Happy for the freebie!

I received an email alert from Grocery Alerts (one of the couponing sites I subscribed to)  this afternoon. The site sent me quite a number of coupons, including this:

Binasa ko ng paulit-ulit. Hmm, free lotion daw. Hindi discounted, hindi conditional - basta FREE lang. I got excited and saved it on my phone.

Sakto that Ford and I went to West Edmonton Mall after his work. I told him about the free lotion and asked him to read my online coupon. Haha, I needed to be sure. Ayaw kong mapahiya sa Bath and Body noh!

So upon my husband's go signal, I went inside the store and nervously asked a cashier about this free thing. She instantly said "yes" and I got to choose my free lotion! I was so happy!

$13-worth of lotion

Honestly, I missed getting freebies like this! Sa Pinas, lahat na ng freebies nakukuha ko (mostly from my credit card transactions) - from clothes, grocery items, toiletries, food, books, medicines, toys, etc. I am excited with the thought na ang freebies naman dito sa Edmonton ang ima-master ko haha!

See, absolutely free goody from Bath and Body! I wonder what`s the rationale behind their giving it out for free. Oh well, bahala na sila. Basta ako super saya! #mababawnakaligayahanmode

$0.00!

Thank you Bath and Body Works and Grocery Alerts! You made my day very happy! More freebies please! =)

One month

Time flies. I can't believe I am here for exactly one month already.

It's been super cold since Monday and I wasn't able to roam around on my own. The Husband never failed to ask me if I wanna go out (after his work) and we went out every other day. But aside from the usual West Edmonton Mall and supermarkets, there is nowhere else to go.

I am not complaining though. I am choosing to be grateful because many people here, especially those who are on a temporary stay like OFWs, have to endure the cold and publicly commute just to be able to do some grocery shopping. I never experienced the "real" cold yet because Ford wouldn't let me. He patiently warms up the car for me and drops me off directly to the door of the mall so I wouldn't have to walk from the parking lot anymore.

I am lucky too because I am now with my husband who I dreamt of being with permanently since 2003. I am now living this dream.

Yes, there are times when boredom (and a bit of homesickness) hits me. But I guess I just have to be patient with things. Time will come when I'll be busy and productive again.

So far, so good. Thank you Edmonton for being nice to me the past month. I am looking forward more of our happy times together.

PS. Please make it warmer on weekends so we can explore the city better, oki?

Ring for Bing-Bing

I love putting on simple silver/white gold accessories but I realized that during winter time, they won't be sulit because of all the layering (of clothes) that you have to go through in order to survive the cold. In fact, I bought a Pandora bracelet three weeks ago and I've never worn it until now. Hindi nga kasi makikita haha!

But then last (Black) Friday, I saw some nice rings from Old Navy at 50% off. And they carry my ring size which is XL! Yep yep, I have uber fat fingers and I had difficulty buying fancy rings in the Philippines.

I instantly tried on many many rings and ended up buying four. This is one of them. Nice noh?

Hmmm, I think I'm into a new addiction. Although I would have to put gloves every now and then, at least makikita ko pa rin hehe.

Hoping for more rings for me in the coming days! Hurrray!

---------------------------------
* Bing-Bing is one of my childhood nicknames

Must take pictures (of him!)

I've been here in Canada for almost a month now and I sadly, I have very few photos of myself. It's my husband who actually has tons, thanks to my hilig in taking pictures!

I love documenting things and events through photographs. Pero di ba dapat ako ang kinunan niya nang dumating ako sa Edmonton Airport???

November 6, 2013

At nang kumuha ako ng Social Insurance number noong unang araw ko dito?

At sa grocery stores?

Sa loob ng mall habang namimili ng bibilhin?

Habang kumukuha ng phone line?

Bumibili ng chibog sa Foodcourt?

At naglalakad sa snow?!

Hay, sobrang lugi yata ako? Puro siya na lang ang may litrato!

My husband is not into taking pictures but he's willing naman if I ask him. Kaso the outcome isn't that nice (sorry, Pod!). He's left-brained and any activity that entails artistry is such a toil for him.

I guess I would have to accept that in the coming days, there will be very few pictures with me on it. Who ever said that life is fair? Kalurkey!

