WONDER WIFEY: July 2010

~ "C"

Chubby, chunky and pudgy children are cute. But studies show that these children will grow up to be obese adults without intervention.

I'm not against obese like it's the ugliest thing. It is because of health problems that come with it. I'm pretty much fighting an uphill battle with weight loss too. I guess my metabolism is really a turtle. Looking back, I knew that my appetite was really good eversince.

With the advent of video games and excessive computer use nowadays, vis-a-vis yummy snacks here and there, children move less and eat more. There is no doubt that this is a growing epidemic. I'm happy that First Lady Michelle Obama has included this a one of her campaigns. The future can't rest on unhealthy adults when the time comes. We want the future generation to be mentally alert and physically fit.

I like it that a lot more is being put in elementary PE lesson plans now.

Does your child vegetate at home? Or is he physically active? Does he enjoy his school's physical education program? Do you care to put him in an after school physical activity at all?

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Investment

~ "C"

My husband and I were just discussing where to invest the little amount that we are able to put away.

We were informed that one of the most stable and safe is gold. We've never really invested on jewelry except for the occasional pieces that we'd treat ourselves to, including those I've bought through the years eversince I had my first job. I realized that it indeed hold value and barely depreciated.

I still have the good ones kept away. Maybe one day I can resell it if I really to. I'm just happy that it's not necessary at this point. Given a chance, I will probably buy more, instead of continuously splurging on purses and shoes.

We've basically taken real jewelry for granted because of the advent of fabulous fashion jewelry that are so in fashion these days. On formal occasions, I really make it a point to veer away from sporting fashion statement with fancy accessories and stick with genuine pieces I've invested on. They might be less flashy, but really simple, elegant and classy.

My friend just told me about some good deals that he got from San Diego Jewelry while picking amongst San Diego Diamond Rings when he proposed to the love of his life, and then San Diego Wedding Bands eventually when they tied the knot. He's the same one who's currently fixing his house.

Jewelry is really something that will last forever.

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Summer!

~ "C"

How's the season treating you so far? What are the family activities that you have scheduled?

It seems that our household is going to be buzzing with activity again. If you've been following my blogs, you know about my make shift "Teen Day Care" that my household turns into when my stepdaughter is in town. All the cousins get together and stay with us for a while so this year will be like the past ones -- hubby and I will have to replenish the pantry with easy to make snacks, as well as the freezer and refrigerator.

They grow up really fast and usually, each year finds us groping for new activities since they've outgrown the last. Interests change rapidly. I wonder where this summer will take us.

Definitely, we might be employing some of them when we cater for the summer picnic for the company hubby works for. It's a tradition, and we get paid. We buy all the stuff, and cook them for about 150 people. This year, the kids might be able to help us out. Hopefully. We'll just share them the bounty so they can have their own summer shopping before school starts again.

Meanwhile, it's shorts and tanks season! I've pretty much gotten my basic summer wardrobe ready. Let me see....tube tops - Check! Shorts - Check! (got them really cheap and I have 3 new ones, and an old one from a pair of ripped old jeans which now hubby calls "your bad girl shorts". Hmmm what else, Womens One Piece Swimsuits - Check! Though I'm leaning towards getting a Women's Tankini Swimsuit this year for a change. I gained a lot of weight and I'm pouring out of my old ones. I thought I had to get from Plus Sized Swimwear already but apparently not! Thank goodness. I really need to watch it now, especially for health reasons.

And all you sun worshippers out there, don't forget your sunblock. It's my pet peeve you know, but I am a firm believer of sunblock. My necessary evil.

We need protection this summer. Have fun and stay healthy, y'all!

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Sweat Equity

~ "C"

I have just finished my To Do list. Actually, it's more of a project list of major things that needed some accomplishing. You know, not like your ordinary do the groceries for dinner kind of thing. It's more of....
1) Refinance or Modify our Mortgage
2) Apply for a fictitious name for my home-based biz and submit it to City Hall (long overdue)
3) Check hubby's credit score (mine is enrolled in a monitoring program and I've got to do the same for the hubs)
4) Backyard improvement project
5) buy a shed
6) and other little dreams for improving our house (which may, or may not be done yet).

