A Walk Through Life

I've been meaning to write a gratitude post for every good deed or random act of kindness I've experienced from people. I know I have missed out on a few lately. However, I'm sure that the people I owe my gratitude to knew that I'm sincerely thankful and grateful for all the things they have done for me and my family. Often, I am grateful for all these because they came at a perfect time that we could really use some help. What's so touching about this is that they don't really have to do them but they did. Certainly, it is the Lord that works in them!

Have you been thinking about doing some home improvement lately, hoping to get more inspiration from the sight of a beautiful home? If you ask me, a well-lighted home is a very good home improvement in itself. In fact, I just happened to know one person in the neighborhood who is also practically doing this for additional income. He can really do wonders in your home just by changing and picking the right lights according to your preference. If you can't decide what's best for your personality or your home, he can also do it and come up with a lot of options for you. If you don't want to repaint the entire house for lack of time and you want to make a good impression on your upcoming guest, you can definitely do the trick by playing with the lights and perhaps by also re-arranging the furniture a little bit. Man, you have to meet this neighbor of ours. Very recently, I saw the pictures he posted on Facebook and I shared them on my wall/timeline. A friend of mine saw them an...

Here comes December! Things are going fast, huh! We didn't realize it until invitations to Christmas parties from friends kept coming today. Wow, should we go to all of these parties in the spirit of Christmas? Hopefully, we can, especially if schedule and budget will permit. Speaking of Christmas, I decided to buy the traditional lanterns because they're quite affordable than the ones made of Capiz shells which are sold between one thousand to thousand pesos, although I originally wanted the latter to grace our home this Christmas. However, I wanted to be able to save a little bit more from the decoration expenses for our gift-giving activities; thus, we somehow ended up getting frugal with Christmas decorations. We intend to add Christmas outdoor lights later to be one with our neighbors in keeping the spirit of Christmas alive.

To say that my dad loves listening to music is an understatement. I fully remember he doesn't just want to enjoy and listen to music alone; he wants us (members of the family) and the neighborhood (sometimes) to listen to it as well. Good thing, he's not playing those ear-breaking types as he loves to listen to old and classic songs. More than anything else on his playlist, I kind of dig his love for Beatles. This is why I wasn't the least worried when he got himself a new amplifier some years ago because I believe his choice of music is still cool. I have yet to find out from him though if his amplifier still works fine as I learned some of his appliances and gadgets got wet when water got inside the house at the height of the strong typhoon. Anyway, as soon as I find out his need to get a new one, I will let my brothers know as this fall under their budget department. LOL. :-)

Quite pleased to see our malunggay tree still standing up after strong winds tried to break it or pin it down. Resilience is such a big word these days after that great typhoon Yolanda. That's how people in other countries would describe us Filipinos. Perhaps that's what they really see in us, or maybe that's also their way of trying to motivate those who almost have nothing left with them to move forward. Just like that resilient malunggay, we can get up again after we've been battered by a lot of storms in life. As long as our Maker still wants us to be here, we know there are still a lot of things we have to go through. However good or bad anyone's situation is, let us not forget that everything happens for a reason. There definitely is a purpose for everything.

The other day, a friend shared with me her problem with their electricity bill lately. It appears that they're paying thrice the amount that we are paying on a monthly basis, although their provider is from a different electric company. Moreover, we cannot really compare the amount they are paying for electricity over ours because we also do not have the same monthly consumption. She said they're paying such an exorbitant amount considering that there are only four of them living in the house (the hired help included). However, when she mentioned that they are using motorized water pump for their water needs, I told her maybe that's the reason why their electric consumption is so high. I suggested that since they've been using their pumps for many years, they might want to have it checked for problems. She also acknowledged they've been having technical problems with it lately. A lot of times they would need to call a repairman to fix it and get it to ...

When I learned that the company I work for chose to organize relief mission in Medellin, Cebu, I felt very happy. It's not that other towns/provinces affected by Typhoon Yolanda are less worthy of receiving help because I knew a lot of areas really need all the help they can get. However, this town is quite special to me because that's the town where my dad is. As far as their specific area is concerned, dad told me that they're okay - only that houses needed repair and their electrical wiring needed to be cleared so that they can have electricity back. It was also good to know that their company offered to release half of their 13th month pay but only if they wish to. I would have wanted to go with the troop when they went there on a Saturday but I have a work deadline to meet that day, so it seemed imperative to stay behind and just go with them in spirit. :-) Although I already knew they're not going to be at the barangay where my dad belongs, I am still very h...

We (husband and I) are getting more great tips from a common friend who knows how to play the guitar. He's been helping us with choosing the right guitar for beginners like us. We thought all guitars are the same except for the kind of wood being used to make them which also makes their prices vary a lot. However, there's more to it than that. In fact, even the size of the guitar neck can make all the difference. Indeed, when it comes to guitars, there is still a lot to learn from musicians like him. Hopefully, my husband will learn to play the guitar from him; and then later on, I will get to learn from my husband. It should be nice to have some common hobby to do together, isn't it?

