Monday, December 28, 2009

Very Proud of Henry

My online earnings came a few hours ago, and I asked Henry to withdraw some money for me. Unionbank, the bank I have tied up to my PayPal account, has an ATM located a few blocks from our house and Henry took his motorcycle to go there. When he came home, he had the money, lechon kawali from Andok's, and a story to tell.

When he walked towards the ATM after parking his motorcycle, he saw a really drunk guy walking outside the ATM door. He even sat down on the area where disabled people go up with their wheelchair to the bank, and unzipped his pants and went for a pee for everyone to see. Since the guy was smaller than Henry and heavily drunk, Henry ignored him and proceeded inside the ATM machine.

Henry already had my Eon card out of his wallet when he saw the machine asking if he wanted another transaction. It was then he realized that there was an ATM card still inside the machine. Out of curiosity, my husband pressed YES and proceeded to make a balance inquiry. He saw that the ATM had Php 52,000 in it. My good husband then went out and tapped the drunk guy outside who had his private part still publicly out after peeing and told him, "Your ATM card and Php 52,000 is still inside the machine." The guy suddenly snapped back to life and said so many words of thanks and drove away in his Pajero that was parked on the bank's parking area.

I thought to myself that if I was the one who had been in that situation, I would have done otherwise. Which is why I am really very proud of my husband for doing the right thing. I know that since he did the right thing, good karma will certainly reward him with much more than Php 52,000.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!



May peace, love, joy, and prosperity grace our homes as we celebrate Christmas with our loved ones. Since this is the season for giving, let us not forget our less fortunate brethren who are homeless, hungry, and those far away from their loved ones. Let us also take some time to pause and reflect over the good and bad things we have done the past year and vow to make a change for the better.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year! Cheers!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Dazzled About Bidazzled

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


SocialSpark Disclosure Badge



I just came across a site called Bidazzled that is really a new change when it comes to online auction websites. There are a lot of websites wherein you can bid on certain items and the winner of the bidding wins the said item, but with Bidazzled, it is totally different. this site offers savings to customers of over 90% on branded name and items and at the same time, funding a charity. So you actually not only get the item you won on bidding, but you also help a charity at the same time. Doesn't that sound great?

The charity that Bidazzled helps is actually a lung cancer charity and on this site, nobody loses, even if you lose on the item you bid on. If you lose, you get 50 bonus bids and if you win the item, Bidazzled either buys the item back from you by paying you through PayPal or check, bonus bids, and other great items like a Nintendo Wii.

If you are interested, you can join Bidazzled and get an additional 15 free bids if you use the code BBP1202A until January 15. They also have a referral program wherein the more friends you refer, you get more bonus bids.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Who Do You Love?


I came across a nice meme idea for today, and the question to be answered was who do you love? For me, these three people - Henry, Keisha, and Nicole - are the three people that mean the whole world to me. Henry has been my inspiration for almost 10 years now, and he effortlessly makes me strive to be a better person. Keisha has been lighting my life since she was born, and Nicole simply puts a smile to my face every single day with her kind heart and generosity towards everybody.

Of course, I also love my parents and my sister Elena, but ever since I had a family of my own, I have learned to prioritize them above anything else.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Going Sentimental

Christmas is really just around the corner and in my side of the globe, nights are becoming very, very cold already. There are times that I wish I had tons and tons of cash to give every single kid who came knocking at our door singing Christmas carols more than just the loose change I had in my wallet. I wish for a better place for all of us, no more pollution and climate change, that every homeless person had a roof above their heads, and those who are hungry have a plateful of food to eat every time their stomachs rumble from hunger.

I know a lot of people wish the same wish as I do, but sadly, this wish is not going to be reality anytime soon. If anyone is going to ask me what my wish for this holiday season will be, this has to be it.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Happy 59th Birthday Mama!


My sister Elena and I conspired in throwing a surprise party for our mom, similar to what we did last year. This time, I ordered 2 Christmas Bucket Meals from KFC and my sister ordered the Family Feast from Pizza Hut. There was too much food to go around while there were only 4 adults (my mom, my dad, my sister, and me) and my 2 kids - Keisha and Nicole. We had a great time, and I will be uploading pictures of the pasta we ordered - YUM!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Really Happy

Yesterday, I had a really great time with my family. Henry did not have to go to work on that day, and since one of my aunts came home from Canada, I took it as the time to drop by to my mom's place.

The kids were really happy to see their grandparents, plus the fact that we carried our pet shih tzu Ron with us. My mom wanted to see him, so we brought him along. Although he ended up peeing on my parent's bed and pooping upstairs, my mom was really happy to see him.

When the kids fell asleep in the afternoon (we came before lunch), Henry and I took off to a nearby mall to shop for clothes for the kids. We shopped for a lot of PJ's, shirts, and a couple of shorts the kids could wear at home. They've grown so fast it's amazing.

But what I loved best about our little trip was the fact that we got to eat at McDonald's together. I missed having time just for the two of us, and I think it's been months (if not a year yet) before we actually had time for each other.

As a thank you to my parents and my eldest sister for watching the kids while we were gone, we bought home a box of pizza for them. My dad drove us home and after a few hours, put the kids to bed.

While we were at the mall, Henry kept asking me what I wanted to buy for myself. I hope he got my message when I said that I didn't want to buy anything, I just wanted to spend time with him.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

A New Look

It's been a while since I've had the three column dots template installed on this blog, and I decided to give it a new look. Of all the sites that feature free three column blogger templates, I was very lucky to have come across Deluxe Templates. This website features amazing blogger templates for free. The templates are very, very artistic and all are widget-friendly, which comes in handy especially for people who are not HTML-knowledgeable like me! Lol!

I really like the look and feel of this template, and I bet this is one of those templates that I've had which will stay for a while. :-)


Saturday, November 21, 2009

For my husband Henry

I have always felt that these three words were often abused, and I will have to be, admittedly, one of the guilty parties in abusing it. Let me start by saying I love you again, and look back as we started.