We're really into making our little castle look nice, not for ourselves but to increase its value. Hopefully those little milestones called Sweat Equity will do us good. I was just talking to my friend and he's doing the same thing, but with the help of San Diego Painting Contractors for his San Diego Interior Painting. He actually has a tougher project since the house is old and is in dire need of Popcorn Ceiling Removal San Diego.

Good thing our house is fairly "young" and new and is still generally updated in every nook and cranny. But still, a little sweat is always welcome. Wanna help us?

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Bruised

~ "C"

I have a big bruise on my right leg -- that actually has gone from red, to black to blue then purple, and then green to yellow. I've seen the entire rainbow on there! All because I keep bumping the same spot against the corner of our bed frame when I turn around the corner to go to my side of the bed. Suffice it to say, I never learn!

The freak bumps made a turn for the worse because I stripped our bed of our comforter this summer and so I make direct contact with the wood now. I'm still looking for a new one because I'm so tired of our old sets. Not to mention that some has gotten ripped here and there (because the hubs insisted on shoehorning the whole heavy fluffy thing inside the washing machine and our dryer). If you don't believe me, let me know, I've got photo evidence!

Anyway, we could have gotten some stuff we needed when we went down south like San Diego Bedspreads and even San Diego Window Shades (they even have san diego granite, I tell yah!) because we had a chance to go shopping and had plenty of time to spend. Especially since we really still have a long list of things we need to get and do for our home improvement project. We ended up buying indoor plants for now, which I'm happy about because it softened the look of our house.

Right now, we're still looking around for bed stuff.

Meanwhile, my leg remains bruised until the time we find the next perfect comforter again.

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1...2...3....Breathe!

~ "C"

You are the only one who can use your ability. It is an awesome responsibility.
- Zig Ziglar

I really like this quote because it keeps me from losing focus on my goals which are basically to make the most out of my talents, skills and interests. Life will be a waste if we exit this world without having offered anything productive, don't you think?

There's so many things I want to do...usually so little time. Yesterday, I started devoting a little time to focus on achieving these goals though.

1) Finally, I got my jewelry-making kit all set out anytime I want to hand-make something (wire-wrapped and altered art, basically)

2) I got the canvas ready for the new mixed media collage I'm going to make (I even bought this little notebook to list down all the projects I picture in my head...you know, the bright concepts that come up when you're in the shower and such -- a series of artwork... you hear that... a series of different themes!);

3) I've finally started conceptualizing the book again...I've thought and re-thougth the process and I think I'm going crazy.

Well, anything creative is always up my alley.

Life is short. Just do it!

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Baby Jogger, anyone?

~ "C"

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of CryoCell International. All opinions are 100% mine.

I come bearing two awesome news.

No...I'm not pregnant yet (though I wish I was...that will be the best news ever!), but I wanted to share two great things I heard from the grapevine today, especially for you wifeys and mommies out there, expectant or the expectant wanna-be.

I should have learned about this a year ago so I could inform my sister who gave birth in January of this year. 1) It's about how cord blood stem cells have been used to treat nearly 80 diseases in over 80,000 transplants worldwide. 2) And then if you Enroll Today in Cryo-Cell's signature U-Cord service, you can get a Baby Jogger City Mini which is offered for a limited time.

Isn't that hitting two birds in one shot? Ensuring health for the baby and making sure the mommy is healthy as well? I wish it wasn't too late for my sister yet. She does have intentions of getting a baby jogger so she can get her exercise while watching the baby. Imagine working out, enjoying the great outdoors -- perhaps that park in your neighborhood, with your baby in tow? I mean while you push her?

That is really great. New moms can get back in shape right away. I've seen couples running with it. It's such a pretty sight!