October wouldn't be complete without celebrating our wedding anniversary and husband's birthday. I am happy and proud to say that, in our own pretty simple but special way, we've happily celebrated both occasions each year together. I know there's still a long way for us to go. Although I also know that there are still more trials to overcome and more storms to weather, I am confident that we can face them together without fear. After all, everything brings about a learning experience for us. Soon, there will be a lot of stories to tell to our growing daughter. Despite the high-magnitude earthquake in the middle of the month, October for me is still not as bad as I thought. Somehow, it's an opportunity to help other people in need and it's also a chance to contemplate on the things that are yet to come.

There's nothing worse than running out of printer ink just before you need to print an important document for school or work. What's more, ink cartridges are costly to replace – especially if you're in a hurry to buy them from the nearest store. So here are some tips for making your printer cartridges last longer and your printing more economical . Use economy mode Most printer settings will offer you 'economy', 'draft' or 'fast' printing. The quality is slightly lighter and less precise, but it's fine for when you don’t need a perfect presentation copy. It saves on ink, and it's faster too. Stick to black and white Even when you’re printing black text, your colour printer mixes in other inks to make the shade. Turn this setting off by choosing 'black' in your printer properties, so you're not needlessly using up colour inks. Consider whether you need a colour printer at all – if what you print is mostly text documents, yo...

It's so sad to watch Bohol getting destructed because of the October 15 earthquake. You see, husband and I have long been planning for a Bohol escapade with our little girl. I know it's not too far away from Cebu but we can't just visit this place out of the blue without saving up money. No matter how long or short the planned trip or vacation, it should be wise to do that when your budget for other family expenses will not be affected. We thought we should be ready for a vacation some time this year - perhaps in time for our sixth year wedding anniversary, husband's birthday or my birthday. It's just so sad that this is not going to happen this year. Taken from my sister-in-law's album, here's a picture of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol that I have been looking forward to see with my own naked eyes: I also thought it would be nice to dine and sail (and appreciate nature) in a Floating Restaurant and getting serenaded by their own native and talented si...

Every time we would pass by a neighbor's house, I can't help but admire how he has put together his Christmas tree, ornaments and decors. He is simply one such talented and artistic neighbor. Quite inspiring, I should say. Thanks to him, even though we are still not feeling the ultimate chilly breeze of Christmas yet, just the sight of those Christmas decors, the glitters and all, already sends a Christmas-y , winter chill to my spirit. Did I mention winter? Yeah, I must admit that sometimes I would look forward to just one day of winter and I want it just for the experience. :-) Right now, a friend of mine who is based in the U.S. told me that she is now getting busy looking for new snowboard storage racks for easy keeping and organization. These are the least of my worries here but I do wonder what it would be like to shop for these items. When she asked for my opinion on what to buy (like I am one expert, huh!), I told her I'd go for the wall-mounted type of storage rac...

Suddenly, I thought of updating this blog. I've been slacking again, obviously. It's like I've been hit by a lazy bug or lightning. Good thing, this episode is almost over now because I am again starting to pound the keyboard. But to be honest, even now that I am back, I still do not know yet what to write. I'm almost getting used to this silence. Anyway, the blogosphere can get by without me, right? However, like I said before, blogging is like a form of therapy for me. But I am not sick, let me remind you. :-) This is where I get to unload my thoughts and emotions when I don 't want to share them to anyone in the most personal way. Okay, so at least I finally tried to write and have even finished writing a paragraph. Now I am starting a new one and I don't know how I am even going to end it.  What is going on with me again? Haha.. Now I am glancing to my right and I am seeing two of my loved ones already in bed - the other one is snoring. Yeah, I just hear...

A good friend of mine works as purchasing officer for an industrial company. Just recently, we chatted on Viber about some of the current problems that their company needs to address. Besides the occasional foul smell, their company needs to ensure the proper containment or storage of hazardous chemicals. These are indeed important issues that they need to promptly attend to. After all, this is part of the company's social and environmental responsibility. Anyway, I'm sure they are already taking steps and are looking for an efficient solution to this. In fact, today, she inquired about, among other things, the price of a spill pallet and hopes to get a good discount for bulk orders. With her convincing powers, I'm sure she'll get the best bargain.

Haha. This is just a little keepsake photo I took from Mountain View Park where we had a brief outing with husband's family last weekend. While this may not be an uncommon scenario nowadays, we all found this funny because we really thought it was a real security guard sleeping on his job but, as we were able to get a closer look, we realized it's not real.  Oopps.. :-) What to do? They might as well have a photo op with the daysleeper. :-)

No matter how much we would want to hold on to something, we would eventually find ourselves in the "letting go" phase. I'm talking about our sound system at home. It actually belonged to my husband because he bought it during his bachelor days. He said it has huge sentimental value because it took more than a year of saving some money from his salary to be able to buy it. We had pretty good use of it until it was already time to lay it on the side. Just when we needed one so we can have something we can use to train our daughter with her singing, we now no longer have anything to use. Well, not really. We do have a headset that she can use to sing along to a downloaded mp3. However, there are more things that our family can do and appreciate with a high-quality sound system. I initially got worried about the cost if we were to buy one pretty soon but I got pacified when I started comparing prices online. It's good to have more options, isn't it? I guess I'll ...