We may have met in the most uncommon and ungodly of places and time, but I never regret any minute of it, even as I look back. There were times that I wish we had put up a savings account first, or that we made better decisions, but now I understand that these mistakes were the ones that taught us the best lessons in life, and made us who we are now.

I'd like to think we are able to afford certain luxuries now more than before (this laptop that never ceases to make clacking sounds, the two door fridge, playground sessions with the kids almost every week, my phone, your motorcycle, etc.) and I know for a fact that this is all because of our hard work. I can still remember how frightened I was to discover I was pregnant, with only a semester to finish in college, and you in your current field of work. How in the world were we ever going to get through things? I used to wonder about that, but we did.

My parents did not take things well, something I have learned to accept over the years, despite the fact that hateful words were sent through every form of communication imaginable. When I decided to move in with you almost a year after we were secretly married, my only thoughts then were for our eldest daughter. She needed a father growing up, and that was something I was not going to deprive her of, even if I had to learn to live away from the comfort and luxury of the place I used to call home. We started out slowly, and things were hard to say the least. I remember what my mom told me, "Gumapang sana kayo sa hirap parang mga ahas" (May you crawl in hardships as snakes do), and we did. I remember how our menu was made up of instant noodles and rice for so many months, and canned goods were considered a treat during payday. But we went through that all, we didn't mind eating that kind of food as long as we were able to buy our eldest daughter's brand of milk and diapers all the time.

When it was the both of us working together, things made a change for the better. And with the help of your mother in law to watch over our daughter as we turned nights into day and days into nights, we slowly but surely did make it through.

I often ask you why you love me, and why of all the other women in the world you chose to be with me. I ask you this not because I have any doubts on the love we share, but I want to know what good deed I have done in this world for me to deserve a husband as loving as you are. You always tell me I'm being unreasonable when I demand you be near me all the time - can I help it if I miss you the instant my eyes don't see you? We may have our disagreements every now and then (partly from my being childish and ultra-sensitive and your being hardheaded and unreasonable), but we make it through all of those with ease.

May 2010 will mark 10 years of being together as boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife, best friends, soulmates, lovers, and partners in crime, and I eagerly look forward to many more years of my life with you. I love you, and I will never get tired of saying so, and I hope you will not get tired of hearing it as well.

Friday, November 20, 2009

I Want to Watch New Moon!

I am so wanting to watch New Moon!

But I don't think I will be able to watch it in the big screen any time soon...Next week is my eldest daughter's mid-quarter exams, so I need to thoroughly review her for all her subjects. Plus, Henry's schedule is pretty much eating up our weekends and weekdays, so I am totally unsure how and when I will be able to watch this movie.

I've read all the books, but seeing them in big screen is different. I am crossing my fingers that a miracle happens and I am able to watch New Moon. Keep your fingers crossed for me, too!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Envious?

I really wanted to watch Manny Pacquiao's fight last Sunday, and I am glad Henry got to watch it live via satellite in a nearby school. He had to pay Php100 I think, and I wanted to go, too. But of course, I had to think of the kids.

Being a parent sometimes has its setbacks, but these are nothing compared to the joy I get whenever I see them smile. Not to mention the fact when they give me a big kiss.

I just wanted to share that I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't even asked, although I know what I would have answered even if I was invited to watch anyway -no. I'm glad I have a lot of time with the kids now, but I guess I just miss the time when I can have my husband just to myself.

In time, I know when the kids are older, I can have more time with Henry, just the two of us. Which is also why I am thinking of not having any more kids - 2 girls is more than enough for me. Lol!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

TextMagic - Send SMS Anywhere from your PC

I came across a site called TextMagic and I have to say, I am very pleased. It is a great way for you to save on their mobile phone costs, especially when you're on the minimum plan your mobile phone provider has to offer.

TextMagic allows users to send SMS from your PC anytime, anywhere. I highly encourage you to compare how much international messages cost from TextMagic and your mobile phone provider. If you have relatives who live in a different part of the globe, this will be the perfect opportunity for you to stay in touch with them without costing too much.

Another great feature of TextMagic is the fact that it is very accessible. In case you forget to charge your mobile phone, you left your mobile phone (or worse, lost it), you can easily get on any computer with internet access and send those very important messages.

So what are you waiting for? Compare the costs of SMS from your mobile phone with what TextMagic has to offer so that you can start to send SMS from your PC!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Happy Birthday to my Mother in Law

Happy birthday to my mother in law!!!

This will be the first birthday we will spend apart since I married your son, and I surely miss you. But of course, I am happy for you that you're in Hawaii. I hope you have fun celebrating your birthday there!

Friday, November 6, 2009

I Am Exhausted

I never thought being a full time writer could also be exhausting. Whew!

I've always had a passion for writing, something that I never hid and I always dreamed of practicing eventually. I never thought though, that it would be my career and that I could seriously earn from it in the comfort of my home.

But now as I spend days, nights, and even weekends laboriously in front of my laptop, I cannot help but sometimes feel exhausted about everything. Writing is not physically exhausting since only your fingers work as you type away the words, but mentally exhausting.

There are times when I just want to sit back and close my laptop and not look at it at all. But then again, there are bills to pay and things I want to buy for my kids, Henry, and myself that I just can't help but sigh and open my laptop again.

There are also times that I am glad I got myself into this career, as I am always at home at do not have the need to be away from my kids. But then again, when I am chasing deadlines, I become a figurine sitting in my living room as the kids play around me.

I just finished another whole day in front of my laptop, interrupted by meal time and bathing time for my kids. I finished quite a lot of hourly and fixed price jobs today, bound to get me a lot of good feedback and payments, but enough to leave me drained for the whole day.

