So we’re finally getting settled in the new place. We still have some luggages and boxes to unpack but at least most of our stuff have found their places. Good thing we didn’t do cross country moving else we’ll have not just the unpacking to do but have to get adjusted to a new area again. E has really been a trouper with all the moving we’ve done these past years or maybe he’s just used to it?!

Anyways, we’re going into week 3 of school and so far he’s been doing great. They’re currently going through the Best Start program which is a program that evaluates their reading and writing readiness. This will aid the teachers on how they’ll work with all the kindergarten kids. We haven’t gotten the feedback for the evaluation yet, hopefully E’s will be good.

On my birthday, I wasn’t expecting any gifts since we’ve had a lot of expense the past months with a new baby and with E’s school. But when Ichi went to the mall purposely to get me a gift, I started to wonder what he’ll come up with. I was thinking that maybe he’ll buy me some blouses or perfume or if he’ll splurge maybe a wii since he knows that I want that esp with the games that whole family can enjoy. So what did I end up getting for my birthday? a Nintendo DS Lite, the special mario edition and E has been the one putting it to good use haha!

Since the second half of last year, the supermarkets have been installing self-checkout counters. These are equipped with barcode scanners, eftpos terminals (for debit and credit), money & change slots (for both paper and coins), sensors, and plastic bags. It is fairly easy to use if all you buy are items that have barcodes, otherwise it can be a bit tricky. One time I was using it, I was pressing W for watermelon but it turns out they have it under M for melons. Anyways, if you only have a handful of items to buy it is pretty useful as it beats having to wait in line at the other counters. Another plus is you can also do cash outs (via your debit cards) on these terminals.

With the recent house viewings that we did though tiring it was nice to see how the flats and houses are designed. Though most of the houses and flats for rentals are generally plain with the basics (mostly I think because their rentals so the owners don’t spend much on decorating them they mostly spend on the maintenance of the place) there are some with really nice interiors. Aside from good quality finishing some even put in their own touch by using ceramic tiles to do decorative tile work. I wonder what we’ll do when given the chance to own our own home.

We’re now into the first week of February and I feel like January just flew past. So what happened in January?

• We celebrated E’s and my birthday
• We had to do house viewings on weekends with the kids in tow
• My mom went back to Pinas after spending 3 months here. Her luggage exceeded the luggage allowance with all the gifts for her friends and she had to send some back thru a balikbayan box.
• My in-laws flew in for their turn to visit mid-January
• Prepared all the things that E would need for Kindy

And now we’re in the midst of E’s first week in big school and packing all our stuff for the move into the new place.  Hopefully we’ll be settled into the new place and the new routine by next week.

In the year and half than we’ve been here in Sydney we’re already on our third house. The places that we’ve been renting all got sold (blame the additional bonus first home owners grant given by the government) so we had to move, that’s how lucky we’ve been. It is such a chose doing house viewings and the whole application process, good thing we managed to find a unit. Since we’re moving into the part of town that is nearer E’s school, our choices were mostly flats/units so one of the things we looked at was the wireless security systems that each of the complex had. Security is also good on the unit that we finally leased and another plus is the low number of units it has. Good luck to us on the new place.

Michael Jackson’s long time choreographer Travis Payne and MJ dancers went to Cebu to choreograph and perform with the inmates last January 19, 2010. It took 2 days to complete the choreography and it is said that this video will be included in the dvd and blue ray copies of This Is It.

Back in Singapore we bought E a number of toy sets. One was a doctor’s kit and the other was a handyman kit. We managed to bring the two tool set here to Sydney but somehow the pieces in the doctor’s kit are all broken or misplaced while the handyman’s are still there .. well most of it anyway. It’s funny how he uses the clamps and the hammer to pretend to fix all kinds of stuff in the house. Now though he very rarely plays with the set. It’s lego most of the time now.

I’m thinking of getting an eye cream that can help with my dark undereye circles? I know I’m probably not helping it with all the late nights but what is a good brand that is inexpensive, readily available and works? Top rated eye creams would be good to choose among. So if anyone knows of one, please leave a comment below! Thanks.

Speaking of acne, no I still haven’t found or chanced upon a solution that suits me but maybe you can click here to find out. They have some information or articles on common solutions and treatments for acne. Maybe it will be of use to those out there that want more information and understanding so as to prevent or at least minimize it. Short and quick solution would also be to go to the dermatologist for a consult haha!