Just this month, I was one of those excited moms who want to see their daughter perform for the first time in school. This was on the occasion of the culmination of Buwan ng Wika . I'm sure moms could relate to how I feel when I watched my daughter holding the microphone and hear her sing in front of the audience in school. Although I am already used to hearing her sing at home, it's a different feeling to watch her perform for an audience other than her mom and dad. And even though it was not much of a big audience, somehow I am still proud that I didn't see any hint of stage fright from her. Gradually, I think she's building her confidence. Perhaps it has also helped that there were four of them singing the ' Pilipinas Kong Mahal ' song. What I found a little funny, though, was that she didn't think of sharing the microphone with her classmate, like she was only doing a solo.  I am not also sure if they have rehearsed this. Well, what can you expect from a...

It is good to be writing about music and guitars as topic as I am already assured of an audience because I'll get my younger brother's attention. In my last post, I have mentioned about my dream guitar and he sent me a message about how awesome it would be if he can buy it for me as his birthday gift. He said he is also thinking of getting an electric guitar for himself. Indeed, an electric guitar should be perfect for him since he wants to be able to play great music with his band again; although, right now, he is still focused on his new job abroad. Hopefully, when he's back for good, he'll get to play with his band mates again; that is, if they're still around.

I didn't expect to experience another act of kindness last week. When it was time for me to go home from work, I was quite thankful I was offered a ride from someone who lives just almost close to home. This is such a big thing for me as I thought I'm going to have to commute and to wait patiently for my turn to get a ride via a V-Hire service in SM. I was pretty much hoping and praying that I'll reach home earlier than usual since my daughter wasn't feeling quite well. I am genuinely thankful for this person - he could have chosen not to bother to ask but he did because he knew, if I had to commute, it's going to take me long to get home because of traffic. It was like the Lord has moved this person to ask me if I need a lift. Truly, God is amazing.

Ever since Dippy started school, we always see to it that we have the time to help her with her projects and assignments. So far, we're doing better. All the three of us are quite a team. One thing we did not anticipate, though, was the probability of having to work on a project which needed to be submitted in the morning. There wouldn't have been a problem with it if we were able to check her assignment notebook right after she came home from school. However, we only saw it in the later afternoon since we thought her assignments are only about writing. Thus, when the project required some printing, we were almost clueless on what to do since we don't have a printer. Just when we were about to go and inquire from a computer shop nearby about their overnight printing service, I suddenly remembered we have a neighbor/ex-officemate who owns a printer. Thankfully, this neighbor was still online and all it took was a quick chat with him before we sent him the project to be prin...

Many times, in this walk through life, our faith in the Lord keeps getting tested. So many trials came our way yet we've always surpassed them. Gradually, one by one, we were able to weather our storms. And while there are still more battles to hurdle, we're going to take it as positively as we can. After all, that's just what makes this life even more exciting and challenging! :-) We have always known that it's because of God that we're getting help from people at the right time that we needed them. Sometimes, we didn't even have to ask God for these things. Whether these are financial blessings, work opportunities, or some random acts of kindness from people we didn't expect to do them for us, all these just came in perfect timing! This is why nothing worries me that much anymore (although I can't help myself from being emotional sometimes because that's just the way I am). Whatever the future holds – I will keep reminding myself that I should no...

When I was still single, I had this crazy dream of becoming a musician someday. I wanted to be someone who can sing, play the guitar, and compose some songs. No matter how hard I tried, though, my voice just wasn't good enough to deserve any audience, attention, or praise. Still, my love for music was so great that I wanted to learn how to play the guitar so I can go ahead with composing and creating songs. At that time, I got to learn how to play a few songs that only make use of the basic chords like A-D-A-G, C-G-Em-F. I didn't get to learn a lot after that, though, since I am only able to practice whenever friends or neighbors would lend me their guitars. Now, I thought it would have been great if I found the time and money to pursue what I loved to do back then. Even if I won't make a career out of it, I would have practically enjoyed doing it as a hobby and then I would be able to pass what I've learned to my musically inclined daughter! Well, it's not yet too ...

Lately, I've been getting spam calls from my cell phone. I call them spam calls because, just like most junk e-mails, they're all unsolicited. What is not so right about it was that they are representing on behalf of a bank or insurance company. In fact, today, someone called me up and he said he is from a reputable bank. He even challenged me to verify his identity through a hotline number he randomly dictated. He said he called to offer automatic approval of credit card that's designed for women. Take note, it's automatic approval because I didn't apply for it but the person on the phone told me I am qualified and I get approved but only if I spare 3 minutes of my time to give him the important information that he needs. Hmmmm … Sounds fishy, right? He probably thought I would fall for it. I thought if he's from some reputable bank, he wouldn't have used a mobile number to begin with. When I declined and told the caller that I'm at work and won't b...

A former classmate of mine runs a jewelry shop. It used to be his father's business for many years. He took over when his dad expressed his intention to retire. It's also a good thing that he had the interest in running the business. It can be seen in his unique and beautiful designs of jewelries - from wedding rings to earrings. Because of his passion, the transition of ownership from father to son was a success. In fact, he was able to open a few more branches of their shop outside the city. With his great designs, I believe he has a chance to widen his target market if he brings this business Online . After all, people are already buying jewelries on the internet, all in the name of convenience.