Tomorrow is another day of online writing.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Tired and Happy

I just came home from giving away Jollibee meals to Keisha's classmates. Henry and Nicole went with me, and today is actually an extension of Keisha's birthday which unfortunately was on the same date as their second quarter exams.

Although things did not go exactly as we planned, I'm glad everything went smoothly as we gave away the food and as Keisha's classmates sang her the happy birthday song. I am also glad that Keisha's birthday this year, her 6th birthday, is very memorable.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Happy 6th Birthday Keisha!

Happy 6th Birthday Keisha! I love you sweetie!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Arts and Crafts for Kids

It is quite usual for parents to provide the best books, toys and games for their children. However, there are other fun and educational activities that parents can add to their schedule such as arts and crafts sessions. These activities are important tools that can help a child’s general development.

Arts and crafts allow youngsters to be in touch with their creative side and give confidence them to discover how things are made up and look for ways to make things work. They learn how to become creative and resourceful.

As parents, we have to take an interest in their art in order to encourage them to take interest in arts and crafts. They will have arts and crafts projects in school and when they present them to us, we need to show them that the results of their efforts are important to us. Otherwise, we will be sending the wrong message that the results of their efforts are not at all important and worthless. We have to show them we care about their efforts.

Helping them appreciate the value of arts and crafts as kids can lead to a better appreciation of other artworks and other types of arts. We also want to them to love literature for example. We can do this by reading to them from the book or accompany them to watch a well made movie based on that book. We can also let them listen to an audio version of the book. These are effective alternative ways to introduce and let children develop a liking for other forms of arts and crafts.

Arts and crafts also teach kids other important values such as determination – they learn to how to focus at a particular task and do it until they have completed it. They also learn to develop concentration – children learn how to sit and stay put and complete their assignment even while in the midst of many distractions.

By providing an area and schedule for arts and crafts for our children, we can help them understand that there are times that they need to wait to get the results of their efforts evident. It is during this time that they learn how to be patient and be more reasonable.

Arts and crafts activities can help children to develop their confidence in their own skills and abilities. We praise them for the tasks they finish and they learn to take pride in what they can do through their own hard work.

OwnADayCare.com gives you all the information you need to start your own daycare business and also has a listing of day care center nationwide.

This is a guest post from Anne Stephanie Cruz of Own A Day Care. Thanks!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Thoughts on Web Hosting

I have given serious thought over having my own domain, my own dot com where I can host this blog as well as the others. Since I am really not knowledgeable when it comes to HTMLs or other codes for that matter, I am worried and afraid as to what will happen should I encounter any problems with my blog. Also, since I am already very much used to the interface that my current blogs already use, which is pretty much just drag and drop, I don't think I can get used to another that would require me to do more than that.

With these things in mind, I tried to look for a web site hosting that would give me all of the features I mentioned above. Easy to use, quick customer service, and an affordable price are my priorities. Since I really don't know much about web hosting, it really pays to know as much as I can about it before I take the plunge.

I also came across an article about cheap hosting. Factors to consider like downtime, bandwidth, and support, were tackled in the article I read. It made me realize that just because it's cheap doesn't mean a web host is good or bad. It is really just a matter of evaluating the things that matter and things that you need in terms of keeping your online presence. It's not impossible to find a web host that's affordable, but also works as hard as you do in keeping your site up.

Happy blogging!

Awake at 3AM

It's a little over 3AM where I am at and I am awake at this ungodly hour because I saw Henry off to work. Sometimes I wish we just ran a business or something so that I could see more of him each day. I only get to spend Sundays with him, and usually Mondays as well, but sometimes, he still gets called off to work during Mondays.

What I dislike about his job is the fact that he leaves really, really early and comes home late in the evening. Sure, there are times he does come home early, but that happens like twice or thrice in a month. He spends over 16 hours at work, and gets paid like Php1,000 (or sometimes more) every field trip.

Somehow, there is a little part of me that would like him to just look for a regular day job, but the other part of me wants to let him continue with this line of work as I can obviously see that he enjoys what he does, not to mention the fact that he gets to travel all over the country at no expense because of his work.

He asked me last night why I sigh whenever he tells me what shirt he needs to wear when he goes on a tour. I simply said, "I can't help it if I miss you all the time."

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Preparing for Keisha's 6th Birthday

For today, I planned on going to Jollibee to inquire about their birthday party packages for Keisha's 6th birthday on the 29th. Inspired by one of her classmates that had the party on their school complete with a character/mascot appearance, I wanted to do the same thing for Keisha and I knew that was what she wanted as well.

I got the kids and myself dressed up and we were going to leave Ron Weasley to our neighbor who also happens to be Henry's aunt. As we were saying our goodbyes to Ron, Henry came home. I knew he was going to come home early, but he is the best when it comes to timing. So we waited for him to change clothes and we all went to the nearest Jollibee.

The Jollibee that is just a few blocks from our house that sank in Typhoon Ondoy (and by sank I mean only the roof was visible and the service crew awaited for rescue and the waters to subside on the roof) was currently not accepting birthday parties as they did not have the materials for it at the moment.

We proceeded to SM Valenzuela and went to the Jollibee there. Sadly, the manager informed me that they no longer accept take out birthday parties beginning this year. Keisha was obviously sad, but there was really nothing we could do. I decided to ask at McDonald's.

Since I am a big fan of McDonald's french fries, we asked about their birthday party packages. We got all the info we needed, and the price including all the invitations, loot bags, thank you cards, party hats, and all of that were included. The only problem is, since the mall opened at 10AM, that would be the time they can accomodate the take out party. Keisha's classes end at 10:30AM, so from 10AM including travel time to their school, there really won't be much time for her party.

As of right now, Henry and I are still thinking about what we can do so that her party at school will be successful. I guess we'll just have food delivered to her school, but having games and prizes would make it extra special for her.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Catching Up!

Whew!

