Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story...

Friday, August 29, 2008

Weekly Question: Nighttime Beauty Ritual

I have been wanting to join Teacher Julie's Weekly Question like 48 years ago. Then almost at the same time, my daily life got me so busy I never had the chance to do anything much online. This week, I just couldn't pass it up. I had to sit down and talk about.... ta-daaa.... nighttime beauty ritual!

weeklyquestions2.jpg

What are your facial or beauty regimens that you do before you go to sleep?

I was not really that particular when taking care of my skin. Not a year ago, I didn't even bother with moisturizers. I felt like dipping my face with grease everytime I put on moisturizers. As long as I kept my face clean, I was at ease. Thank God I am at the oily side, the wrinkles kept at bay.

Then the reality of years piling up in my hips will undoubtedly show in my face. I had to face that fact before the physical evidence shows. I then hurriedly began my search for non-greasy moisturizers. I didn't know I was only being too lazy shopping anything for my face. There really were non-greasy moisturizers in the market, HA!

To keep my skin acne-free, I wash my face first, then put on moisturizers. To keep my skin soft and smooth, I exfoliate using Mary Kay products once a week, twice if I feel like it. Every other day, I cleanse with Clinique Pore Minimizer Thermal Active. The most important thing is that I moisturize twice a day, in the morning, and at night. It also helps that my moisturizer is 15 SPF. I couldn't imagine putting on moisturizer, then sunblock next.

For the rest of my skin, I exfoliate once a month, and moisturize everyday.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

6 questions and 6 layer tags

6-question tag

For this one, I thank the sweet Marylyka.

The rules are posted at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, then go to their blog and leave a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

• Pouring over photocopied notes for our 2nd Long Exam.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today?

• Finish all my tags
• Organize my papers
• Transfer my $ account
• Have TOR and Diploma notarized
• Clean up and organize local drive

3. Snacks I enjoy:

• Old-fashioned puto bongbong at sikwate
• Holy Kettle Corn popcorn
• Pringles Original (International)


4. Places I’ve lived:

• Borbon, Cebu
• Mandaue City, Cebu
• Cebu City


5. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire:

• Purchase a 20-acre farm
• Build my farmhouse overlooking the sea

• Travel, travel, travel
• Give to children's charity


6. People I want to know more about:

• Ninoy Aquino
• Marilyn Monroe

• Nigella Lawson
• David Sedaris

This time, I'm tagging the following amazing bloggers: Pinay Mom in Czech, Flor Atherton, Iceah, Maris, Soreal and Shenzee.


==========================================


6 Layer
s



Thanks to caffeinated-muse for this tag!

::START::

RULES:

1. Add your blog/s to the list. Feel free to add all your other blogs. It’s okey if you only post this questions in one blog as long as you answer them.

2. Get back to this girl --> {YEN} and she’ll add your blogs to the master’s list HERE! Note that you are not ALLOWED to change the link here.

3. Copy from Start to End.

4. Tag as many friends online you know. But you don’t need to be tagged in order to join.

Copy this Participants List: Me and Mine | Creative in Me | For the LOVE of Food | Little Peanut | Pea in a Pod | It’s Where the HEART Is | Around the World | SugarMagnolias | I Am Mommy | All About The Memories | Enchanted Play | Just My Scrap | Whats Up | Simply Me | Kitchen Deelite | A Mothers Horizon | In Depth | A Life in Bloom | Because Life is a Blessing | Digiscraptology | Joys iN life | Life is What we Make it | Photo Blog | Dancing in Midlife Tune | Pinay Mommy Online | Mommy Earns Money Online | Blessings and Beyond | Posh Post Reviews | Flowersbythewayside |The Fab and The Furious | Common Sense is Not So Common | Caffeinated Muse | Purpled Sky

LAYER ONE:

Name:
Bernadette

Birth date:
May 29

Birthplace:
Cebu, Philippines

Current Location:
Cebu

Eye Color:
Black

Hair Color:
Black

Righty or Lefty:
Righty


LAYER TWO:
Your heritage:
Ako'y isang pinoy, sa isip at diwa!

