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Year 2018 has not been bad it is just that I have been busy about work and attending to my small space. I started this blog way back in January of 2008 when I was just renting a room for myself. Soon after my niece, my sis daughter, an only child graduated in college. My sister and I decided to let her come to Manila for better opportunity. My sis and my brother in law live in the province, an eight hour drive from Manila.

Living room

Likewise at the time, my sis in law, wife of my brother advised to let me also take in with me my nephew. My nephew and my niece get along too well as they have been best friends way back when they were kids. My brother would take my nephew to the house of my sister during school vacation. The first apartment I found where the three of us started sharing was not very conducive to live with. The landlord used to asked for cash advances. There were times he failed to pay the electricity and water bills. It was a not a good experience.

Dining and kitchen

After three months of enduring the situation I decided to move to another apartment. It was better than the first one. It was an old building though. We stayed for two years. I did not renew the contract anymore on the second apartment after two years. Reason, we were on the second level of the building. The roof began to leak on rainy days. Fearing that my hard earned appliances would be damaged. I decided to move again.

I searched online. Determined to look for a much better place. I got lucky for the third time. The place was small space. A condo where I feel safer due to twenty four hours security guards and CCTVs. It was a bit expensive compared to the previous apartments but safer and convenient to rides twenty four seven. My nephew finally married his girlfriend. Now it is myself and my niece who share the rent and utilities.

Blogging Again

I has been a while folks. I hope everyone is doing great. To all mommies, Happy Mother’s Day!

Year 2017 has been alright. I would not say not perfect but all creases have been ironed-out. Mostly work related issues.  To those you have been following my blog, I mentioned I have transferred to chat from being a voice tech support agent. There was a bit of struggle at the beginning of the year, 2017. It was all about my monthly score.

To call center representatives also known as call center agents, like me.  They know what I am saying here. Passing our annual score is a must, if we want a salary increase. It also helps management to know if the agent is performing. Or, the agent needs help. Worst, if they agent needs to leave the company. I had a bit of struggle for six months, getting not a passing customer survey. Luckily, I made it towards the middle of the year until year end.  Why did I not aim for promotion? Not worth it for a lot of pressure. I would rather retire looking young and healthy.

Family and love life is great I have no complain. They are very supportive. Busy at home on my day off and vacation from work.  It is normal for me to mind my organizing my small space.  I do not want to arrive from work to a topsy turvy home.  I am not a traveller, other than team building activities at work. I do not want to spend money when not needed. I would rather spend money in buying appliances and home maintenance.  I live frugally and in the most practical way. Please do not get me wrong. I am not against travelling.  Go ahead if you need to. I am speaking for myself.

Here I am back to blogging again. Just like saying hello to my blogging buddies and readers.  This blog is still alive. I may not be consistent with my post but  I can assure everyone this blog will stay until such time I can no longer type and run out of ideas.  I will be in touch with more stories.   My pillows are now waiting for me in my bed. 

The Home Body

If you stay in a small home chances are you will find ways to at least make it look bigger. On my day off, I thought of rearranging my wardrobe. Instead of making it as a divider I had it right next to the wall. The bookshelf became its substitute as a divider. I am happy with the result. I now have a bigger view of my living room from the kitchen area.

The bookshelf as the divider. It took the place of the wardrobe. My niece was so happy when she opened the door coming home from work. at 4:30am. Her collections greeted her. Her collection of comic books she bought online.

Bar Cart

Living in a small home does not mean you will be deprived of some stuff you need. I am short of storage and this bar cart becomes in handy. Thank you to some online magazine for giving me the idea.

I installed the cart right next to my couch where I can put my coffee while watching television. First layer is for my casserole instead of putting it on top of my small dining table. Second layer is for my coffee and tea.

Next two layers are for other stuff like another casserole, bread, fruit etc. The wheels enable me to move it easily. Price is reasonable and good quality. It is rush proof too. 

Dressing Up My Living Room

The challenge of living in a small home is how to make all furniture you needed fit on a limited space. 

Last month,  I bought this two seater wooden sofa. I did not opt for that one with pullout as it is more expensive. I am glad I found these native looking boxes. Tartan tapes livens them up under the couch. 

Most of all.. I am happy to have found these big storage boxes I can use as bench. 

Side view.. view from the kitchen. The two bedroom condo may not be perfect, yet it is one I can call .. home. 

Living in a Small Home

The challenge in living a small home is how to make everything fit and still look and feel cozy while you are home. That is of course, not having to worry about spending much to make your place look good. I would like to say thank you to some blogger friends who have been posting links on how to live and decorate small homes.

I added picture frame and hang red wall clock on the window grill in my living room. I added two throw pillows on top of the brown ottoman. The ottoman is great to store some of my things.  

Other function of this shoe cabinet is for some nicknacks. Hopefully, I would have a budget soon for a new couch where I could lie down while watching television. 

One of my hobbies on my day off from work is watching tv, while the washing machine is churning. I changed the electric fan here. It used to be a white stand fan. There is no provision for AC in my living room, just in the two bed rooms. 