I totally have some serious catching up to do on my blogs. With everything that's been going on in my life right now, this is one of the things that I have neglected so far.

For starters, there have been so many changes in my life recently. One of them is the fact that my mother in law has already migrated to Hawaii last October 3. She will be able to vacation here after 2 years though.

Since my mother in law has already migrated, I am now officially a full time mom and housewife to my two kids. Being hands-on to them also means I have to be hands off on some things, and obviously my blog is one of them. I also had to let go of some clients that I have for my online writing jobs. I honestly prefer not to work for them anymore instead of me always missing deadlines.

My daily routine at home is pretty much mapped out. On weekdays, I wake up extremely early (and by extremely I mean 6AM) so that I have enough time to make Keisha's breakfast and heat her water for her bath, see her off to school, then clean the house while she's gone and feed and comb our new pet shih tzu Ron Weasley. When Nicole wakes up a few hours later, I attend to her until Keisha comes home.

When Keisha comes home from school, Nicole doesn't fret too much anymore as she already has a playmate with her. Together they play with the puppy as I make our lunch. After feeding them and giving them their vitamins, I give Nicole a nap and we all take our afternoon nap. Sometimes I don't want to sleep in the afternoon but taking care of two kids and a puppy can be really exhausting, so I sleep with them.

When we wake up, we play around with each other and the puppy until it's time for me to cook dinner, wait for their dad to come home, clean them up for bedtime, and then tuck them in. My routine is broken by trips to the mall or a day out with the entire family.

I love taking care of them, but I guess until I learn to properly manage my time, I will have to keep my online career to a minimum.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

A Happy-Sad Goodbye

Yesterday, we said our happy and sad goodbyes to my mom in law as she flew to Hawaii aboard Hawaiian Airlines. She needs to stay there for 2 years before she can come back to the Philippines for a vacation.

I asked my dad to drive us to the airport so we could use our van. Henry, the kids, me, my sister Elena, my mom in law and her brother plus my dad all came to bid her goodbye. She had been crying the night before and was having second thoughts on leaving.

Today, I already got to chat with her on Skype and she's still crying, especially when she sees the kids. I know in time, she will get used to it. But on the other hand, I am glad that she's seeing how beautiful Hawaii is and how clean it is plus how good the air smells and all of that stuff. In time, especially when she begins to work, I know she'll do just fine.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Here Comes the -ber Months!

I can hardly believe that Christmas is really just around the corner. September, the first of the -ber months is here and it's like a little over 100 days before Christmas.

October will mark Keisha's 6th birthday, and November will also be Henry and mine's 6th year wedding anniversary. November will also be my mom in law's birthday.

December is also my mom's birthday, and not to mention Christmas, the big day. Since everything's all OK with my mom in law's visa, this will be the first Christmas we'll spend without her. I will surely miss having her around, but I will not be the one who will hold her back from her dream of going to the US.

Monday, August 31, 2009

My Sister and oDesk

I'm sad that my eldest sister Elena walked out of her job today. But it's something I can't question why she did, because she has always been the level headed and rational one amongst us sisters. Since she will be jobless, I suggested that she start making money online too. She was very open to the suggestion and I did not have a hard time bringing up the opportunity to her.

First of all, she is a darn good English speaker and she writes very, very well. By the writing jobs that are available in oDesk, I am already certain she is going to make a lot of money. If she were to apply for customer service jobs, I'm sure her neutral accent would be to her advantage as well.

I just hope that everything turns out well for her. This will be her first time to try something new, and I did not sugar coat things that my online money making process was easy to begin with. It didn't get any easier now either, as I am always up and on the computer. But something's gotta be better than nothing and I hope she does stick through writing, and I will be here to help her in any way possible.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

My Mom in Law's Visa Interview

First of all, I'd like to thank the many well-wishers who greeted me and my mom in law on the 19th, both here and in FaceBook.

I am happy to say that her visa was not denied, but it has not been given yet either. This is because the consular officer noticed that her son's (my huband's) last name is different from that of hers. Since she is under a different immigrant category and in all of the forms she submitted she wrote that she was single, she was asked to present a CENOMAR.

A CENOMAR is a document from the National Statistics Office here in the Philippines which is the abbreviation for Certificate of No Marriage. It's just to establish her singleness. I understand why the embassy would want this document after noticing that my husband's last name was different. Any misinformation that was submitted in any of the forms would constitute a permanent denial of her US Visa.

So there, we already had her CENOMAR delivered and it would take approximately 3-5 working days. After we get it, we can go back to the US Embassy from 1PM-2Pm and she needs to submit the said document to a certain window number and then wait for her Visa to be mailed by Air 21.

So that's it! Thank you for all of your kind words, they were very highly appreciated.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tomorrow is D-Day for my Mom in Law

Tomorrow is the scheduled Visa interview for my mom in law. We need to be there before 8:30AM tomorrow, and since it is already midnight, I may need to get some sleep myself. I am both excited and nervous for her, but I am diverting my energies into making sure that we have everything we need for tomorrow.

Wish us the best of luck, but I am sure that with God's help, everything will work out fine tomorrow.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Keisha and Nicole


I wanted to share my netbook's current wallpaper. Looking at this picture makes me realize just how big my kids are.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

What I Want for my Birthday

*Sigh*

It's my 26th birthday tomorrow, August 13. I am excited in a normal way, but I am also sad because earlier today was the burial of my dad's eldest brother. He passed away because of a heart attack on August 10 and today was his burial.

I don't really know if my relatives would be in the mood for a birthday celebration any time soon, something I totally understand. But on the brighter side, I am glad because the people I love the most are right here with me.

Here's to wishing myself a happy birthday!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

A New Neo Vivid 1190 Netbook

Yesterday, we bought a new netbook. It's a Neo Vivid 1190 netbook that pretty much had all the specs we were looking for in a laptop and for a very affordable price.