The shoes you wore today:
Bedroom slippers. I'm at home.

Your weakness:
second-guessing myself

Your fears:
Outliving my children

Your perfect pizza:
NY's Best of Yellow Cab

Goal you’d like to achieve in life:
be the best mom and wife to my family


LAYER THREE:

Your most overused phrase on IM:
noh?

Your first waking thoughts:
Xofia, please go back to sleep.

Your best physical feature:
My butt, they say. I'm not quite sure I'd agree just yet.

Your most missed memory:
Gathering seashells with my Lola.


LAYER FOUR:

Pepsi or Coke:
Pepsi

McDonald’s or Burger King:
I'm not a fan.

Single or group dates:
Doesn't matter.

Adidas or Nike:
Nike

Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:
Lipton

Chocolate or vanilla:
Chocolate

Cappuccino or coffee:
Coffee


LAYER FIVE:
A famous person, dead or alive, that you would interview:
Martin Luther King

Movie you can watch and say the lines along with the actors:
none

Name two of your passions in life:
My family, and cooking.

Least favorite time of day:
In the morning when I have to shower so early because I need to go to work.


LAYER SIX:
Hairspray or gel:
Not using any.

Your favorite meal:
I have a lot of seasonal favorites, but Japanese ranks the all-time fave.

Color you see when you close your eyes:
black pud

Listen to classical music:
Yes, I do, mostly when I was pregnant. They said it calms the baby.

Ever said LOL in real life without thinking about it:
Never.

::END::

Now, I'm tagging anybody who wants to get this. Are YOU brave enough to shed off those layers?



dNeero on eating healthier and Visual Talking

I don't exercise. I'm a lazy, lazy girl. I used to jog, but since I felt like I'm getting heavier, my knees thought they can't sustain the stress anymore as well. Plus exercise just takes a lot of time; precious time a working mom would rather spend with her husband and daughter. As such, I see to it that we eat healthy at home. Or at least if I can help it. I prepare our food, I cook our meals. I use the healthiest and freshest produce available. But then there's the ocassional canned goods and processed meat especially on mornings when it's just physically and mentally impossible for me to function. But hey, if all healthy food comes as easily prepared, why not?



Here's another dNeero convo about Visual Talking. I've already said how much fun I had trying out VT's service it made me wonder if people will be more likely to send VTs than SMS.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Blessed Bump

I've been tagged by Faery Rowan; and yes, it's true that my own pregnancy warrants a Hollywood contract. It's that crazy! Thanks, Atih, I had fun doing this! :-)


{START HERE}

Preggy Facts:

1. Who did you first inform about your pregnancy and how?
>> My husband. He was waiting right outside the bathroom door when I did the test :-)

2. Maximum weight?
>> 152 lbs. Oh, I was BIIIIIGGGGG!

3. Cravings?
>> No cravings, but I did want to always have a sweet, juicy watermelon all the time. I could finish an extra large one in one seating. Did I tell you I was big?

4. Aversions?
>> Holy cow! Almost everything. I had never experienced such heightened sense of smell, and everything just smelled so bad! The elevator, the malls, the supermarket, the people, their perfumes, even their makeup. I totally abandoned my cooking because the moment the pot hit the stovetop, I'd be running outside covering my nose. The site of anything oily will send me barfing, I cannot stand french fries and anything that is under the dairy family.

5. Morning Sickness?
>> For four long months. One time I had a very scrumptious dinner buffet at Marco Polo with husband and his siblings. I was able to keep the food down while we were at the restaurant, however the moment we got home, straight to the restroom I went; and barfed all Php800++ worth of gourmet. DISGUSTING!

D Day Facts:

1. Number of Kids/Deliveries?
>> One kid, one delivery.

2. NSD or CS?
>> Normal. No Epi, just Demerol to keep me asleep in-between contractions.

3. Girl or Boy?
>> Girl

4. AOG (age of gestation) on Birth?
>> Around 38 to 40 weeks.

5. How long in labor?
>> 24 hours. Read the harrowing ordeal here. Enjoy! :-)

Moms Who Played Along:

Mai | Yen | Eds | Vannie | Fun.Fierce.Fab | Bojoy | bonz | Pinaymama | Lourdes' Mia | Faery Dancing | Purpled Sky

{END COPY HERE}

I'm tagging Tash who gave birth to charming Athalia 4 months ahead of me.