I have a love-hate relationship with the rainy days.  I do love the rainy days because this is one of those times when I can enjoy a sip of hot coffee at home. It's also a perfect time to be lazy - to just curl up in bed and get relaxed. Moreover, I am a nicer person when it's raining. I'm always in a good mood because I am able to relax, eat and sleep well. When it's raining, husband and I can save some water for watering the plants. The rain also takes care of this chore for us. :-) But don't you just hate it when it's raining and you're still on your way to work?  Well, except when you have a car that doesn't get stuck in the flood, going to work when it's raining is really no fun at all, right? It can also be quite a challenge to not get your clothes and your shoes wet. Let's not even talk about the challenge of coming to the workplace on time. Sometimes, it's just too tempting for me to call in sick so I don't have to brave the hea...

When you need to hire someone right away, chances are that you are likely to rely on your instincts and skip through the process of making a background check on your nearly-qualified prospect. I say "nearly qualified" because of the fact that a background check on a candidate for employment is not something that should be overlooked lest you go through the risk and dangers of getting someone on board with a questionable character. Whether you are hiring corporate employees or just someone to watch over your kid while you are out to make some money, running that quick and easy background checks on your prospects/candidates should be to your safety and advantage.

My 30-day personal challenge has long started but I have not even started yet. I am 13 days short of time to meet my goal of getting 25 articles approved in Ezine within 30 days. Waaaaaa. I hope I don't get too busy this weekend as I really need to get this personal challenge to work for me. No excuses this time. :-)

One of the many things that kids in preschool look forward to do is to eat their snacks. Snack time gives them the break that they need especially after listening to their teacher for quite awhile and after trying to absorb everything that has been discussed. After all, kids have shorter attention span than adults. They tend to become impatient and restless when it feels like they've been sitting too long in their chairs. Teachers cannot expect them to just be sitting for the rest of their class schedule. Snack time should be a great breather for them. But what should they be eating? If you ask me, I think she's getting bored with her usual biscuits that she would sometimes end up not finishing them. Unfortunately, she doesn't like to eat sandwiches as well. Bread is not her thing. I'm almost running out of ideas until http://www.snackwarehouse.com unique pretzels caught my daughter's fancy as we were browsing online. I don't know if we can get her exactly the ...

I woke up a few hours earlier than I intentionally planned today. No, let me correct that. A few minutes before 4AM today, someone woke me up because she needed to attend to the call of nature. I checked our watch and it's still an hour before I would have wakened up to the sound of the alarm clock. Anyway, I love the sound of my daughter waking me up for an urgent need to pee better than that annoying alarm clock. And I also love it that even at an unusually early hour of the day, she had remembered what I told her before that she should tell us any time she feels like going to the bathroom to answer the call of nature. In fact, I am so glad that we never had to put so much effort with potty training. It was like she just realized one day she didn't want to wear diapers anymore or that she thinks she's old enough to wear one. I also realized just how quickly the time has gone by just seeing her getting back to sleep today. Ah, she is getting bigger and taller! Now, I alrea...

Today is husband appreciation day for me and I have got to say it here - my husband is a rare find! These days, hardly do we find a guy who doesn't drink or smoke. Well, he would drink beer on rare occasions with family but he certainly knows his limits. In fact, most of the time he cannot go beyond two bottles of beer/pale pilsen. Also, with cigar prices soaring high lately due to the implementation of "sin" taxes in our country, any wife like me would appreciate a husband like him who doesn't smoke at all. He said he already knew the negative consequences of being a smoker; so, why should he cultivate smoking as a vice? For that and more, I am so grateful to God for bringing him to me.

Lately, I guess I am not really that good enough at keeping my posts up to date especially when it comes to special occasions. This special day didn't go by, though, without celebrating it with hubby and my little girl. I also didn't forget to call dad on this day. I was able to greet father-in-law the day before that. Glad we were able to talk a day ahead because I learned their telephone line needed fixing after that. We had a simple celebration of Father's Day last week at home. We grilled one big fish that we had bought from the market. Aside from that, we also had some clams. It was gastronomically satisfying. Unfortunately, I forgot to take some pictures. I'll have to remember to do that next time. As for my gift for husband, he insisted to have it postponed. Indeed, as of now, we'll do well financially when we put other planned expenses aside. So, I gave him another gift that money can't buy. :-)

My husband has been planning on making kitchen cabinet but he keeps on postponing it because of his busy schedule. Besides, his collection of tools is not enough to build the cabinet. He just found that out when he was browsing some DIY website on the internet. He got almost all the tools mentioned on that particular website except for those drill press accessories which he finds really important to be able to finish the job neatly and efficiently. Since father's day is approaching, I just realized that this would be the perfect gift I can give to him and maybe he can no longer find excuses not to build that cabinet.

