Dear my Husband,

Dear husband, 

Let’s not wait until the kids are grown to make time for us ❤️

My darling, I wanted to tell you...

One day we are going to wake up, and our kiddos are going to be adults.

Can you even imagine these perfect little bodies turning into full-blown adult-size women with jobs and big responsibilities?
I mean. I want them to, of course. But still. It’s a little trippy thinking about what they’ll be like. What life will be like.
Our babies are going to move out and have lives of their own.
They’re going to create families. Their families will become priority number one and we will move gracefully down the list.
It’ll be hard to let go, I’m sure. Maybe even heartbreaking. Sometimes I stay awake at night wondering if they’re going to ask if they can go to college five hours (or more!) away from us...like I did-To my parents.

But then, sometimes, I let myself think about life with you when they’re grown.

We’re going to have lots of uninterrupted one-on-one time together again.
We can travel. We can explore. We can go on adventures of a new kind.
We can go try that fancy new restaurant on a whim. Without finding a babysitter, or the extra cash to pay them.
Or maybe we’ll even invite our grown children to join us for that nice dinner and we’ll enjoy adult conversation together.
The days when we’d attempt to go out to dinner with our little ones where they’d grab the salt to pour it out, then the pepper, then the salt....will feel like another lifetime ago.
We’ll wake up together, to each other. And fall asleep together, with each other.
It’ll be quiet in our house—no more loud singing of The Little Mermaid soundtrack, no more fighting over toys, no more giggles when we make funny faces.
We can have all the uninterrupted conversation we want.
No topic will be too deep, no good debate will take up too much of our time.
We’re going to have all of this when our kids are grown.

Basic Bank Account in the Philippines 2018

It is common in our society to think na mayaman at negosyante lang ang nag-oopen ng bank account sa Pilipinas. Ayan din ang kinalakihan kong mentality. So when I was a teenager, life goals ko rin talaga magkaron ng bank account at talaga naman pinush ko yun. I remembered, Landbank was my first bank and I had no ideas bakit doon ako nag open back in the 90s days. My mother was also not a fan of savings because she always prioritize shopping. Haha! But whenever I get that bank account, I also end up closing it because of the high maintaining balance requirement. It usually ranges from Php2,000 up to Php10,000- depends on what kind of account you have. 

So here's a really awesome news! Opening a bank account in the Philippines just got easier!

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas recently approved (just this January 2108) the Basic Deposit Account framework which has much simpler requirements for initial bank depositors. You can now open a basic bank account even with lower than Php100 initial deposit with no maintaining balance and no dormancy charge. Finally, naisip na rin ito ng ating gobyerno! 👏🏻 

In hopes of the BSP to encourage more Filipinos to engage in savings especially those of the mass people, it is now made easier for them to open an account and more opportunities & options as well when it comes to savings. It is also intended to encourage young people to save as early as possible so that they can develop a stronger financial management system within themselves. In addition, to protect all parties from fraud, abuse, and money laundering, the basic bank accounts have a limit of Php50,000 per deposit accounts only. 

As of now, Bank of the Philippine Island, Banco De Oro, Eastwest Bank and Metrobank are the ones that are offering the said product. I'm not sure yet if other banks have it as well na. You can check them via their website or visit the nearest branch near you. 

PRO TIP:

✔️I am a fan of Eastwest bank's ATM card because it's super nice, it's mint green in color and has that glitz and shine. Very unique and stylish. Downside on the other hand, you can check your balance online via their website but won't be able to make online transactions pa yata and they don't have the application for IOS and Android just yet. But according to my brother-in-law who's a branch manager, they're working on the app na.