Scrapbook Saturday: Dream

Scrapbook Saturday

I have never been able to do much anything online lately. Work got me really really busy, I sometimes forget to pee! HA! And Xofia has started to walk! There's not much time left for digiscrapping haha! Anyway, here's another page from my traditional scrabook. Enjoy, and please do visit other Scrapbook Saturday participants by clicking on the button.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Siesta Saturday: Security blanket

Zen Ventures


Maricris of Zen Ventures came up with this brilliant idea of a Siesta Saturday. When I was little, I remember everytime my mother calls for siesta, I'd mentally map out my exit plan. For me, the afternoon is way too beautiful to spend sleeping. I'd rather frolic at the nearby woods or comb the beach or take a dip at the cool water. All the same, siesta is but a lazy afternoon spent relaxing, and I guess, being with nature is my way of relaxation.

Today's Siesta Saturday question is: What is your security blanket if you're feeling blue or lost?

An average person needs 12 hugs to survive the day.
I guess it's not much of a security blanket as an assurance of the blessings and love that surround me. I thrive on my family's hugs and kisses, and when I'm down and blue, I tend to ask for more of those hugs. I read somewhere that a person, in order to survive his/her day, needs 12 hugs. How much more does one need when one is stressed? A hug is never one-way; the hug-ger feels equally as good as the hug-gee -- that's the most amazing thing. Lucky me, the husband is a hug-ger, and now my daughter is a hug-ger-in-training, and an excellent trainee at that!

What about you, what is your security blanket? Click on the button and join us in Siesta Saturday!

Xofia's toddling at 13M

Look at me, I'm already walking!!!



And this is how you avoid blinkie-capture:



Of course, Mommy's proud even if she wasn't able to get the blinkie off my mouth :-)

I am one lucky girl

No so long ago, I actually had second thoughts blogging for the world to see/read me. I did not quite expect I'd be making friends every single day. The opportunities of meeting friends from all over are amazingly endless. Over the same week, I got three friendship tags. How amazing could the week go?

Why do we need friends?

For this beautiful poem, I thank Constance of Sunny Side Up Foodie and Mommy Ruby of Pinay Mommy Online. Thank you, girls! This really touched me.

Faeryrowan, Caffeinated Muse, divawearsnada, bottoms-up, Sheila, mckhoii, and chitgoks -- go guys, spread the friendship :-)





We need friends for many reasons,
all throughout the season.

We need friends to comfort us when we are sad,
and to have fun with us when we are glad.

We need friends to give us good advice.
We need someone we can count on,and treat us nice.

We need friends to remember us one we have passed
Sharing memories that will always last.



1. Everyday Life 2. Words of Love 3. Sheng's Simple Thoughts . . . 4 My Wonderful Life ....5. Can of Thoughts 6. Designs By Vhiel 7. Vhiel's Corner 8. Anything and Everything in Between 9. Wonderful Things In Life 10. The Fountain Of Happiness 11. A Message From My Heart 12. My Life's Adventure 13. Love Is.. 14. Photographic Memories 15. The Joy Of LIfe Forever 16. Beauty of Life 17. Money Maker 18. Jona's New Life 19. Creations 20. Lourdes Mia 22. Digital Life Scraps 23. Mommy Earns Money Online 24. Blessings and Beyond
25. Everyday Life 26. Words of Love 27. Sheng's Simple Thoughts . . . . Life is good and Beautiful 28. UMMA 29.Our Little Princess Gwen 30. Caramel Corn 31. Almanac Queen 32. Sunny Side Up Foodie & Lifestyle 33. Pinay Mommy Online 34. Purpled Sky 35. add your blog here


=================================================

BFF Gold Card

And this one, I got from Faery Rowan. Thanks for the award, sexy girl ;-) love it!


Rules:

1. Only 5 people are allowed to receive this award
2. Four (4) of them are followers of your blog.
3. One has to be new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to who ever gave you the award.