I don't usually write about celebrities here but I got really inspired when Richard Poon and Maricar Reyes got married this month. Wow.. I like these two people for many reasons. I really love it that they ended up together. They don't know me but I am one of their biggest fans - individually and as a couple. Both of them have definitely inspired all the others who are longing to find the right person for them. Anyhow, they still have a long way to go. It is just a start of their new life together. I wish them all the best in their married life. Prior to the wedding, they were serenaded by ASAP Sessionistas on ABS-CBN. Isn't it just wonderful to see two people who are in love? You know, love is contagious.

We nearly lost our internet connection today because we were still catching up with paying our bill. This started when I relied on the prompt delivery of our first bill. I know this was partly my fault because I didn't care to get in touch with our provider to inquire about the bill. By the time I finally decided to follow-up on it, we were already due for 2 months. Naturally, we can't pay the entire amount at one time considering that we have a budget to follow. Good thing, I also have a credit limit that's worth a month. Actually, the bill never made it to our doorstep and this left me with no choice but to immediately enroll my account to paperless billing so I will know the due date. While it's good that they are capable of sending the bill electronically, I also feel like it is also important that clients are given the freedom to really choose if they want to go paperless with their bills or not. Nonetheless, it's really not too expensive to send hard copies of...

Having a workforce that are motivated enough to deliver what is expected of them is one of the keys to having a successful business. As such, it is important for business and company owners to find ways to make sure that there is always motivation in the workplace. 1. Recognizing Well-Deserved Employees. Employers must never overlook their employees' good performance. A pat in the back often sends a message that their efforts didn't go unnoticed. More importantly, employees will be encouraged to do their best in the job if they see someone getting recognized or promoted for good performance. After all, nobody wants to get stuck or stagnate in their careers, right? Letting employees know that they are providing incentives for outstanding performers is also one way to motivate them to do even more than what is required of them. 2. Find the Time to Talk to Low-Performers Without Embarrassing Them. While having low-performers in the team can be hugely irritating for employers, ...

After learning that my side of the family has a history of hypertension, my husband began to worry for me. He reminded me to keep my weight down and to avoid eating anything that would eventually trigger high blood pressure. In fact, I remembered how nervous he got when I had hypertension after giving birth to Dippy. He and I really thought that was the start of my long battle with hypertension. Thankfully, it was just classified as postpartum hypertension and it went away a few months later. Luckily, I didn't have to buy my own blood pressure BP monitor at that time. Well, there was really a time when I had thought of using my earnings to buy the digital type. After all, I knew I should be checking my blood pressure because I was told that there's a big chance that a postpartum hypertension could advance into chronic hypertension. Incidentally, I found a few medical equipment suppliers that are selling the brand that I like. However, dad had let me use my late mom's digi...

the happiest moment with mom I thought I need to write one last post for the last day of May in honor of my late mom. This day happens to be her birthday until we learned later from one piece of legal document she had that her birthday actually fell on the 30th. I was already in high school when she declared that her real birthday is on the 30th and not the 31st. I was told my late grandfather and grandmother used to argue about these dates, too. I am not exactly sure about this confusion on her birthday. It wasn't really a big deal for her, though, since she can celebrate it on the 30th or on the next day. Losing my mom was perhaps the most painful experience I've encountered so far in my life. I thought I still had a lot of time to be with her. I thought there's still time for her to be able to hold and cuddle her very first granddaughter. Unfortunately, God took her away from me just barely two months after my wedding. Oh, you can just imagine the extreme shift of e...

In addition to brand, skill level is the other factor that will determine an impeccable makeup. Eye make-up is preferred by a majority of women primarily because it allows them to express their personalities with relative ease. Unfortunately, mistakes made while applying eye make-up, especially eye shadows can make you appear silly. The different shades ought to be arranged properly in order to bring out the flawless appearance of your eyes. Still, it is important to point out that faultless eye make-up mainly hinges on the brand of cosmetic you are using. Listed below are the four different types of eye shadows available in the market: Dry eye shadow. Shadow-mousse. Liquid eye shadow. Shadow pencil eye shadow. Dry eye shadow is the simplest to apply and as such it is crucial that you acquire the skills of dry eye shadow application before moving to other application methods. Prior to buying make-up kits, it is important to utilize testers. Testers enable you to choose the appr...

Before I even had the chance to write a product review about a particular exfoliant I received for free (paid a little for shipping, though) from SampleRoom , I already thought about postponing this itinerary a little further. You see, I have just been to the annual beach party courtesy of the in-laws and had been swimming big time under the sun. As a consequence, this didn't really do my skin any good. I think I'm going to be peeling not because of the exfoliant (I have only used it for 2 days)  but because of sunburn. The procrastinator in me made me forget again to buy the sunblock that should have given my skin the best protection it needs. Fortunately, sister-in-law has shared to us her skin whitening lotion with SPF20. While it did work for some of us in the family, my skin still felt very sore from the heat of the sun even when I had SPF20 lotion on. Anyway, I am glad that husband and daughter didn't seem to have the same complaints as I did about the sun's heat...

There are many ways to preserve memories of the best times with the family throughout the years. The most common practice is to document them through photographs. Some people are content with looking at digital photos from their desktops or laptops while others prefer to have them printed or framed. Others would also find the time to blog about the photos while a handful of others enjoy having them documented in scrapbooks. However, for those who really want to be able to re-live the special and happy moments with loved ones, taking videos of them should be a great idea. Come family reunion time, they can also do an impressive dvd reproduction of both pictures and videos of those happy and family moments that are worth looking back into. Truly, this would make an excellent memento for the whole family or clan.