If you're interested in this, enroll online or call 800-STOR-CELL today. If I were you, I'd hurry. Promo ends on 6-30-10 at midnight EDT.

Maybe I can still get pregnant before that. I do know I would need a lot of exercising when it happens to me. It looks like I already need it now, and the baby isn't even in the bump/s yet.

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Rainbow Connection

~ "C"

Here's one of the two versions I really really like of the song called"Rainbow Connection" made popular by Jim Henson's Kermit the Frog. It's not that I didn't like Kermit's version, but this one of Sarah McLachlan is almost like a sweet lullaby for me, so soothing and touching, like it's almost my heart singing.

I hope you like the song...and thanks to the one who made the lovely video.

Awesome, awesome...

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Guided Imagery in Stress Management

~ "C"

Do you know that?

Imagination is a potent healer?

This is often overlooked by practitioners of Western medicine. The thing is, imagery can relieve bodily and emotional pain, it may speed healing and help the body subdue hundreds of ailments such as depression, impotence, allergies and asthma.

It's not always curative, but it can help 90% of every day health problems we encounter. The different systems of our body, including its components are interconnected and they communicate through these pathways, crossing boundaries between merely physical attributes and those of the mental and emotional aspect.

Amazing, isn't it?

We can therefore assume that by evoking communication through these pathways, we will be able to effect certain changes (and hence, improvements) that we never thought possible. I like the lemon-saliva example. If you imagine a sour lemon, what happens? Don't you feel some tightness, like a spasm in your jaws which brings you to salivate without the presence of the real sour lemon? I bet you are salivating right now as you read.

And so it's true, if we dwell on happy thoughts -- it will trace the pathway back to our bodies and thus manifest effects only happy moments can evoke. The same goes if we dwell on the negative.

And thus, if we imagine every cell of our body conspiring to mend what is abnormal or broken, there is a big possibility that it will happen.

Also, according to Steven Covey, in his runaway best seller, "Seven Habits of the Most Effective People, suggested that we can use our right brain power of visualization to write an affirmation that will help us become more congruent with our deeper values in our daily life.

According to Covey, a good affirmation has five basic ingredients: It's personal, It's positive, It's present tense,It's visual, and It's emotional.

Quite powerful, don't you think?

But before we end up digging deeper into the subject, let me share with you my most favorite use of imagination and visualization. Guided imagery in stress management.

If you find yourself feeling in the pits, or stressed out because of work, a busy schedule, and some malicious people who seem ready to pounce at you at every opportunity, try to relax give yourself some time to be alone, play some music, or be quiet, letting your imagination play, as if you are in one of those beautiful luxury villas

...on a lounge chair

....staring at the ocean

...sipping sangria in one hand

...thinking of nothing else but what to eat for dinner

...or when to go for that next nap...

I'm gushing. You MUST try it.

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Moving Blankets

~ "C"

You shouldn't forget to use moving blankets! These will ease your burden out of sliding and pushing or pulling heavy items from one place to another. These blankets can also be used as storage protection and furniture pads for the different pieces of furniture you don't feel like using yet. You never thought these blankets is a whole science on its own, didn't you? There are several things to consider:

Thickness- Cotton are the thickest. Outside cotton is usually soft, not rough and scratchy. They are not slippery. Some people even buy them for exercise activities.
Material - nonwoven fabric is very soft but not very durable. Polyester is much more durable than nonwoven fabric; Multicolor moving blankets combine advantages of soft nonwoven fabric on one side and durable woven fabric on the other.
Color- You might want to ops for a two-colored moving blanket because it allows you to know which side will be facing the furniture and what side is outside.
Style- If you are looking to protect your soft furniture like sofa, love seat or sofa-chair from sun, dust, or pet claws, quilted blankets are the pick.