Tagging 5 of my blogger friends:

Marly
Pinay Mommy Online
Sweet Lyka
Eugene
Catherine

Please, the above 5 people are encouraged to pass this award to 5 Blogging friends too, following the 4 rules listed above.

It's true I have never seen you
and we have never met,
Never shaken Hands or
even truly hugged and yet!

I know for sure you care for
me by the kindness that you give.
And our keyboards keep us
together doesn't matter where we live.

So I give you this gift to
put a smile on your face
and to let you know in my
heart you have a special place.

=================================================



Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Am I normal or just plain nuts?

Do you, like me, sometimes ask the same question yourself? In the previous post I've written down things that have kept popping up my head recently. It is a therapeutic activity I indulge whenever I feel like I wanted to let something out. That is just but one quirk I have. I know I have plenty -- it's actually a laundry list of quirks, idiosyncrasies and pet peeves. Some, if not most of them are so irrational I fear I am just plain nuts. Then I stumble upon the article Are You Normal or Nuts? in Reader's Digest, and found myself nodding my head in agreement and laughing my heart silly every time a certain quirk resonates or just hits close to home for me.

I know of someone who'd dismiss anybody by retreating to her childish shell every time she doesn't want to talk more about a certain issue. I usually just shrug her behavior off and thinks she might have self-esteem issues that she needs to work on. I actually find rocking herself on the chair and intentional spacing out quite amusing. I do that sometimes!

Like most, I rearrange furniture without apparent reason. It is actually one of the things I do to de-stress. Quite funny, huh? I'm telling you, it's actually cathartic. I get to lift heavy couches and at the same time, release all the pent-up emotions I've been bottling up the whole week. Why do you think men have all these contact-bordering-on-violent sports?

In addition to that, I knock on wood to keep bad things from happening and actually believe it is effective; I have an irrational fear of cockroaches -- for those who want to torture me, this is a giveaway :-p Most of all, I laugh at myself and call myself idiotic all the time!

Now, one would wonder, do those quirks make someone nuts or are there people out there who have the same quirks and are perfectly normal? Why don't you find out and post your own quirky question in Reader's Digest
Are You Normal or Nuts?, and check out Reader's Digest Laughs while you're at it. I hate to admit it but the encounter is quite liberating :-)


Sponsored by Reader's Digest

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Purging off

It's a blur. A lot of swirling images in my head that never gets written, really. If I don't see something as vivid as a painted picture, I can't seem to put things down in writing. That's how limited I am :-P Anyhoo, this here is an attempt to get a hold of some of those and hopefully purge myself from those crazy, swirling images of colors that kept popping up.

1) It is inherent in scheming bitches to sneak up behind your back and stalk you. Even online.

2) Happiness is largely a choice. Life offers you a lot of choices. If you happen to be miserable that is because you have always set your sail on someone else's star. Be contented. There's nothing much out there that deserves your misery.

3) I have learned to not expect too much on people. That way, nothing surprises me when they do something out of the ordinary. I kind of expected it, actually.

4) Assumption is the mother of all f**k-ups.

5) Grown-up insecurities and neuroses are largely caused by an unloving family environment. Studies have supported that.

6) I am rarely wrong on my gut feel towards people. I should start believing in myself when it comes to reading people, and probably unsubscribe to the idea of giving people second chances. Some just plainly don't deserve to be reached out.

7) I have realized that if I cut a friendship chord, it better stay that way. If I feel like my friendship is not received or reciprocated the same way, I cut the string, forget about about the person and move on. Life has so much more to offer. Attempts to reconnect are ignored. Too little too late, I think.

8) You have to accept that there are people who thinks that the universe owes them something; that everybody SHOULD be nice to them. - Hubby

9) Some people are experts in twisting things such that they'd appear to be the aggrieved one. - Mentor/Ninong/Friend

10) The trouble with you is that you don't go out and explain yourself. You allow people to misunderstand you. -Friend

11) Meanings suddenly take a different shade when you have your own family. Happiness is so within your reach, and yet too fragile and volatile.