We are counting the days. Oh, we're almost ready to take that dip in the beach. This weekend, we're going to Dalaguete to have an enjoyable beach time with husband's family. They (my in-laws) do this every year. Planning for an annual summer beach party with family has already become part of the family tradition. There is always a day planned out for a yearly summer beach outing that members of the family are already expected to keep their schedules vacant to accommodate this activity. I don't have any idea what Dalaguete is like and I don't  know yet which specific beach resort we would go but I heard that there are a lot of beautiful beaches there. Hopefully,  we would find that out on Saturday when we get to in-laws' place. Hmmm, I had better check if my batteries for the camera can handle all the shots that I am planning to take on that day. I want to make sure I would be able to capture the beauty of the place and the fun moments with family.

Want to learn something new this summer? I suggest you go for guitar lessons. Learning how to play the guitar is something that can keep your hands full when you have nothing to do on most days of summer. After all, music is also a great way to get out of boredom. Once you know how to strum the guitar, you will never feel lonely even when you are alone. If you're a guy and you play great music, girls will usually swoon over you for your guitar skills. The ladies usually are attracted with men who are in a band or know how to play a musical instrument, the guitar especially. On the other hand, if you are a girl and you play the guitar, men will usually find you cool and interesting. Well, that's just my opinion!

Lately, I am so happy with my little girl's performance in summer school. She comes home from school with stars stamped on her wrists. Thanks to her teacher who shows appreciation for her diligence, she is motivated to learn how to write alphabets one at a time. I might post photos of her work to this blog soon. She started to become interested to write when she saw her classmates doing the same thing. She also likes it that she gets to wear her dresses to school; although it is such a struggle for her to wake up early. Not really the morning type of person. Anyway, waking up early is a form of discipline for her. Hopefully, she'll get used to the routine.

Are your problems way too much to handle? I am asking this because many people try to escape their problems by resorting to taking drugs and then ending up being a burden to their family. Problems cannot be solved by overdosing on pills or taking on drugs. However, if at this point, you are already hooked, can't get out of addiction, and realized you need help, your next best move is to find the best drug rehab centers in your area. It is never too late for any person who wants to make the change. At this point, the support of family is needed. Ideally, families should never give up on each other; although, you can never blame them if they do because of the consequences of your misdeeds. It is time to make that 360-degree change by learning to love yourself and by realizing you need help. Life is a gift from God. Therefore, we need to value and use it to help others. Let's not waste nor ruin it.

Saw this image with inspiring message on Facebook. Indeed, the world is filled with so many problems - many of which are the consequences of indecision or wrong decisions. However, it is also true that it is through mistakes that we can all  learn from, become better persons and succeed in life. Still, I don't believe that the success we are getting in life can be solely attributed through our own efforts. Ultimately, we owe our success to God so that we may use it according to His will. Sometimes, too, failure and setbacks are God's manifestation of His existence - that we may never  forget that there is a God who can lift us up and help us through life's difficulties. Without  Him in our lives, success is meaningless and ultimate happiness, personal fulfillment and peace can never be achieved.

Because competition in the business is ever increasing, most companies (big and small), need to use all forms of advertising. They need advertising to help build, grow, maintain or increase their reputation in the industry. Advertising can either hire employees or get them more prospect clients. One form of advertising that I find effective is the use of posters and banners -- be they posted online or offline. Any company can have a regular- or huge-sized poster or banner with interesting details about them, what they do and what exceptional services they offer. In the past, this means of advertising is deemed expensive but with recent developments in technology which allow print businesses the use of excellent tools such as the eon code web to print system, ordering and processing of prints can already be done online, without the hassle, and in the least expensive way. Right now, as we are coming close to an election, there is also a huge need for campaign materials. The print busine...

Summer is still exciting for my little girl as she gets to experience being in a classroom with ten other kids her age. Thankfully, her first day in summer school went pretty smooth. I chose to go on leave on her first day just to make sure that I will be there when she's not comfortable in this kind of environment. Thankfully, she didn't cry even though she witnessed one boy crying because he wanted his mom beside him. :-) I got even more proud of her after she showed me a star stamped on her wrist for a job well done on her first day. My feelings as a proud mom didn't change even if I did realize later that most kids got the same star on their wrists. :-) I know she is supposed to have all fun and play during this period but we think it would be a great help for her that she has a good idea on what it will be like come school opening. Anyhow, it is just for one month. The rest of the coaching and getting her primed up for Kindergarten school will still come ...

Aside from my smile, my guts is highly contagious. At least my husband thinks so. :-) I used to think I couldn't get my husband to sing even in our home karaoke sessions with the family but, as time progressed, I was amazed to find him no longer refusing to sing when asked to do so or whenever he's handed a microphone. In fact, he suggested getting us a good music stand so we can have the look of a singing bar at home. It should be fun, right? By the way, I am also impressed that he already kept in mind the songs and the genre that should be great for his vocal range. Singing, as we know, is really one good form of exercise for the lungs. It is also an activity that creates good bonding for the family and makes any boring day fun, lively and entertaining. I am very happy that this is one of those pastimes that husband, daughter and I can do together.

