Balikbayan Take-Home: Xtreme MagicSing

When you live abroad, it's a must na may sarili kang karaoke mic sa bahay lol. Aside from personal enjoyment, importante yan kapag may bisita ka sa bahay, pang-entertain kumbaga. Kaya naman ang isa sa agenda ko sa pag-uwi dito sa Pinas this year ay ang makabili ng Magic Sing hehe.

Most of our friends in Edmonton have this already, kaya siyempre nakikigaya kami. Ford and I are not bibo when it comes to karaoke singing, shy kami sa mga tao. Pero kapag kaming dalawa lang, kanta kami ng kanta haha!

Noon pa namin gustong bumili nito kaso nag-apartment lang kami the past 2 years. Sabi namin kapag nagkabahay na lang uli. At eto na nga, nakalipat na kami last November! =)

I knew that there are so many karaoke microphones now but I only wanted to buy in SM. Wala na akong energy na maghanap-hanap pa, saka mas credible for me ang nabibili sa mall kesa Lazada o Shopee.

While waiting for TanTan to finish his train ride in SM Marilao last May 1, ayun nakita ko ito. Yung presyo na lang talaga ang tiningnan ko haha. Less than Php15,000 so pwede na. Wala akong balak bumili ng mahal kasi nga hindi naman nga kami "pro" ng asawa ko sa kantahan.

When I asked the saleslady, parehas lang naman daw halos ang dalawang units na ito, wireless microphone lang yung mahal.  Lalo akong na-convince bilhin yung cheaper syempre. I asked the saleslady about their ongoing promo, less Php1,000 daw plus Php6,000-worth of hotel voucher (sa Ilocos at Baguio nga lang haha!). Then she suggested na sa May 23 daw, may 10% promo ang SM kaya malaking tipid din. Ayos, sabi ko babalik ako.

At syempre kelangan ko munang hingan ng pera ang asawa ko. My mother was volunteering to buy it for us kaso nahihiya na ako. Super dami na niyang gastos sa amin ni TanTan dito eh. Ford initially wanted me to get the cordless one, but I disagreed. Sobrang mahal na kako yun, doble ang halaga tapos "cord" lang ang difference. Ok na kako muna yung mura, we can always buy again next time kung magugustuhan namin.

A few days ago, a saleslady of another brand was convincing me to buy their product. Grand ang tatak (dating Wow daw). Their cheapest unit is more expensive than Magic Sing's so medyo turn-off ako (lol again). Pero medyo ginoogle ko pa rin kung ano ang mas ok. I also even asked a friend in Edmonton kung ano sa tingin niya ang ok based on their experience.

To cut the story short, Magic Sing won. So bumili na nga ako kahapon.

The salespersons were very happy with their sale hehe. Medyo madami nga raw bumibili nung Php14,900 unit lately, dinadala sa abroad. I think most nga ng bumibili ng karaoke microphones ay taga-abroad. Dito kasi Php500 lang ang rental ng videoke machine kapag may handaan so no need to buy your own.

This is the unit that I bought. Less Php500 lang pala ang summer promo nila. Yung Php1,000 discount is for the cordless one.

I only paid a total of Php12, 960. Not bad na rin. Sulit ang paga-antay ko ng May 23 kasi Php1,440 rin ang natipid ko.

And they were not kidding about the hotel vouchers! Meron talaga! The vouchers are valid for a year kaso kung kanino lang nakapangalan. I had the option to have it under a different name kaso sino naman. Kaloka, gusto ko tuloy mag-Baguio haha! Pero I wonder rin kung makakapag-book nga ba ako using these haha. Let's see.

Ayan, one item off my shopping list! Excited na akong gamitin ito kahit na na-info overload ako sa mga instructions na pinagsasabi nung saleslady. Oh well, bahala na ang asawa ko na magset-up nito. We don't have many friends yet in BC at hindi ko alam kung kelan kami magkakabisita sa bahay pero for sure masusulit pa rin ito. =)

Swim time at home

Ang init init na sa Pinas! Nag-fullblast na ang init after Holy Weeek at parang gusto ko ng magsisi sa page-extend namin dito haha. Ang sabi ko pa naman last year, hinding-hindi na ako magsa-summer dito, kaso eto olats! Sapul na sapul namin ang buong tag-init kalurkey!

Anyway, I am so sorry for the lack of posts for the past month. I have no excuse, sadyang tinamad lang ako. Parang wala lang kasi akong masulat, ewan ko ba. Pero I am back at magkukwento na uli ako.