12) Why are we so wasteful? Isn't it enough that the world is slowly crumbling down because of our own wrongdoings? Is it too hard to take that extra step to conserve and recycle? Where will we be tomorrow?

13) We are so tolerant to those we love, but if we dislike someone, it is our every intention to find fault in that person and attach all kinds of meaning to their statements. I believe Optimus Prime said something to this effect. How true.

========================================





Here's a little effort that goes a long way: dNeero convo for charity. Come, and join us :-)

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Scrapbook Saturday: Christening

Scrapbook Saturday

Click on the Scrapbook Saturday button to see more scrapbook from SS participants, or better yet, join us now :-)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Dating 101

image from http://www.naturalsciences.org/


Dating. Contrary to what most believed and continue to believe, I am not an expert on the field. Believe me though, I am no prude, that much I can tell you LOL I'm a late-bloomer by choice. I never started dating until when I was 20. I had to finish college first, that was the agreement me and my father shook hands on. *Yeah, ammagoodgurl*

Thanks, Mharms, for the tag! :-)

Players: Ozzy’s Mom | Me,Myself + 2 | Kidd Designs | Fun.Fierce.Fabulous | Me and Mine | Little Peanut | Pea in a Pod | Creative in Me | Notable Bistro | Sugarmagnolias |Around the World | Eds Mommy Life | My Precious Niche | Just Me.. Eds | Pinaywife | Mhar’s Display | Purpled Sky | YOUR BLOG

1. When was your first kiss and where?
..::.. I was twenty, by the door, it was a goodnight kiss :P

2. When was your first real relationship and how long did it last?
..::.. I'd have to say nothing was real until when I met my now-husband. We're on our 8th year of togetherness now.

3. What age were you allowed to date?
..::.. Hahay, 20! LOL

4. What’s the craziest thing you did (for love) when you were a teenager?
..::.. I did not date when I was a teenager. I had to get pass the teenage years to be able to date.

5. How long was your longest relationship and what’s the secret?
..::.. Eight years. We complement and compliment each other. Is that saying much to ya? :-))

6. How long did you date before you decided to settle down?
..::.. five years

7. How did you know he was the ONE?
..::.. This was an answer I gave to a friend when he asked me a similar question:

for starters, i never had a suitor who's as persistent (5 years wooing) as he is; i have learned that the man is of character and principles and intellect and humor; i have never known anybody who's as patience and tenacity are like his; he knows my moods and how to handle them perfectly--i'm a gemini--i think that speaks a lot about me; he spoils me silly in whatever ways imaginable; he loves my somewhat dysfunctional family; gives me enough room to commit mistakes and learn from them; he allows me to be whatever i wanna be (mind you, sometimes i wanna be a gymnast or diva or synchronized swimmer, or Xena... ;P get the pic?); he doesn't say all the right words but his is the most warm and sincere and loving; he treats his female family members like royalty -- and that tells you a lot about how a guy treats all other girls in his life; i can't imagine living this life with anybody else other than him; and i can see myself growing old with the man.

8. Now, at what age will you allow your kids(s) to date?
..::..At 20! Because really, if they consider this late, I'd tell them they won't be missing much. Dating in teenage years is overrated, and they might end up messing up their lives.

9. When it comes to your kids dating, will you be a cool parent or a strict parent?
..::.. My gut feel about people is rarely wrong. What I'm saying here is that I'd be whatever I'd be depending on how I feel towards the people they're dating.

10. What piece of advice can you give to your child when they start dating?
..::.. Enjoy the experience, know yourself more on the process, know your limitations, never forget the lessons learned in every experience, and above all, don't settle down when you have as much as 0.01% doubt about the whole thing. Oh, this is gonna be a veeery long lecture session.

Passing this fun tag to Faery Rowan, Shiela, and Catherine. Enjoy, girls! :-)


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Talk with pictures

Have you tried talking in pictures? Try it, it's fun!




Try this pic. C'mon give it a shot and caption the pic :-)

Monday, August 11, 2008

Household chores I hate

I pride myself for being a domestic goddess, but that doesn't mean that I love doing all household chores that needs doing around the house. The good thing with having a help around is that I get to only do the things I love doing. Quite frankly now, I am better at managing a house than anything else. I keep everything running in their best condition, that includes the people around the house :-) I cook good meals, and I have an eye when it comes to organizing things. But other than that? Gah, I simply suck.