For the specs, it has 160GB of hard disk space, 1 GB of RAM, and an Intel Atom N270 1.60 GHz as its processor. We bought the color white, not because its the color I liked, but because it was the only color available and was also the last piece the seller had.

The netbook also uses LED lights in its LCD screen, meaning that the colors are brighter and it also consumes a lot less electricity. The Neo Vivid 1190 netbook I bought comes with a 10 inch screen, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, built in microphone and speakers, and also comes with original Windows XP Home Edition.

The nice guy we bought the netbook from was kind enough to install Yahoo! Messenger, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, an anti virus software, and other useful applications. We bought the netbook for only Php 16,500. I know other websites and even the malls we went to sell them for like Php 17,000 - Php 22,000 so I know we got a good bargain.

This netbook is brand new, and also came with a 2GB flash drive, and 2 little round things that you stick to the bottom which elevates the netbook so that it doesn't heat up. If you're interested in buying this netbook for a friend or family member, I can hook you up with the guy I bought it from. He is also a computer technician that does a lot of buying and selling computers and its parts. If you buy the netbook from him, he provides a one year warranty.

Monday, July 27, 2009

A Movie Fasting

Henry and I finally got to watch another movie after so many months of not watching movies on the big screen. It was nice, especially since we also got to share the experience with my sister Elena and Keisha.

We watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in SM Valenzuela and we were there a few minutes after the mall opened. We were able to catch the first screening, which was what we wanted. We wanted the movie house not crowded, and since we were the first people there, the movie house was also very clean.

I'm glad I got to share the experience with all the people I loved. If only Nicole was bigger, everything would have been complete.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Resigning Soon

I will be resigning from my job at VXI which I've had since January of 2008 soon. My mom in law's visa interview is set for August 19, and I'm sure that it will be approved, no doubt. I just want to spend as much time with her as I can because she won' t be able to come home for a period of 2 years.

I am just wondering when I should file my resignation and ho the entire process works. I know I'll have to get clearances signed, and then I'll have to go back for my back pay. I wonder how much my back pay will be, lol! And of course, a pro-rated 13th month pay will also be included.

In a way, I am both happy and sad. I am happy because I'll have lots of time with my kids and my mom in law until she leaves, but I am also sad because I'll miss the friends I've made at work. But having more time with the kids and Henry makes me think that everything will be all worth it.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Vietnam Super Sale!

Accor Hotels is currently having a Vietnam Hotel Super sale from July 7 - July 13, and from July 17 to September 30, 2009.

Hotel rates start as low as $45 for stays in between the dates I mentioned above. Some of these hotels that offer hotel stay rates at $45 are Novotel Dalat with the address of 7 Tran Phu Street, Dalat, Vietnam and can be reached at tel : (84-63)3825 777, Novotel Ha Long Bay with the address of Ha Long Road, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam and can be reached at tel : (84-33) 3848 108, Novotel Nha Trang with the address of 50 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang, Vietnam and can be reached at tel : (84-58) 3685 6921, and the Novotel Phan Thiet Ocean Dunes & Golf Resort with the address of 1 Ton Duc Thang Street, Phan Thiet
Vietnam and can be reached at tel : (84-62)3822 393.

There are also two hotels that offer stay rates starting at $75, and these are the Grand Mercure La Veranda Phu Quoc with the address of Ward 1, Duong Dong Beach, Tran Hung Dao Street, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam and can be reached at tel : (84-77)3398 2988, and the La Residence Hotel & Spa - Hue with the address of 5 Le Loi Street, Hue, Vietnam and can be reached at tel: (84-54)3837 475.

There are also two hotels that will be opening in August and September. The hotel opening on August 1st is called the Mercure Hanoi La Gare with the address of 94 Ly Thuong Kiet Street,
Hoan Kiem District Hanoi, Vietnam and can be reached at tel : (84-4)3944 7766. The hotel opening on Spetember 1st is called the Mercure Hue Gerbera with the address of 38 Le Loi Street, Hue City, Vietnam and can be reached at tel : (84-54)394 6688. Both of these hotels offer stays starting at $45 only.


Post?slot_id=42232&url=http%3a%2f%2fsocialspark

Busy to the Max!

A couple of weeks back when I got diagnosed with pneumonia, I was able to stay home and do tons and tons of online writing jobs. Most of those online jobs were thanks to oDesk, and I am really glad I came across that site.

Now that I've been back to work, I am really having a hard time managing my time with the deadlines I have for the online writing jobs and my own day job. I barely have time to sleep and I always exhausted. Not physically exhausted, but mentally exhausted.

I don't want to give up on online writing because when my mom in law finally flies off to Hawaii around September, I'll be quitting my day job and I'll just stay at home with the kids. I'll be writing more stuff online then, which is why I don't want to lose the job providers I already have now.

I guess I really just have to learn more about managing my time because from now up to the day when I resign from my office, I'll be busy to the max!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Off to Hawaii!

My mom in law received an email from the National Visa Center regarding her petition. We have been waiting for several months already and now, she already has a schedule for her visa interview! Her interview is scheduled at 8:30AM on August 19.

I am going to accompany her sometime after the 23rd of July for her medical exam at St. Luke's. She's very excited and nervous at the same time. I am glad that finally, her dream of migrating to the US is very, very close to reality.

I will miss her, though. But I think it's OK. She has a life of her own and it's just natural that she live her life.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Scrubsmag - A Review

I recently came across a site called Scrubsmag, and as one can guess, the site features a whole lot about the life of a nurse. From Scrubs to diets to work tips from veteran nurses, there's a lot of information that can be found on this site.

Being a nurse can be a stressful job, and nurses often neglect to take care of themselves because they're too busy taking care of other people. We've heard of the horror stories where nurses end up spending 16 hours or more on double shift. And with so many things to do like visiting patients, running errands, and giving patients their medicines, looking good can be last on a nurse's mind.