I know I should have blogged about her birthday sooner but I didn't realize we have already moved to the month of April. Anyway, it still feels like we have just celebrated our little girl's fourth birthday. After all, it's only been a couple of weeks ago. Her birthday fell on a workday but it was just so timely that our workload in the office had been quite manageable that we didn't find it really hard to negotiate with our bosses and to arrange for different work schedule that will make ourselves available on her special day. Anyway,  we didn't really throw her a children's party. After all, everyone else is working. Thus, husband and I decided to just celebrate it the simplest way we could. That day started by going to church to attend the thanksgiving mass we offered on the occasion of her birthday. At home, I just cooked spaghetti and ordered a  birthday cake for her.  As our birthday present, we bought her a kiddie bike - something she had been aski...

Stretch marks generally appear as a mechanism to help the skin cope up with the sudden change in weight. Those white marks seen are the results of the action of the connective tissue to avoid skin from tearing. As a result, the connective tissues would appear as white streaks on skin usually on the thigh area, abdomen and legs. These marks already create that bothersome appearance. Though it may not hurt but it affects the aesthetic aspect of the body. Though stretch marks generally appear as a result of sudden weight loss, pregnancy, hormonal changes or aging, its existence can still be prevented. As a phrase says, "prevention is better than cure", there are actually a lot of things one can do to prevent these marks from coming. The key to maintaining a healthy skin is to have it moisturized. Taking at least 8 glasses of water every day helps reduce the possibility of the appearance of these marks. Dryness contributes to tearing of tissues which you may not want to happen...

The Lenten holidays has done us good. Thanks to the long holidays, hubby and I found a lot of time to do some reflection and to bond with our kid longer at home. It's a good thing we weren't able to do our groceries just yet; so, the refrigerator is not really packed with a lot of food and we are not tempted to pig out. In fact, yesterday I skipped lunch without really meaning to. I ate the last crackers at ten a.m. that day, so I wasn't feeling hungry at all when husband announced lunch time. Oh, I wasn't really planning to go extreme on my diet because I also don't like to starve myself. So, rarely will you find me skipping meals because that will not bring about pleasing results. At least not to me. I do read somewhere that you can still achieve a healthier body even if you don't resort to starving yourself. Why would I starve myself when I can eat in moderation and achieve better results, anyway? In fact, a friend told me she achieved her desired body weight...

As I am writing this now, my elder brother may still be up on the plane heading to Abu Dhabi . Yes, he is going back to where a job opportunity awaits for him. So many times he tried applying for a job here because he didn't really intend to leave the country again but it seems like he is destined to come back to where he started. With all that he has gone through in this life, I am sure he is a lot wiser now. In fact, before he left, he told me he's going to save money so he can have someone to plant some cacao and lemon seedlings on our late mom's share of the land from our late grandfather. Working abroad is probably not something he sees as a lifetime job. After all, just as life itself, nothing is really permanent when it comes to the world of employment. Nothing is really certain. Thus, I commend him for having thought of collaborating with us siblings to make sure that mom's land will be put to good use one of these days. A photo with my daughter and her un...

One of the things we did in the later part of last year was to go mountain trekking. It was an itinerary we had to do with family and relatives so  we can check out the status of our late grandfather's hectares of land there. In other words, it was our chance to see and appreciate what our late grandpa had left as a legacy for the family. For someone like me who isn't used to climbing mountains, I would say that it was really quite an adventure. It was tiring but fun. As for husband, he said he would have enjoyed the activity even more if he wasn't wearing slippers. Indeed, it was a lesson he learned later - that it's better to put on the right footwear when you're going to the mountain. That is really something I would have to agree on. I told him that the next time we pay grandpa's land a visit, he shouldn't be wearing slippers. I thought a pair of Lowa Trekker Boots or anything like it would be perfect for him to use. Thankfully, my aunt left her pair o...

I am one of those women who want to be able to sample products first for free. I want to make sure that I won't be spending a lot of money on something that I would later on decide that it is not something for me. Thus, I was glad to learn that there is a website that offers most of the products I want to try using first before actually heading on for a real purchase. Thanks to Sample Room , I only get to choose from the sample products they have and I would get them almost for free. I said "almost" here because I will still have to shell out a little cash for local shipping. :-) Anyway, this is just my first request for samples. Husband was happy I requested something for him. Hopefully, I'll get to sample other products as soon as I am done trying out the products I have now.

Summer is definitely just around the corner... Or isn't it here already? Obviously, this is already time to plan for a fun summer beach outing. Nearly all of us would like to have loads of fun with family and friends at the beach. Indeed, it is important that we find ourselves some time to make ourselves available for our loved ones. After all, we are also entitled to have a really good tan, right? Anyway, while most of us are planning for this family beach outing during summer time, companies and politicians are also getting busy cooking up their marketing strategies in order for them to get that brand recognition and popularity they needed. Earlier this year, I have seen lots of advertisements printed on tarpaulins and they can be seen in places that are widely visible to the public. This summer, politicians who want to be remembered during Election time (I am not really sure if this is allowed, though) and companies that want to spread product and consumer awareness can capitali...

