Drool!

I was just browsing through my emails when I stumbled upon HomeDesign's newsletter.

Their feature on the newsletter was all about bedrooms... and being a wife who always wants to have a peaceful bedroom, this definitely caught my attention.

You see, R is a light sleeper which at times turn into an insomniac :( He has difficulty sleeping. We have tried various stuff (vitamins for him to sleep, melatonin pills, sleeping pills, milk with honey, etc) so as to cure this. It would work for say 1-2 tries and then after that, we go back to the same problem :(

From our room, I think about 3 to 5 years ago, we painted our room ocean blue. I liked it because of the calmness that it brings into the room while R likes it because he feels the colour lulls him to sleep!

I talked to him about it and we have discussed changing our room colour to ocean blue so that he can rest well and for the calm feeling to remain (being that will be our resting / nesting place).

I guess that is enough background about this newsletter! :p

I like this room because it definitely spells cozy!!! The browns and a touch of green gives you a feel of nature in your room. The colours are not that loud and there is still enough natural light that comes in to your room. I like the LED lights beneath the shelves because it already serves as night lamps for us both (me in particular since I do like reading and right now, we do not have night lamps). 

This is my second option

Again, I am lured to take the brown/ earth tones because I think this is what a room should be. Calm and relaxing. I also like the fact that outside, they have a small breakfast/ nook area where you can just type away or chill...

This I might discuss with R since we do have a small space where we can extend our room and maybe come up with this design. Not sure though if this is possible but it will be nice to have a space like this in your room. I think if given the chance to choose over a walk-in closet or this nook, I will definitely go for this one!! :) 

Check out Home Designs website to get more inspiration on what you can do to the spaces of your house. 

Note: All photos were taken from Home Design's website

On New Year Resolutions and Goal Setting

Today is the first day of 2014 and I am writing a post!!! Hahahha...! Well, to be honest, R and I didn't go out and painted the town red because they were not given any day off (boo! I know)... reason is the malls have been jam-packed because of the holiday season... oh well, the holidays are over but here comes the Dubai Shopping Festival and just like that, the bad schedule continues :(

Yes, I want to cry but hey, this (I guess) is far better than him being miles away from me. At least I still get to see, hug and kiss him if I want to (I just need to sleep late and wake up early!!).

So... this is the first day and I come to think about resolutions or goal setting for this year. I saw a friend post in Facebook regarding goals

(grabbed from my friend, MJ Ces)

I admitted to him that I am not setting any goals... not sure why but for the past years, I have been aiming on finishing the payment for our house in Manila... and now that it's finished, I keep asking myself - what's next? 

Usually, I make resolutions and stuff that I am thankful for... but never about goals. I am not sure if this is because I don't know how to conquer failure or rejection. This feeling is something that I try to deal with most of the time and if I can, I try to avoid it (hahha!). 

Though thinking about it, I need to have goals not to show off but more of to keep me focus for the year. 

Hmmm... now, let me go and write them down ;-) 

Happy New Year!!

Happy Holidays!!!

I just want to wish you all a

Merry, Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!! :) 

from R & Me :) 

Bank Mishaps

Note: Pardon my post, this is just me letting out my irritation on how a prestigious bank like CITIBANK handles the queries of their customers

I didn't really want to write anything about this but my frustration is boiling up that I need to let it out (well, initially, I did that in Facebook)!

I have been a loyal customer for Citibank here in Dubai. When I started out in my first company, they were the first bank who offered to give me a credit card (circa 2003). It was like a gift as I never had a credit card back in the Philippines.

Tempting and it does bite back, over the past few years, I have managed to understand what the credit card is used for.

During those times, I was able to purchase items that are not within my budget, things I want and things that we need. I was also able to understand how the "reward" system works with Citibank and was able to get a few good deals in doing so.

I was able to read in one of the CitiLife Rewards newsletter that I can use my CitiRewards for my annual fee. Since I keep on forgetting to do that, I have made a decision that when this comes up again, I will pursue in using my rewards.

I have enquired and given calls through Citibank's agents. I made about two calls making sure that this is done --------------- wow! only to find out that not only was I MISINFORMED I was also charged with other bank charges.

I made another call only complaining about this (which I am truly sorry for the 3rd agent I spoke with but you can never really avoid having this type of emotions most especially when you have been reassured that this will be dealt with). I guess the 3rd agent can not defend who I spoke with before and can only apologise that I was MISINFORMED.