On the web site, I found this really helpful article for nurses especially during the hot summer season. The article I found is entitled Wake Up Looking Younger and it has a lot of useful tips on taking care of one's self, especially one's face. Here are these tips as itemized in the article:

1. Get clean.
It's a simple rule but its something we often don't do either because we're really tired from a hard day's work or we're simply too lazy. Just make sure you don't sleep with makeup on.

2. Moisturize.
With the hot summer seasons stripping off our skin's natural moisture, don't forget to moisturize. No one wants to end up looking like a prune.

3. Sleep right.
One's sleeping position affects one's disposition when waking up. Sleep on your back to avoid any body aches in the morning.

4. Be kissable.
Give your lips a little exfoliation. While brushing your teeth, give your lips a little brush and see what it does.

5. Tame stray hairs.
Don't forget those eyebrows! Always keep stray hairs tame.

Post?slot_id=41595&url=http%3a%2f%2fsocialspark

A New Job at oDesk

I just wanted to share how things at oDesk are turning out for me.

A couple of days ago I landed a job as a writer. The job provider asked me to write 5 travel articles with the places she provided. The payout is $10, $5 upfront and $5 after the job was completed. I submitted the completed work and waited for payment.

But more than a payment arrived to me today. The job provider did send the remaining $5 payment and also sent another job. This time, the topics are about health and the payout is also the same. She also left me a great feedback on my oDesk provider profile which everyone will see.

I'm really happy things are turning out great at oDesk, and now I'll have a lot of earnings for this month, hopefully I'll surpass my blog earnings in June.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Do You Care?




With everything that's going on with the world right now - not so great economies and the AH1N1 outbreak, what do you care about the most and why? For me, I'm really looking forward to a vaccine that will help us avoid AH1N1 so that my kids will be safe from this pandemic scare.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

PayPerPost v4.0

Saturday, July 4, 2009

My First oDesk Job

I finally have my first oDesk job and its about writing. I write about a lot of topics ranging from travel, mobile phone reviews, airports, and other information. The pay is quite low compared to the writing jobs I land at PayPerPost and SociaSpark, as this job pays $0.50 per 250 words. In short, I need to write 500 words before I get paid $1.

But what I try to explain to my husband Henry is that these jobs are constant and the pay is every Saturday. This week, I earned a total of $32. If I manage to keep the rate of work I am doing right now, that would sum up to a total of $128 or about Php 5,888 (converted to $1 = Php46).

For me, its not bad at all because I just sit in front of my computer and I get paid for it. Plus, if I add up other blogging earnings like from the sites I mentioned and from the music blogs I've been writing for almost 3 years now, I'd total to more than $200 in a month.

This would be a great supplement to my family's income including me and my husband's salaries at work. An additional Php9,000 monthly would be more than enough to cover my light and DSL bill monthly. There'd still be a lot more left for extra groceries and we'd afford some personal luxuries. I'm glad I have the job I have now at oDesk. I'd prefer a regular low paying job than a high paying job with no security when I'd have another opp.

Friday, July 3, 2009

You're the 1, Goldilocks!

I always like to celebrate special occasions like birthdays, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, and any other special day with a nice cake decorated with a special message. Like this Father's Day last June 21, we celebrated it with a Choco Chiffon cake from Goldilocks as seen below:


Nicole's 2nd birthday last June 28 also marked another celebration where we had to have a cake to make the celebration complete. Here's a picture of her Goldilocks cake with caramel sauce:



Here's the video of Nicole blowing her 2nd birthday cake from Goldilocks:




My eldest daughter Keisha's 5th birthday last October 29, 2008 was also celebrated with a Goldilocks Choco Chiffon cake. Here's a video of her blowing her candle on the said date:




Special occasions are made even special at my home with Goldilocks cakes. For the 25 years of my life, my parents have always celebrated my birthdays with Goldilocks cakes and I am keeping this tradition with my own kids. My mom in law always tells me that when my husband was younger, a Goldilocks cake made the celebration special. So now, even though we're older, we make sure that we have a Goldilocks cake whenever we celebrate any occasion.

You're the 1 Goldilocks, because for my family you always make celebrations extra special. You just made Father's Day unforgettable for my husband, and you made all of my kids' birthdays memorable. I am looking forward to more years spent with you and your cakes. Maybe this year we'll try the Spongebob Squarepants birthday cake for my eldest daughter's 6th birthday!



Wednesday, July 1, 2009

SpitzTunes -- Ya Gotta Love It!



What do you think of rock music songs that are about love? Do you think it is right to sing about love loud? I've loved songs like Love Song by The Cure and Stand Inside Your Love by Smashing Pumpkins, but what do you guys think?

Nicole Blowing her 2nd Birthday Cake

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Nicole's 2nd Birthday Pictures

Nicole, Keisha, and Uncle Edjie.


The birthday girl with Ate Keisha.


Me and my mom.


Happy birthday sweetheart!




Just wanted to post and share some pictures we took from Nicole's 2nd birthday.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Sweetness


I am grabbing this image from the Facebook account of my friend. I just fell in love with it!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Happy Birthday Nicole!

Happy 2nd Birthday Nicole!
Love, Mommy, Daddy, Lola, and Ate Keisha.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Endurance Athletes



I've been doing some thinking, and since I am interested in getting back in shape and losing weight, a good sport might be in time. What do you guys think about endurance sports? Is it good or bad for the health in your opinion?


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Father's Day Cake


I just wanted to share this picture of Henry's Father's Day cake. We surprised him when he came home from work by turning the lights off and jumping from our hiding places when he walked in the door. Too bad I forgot to take a picture before we started eating!

If I Were To Go On A Trip...

It doesn't take rocket science to find out if you need a vacation or not. It's a nice break from the daily routine of work and chores at home. So if given the chance to go on a vacation, I would probably go to Bangkok, Thailand. I've always wanted to see this place because of all the nice reviews I've heard about Bangkok. And for just Php 1,203 or about more or less $26, I can go see this wonderful place thanks to Accor Hotels City Super Sale!

