Yes, the day has finally come for us to get on that plane– we were homeward bound! I had mixed feelings. I have not ridden a plane for two years, so it was great to be on one again.

Of course, nothing beats the feeling of being with family and great friends. While the plane was hovering the city of Cagayan de Oro, I busied myself by taking photos of metal buildings and houses to post on my blogs but I haven’t uploaded any of them yet. I should do that soon. My friends are so demanding of my pictures! Ok. I will do that as soon as I finish this post.

So, if you’d ask me how my vacation is so far, I think it’s great. I have indulged myself with my favorite foods. I have gone to Jollibee already for my spaghetti, have tasted some great Filipino delicacies and just this afternoon, I had Halohalo. It was great. I am definitely going to have another one soon!

Being in Thailand for almost three years have made me love Thai cuisine. Of course, there are so many Filipino dishes that I so love and miss. I can’t wait to taste some (if not all of them) when I go home tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow! Yay! I can’t wait.

I have been mentally keeping this “list of things to eat” when I am finally there. I am sure I would be missing a lot of Thai dishes too but that’s ok. This is just going to be a 5-week break. I wish I could have porterhouse steak, but that would not be possible for now. I will surely post photos of my eating adventures! Toodles!

I have made a post about the food I had at Tha Siam Central World but I realized that there is a branch nearest us– at the Mall Bangkapi!

Hubby and I went there in one of our “us”times and we totally loved the food!

I've never had so many fishballs in my whole life-- like a boatful of them!

Hubby had this seafood dish with curry

I had this veggie dish with spicy curry... whew!

This post made me so drool! I am definitely paying that resto a visit again.  By the way, “Tha Siam” in Thai means “Boat Port of Siam”. So I guess that explains that boat in the first photo.  :)

Our culture has a rather odd take on pregnancy. A woman’s body is designed to carry and deliver a baby and the vast majority of women are able to do that with relatively few health problems. Despite the fact that pregnancy is normal, it is often looked at as something that can cause a number of health problems. It’s almost treated as an illness or disorder by some people. That is usually far from the truth, but it is still important for an expectant mother to stay healthy both for her own sake and the sake of her baby.

If you are pregnant or believe that you may be pregnant, there are some things that you should keep in mind to make sure that you stay healthy:

• Receive Regular Prenatal Health Care – The first and arguably most important part about keeping yourself and your baby healthy during pregnancy is making regular prenatal care visits. You should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you suspect that you are pregnant mostly to confirm that you are indeed pregnant. Your first proper prenatal care visit will most likely be when you are about six to eight weeks pregnant. From this point on, you should have regular visits every four weeks until your 28th week of pregnancy. These visits will monitor your health, the health of your baby and determine when the baby is due. There will also most likely be an ultrasound exam later in the pregnancy. You can go here to learn more about what that entails or to find information about becoming an ultrasound technician yourself.
• Eat a Balanced Diet – Proper nutrition is very important to everyone, but it is especially important for a pregnant woman. An expectant mother is essentially eating for two and what goes into her body will also nourish her baby. Try to eat a balanced diet consisting of foods that are high in protein, calcium, potassium, Vitamin C, and fiber. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always good, as are dairy products such as yogurt and milk. Try to avoid eating too much seafood and stay away from unpasteurized milk products and cheeses, such as brie, feta and bleu cheese, as they can contain bacteria cultures that may be harmful to your baby. You should also drink no more than one to two cups of coffee every day. Avoid smoking and drinking during pregnancy. The harmful effects of alcohol and cigarettes can cause serious health problems for your baby.
• Stay Active – Many women who are pregnant believe that they shouldn’t exert themselves and subsequently don’t exercise as much as they should. The truth is that most women should be able to still get plenty of exercise while they are pregnant as long as there are no complications. In fact, it is often said to make labor and delivery easier. Walking and swimming are great ways to get exercises and stay in shape during pregnancy, but you should probably avoid riskier exercises or contact sports that could cause you to fall and injure your baby. Overall though, the average woman should be able to stay active throughout her pregnancy.

These are a few things that should help you and your baby to stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. If you would like to know more about prenatal and postpartum care and possibly pursue a career in nursing yourself, you may want to consider enrolling in one of the many online nursing schools around the world.

Sources

KidsHealth (2012)

FamilyDoctor.org (2012)

Dining at the Yokyor (pronounced as Yokyoh) Marina Restaurant in Bangkok was a great experience.  We enjoyed a sumptuous meal, which was served an hour before the cruising began.

I was so engrossed on our meal that I forgot to take photos– plus, it was a bit dark.  I would definitely bring family and friends there whenever they’d come visit Bangkok.

While we were cruising, we saw other boats with more special services– they even have cabins for those who would like to spend the night cruising!

I am sure they have good cleaning leather services for these very special boats. I am actually thinking of spending one of our date nights with hubby in one of those more special restaurants. On our 12th wedding anniversary, perhaps?

Having a time out at Ban Siri Hotel in Bangkok was one of the most relaxing times we had as a family. It was a great experience. What we liked about it there was staying at a cottage, so it was like our little home while on a holiday.

Outside each cottage was an aluminum patio furniture for us to relax at in the afternoons. Unlike most hotels in the city center, we enjoyed peace and quiet. The kids loved the pool, too. It would definitely not be our first and last time there.

Ria could not quite decide what she wants to be when she grows up. Well, I don’t expect her decision to be that final—she is only 10! Plus it’s understandable that kids would want to be anything—they are especially influenced by friends what they see on tv. She wanted to be a doctor when she was a lot younger. Then she wanted to be a professional violinist/pianist/singer. For now she wants to be a veterinarian. I think she is mainly influenced by her close friend.

As a mom, I would be happy if she pursued a medical course. It would definitely be challenging, pushing those hospital carts, visiting patients from room to room, giving prescriptions, etc. But then again, I could not decide for her. I can only guide and pray for her, and see her pursue her passion in life.

It’s mango season again in Thailand– which explains this mango-flavored Swensen’s ice cream!

Of course, chocolate is always classic– I always get amazed with its taste everytime!

Oh, Swensen’s!  When will you ever stop captivating my heart taste buds?

How many weddings have you been to? How many vows have you heard? Can you remember how they tickle you or make you feel like crying? I do. I love weddings.

I love the songs, I love the look on the couples’ faces, I love listening to vows, and yes– I love the food.

But mind you, it takes a lot of effort to make a marriage afloat. It is not just as simple as saying a vow or staying “in love”– many times there would be lots of things to give up, there will be compromises and sacrifices. Some would even have to go through counseling and read marriage books to make their marriages exciting. Of course there is no substitute to spending quality time with each other.

For those who make the most of their marriages, you might like to check on this site: http://www.www.besttestosteronesupplements.com/firminite/.

Whatever it takes, let’s all remember our vows and always go back to that place and time where we said them infront of the many witnesses. And don’t forget to stay in love. It’s the best place to be!

Dressing up for a wedding or a party could prove to be a real challenge.  It would definitely take a lot of time to try on more than just a few dresses, with bags and heels to match with it.  And oh, the make up.  How could that be forgotten?  It would even be best to have a make up trial with your makeup artist days before the big day.

One of the things that could make your getup even more special would be to have a pair of Pretty Polly pantyhose.  Now these are not just those ordinary stockings you see online. In fact, how would you like to have one of those that Selena Gomez or Paris Hilton wear?  With hip designs, you could look and feel great on the special day you have been preparing for months.

Pretty Polly products are not only durable.  They have made a name in the UK over the years and have been a part of fashion for decades.  It is enough reason to make it your choice!

A personal favorite: Pretty Polly naturals