This, my sweet, is the 411 on moving blankets. By the way, as a rule of thumb, just wash ployester blankets under garden hose and leave outside for a few hours to dry. Polyester is soft, smooth and slick and is easy to wash, and dry easily
- Share

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Same Day Shipping

~ "C"

Can you imagine if being in the middle of a remodeling project, and all of a sudden your whim strikes and finds you lusting for a porcelain sink that you have to have the same day? I see myself being in that situation considering the fact that yesterday I had to twist hubby's arm so we could go out and buy that new water can (with a pretty tiny spout good for smaller pots) that I wanted for our new plants. I refused to use the plastic water bottle that hubby offered as a solution so I don't make a mess on the coffee table when I pour water into the new potted plant. I had to use the water can before the night ended.

So much for with home remodeling! We're still in a long protracted project but it is a good thing because we don't want to create long term changes that we might regret in the end. But what I said about being able to have porcelain sinks delivered the same day is true. If by some emotional rollercoaster, you don't want to go with the planned stainless or copper, it's easy to order the sinks from MR Direct and I'm seriously considering one in the future. They are better business bureau accredited and offer extremely low prices. Not to mention the SAME DAY shipping.

Now, isn't that like a wish genie? I wonder if they can deliver a complimentary Balenciaga bag the same day too?

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On the Run

~ "C"

I feel like I'm always running. Not exactly running away. But always running after....things. The special occasion we need to attend, that special trip we need to make, that special party we need to show up in, that important doctor's appointment, that important chore, that important phone call.

When will this ever slow down?

We need to find time to have that baby. I am just scared that I will miss that window. Women around me have gotten pregnant, given birth, raising them, and are probably now on their next ones. They've seen the actual faces of the babies they once dreamed of, while mine remains a mystery.I've witnessed things come full circle with them, while mine seems to be a long and endless road.

I need a vacation!

You hear me?

We need a vacation!!!

We are considering the prospect visiting my sister and her hubby in Dubai since I heard a lot of beautiful things about the place, like the new hotel Dubai, have you seen it? My friends are coaxing me to go. Maybe it's the chance to make your future baby (and finally see that face which I only see in my dreams).

*SIGH*

We've got to do something soon. I can't let all these crazy things going on around me pull me and whirl me around like laundry in a giant super power washing machine.

This weekend, I'm declaring ME time! You won't know where I'll be. Who knows? I'll just probably be cooped inside our guest bedroom shooting darts at pictures of people who other people's lives miserable (not necessarily mine). Or I could be staring at the ceiling, dreaming of Margarita Popsicles. Or I could be playing monkey defense. You'll never know.

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Hubby's Dream Ride

~ "C"

He said it again, like he always does. Hubby wants a motorcycle again!!! You see, before we got married, he sold his motorcycle. In fact, I always joke around that I wear the bike round my finger now in the form of a beautiful ring...the one he put on me in a very romantic moment. He said he doesn't need to be exposed to danger again because of me.

The thing is, old habits never die. Especially when you're constantly reminded of it through photos of your friends on a beautiful sunday motorcycle ride beckoning on Facebook. I don't know. I'm still not convinced. I'd rather he doesn't buy one again. It's the most unprotected form of motorized vehicle around. It's your body against whatever you hit, or whatever hits you, then comes the hassle of making things right all over again (broken bones included) and/or calling California motorcycle accident case attorneys like Tom Reinecke.

Still not convinced. But my heart is torn. I know he wants it. But most likely this is something I'm never going to give in to.

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Sharing's Caring!

~ "C"

Here's an interesting article I found online.

The 5 Healthiest Frozen Dinners You Can Buy (Pizza, Stir Fry and More!)

Have a great weekend, my Fab Wonder Wifeys!!!

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Margarita Popsicles

~ "C"

I've been thinking about making Margarita Popsicles for parties, or simply stored and ready in my freezer when guests come.

Here's the best one I've found so far and it's by Emeril Lagasse, BAM BAM BAM!

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons tequila
2 tablespoons orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
Kosher salt, for garnish
Special Equipment: 4 small cups (recommended: Dixie), 4 popsicle sticks

Directions

Combine sugar, lime juice, water, lemon juice and orange juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cool transfer to a blender with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime wedge and process until smooth. Pour into the cups and cover the top of each cup with foil. Place the popsicle stick in center of cup (down through foil, which will hold it in place). Freeze until hard, preferably overnight. Remove from freezer and run cup under warm water to loosen popsicle. Garnish with kosher salt and serve.