Got to Watch Got to Believe

What makes me excited to wake up in the morning is the thought of watching the latest episode of Got to Believe.  Haha, ang lakas kasing maka-bagets ng show na ito!

Picture taken from the Internet (credits to ABS-CBN)

My husband subscribed to TFC a few days before I came here and I was so happy that I can watch Joaquin and Chichay without the hassle. Last year, Please Be Careful With My Heart started airing while I was vacationing here in Canada and I had to search and search for websites where I can watch the episodes for free. Now I can watch teleseryes whenever I please.

I don't feel guilty nor ashamed watching Filipino TV shows anywmore. Now that I am abroad, it's a "necessity" haha! I hope ABS-CBN comes up with more better shows para masulit naman ang TFC subscription namin. =)

Friday night @ Denny's

November 29, 2013. Ford and I were already at West Edmonton Mall by 5:30am and I spent the whole day there for the most-advertised Black Friday Sale.

The Husband picked me up later that afternoon (after his work) and he was starving. Haha, it was my fourth Friday here in Edmonton at di na namin napangatawanan ang "Friday Night Special" namin. Oh well, wala pa naman kami sa normal mode kasi kadarating ko lang hehe! #excusesexcuses

Anyway, we ended up having dinner at Denny's in Stony Plain. I've always wanted to try this restaurant chain for long. I love diners and I love breakfast food so I knew Denny's and I would be a perfect fit!

I wasn't able to take pictures of the place and the menu (which I usually do because menu prices are not available online and having my 'own copy' would do me good in the future) because I was so exhausted.

But I guess I can never be that tired in taking food photos!

We had Zesty Nachos for appetizer...

Zesty Nachos

And a Lumberjack Slam each! Now this truly is a North American serving!

Eh paano na kaya kami papayat nyan???

We were so full! I honestly loved their pancakes!

I'll surely be back soon. I think I found my new favorite restaurant here in Edmonton!

From Edmonton with love

When you're a new immigrant, even the most mundane thing like sending a mail can result to some feelings of insecurity. Ahhhmm, paano nga ba uli maghulog ng sulat sa post office?

I've lived in the Philippines for 34 years and I, of course, have mastered the art of living there. Here, I'm like a child... I need to be socialized in every aspect of Canadian/ Edmontonian culture.

Anyway, Christmas is fast approaching so I decided to rekindle my love of sending greeting cards. Ford and I are so far far away from our family and friends so we really wanted to keep in touch. Sa panahon ngayon ng email,  Facebook at Instagram, I know many of our loved ones will still appreciate a tangible Christmas card.

It's still November but Ford reminded me to finish the ones we'll be sending to the Philippines, UAE, and Malaysia. Hay, medyo late na nga yata ang cards namin. Sana umabot sa Pasko.

Canada Post Offices are conveniently located in malls and pharmacies all over the city. For local mailing, you can buy stamps and just drop your letters at designated drop off areas.

There's a post office in West Edmonton Mall and we went there after Pod's work. I loved the idea that you can send mails up until 9pm. Sa Pilipinas kasi hanggang 5pm lang.

The post office shares a stall with a mini store. It's complete with any mailing paraphernalia that you might need - envelopes, boxes, pens, tapes, etc.

Edmonton postcards are also available there.

An elderly woman man the office. Isa pa ito sa gusto ko sa Canada, pwede kang magtrabaho kahit na ano pa ang edad mo basta kaya mo.

After receiving Pod's payment, the lady gave us the "Air Mail" stickers. Then the stamps. Self-service mode, sulat mo - dikit mo!

I enjoyed putting in the stickers and stamps onto the envelopes. Sana may ganung career, tagadikit lang.

I also noticed na stickers ang stamps nila. Hindi na kailangang dilaan para dumikit hehe!

The first batch of the Christmas cards we're sending.

From Edmonton with love!

We sent ten cards for this batch. I realized though that sending snail mail nowadays is no longer cheap. Or cheapskate lang talaga ako?

A stamp for each international mail costs $1.85 + 5% tax = $1.94 or around Php80.00. Whew!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that all these letters will land in the hands of their respective intended recipients before the year ends. I have no problem with the efficiency of Canada Post, sa Philpost ako diskumpiyado.