We were in SM BF Paranaque last April 7, 2018 (Saturday) to attend my friend's son's birthday Party in Vikings. We were such early birds so tambay muna sa mall. Nagawi kami sa area na ito and I saw how excited my son was upon seeing so many inflatable pools. Bigla kong naisip, ba't nga ba hindi ko bilhan nito ang anak ko? Meron siya kasing maliit na inuwi namin last year na once nya lang nagamit kasi nagka-ubo siya after. Since then, hindi ko na siya pinasawsaw sa tubig. Yep, 3 years and 5 months na siya pero hindi pa siya talaga nakakapagswimming. Hindi kasi kami mahilig ng asawa ko sa swimming (saka taga-Canada kami at walang paliguan masyado), that's why.

I saw somewhere in IG na mura ang pools sa Shopwise kaso hindi na kami nakadaan after the party kasi ginabi na kami. Kaya sa SM Marilao na lang ako bumili the following day.

I chose this swimming pool kasi malapad siya at hindi malalim, perfect for a toddler. Fifty percent off daw kaya Php2,000 na lang (pero feeling ko yun naman talaga ang regular price). Ayos naman ang price, ang problema Php1,000 electric air pump waaah! No choice naman ako kaya pikit-mata ko na ring binili.

In addition, I bought some floaters din and goggles for Nathan.

Ang dami-daming bumibili ng pools! Sa sobrang init ba naman!

Syempre atat agad ang bagets na gamitin ang pool. Medyo nakakanerbyos lang ang dami ng tubig na kailangang ilagay kasi nga ang mahal nun kaso sige na nga rin, hindi lang naman kami ang may inflatable pool sa bahay lol.

This is Nathan's very first swim wear. Ang mahal rin pala ng mga ganitong panligo ng bata. Parang Php800 yata ang bili namin dito sa SM Store.

The little boy was so happy! He was so thankful sa akin for buying him daw a pool. Super sulit ang pagkabili ko kasi sabi ko nga kay Mamoosh (I had to justify it to her lol!) hindi naman kami naga-outing noh. Dito lang talaga kami sa bahay kapag summer. Hindi nga rin kasi ako mahilig talaga lumabas dahil sa sobrang init. Saka talagang hindi ko trip ang mga swimming swimming na ganyan. Pang-indoor lang talaga ang beauty ko.

Ang ironic nga kasi we are so busy kapag summer dahil we rent out tourist buses (yun ang family business namin dito sa Pinas) pero kami mismo hindi nga naga-outing. Haha, boring kami!

By the way, syempre join din ako kay Nathaniel sa pool kasi nga malaki naman. Nag-enjoy din ako kasi nga ang init at masarap magtampisaw sa tubig. At dahil bihirang-bihira kaming tumambay sa second floor balcony ng bahay namin, feeling ko nasa ibang lugar na rin ako hehe.

Mental note -- enroll him to a swimming class soon!

What a fun bonding activity for us! =)

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May kulang two months pa kami rito sa Pinas so masusulit pa talaga ang pool na ito. The past nights, puro night swimming ang ginawa ni TanTan. Wala kasing bubong sa balcony grabe ang init kapag hapon (we wake up at noon so hindi pwede ang early morning swimming).

Another mental note -- buy more swim wears for the little boy haha!

Haha, for sure sobrang laki ng water bill ni Lola! 

Best Black Friday Deal

Nathan and I are going 'home' in the Philippines this January and I was searching for a perfect gift for my nephew who I haven't seen (except in FB and IG) in more than five years. He'll turn 7 na in April 2018. I know that he's into toy cars / trucks but I still asked his mom if there's any particular toy that he likes. Wala naman daw, basta any toy vehicle will make the little boy happy.

To be honest, mahirap hanapan ng gift ang batang yun because he seem to have everything na naman. Maraming nagi-spoil sa kanya. Kaya challenge talaga na makahanap ng something na mapapa-wow siya.

Anyway, we were at Walmart last Monday (November 20) and I saw this Mack's Mobile Tool Center toy. It's actually big and heavy pero kasya sa balikbayan box. Hmmm, pwede. Bagong labas lang ito kasi noon ko lang nakita. And believe me, kabisado ko lahat ng toys sa Walmart at Toys R Us kasi lagi kaming nandun.

The price was $79.97 (+ 9.59 tax = $89.57 / Php3,600.00 - final price) and it was ok. Mura pa rin kumpara sa mga toys sa Pinas.

We were at Walmart again yesterday and I showed it to Ford. He gave me the go signal to buy it. Sabi ko later na lang, tutal sa January pa naman kami uuwi. Saka baka may makita pa akong iba. Marami kasing new toy releases ngayon kasi nga magpapasko. Pero convinced na rin talaga ako na this is what I want to get for my nephew.