But I'm pretty sure that our house will be full of kids -- TEENAGERS -- this summer so I'm definitely going to put off having these alcohol-sicles in my freezer for a while. I'll probably wait until they've gone back to their own parents. You see, our nephews and nieces like coming to our house for the summer. They probably consider it their summerhouse. Which is truly delightful if you ask me. Those late night scary movies, waterballoon fights, barbecues, videogames...hubby and I always end up having fun as well!

Meanwhile, I'll stick to making fruit popsicles. My favorite? Home-made and blended fresh mangoes, milk and rice crispies!

Tags margarita pops, margarita popsicles 1 comments | |

Back to School

~ "C"

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

Since that day I attended a college orientation (as a parent), I've been kind of thinking about continuing my own education. I'm done with college and have also completed all units in my graduate studies which is M.S.Psychology - Human Development. Well, except for the thesis that got deferred, pushed into the back burner until it slow drifted into forgottendom. I cannot pursue it anymore as it had been so many years ago back home. Blame it on so many life-changing emotional events that came, I completely lost my focus. I'm still quite regretful but have long forgiven myself for I knew back then that I had to do what I had to do and did my best hanging on to the threads of psychological survival while the Masters slipped away.

Now that I am at a new place and pretty much have established myself in a good job, I sometimes still look back at the what ifs. Had I finished my masters, I would have been working in the academe as I had been training for in the past. I still tinker with the idea sometimes. Especially with this recent exposure to colleges and other educational resources with my stepdaughter graduating from high school and pursuing the life as a college freshman this September.

I happened to check out some program information about the USC Rossier School of Educations MAT@USC offering educators and aspiring teachers the prestige of earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from this elite university with the convenience and flexibility of studying online. It sounds very inviting because everytime we hear "online", we know that we can do it in our own time and pace and need not travel to school, a very beckoning prospect for those who've already built some careers, working full time or have taken married and family life seriously.

We are usually skeptical about online education but this one has highly interactive learning combined with field-based experiences, and even has tuition reimbursement and scholarship programs! What I like about it is that the accelerated program can be completed in as little as 12 months.

Do I want to be part of the elite USC Trojan Family -a School of Education which has been ranked #22 in the United States, and #9 among all private universities by US News and World Report? If you ask yourself the same question, check out the MAT@USC Student Blog to learn insights about the program from actual students.

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Lazy Saturday

~ "C"

Exactly how we planned it to be. Slept in and didn't get up from bed til like around 10a. Then the hubs too me to this all-american all day breakfast joint in Castro Valley called Doug's place and they serve off-the-hook omelettes, scrambles, pancakes etc.

Then we went to Home Depot before going back home to pick up overhead storage racks for the garage.

At home, we just took it slow, doing some chores while goofing around in between. I helped the hubs clean the garage. There was a catch though. The rack couldn't be installed because apparently the distance between the studs on our wall is over 55 inches. The racks needed a span of 44 or something. Too bad. We packed them back into the box ready to be returned tomorrow. Waste of time.

Then the hubs took me to Olive Garden for dinner because of my little 4th of July anniversary thingy. After that, we passed by the store to buy chicken thighs and some beef tri-tips for tomorrow's barbecue at my bro-in-law's.

All's well at this side of the town. I'm going to sleep soon. That's is after some self mani and pedi. I'm still burping from the chicken parmegiana.

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4th of July

~ "C"

It's a special occasion for me not because of the real reason behind the celebration but because it's an anniversary for me. An anniversary of finally starting a life together with the hubs -- physically together. It's not our wedding date, hahaha. That day some years ago (I don't really like divulging details on the internet), I was aboard the plane to America. Certainly not my first time. But it's that one life-changing trip because I knew it wasn't just a vacation or a holiday. I was going to start a new life, where the word "home" was going to start to have two meanings: "Back home" and "where I was going to live anew". Two "homes". Both places where my heart is. Crazy, I know. But I'm sure a lot of migrant people can relate.