As I have said, I will understand if outright, someone told me NO, it's not possible but giving you the reassurance this is being dealt with just shows how valuable their customers are --- NOT!

I know we have used the credit card and I know that the annual life is something that I have agreed with the bank and have rightfully paid for the past 9 years but I just want to be clear that this might just be a hundred dirhams only but this is hard earned money I am paying the bank.

The money that I have worked hard for and we do not have a money tree on standby to grow and water. Everything has been hard earned and I was expecting, being a prestigious bank and have consistently been bragging of being one of the best that they do not or they failed to educate their agents properly.

As I have mentioned, I have been a customer since 2003/2004 and this is the service that we get for being loyal customers? I also don't know if maybe because I am not a person in power or authority to demand an explanation.

I thought that we, as customers are always right? In a customer-oriented industry where feedbacks and proper information is important, you have failed miserably CITIBANK.

I do not know where this opinion of mine will go or if it will even reach that agent who has MISINFORMED me but I hope the next time someone calls, do your job well. Be honest if you do not have an answer and I would have appreciate if you have asked me to call back and check again.

Boohoo!!! :(:(:(

image source: http://www.emirates.com/english/skywards/about/partners/banks/citibank-uae.aspx

Favoured and Blessed

I went to hear the Victory church service today and was totally moved by one of the inspirational song that the Praise and Worship team sang.

This is the entire lyrics of the song.

Planetshakers - Favoured Lyrics

Artist: Planetshakers

Album: Nothing Is Impossible

Genre: Christian

Send "Favoured" Ringtone to your Cell

Listen while you read!

VERSE: 
You?re my Saviour, You?re my Healer 
You?re everything I need
You?re my comfort, You?re my best friend 
Forever You will reign 

PRE-CHORUS:
You are high and lifted up
And Your Kingdom will have no end

CHORUS:
I am favoured I am blessed
By the cross, and the blood that was shed
I am favoured I am blessed
I can do all things, because of what You?ve done for me

BRIDGE:
Nothing is impossible for those that believe
Nothing is to difficult for our God
Nothing is impossible for those that believe
I believe, I believe in You

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/planetshakers/favoured-lyrics/#wriEzjFpGHQotUtK.99

I am moved by this song because I have been asking him my "whys" and telling him a lot of "it's unfair" but never really see what He has given me.

This song brought me back and snapped me back to reality that I am favoured and blessed. God not giving me what I asked for does not mean he has forgotten my other needs.

It is sometimes difficult to accept when we are not given what we wanted that we tend to forget what is being given to us without even asking for it... Ironic isn't it?

So, I thank you God for letting me know that you have not forgotten me and is working at me... preparing me for the promise that He has in store for me.

I know this is not the right time to be selfish but instead be selfless most especially because of the turn of events that has happened in the Philippines - the scam, the civil unrest, the earthquake and the typhoon - all happened I think a few weeks apart.

I hope people who were affected by all of the natural disasters will be able to stand up again and I know they will because they have God on their side :)

(from youtube) 

Risk Taker

Awhile ago, I was watching Tim Turner's video (who is called the Maverick Man) at CNN. The clip below was not what I have watched but I just wanted you to have an idea of who he is.

(from youtube)

He seems to have a vision and he works on getting that goal. 

A risk taker and definitely a go-getter! Imagine, the first time he heard that Jane Fonda signed the divorce papers of her then husband, he immediately gave her a call and asked her for a date! 

While watching this documentary about him, I asked myself if I at least have a bit of his vision. Looking back, I think I only have 1% of his risk taking attitude and that is when I followed my heart to be with the man of my dreams (my husband!). 

Hmmm... or maybe add 4% more on that because I decided to start a business opportunity (can't really tell it right now... or never at all! bwahahaha!). 

Okay, kidding aside, I asked myself when I was watching his documentary if I did have a vision of what my life will be (now, it's our life since we're married). 

... silence... 

I guess I have been following the current of the river called Life, the day to day events as they come our way. In other words, things have been easy. There may be a bit of rocky areas but still there was more smooth sailing days. 

R, I think, sees this which is why he does not burst my good bubble by pushing through with "the plan" but I know it is of our best interest to go for the plunge... which should be soon! 

Am I a risk taker? No but I think I am married to a visionary and like a river, he leads to smooth sailing days... always :) 

Undecided

Aaarrgghhh!!! When did choosing a phone becomes a pain!?! :(

I am still undecided... whether to get a new phone or not... whether to get a bigger screen or a regular screen...

Arrggghhhhh!!