almost hear my friend Burns saying "para kang labanderang walang oras maglinis ng kuko". (Haha i miss that bitch) But i have time! And this was actually done by a professional, and that was just a week ago. Hmmm this adds up to the reason why i am probably not going back to that nail spa.

Getting a footspa and my nails done has been the only pampering I've given myself while i am pregnant. Plus this is also my 'me-time' - to destress, free my mind off things, just sit down and relax while the nail technicians do their magic.

I schedule this every month and i already have a regular spa recommended by a good friend called Organique located in Maginhawa, UP Village. I love their service! Only downside is, they're bit far from where i work. Since i usually go there when car is coding, it's a bit of a hassle to commute to and from the place. So when i saw a poster of a new nail spa which opened just across the street (big street that is EDSA :D) i thought i'd try it.

Nail It in Eton, Centris looks really posh. The interiors are very modern and relaxing. The staff are polite and well-groomed. When i entered, i was immediately greeted by the receptionist and asked what service i was going to avail. Since it was my first time, i asked for her recommendation. She offered me a package which includes footspa+pedi+mani+regular polish for P600. Stingy me thought twas a little steep since i usually pay that amount at Organique but with gel polish, but i said yes anyway since their nail polishes are of the brands i really like, OPI and Essie.

I was seated and immediately attended to by two technicians. Their method is a bit different from the usual soaking then scrubbing which really got me disappointed. My feet were more like dipped rather than soaked when she started scrubbing. Also, it didn't take long! She just scrubbed for a few good minutes and ..  done?! I was thinking and was actually tempted to say "ate, hindi pa yata yan tapos?!" but then i thought maybe she'll give me a good foot massage. But what she did next was just a quick masage, more like to apply the lotion then done, again?! darn it! The mani technician was not that good either. Again, i was expecting even a quick hand massage but nada. The polish application was also disappointing, it wasn't that clean. But in fairness, the pedi was OK. My toe nails are still clean and nail polish is still good, no chipping.

Nevertheless, ive decided i'll just stick to my usual nail spa Organique where they'll spend a relaxing 2-3 hours on me. Making sure i'll have soft feet for a month, thats exaggerating, of course but you get the idea. Plus it's actually cheaper which makes it the best deal!

DIY Wall Art: Pray

Still catching the DIY bug and determined to 'color-ify' our home, i moved on to my next project. Another 'series' of wall art: EAT, PRAY, LOVE. Three little words that we really believe in so might as well put it on the wall. Here's the first installment :)

PRAY

Materials:
Wood Planks
White Paint
Old Box
Yarns
Mounting Tape

Instructions:
1. Arrange 3 planks (25x4 inches) with an inch space in between. Put them together by using two support planks at the back.



My Lil Handy Gab 'checking' the board♥


2. Paint with white or whatever color you desire.

3. Let dry.
4. Cut letters from old box or cardboard

5. Yarn around with desired color. ( i used yellow since im so inlove with the color!)

6. Using mounting tape, stick letters to wood and... voila!

Here it is :)

DIY Wall Art: Sunshine

I don't know if it's because of all the hours im spending on the web (that's what you do when client decides to put a cap on production), or if it's beacuse im nesting for Soleil's 'hello world' (a little over a month now!) - but i was getting bored of the safe, mostly earth tone interior colors im seeing around the house.
I was thinking/browsing  of a way to make our home more colorful and lively without having to spend a fortune (since i don't really have that right now :D :D :D). The it came to me, 'of course, Wall Art! Do-It-Yourself Wall Art!'

Starting with the dining area, i found an inspiration from Pinterest (ilove!) which really looked easy to do. Here's how :)

Materials:
Canvas - bought it from Kamuning market for P100/yard (only used around half yard)
Wood Frame - recycled ours from the previous wall decor
Gun Tacker
Fabric Paint - (i used 2 colors: orange and yellow)
Paint Brush
Painter's Tape

Instructions:
1. Fix wood frame with the desired dimensions. Mine is 50x30 inches.

2. Cut canvas basing on frame dimensions with extra 2inches on all four sides for allowance (or depending on the thickness of your frame)

3. Gun tack canvas around the frame, making sure it is well stretched to avoid wrinkling.

4. Layout design using painter's tape.

5. Paint away!

i got some help from my Lil Artist♥

6. Let paint dry and... voila! easy-breezy wall art. I call it SUNSHINE :)

Here it is hanging on our wall.