My plane was landing exactly when America was lighting her fireworks. She was celebrating my arrival! Cheers! I chose this date. Hubby and I did. It just added more reason to celebrate.

I can't believe it has been this long. Do I celebrate each year? Part of me still doesn't give a hoot for the real reason of 4th of July except for fireworks, picnic and barbecue. I'm still for the most part, belonging to my old home. Can't teach an old dog new tricks, especially what consists of the soul part. But yes, I do celebrate because it reminds me of a big milestone. It's the official day I became independent in the real sense of the word, being in charge of myself and building my own family with my husband, and with no one else to turn to. First time I've ever felt so grown-up coming from a very sheltered upbringing.

I wouldn't change a thing.

Celebrate with me. And yes you may send me a Rose. Orange Roses make me happy. Add some champagne...and light some fireworks for me.

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Uh-oh

~ "C"

This arrived today...

And this is a keeper too! Perfect style, perfect comfort fit for high heels. (Read my previous posts about "the other pair").

Which one should I return? Or should I just keep both? I've been a good wifey! Or should I just hide this in a box in the trunk of my car for hubby to never find out about...and then one day I'll just wear it and say that I've had it for soooo long....like "Remember, I bought it when we both went shopping last year and you weren't even paying attention at how cute the shoes looked on me, remember???"

Something scheming like that. There.

Sounds like it's a deal.

How many of you fab wifeys out there have done something like this at least once in your life? (I bet it's not just once).

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Face to Face

~ "C"

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of faceVsion Technology USA. All opinions are 100% mine.

You must be wondering what this is.

If you love to video chat with Skype like I do, then this is the answer to some video chatting woes that we are all familiar with: voice delay and choppiness, perpetually freezing images and terrible delay,poor colors, poor resolution!

Back in the day when my husband and I were apart dealing with a long distance relationship, it was such a pain when our low quality video calls would interfere with interesting conversations. Same thing with my friend in Europe and my sister in Dubai when we want to show one another our new fab fashion finds from recent shopping trips. The worst yet, video chatting with my parents who are a little technologically-challenged and then encountering all these low quality video call problems. Most so-called HD webcams sold in the market cannot stream true HD quality over Internet, such as Microsoft Cinema and Logitech Pro 9000. We cannot achieve HD quality internet video calls using these models.

The image above shows the FV touchcam N1 which is the first Internet streaming true HD webcam for Skype video calls. FV touchcam N1 is available in faceVision on line store and other partners. This faceVsion TouchCam N1 is the world’s first Skype- certified webcam capable of delivering full screen 720p streaming video over the Internet. How cool is that?

The TouchCam N1 features embedded hardware H.264 encoding, a chip that takes the 720p video and using high-quality encoding technology, squeezes the video into a stream small enough to be sent over a typical Internet connection which makes it easy to use by lay people like you and me who is after a great conversation at the end of the day, making up for distance and lost time. Also on H.264 hardware encoder built in Touchcam N1, this chipset is the key to accomplish true HD quality video calls over Internet.

The N1 also features a best-in-class 78 degree super wide angle lens with fast auto-focus, so several people can comfortably get into the picture. I like that because we usually like covering and streaming parties that we hold at home, or at my parents' home so we feel as if we are there or they are here. It attaches easily to most notebook computers or flat-panel displays and can also sit on a desktop. Easy plug- and-play installation via hi-speed USB 2.0. I can see my mom lusting for one soon. I can't blame her. She misses us as much as we miss her and dad. And dad, he'll get into the video no doubt. He'll just let someone set it up for him.

I can't wait, I'm checking out the FV ExpressCombo as well.

Isn't this calling your name? Video chatting -- or video-conferencing at work. Surely, once you use this, you'll never go back!