This price is really unbelievable and it's for a limited time only! The site I'm talking about offers hotel rates in 27 cities across 10 countries in the Asia Pacific, and if travelers book online, they'll be enjoying 60% savings! This promotion is only for June 23-29, for stays between July 10 and September 30, 2009. During these times, you can enjoy rates starting as low as $25.

Travelers have their choice to discover cities like Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hanoi, Manila, Mumbai, Sydney and Auckland. So what are you waiting for? That vacation break or even a second honeymoon, or even that spur of the moment vacation is at the tip of your fingertips! Book now and enjoy great savings!
Post?slot_id=40594&url=http%3a%2f%2fsocialspark

In Other Words Meme

For today, I decided to write about a meme I found on the In Other Words meme that is usually for Tuesdays. Here's what the Tuesday meme is:

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.

-- Galileo Galilei


What you need to do is to answer the following questions: Do you agree with the message in the quote? Do you disagree? Would you have phrased this thought differently? What does this quote remind you of? What does it make you think of?

For me, I have to agree with Galileo Galilei. I believe that truths are harder discovered than understood - but once you have it, it's easier to understand. Like love for instance, it's hard to find someone to love and someone who'll accept you for who you are but when you do, things just start falling into place like a really nice piece of puzzle. What about you guys? What do you think about this saying?

Monday, June 22, 2009

SpitzTunes -- Working My Way Back to You!



I've always been a fan of rock music, and I am never without my mp3 player. Be it commuting to and from work, or just hanging around the house, I have to have my music player with me. What about you guys?

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day!


Here's to wishing Henry and my dad a Happy Father's Day! I love you guys. Thank you for being a great dad to me and my kids, and for adding meaning to my life.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

The One Word Meme

Thank you Cecile from Life is Good and Beautiful! I really enjoyed this meme.

USING ONLY ONE WORD! It’s not as easy as you might think! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to use only one-word answers. Be sure to tag the person who sent it to you!

1. Where is your cell phone?
- Upstairs

2. Your hair?
- Long

3. Your mother?
- Loud (lol!)

4. Your father?
- Patient

5. Your favorite food?
- Fries

6. Your dream last night?
- Dunno.

7. Your favorite drink?
- Pepsi

8. Your dream/goal?
- Housewife

9. What room you are in?
- Living Room

10. Your hobby?
- Writing

11. Your fear?
- Insects

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
- Here

13. Where were you last night?
- Hospital

14. Something that you aren’t?
- Well

15. Muffins?
- Chocolate

16. Wish list item?
- Spin Dryer

17. Where you grew up?
- Caloocan City

18. Last thing you did?
- Shampooed my hair

19. What are you wearing?
- PJs

20. Your TV?
- JVC

21. Your pets?
- None

22. Friends?
- Yes!

23. Your life?
- Happy

24. Your mood?
- Sickly

25. Missing someone?
- Henry

26. Car?
- Van

27. Something you’re not wearing?
- Bra

28. Your favorite store?
- Giordano

29. Your favorite color?
- White

30. When is the last time you laughed?
- Today

31. Last time you cried?
- Dunno

32. Who will resend this?
- Dunno

33. One place that I go to over and over?
- Dentist

34. One person who emails me regularly?
- Friends

35. My favorite place to eat?
- Home

To all my readers and friends in the blogosphere, feel free to grab this tag!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Pneumonia?

I went to the hospital yesterday because I felt I had the flu. No, not A(H1N1) as I haven't been out of the country (I don't even have a valid passport, lol!), I haven't been around people who've been outside the country, and I haven't been to a mall or any place crowded. I just had the regular fever reaching 39 degrees, chills, and cough. So I went to Fatima Medical Center where they listened to my breathing with a stethoscope and I was wheeled from the ER to the Xray room and blood was taken out from me for a CBC. After a few hours, the doctor said I had pneumonia.

Whoa! How in the world did they know I had that? So I did some research and I found out that the symptoms were normally a wheezing sound when I breathe, I did have an ugly sounding cough, but my blood work came back OK.

My parents worked for the Department of Health and have been assigned to various hospitals and my uncles and aunts are nurses. They are in doubt though, as to how and why I had it and how in a matter of hours I was diagnosed with it. The doctor at the hospital asked me if I wanted to be admitted, but since I didn't have that much cash on hand as I thought I was just going for a check up for the flu, so they made me sign a waiver that I refused confinement.

So here I am at home, avoiding my kids as much as possible, and resisting the urge to kiss them as much as I want to. It's hard, but I'd rather lock myself in my room instead of infecting them with whatever it is I have. As soon as I get my films, my dad will take them to the hospital where he works and request for a second opinion. For now, I'm just taking my antibiotics and medicines as advised.

Monday, June 15, 2009

I Cried

I was making Keisha her name plate for school and I just couldn't help but cry. I could have easily printed her name off of the computer and glue it to a piece of cardboard but I didn't. I chose to writer her name on a piece of bond paper over and over again until I got all the letters of her name the same size. The slightest error or smudge also made me start over.

When I finally got her name done, I cut her name and glued it to a piece of green cardboard, covered it with clear plastic like the one used for books, and then punched a hole in it to put her old ID lace. When I looked at what I've done, I cried. I remembered my dad and how he made me a name tag every school year. I imagined how tired he was from work and I'd impatiently bug him to make me a name tag. He'd cover everything with scotch tape to make the cardboard stiff. He could have printed my name off of the computer, but he didn't.

I remember what my mom always says how I'll understand her and dad better when I have kids of my own, and as always she was right. I just realized my dad's efforts when I made Keisha her name plate. Thanks dad, for everything.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Web Hosting Geeks

For people with blogs like me and are thinking of buying a domain, webhosting is something we should research on. There are lots of web hosts or providers to choose from but finding out which web provider to go with is the tricky part.