✔️BDO and BPI has the ATM machines everywhere and available online & phone banking 24/7. They even have the app years ago pa. Convenient for emergency uses. But I think it is their strategy to make the business rolling. If you see ATMs everywhere, the tendency would be for you to withdraw more often and make more shopping spree online because of impulsive purchases. That means instead of you saving up that hard earned money would only lead to more accessible and convenient way to spend it. Iba kasi yung way of thinking mo if you are holding the money in actual and in reality, on your own hands, mas mahirap sya bitawan and magdadalawang isip ka pa. Unlike if nasa bank account mo lang, all you can see are figures so it is less likely you care much about that figures you seen on the computer screens.

✔️It is always always wiser to go for a passbook savings account than the ATM ones if you're really serious of saving up because in that way you will not have the easy access to withdraw the money. Imagine yourself standing on a long queue line parang lang makawithdraw sa hindi naman urgent needs. So you'll end up with laziness and your money will end up being held in the bank. Nakatpid tips ka. 

So there you go, it's just another piece of my two cents. Hope I had shared something para sa ekonomiya natin lahat! LOL

xoxo

My top gift picks for Valentine's Day

Heart's day is near and I don't get that giddy feeling anymore. Maybe because it's the first sign of ageing...I think. OMG! Like seriously I am ageing at this stage already? Haha! Anyway, enough of my dramarama. It's just my excuse because I usually don't have much experience with regards to celebration of St. Valentine. It's not sucking me anymore. Promise! Yeah, I know it's such a boring love life thinking that I have a partner. He's not really that ma-surprise or mooshy kasi, kaya ganito ang drama ng lola nyo. That being said, sanay na ako. Yes! Sanay na sanay na talaga ako! Haha!

I enjoy giving advices to friends whose on the hunt for Vday gifts because I'm always a fan of researching for all things lovely, cutesy, hearty, and sweet. All those kind of things make me so kilig even by just looking at them. With nonstop Instagram and Pinterest stalking, my eyes are always in awe as in like busog-lusog sa lahat ng nakikita. So here's the list of my top gifts which I think would give 10K pogi points to the guys if they'll give them to their girlfriend. 

1. Flowers

The Glass House Flowers is one I've been eyeing on when it comes to preserved flowers, specifically Ecuadorian and preserved roses. I prefer their simplicity when it comes to packaging. All their flowers comes in an acrylic box designed to serve as a vase and water tank. They have different packages for your preferences or you can also request for them to make specific arrangements according to what you like to have in the box. But of course, don't forget that great gifts comes in great great prices. These flowers are a bit pricey because they are guaranteed to last longer that the usual roses or flowers we buy at the shops. With proper care (care instructions included in the box), they said that it will last up to few weeks to months. As for now, you can order to them thru their online boutique because they don's have a physical store yet. You may reach them at their instragram and facebook page.

 Preserved Ecuadorians in acrylic boxes. 

Preserved flowers which comes with macarons inside a mini drawer under the box itself.

These are the Beauty and the Beast movie inspired roses which are also preserved.

Beauty and the Beast inspired in full colors.

2. Surprise Balloons

Who doesn't love balloons? Lalo na when it's super big and colorful, and artsy. 

I came across this balloon boutique thru instagram and to my surprise, they are Philippine-based shop. They make super big balloons that actually floats and they may also be customized. Name the color and message, they'll surely have it! They also have different shapes like stars and hearts. Tassels are also available in different colors and shapes, handmade. :) These balloons aren't for Vday only, it may also be a gift for birthdays, anniversaries, parties, and of course a good idea for proposals.

You can find BLLOONS on Instagram and Facebook.

Such a sweetheart balloon!

Balloons inside of a balloon with confetti.

5. Luxe Sweets
These are the trending sweets I usually see on instagram and pinterest.
They are so gorgeous, you don't wanna eat them! Common to these are the strawberries, they put some chocolate coatings then sprinkle it with dragees, sugar pearls, gold leafs and dusts, and many more. You can also have them in boxes along with many other stuffs like flowers, wine, macarons, and many more. One brand that provides this kind of stuffs is the Aperitif. They are Philippine based luxe brand of grazing tables now providing luxury sweets boxes that you can order for any occasion. But I think they don't customize for this sweets boxes though.