I've made progress lately. Yahoo! I'm talking about my losing weight agenda. I am happy to say that I'm no longer stuck in the planning stage like it used to be for the longest time. I know I haven't been a little kinder to my body and health for a couple of years already. Not that I am doing it intentionally. It's just that I have deliberately allowed stress and other factors to conquer my physical well-being. Still, I know the Lord has been helping me all throughout this journey. Through our Zumba sessions in the neighborhood, He has helped me gain new friends with similar goals and interest as mine. Although I wouldn't be able to join them for awhile due to a change in my work schedule, I know I can always join them anytime my schedule permits me to. Laughing the painful cramps off :-) Anyway, I promised myself that my battle with the bulge does not end with Zumba no longer part of my weekend activity. I have to rely on self-help videos and keep my...

My husband told me that when he was a child, he used to borrow her grandmother's harmonica. He said he knew how to play with it but that was already a long time ago. If you ask him to play it now, he would probably need a week to revive his knowledge on how to play this musical instrument well. Grandmother-in-law's harmonica, by the way, is already 41 years old but it still looks as good as it sounds. Yes, it is still with her. Isn't that amazing? I personally saw it when we visited our in-laws when she showed it to me. There is no denying the number of years she had it with her as she did not forget to write on the box (something most elders her age would do) the date she received it as a gift from her husband. Yes, the casing on the harmonica is still very much in tact, even as of this time. I was really impressed at how she cherishes this gift. She even showed me samples of old songs she can remember playing with this instrument. So, when my husband started to look aroun...

On our way to work one morning, while we were riding our motorcycle, we noticed the van ahead of us bore a mini poster plastered at the back of the vehicle with some words that are not quite readable if you don't get near it. There's a picture within the poster, though, which I later recognized to be that of St. Therese of the Child Jesus . Out of curiosity, I asked my husband to drive closer near it and I forced my eyes so I can have the chance to read some parts of it. I knew I can google it later when work is over. Luckily, I had an idea that the words written in the poster were excerpts from the Story of a Soul . I googled those 4 words and realized it was all about the life of St. Therese. This beautiful and inspiring story about her life has got me reading the rest of the day. I thought I should have just listened to the audio book so that I won't tire my eyes out (I guess I have to accept and acknowledge the need of eyeglasses now at my age) but thought I would appre...

After giving birth, I must confess that some things are happening with my body that I have very little to no control of. Among other things, it seemed like my bladder could not always do its part of holding up urine a little longer than it used to. I am talking about urinary incontinence. I thought incontinence can only be experienced by the elderly or those that are already past their retirement age but I was wrong. I didn't even think that a laughter can trigger a flow from my bladder. This actually bothered me for awhile but after a few reads on the Internet and after a word from a doctor (especially), I was somehow appeased. To be honest, my urinary incontinence experience came to a point that I had to rely on these diapers and nappies for adults for awhile but after following a few exercises ( Kegel exercises) that can help strengthen the muscles in my pelvic area, I was able to manage it well. Of course, it was not like I have totally dealt with it or gotten rid of it ...

I mentioned in my other blog that my little girl is almost ready for school . We have already found the school that she would be going to this coming school year. She will be four years old this coming March and her age by then would be just right for Kindergarten I. I tried to tell or ask the teacher who was in charge of admission that she has not even entered Nursery yet. I was a little worried that she might not be ready to write just yet. However, the teacher informed me that her age is more appropriate for K1; and so, husband and I had to defer to her judgment as well as the curriculum. If it were only up to me, I wished she had tried to be in a Playgroup first but I guess it's already too late for that. Anyhow, we're enrolling her for Summer for a month (on a playschool just near our house) just to immerse her on a classroom setting and to get her started on her writing. As parents, we also have our own sessions with her at home just to prepare her for kindergarten. Hop...

There are times when I need to dress up formally for a function or an occasion. In many of these times, I get anxious because I am really clueless about what to wear because I'm simply not the 'dressy' type of person. Looking back, I had been fortunate to have friends who are always willing to help me find something that suits me or to lend me whatever they have in their closet. If it weren't for my friend who had me wear her extra evening dress and done my makeup, I wouldn't have been able to attend the debut of another friend. We are getting ready to attend a debut party. Eight years later, I remembered the last time I needed to wear something formal was the time I played the role of maid of honor for a friend's wedding. At that time, the bride-to-be gave me the freedom to decide what I should wear and how I should look as long as I follow the theme of the wedding. The pressure was left on me to decide on the design and this was something I found difficu...

Just want to take this time and space on my blog again to thank my friends for their existence in my life. Like I said before, I don't hold a long list of friends. I do have new friends but I also keep the old ones in my heart and in my thoughts - even though I seldom to never see them. You see, some of them keep in touch while some just went missing in my life as the years go by. The funny thing is that I miss all of them. I will forever remember and cherish the memories I made with each one of them. I do hope that someday I get to cross paths with those I didn't get to see again for ages.