There are several factors to consider, like the bandwidth, what platform the provider will use, and of course, the monthly costs. Good thing there is a site called Web Hosting Geeks that does all the research for us. They have compiled a list of the web hosts over the internet and give an accurate and fair review of the pros and cons (if any) that each web hosting provider has.

Web Hosting Geeks also compiled the web host providers that received awards like Best Blog Hosting, best multiple domain hosting, and green web hosting. The latter may be something new to others. Actually, green web hosting are where web hosts use alternative and/or renewable energy, plant trees, and recycling waste to power their datacenters. Kinda makes you feel good about your role in saving the environment, huh?

Web Hosting Geeks provides readers with webmaster reviews and customer reviews, which gives one a pretty good view of what exactly the web host provider can give. It is best to know as much as you can about a web host provider before taking the plunge and hosting your site.

Happy Independence Day!



Proud to be Pinoy!
Happy Independence Day!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Promoting oDesk

The On Demand Global Workforce - oDesk

I'm currently promoting oDesk. It's a site where you can find lots and lots of online jobs you can complete in the comfort of your own home, like content writing, customer service, order taking, proofreading, and other jobs. Most of the jobs pay you at an hourly rate, and some a certain sum once the project is completed. If you're interested, do click on the image above to sign up for an account and start making money online! Payments are made through PayPal.



Monday, June 8, 2009

oDesk Certified!

I just finished taking the oDesk readiness test, and I'm glad I passed. Right now, I'm not looking for jobs yet, I'm more into taking more tests. It's been a while since I did spelling and grammar tests, and I've always had a thing for those. I'm also liking the results I'm seeing after each test (lol!)

I'm always looking for ways to supplement my online income, as these provide me the income to spend on things that I want but don't really need. For instance, a new shirt or blouse when I have several that I don't use, or new shoes when there are pairs just lying around in my room. But well, a girl will always be a girl and I will always want to buy a new blouse or a new coat or a new lipstick, even if I already have those!


Thursday, June 4, 2009

Me by Paula Cole

I am not the person who is singing,
I am the silent one inside.
I am not the one who laughs at people's jokes,
I just pacify their egos.
I am not my house, my car or my songs,
They are only stops along my way.
I am like the winter, I'm a dark cold female,
With a golden ring of wisdom in my cave.

(chorus)

And it's me who is my enemy
Me who beats me up
Me who makes the monsters
Me who strips my confidence

I am carrying my voice
I am carrying my heart.
I am carrying my rhythm
I am carrying my prayers,
tha you can kill my spirit, it's old and it is strong,
And like a mountain I'll go on and on.
But when my wings are folded,
The brightly colored moth blends into the dirt into the ground

And it's me who is my enemy.
Me who beats me up.
Me who makes the monsters.
Me who strips my confidence.
And it's me who's too weak,
And it's me who's too shy to ask for the thing I love.
But I love

I am walking on the bridge,
I am over the water,
And I'm scared as hell
But I know there's something better.

(chorus)


I just love this song. You can watch the music video here.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Hair, Beautiful Hair!



What makes you choose your hairstyle? Is it the latest trends? Or what people say you look best in? Do you follow the latest hair trends or stick to the tried and tested? Answer the questions above and find out for yourself.

A Day at Home

Since both kids are sick, I decided not to go to work today. Nicole is already better, but Keisha is the one I'm worried about. Today is supposed to be her first day of school, and she totally missed it because she's sick. I know there won't be much to do today because it's just her first day, but I still feel sorry that she missed it.

Today's another rainy day, and I'm happy and sad about it. I'm happy because it's not hot, but I'm also sad because my laundry will probably take forever to dry. I really better buy a dryer.

Later on I'll be ironing Keisha's school uniform, but for the meantime I better get to work - my blogging work, that is.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Nurses and Scrubsmag

Scrubs are sort of like a nurse's uniform and its easy to associate a scrub suit with a nurse. Add on several TV shows that feature the life of nurses like ER, House, Grey's Anatomy, ordinary people like me learn a little bit of how the life of a nurse works out.

The site I just came across features the lifestyle of nurses. It's a very uplifting and positive insight into the very busy lifestyles of nurses. Scrubsmag is very direct to the point, and even offers tips given by seasoned nurses that beginners will certainly find useful.

I'm not a nurse, but I like watching the shows I mentioned earlier, especially House. I only found out in Scrubsmag that there are actually quite a few nurse shows that just didn't click. Here's the list I found in the article Top 10 Nurse Shows of 2009 That Didn't Make the Cut.

10. Nurse Shackie: Golf Course Triage Nurse!

9. American Vitals: Nurses Sing Out Their Charts!

8. Lost: The Crummier Moments in Travel Nursing

7. Law & Order: Super Cranky Charge Nurse Unit

6. Med Men: Male Nurses who Drink Bourbon and Have Impeccable Hair

5. 24: That's How Many Hours I Worked Today

4. Dancing in the Stars: Nurses Boogie in Their Favorite Print Scrubs

3. NCIS: NICU! Critical Care! I.V. Poles! Saline!

2. The Mental List: Nursing Students Recite Weird Mnemonic Poetry

1. FoghoRNe LeghoRNe: Tales of a Male Nurse Who Gets the Chicks

I also liked the article entitled Praying With a Patient. I liked how the recent nursing graduate did not want to offend the very ill patient by not joining in the prayer, and other people who were present because she was uncertain of their religious beliefs. As the saying goes, you really can't please everyone, and her concern was real. It's hard to be in a room and make a decision right then and there.

So there, those are just some of the stories you can read on Scrubsmag. Hope to see you guys there!

Post?slot_id=38730&url=http%3a%2f%2fsocialspark
Related Posts with Thumbnails