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But just tonight, we proceeded to Walmart again after a little black Friday shopping at Guildford Town Centre to buy a blanket for Nathan. Yeah, we are obviously Walmart people, we buy everything we need from Walmart lol.

As expected, the little boy geared us toward the toys section. Bumungad sa akin ito and I couldn't believe it at first. Kaloka, $39.97 na lang siya?!?! Bale $44.77 / Php1,800.00 with tax.

Grabe ang saya ko haha! Imagine saving 50% of what I already conditioned myself to shed off for the toy! Ok talaga dito pag nag-sale haha!

We instantly grabbed one and put it in our cart. Nagcontemplate pa nga ako kung bibilhan ko rin si Nathan, kasi nga sobrang mura na (it looks nicer and pricier in actual ha). But Nathan showed no interest on it eh. And when I told him that he will give it to Kuya Luc as a gift, he excitedly said yes. Walang inggit o question man lang kung bakit wala siya (he's a good boy and inasmuch as he loves receiving gifts, sanay din siyang magbigay kasi talagang tinuturan namin).

Ayan, problem solved na! I got what I wanted at a very reasonable price. Yung natipid ko, I might use na lang in buying other toys/clothes for Kuya Luc kasi nga ang dami-dami naming utang sa kanya. Or pwede kong ibigay ng cash kapag nagkita kami so he could buy what he wants pa.

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If there's one thing we learned about toy-buying here in Canada, it's TO WAIT. Tiyak kasi na magse-sale, lalo na yung mga mahal.

#CessieShops: Ballerina Nutcracker

I have a new nutcracker doll. Ang cute noh?

I bought my very first nutcracker in January 2014 and promised myself that I will start collecting these decorative Christmas figurines. Kaso nga hindi ko na nagawa. Budgetary constraints din kasi lol. I buy a lot of personal stuff na (clothes, bags, shoes, stationery, etc) kaya ubos na ang bala ko sa asawa ko. Hindi ko na majustisfy ang pagbili ng nutcrackers haha!

Anyway, I saw this ballerina nutcracker in Joann (Carson, California) last Sunday and I was drawn into it. Hindi ko talaga maiwan. Its original price was $24.99 pero 60% off kaya $9.99 na lang (plus tax, so USD10.93). Ayun, binili ko na kasi naalala ko ang dami-daming kong USD coins. Puro barya talaga ang pinambayad ko kalurkey!

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I am excited na for Christmas! We won't be decorating our cramped place this season (I have no interest in beautifying a place that's not ours) but I'll buy a few Christmas pieces para ma-feel naman namin ang pasko kahit papano.  =)

#CessieShops: Muji Pens

Muji opened its first Vancouver store in Metropolis at Metrotown last August 26, 2017. As expected, hundreds of Asian-British Columbians flocked this minimalist Japanese store on its first day. Pumunta kami after a week and the line to get in was still very very long. Three weeks later, wala ng pila pero napakarami pa ring tao sa loob, as in siksikan. We went out kaagad kasi nakaka-suffocate.

Finally, lumuwag na rin nung bumalik kami last September 29. I was able to buy ballpens na lol.

Yes, ballpens lang naman ang binibili ko sa Muji, even when I was in still in Pinas.

Excited na excited ang mga taga-dito about Muji pens (nababasa ko sa IG). For me, ordinary lang naman ang pens Muji. Mas maraming magandang ballpens sa Pinas noh. Siguro nakakaaliw lang talagang magtesting-testing ng sulat at bumili ng paisa-isa. Iyon din ang nami-miss ko eh. Dito kasi usually naka-pack ang pens, hindi mo pwedeng isulat-sulat muna. Ibang-iba sa experience sa National Bookstore.

Muji pens here cost $1.50 to 2.00 each (plus 12% tax).

I only bought four pens. Nagtimpi talaga ako kasi takaw-mata lang naman ako, di ko naman talaga nagagamit ang ballpens ko. Natutuyuan lang ng tinta.

It felt good though, to be reunited once more with things that are familiar.

In my opinion, Muji items are pricey for the standards of average Canadians. Kaya nga napapansin ko wala naman gaanong namimili ng "big" items dun. Pero sabagay, sobrang daming Asians (most especially Chinese) dito who are familiar with the brand and with so much disposable money. Baka nga sila ang magpa-patronize.

On starting a travel souvenir collection (again!)