Glad to have the wenge bookself in lieu of small shelves. It gives illusion making my living room looks bigger. I hang a mirror on the closet using scratch free hook with nicknacks on top that serves as decor.

The closet serves as divider, to the living room and small kitchen area. 

My place may not be as luxurious as others may have, but it is place I can call... my home. Have a great day, folks! :)

Some Simple Things in Life I Enjoy

Just got home. It is my day off.. enjoying one of my favorite breakfast..  Quick cooking Oatmeal with dark chocolate...

My thanks to my youngest brother and sis in law for this hard working stove-top bowl. I can cook breakfast easily. Keep it inside my ref if there is left over. Put it inside the microwave to warm it up without hassle. 

Although I get busy with household chores.. yet..there is no place like home.. 

Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas!

I had been away for almost a month online to attend to various activities last month and even as the Holiday Season come.  Last November, I started working on some shopping and decorating my apartment to set the mode for Christmas. I made it simple decors I do not want to spend a lot. I got tired of working overtime just to have additional budget. Maintaining a bigger home costs more than when I was staying in a room good for only one person. The good thing about having a bigger apartment is I could decorate my house and has bigger space when my family members would visit.

Taking a Peek at WWW

The young lady in the picture is my bookworm niece. I never thought she inherited the talent of my father. 

Her tiny fingers did wonders on my computer table and the metal table we bought together at a shopping mall.

Behind the Keyboard

I do not exactly recall what made me too busy these days but I know I am always doing something. Be it at home or at work. My job training is over. The result is not good. I am looking for another open window of opportunity. Who knows it is a blessing in disguise. In life as I always remind myself. I cannot have everything I wanted to have. Where will I put them all anyway? Uh, oh, sour grapes. 

Do not worry folks, I am still in control. I guess I just have to focus and align my ways of thinking. Oh, and I need few days of rest too. The year 2011 had been a challenging year to me since day one. I am posting this article not to entice negative feelings. This to let my readers know I share the same feeling with everyone like a normal person. This is the beauty of having learned how to blog. You have your keyboard to express what you feel.☺

A New Beginning

Folks, there is another side of the story I have not told you yet. After my lead training for escalation agent was concluded in mid February this year. While my co trainees and I were in the process of getting ourselves used to answering escalated calls, we had a general assembly. At the general assembly or simply a general meeting we were informed the electric company that hired our Call Center will no longer renew their contract with Manila, Philippines Call Center. 

Did I worry about becoming jobless? To be honest, yes. However, all of us were given assurance by the Call Center we are working for, we are to be transferred to other account. Lucky for us, the Call Center we are working for has several accounts. Some of the accounts are in the process of hiring employees. I was first endorsed to a gaming account unfortunately I did not pass the tech exam. 

My Happy Home

The house is located in the east where the sun rises. Expect a bright sunlight in the early morning. It is located at the second level, single detached. At the ground floor is the garage where the owner parked their CRV car. It is newly constructed. The painting outside the house is not well done. But it is alright. I live inside not outside the house. The house is made out of concrete material. The only woods are the built-in cabinet and doors. The tiled flooring is so easy to clean.

I am posting photos to let you know what made me too busy for a month I had been away from blogging. ☺

This is the living room. Wardrobe is a perfect divider. I have some stuff stored at the back. The color of the 19 inches TV, 5 cubic feet refrigerator and computer are silver. I did not buy them at the same time. I want the color to be uniformed. The ref is the latest addition.

It took me several days of mall hopping before I found the right couch I wanted. Right, my favorite color is red. Size of the couch fits small house too.

Saying Goodbye

I am not good at saying goodbye. For almost eleven years we had been together in my room. I love to glance at the smooth face as the hands runs slowly. A companion indeed for so long, it is difficult let go. Nothing is permanent in life I had accepted this notion long time ago. However when parting time comes, it is difficult. The ticking had stopped. The familiar sound is no more…

Yes, my old wall clock had stopped running. I thought I needed to change the battery. When I took out the old battery and slipped the new one. I thought the hand would start to run. The ticking sound would come to life again, but no more. I checked on the small piece of paper I pasted at the back of the wall clock. It says Oct 1998. It was then I realized the needed rest is worthwhile. When I buy things I normally would write using a marking pen at the back of the item or the gadget I bought. This serves as my guide of its lifespan. Actually, I was mesmerized by the length of time the wall clock was with me. To think it is not even a branded one.  

I remember the very day I bought it. I chose the green color the first time. When I got home, I asked myself why did a pick the green one? The following day I went back to the mall. Never mind if I need to spend on my fare to get to the mall. I want the red wall clock. I got lucky there was one available from the stock room. Never mind if I followed a long line for the returned items. The sales lady who rummaged from the stock room was I guess as tired as I am. I followed the long queue standing for at least half an hour.  Well, time to buy another wall clock.  

I want a wall clock hanging on the wall. At a glance, it provides me with ease what time of the day it is. That is, without the need for me to wear my reading eyeglasses. I could read from a distance without my eyeglasses on, folks. Right, the wall clock will be red again, my favorite color.