Life is short. That's what we (my husband and I) realized a couple of months back so we decided to 'travel' again. We weren't able to see places for the past three years because of my pregnancy, and later on a baby, so medyo na-stagnate kami haha. Now that Nathan's a bit older, may chance na uli. Kaso syempre limited pa rin because Ford only has two weeks paid vacation leave (less than a year pa lang kasi siya sa company). Kaya dapat samantalahin na lang ang mga long weekends para makapasyal kahit sa malalapit na lugar lang.

We are now living in British Columbia and admittedly, mas marami nga talagang puntahan dito. Mas cheaper din mag-travel via air kasi nga nasa Vancouver na (hindi na kailangan ng connecting flight to many destinations). May option din to travel via US airports (Bellinghan or Sea-Tac) kasi nga mas mura talaga ang flights sa US.

So yun nga, ang goal namin ngayon ay mamasyal nang mamasyal. Yung tipid lang na pasyal muna because we are planning to purchase our second home by the second quarter of next year, kailangan ng pondo.

Pero basta sa bawat travels namin, I told the husband na dapat mag-allot talaga kamin ng budget for souvenirs! Actually, yun talaga ang favorite part ko whenever I travel, magshop ng souvenirs! Buti na lang supportive ang asawa ko. I must say na marami na rin naman akong naipong souvenirs in the past - ref magnets, key chains, Starbucks mugs, figurines - pero lahat ng iyon ay nasa bahay namin sa Pinas.

Now I want to start a new collection of mementos of our travels as family. And when we move to our new home, I'll make sure na hanapan sila ng proper spot in the house. Excited na ako!

Here pala are the souvenirs I bought recently. I am limiting my souvenir-buying to figures and magnets only. Pwede rin ang picture frames basta maliit lang. I won't be having a big space here in BC (haha, tanggap ko na yan) kaya dapat hindi kalakihan.

These are from our California trip last May. I am hoping to get more this November pagbalik namin doon. Syempre dapat meron kada punta.

I forgot to get a magnet from Disneyland! Di bale, sa pagbalik na lang.

This is obviously from Starbucks' first store in Seattle. We always go to Seattle for Jollibee but last August 5, I finally had the guts to line up at Starbucks in Pike Street para lang makabili ng frappucino. Para ma-crossout na sa bucketlist lol.

And there are from Victoria (BC's capital, you have to ride a ferry to get there) where we spent my birthday weekend. I bought a 'Canada' magnet too because I found it nice, saka from Dollarama lang ang ibang Canada magnets ko lol.

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I am really looking forward to visiting Alberta again soon. Grabe, wala pala kaming kahit anong souvenir from Edmonton and Calgary. Sa Banff naman, magnet lang. Taken from granted nga kasi doon naman kami nakatira dati. Hindi ko naisip na aalis pala kami.

Ahhh lesson learned. Makabili na nga rin Vancouver souvenir at baka umalis din kami dito haha.

#CessieShops: Disney Summer Tote Bag

I chanced upon this nice super nice summer tote bag at the Disney Store last night. I was instantly drawn to its colors. I love the color pink. Bagay din pala si Mickey Mouse sa kulay pink.

Hindi mura ang mga tinda sa Disney Store so I had no intention of buying it. Pero teka, I saw a "special label" (at the shelf where it was displayed) that states $5.99. I wasn't really sure if it pertains to the tote bag, pero katapat talaga eh. Sumimple ako sa harap para sipatin. Ang ganda talaga ng bag, pero ang tag price ay CAD31.95. Hmm, so baka hindi nga siya $5.99 na lang.

But to satisfy my curiosity, I inquired from the sales clerk na rin. And voila, $5.99 nga raw talaga! I then asked if I had to buy something from the store to be able to avail it at that very much discounted price. Hindi raw. I excitedly said: "Ok, I'll take one!"

The bag is much prettier (and sosyal) in actual

What I really like here in North America is that pag nagdiscount sila, discount talaga. Sa Pinas kasi 10 o 20 percent off lang karaniwan. Bihira yung ganito na halos ipamigay na lang. Imagine, I was able to score this tote for merely 18% of the original price. Sobrang good deal talaga!

Oops by the way, I paid a total of CAD6.70 pala. Syempre may additional 12% tax pa (na kinasasamaan pa rin ng loob ko kasi 5% lang sa Alberta).

I am just hoping na may mapaggamitan ako nito. Haha, hoarder lang kasi ako. Cheap thrills ang hanap ko. Pero sabi nga ng asawa ko, sa dami ng pinagbibili ko na mura, madaming pera rin ang katumbas pag sinuma. Eeek, guilty.

The cashier gave me pa a coupon that I could use until this weekend. Hala, my coupon-addicted self is itching to use it. Patay na naman si Coblancs.