So anyway, I'm here to list down household chores I hate doing. Husband, let this be your reminder ;) Big hug to Mommy Ruby of Lourdes' Mia for this tag.





~~~START COPY~~~
This meme is pretty simple.

Here are the rules:
1.) List down the household chores you hate and why. Do you think you can survive without helpers and nannies?
2.) Copy the image.
3.) Tag as many girlfriends you want, the daddies and hubbies can also join.
4.) Add your blog's link in the domesticated divas linky love. You can add all your blogs.
5.) Leave a comment at Stripe and Yellow to be added to the masterlist.

DOMESTICATED DIVAS:

Living the Healthy Life / Sripe&Yellow / Vanity Kit / Mind Bubbles / Something Purple / Em's Detour / Me,Myself+2 / Kidd Designs / FunFierceFabulous / Ozzy's Mom / Insights from the Grocery Cart / Living A' La Mode / God's Best Gift / MommyAllehs Up-Close And Personal / My Precious Niche / Just Me.. Eds / Eds Mommy Life / Aggie Shoots Aggie Scraps / All Kinds of Me Stuff / The Salad Caper / Winding Creek Circle / InkBabyStudios / Joys in Life / Me and Mine / Little Peanut / Creative in Me/ Pea in a Pod / Sugarmagnolias / Notable Bistro / Around the World / I am Mommy / All About The Memories / Enchanted Play / In Depth / A Housewife's Journal / Life Together Starts / As We Face Forever / My Happy Place /Iam Dzoi / Suburban Sass / To the Moon and Back / Raising Sandy / Walk on Red / All Things Me / Because Life Is Fun / Feels Like Home / Growing up with Bea / My life... my own piece of heaven / Around the World / Hobbies and Such / My life in this Wonderful World /My Online World / / My Virtual Closet / My Views On My So Called Life / The Real Deal The Real Me / Changing Lanes/ Pit Stop/ Around the World / The Fountain Of Happiness / The Joy Of Life Forever / Love Is / Phtographic Memories / My Colorful World / Strawberry Gurl / Quicker8 / Mommy's Little Corner / The Dawn That Shines / Journey to Prosperity / Homelife / Sheng's Simple Thoughts / Coriander Dreams / Gorgeous Traveller / A Traveller's Domain / Lemon Iced Tea / It's My Party / My Wonderful Life / Simple Life, Simply Me / Sassy Finds / All things Yummy / Shangrila Journey / My Charmed Life / Mommyhood and Me / Crissy's Zone / Crissy's Library / Vis Vires /Crissy's Haven / My Daily Thoughts / Abby's Way of Life / Princess Bela / Women Xplore / Our Journey to Life / My Planet Purple / And so I am / Arlene's Random Ramblings / Life's All About Lourdes' Mia / Faery Dancing / Purpled Sky / YOUR BLOG HERE


~~~END COPY~~~


So, on to the chores I'd do anything to avoid:

Laundry. "Langga, can't we just have these sent to the cleaners and get it done with?" That's my usual line whenever we catch ourselves with no househelp for a week. I just simply hate doing the laundry, especially here in the Philippines when it's too darn expensive to own high-powered washing machine and dryer.

Ironing. I can't stand the heat, please! I can iron, alright, infront of a 2 horsepowered AC in full-blast.

Cleaning bathrooms. Do I need to explain why? This job is simply hateful! I also hate that I had to do all those backbreaking tasks in such small room.

I'm passing the tag to Catherine at Newife Blog, and Constance at Sunny Side Up Foodie & Lifestyle. Mommies, what household chores you wish to live without?

=================================

And since I've been talking about how I am an efficient home manager, ehem, here's a convo from dNeero that talks about all of August so far, i.e. the skyrocketing gas prices, economy, olympics, etc. Can't help but relate this to household budget and all. *sigh* Read on...


Sunday, August 10, 2008

Scrapbook Saturday: FEET

Today's Scrapbook Saturday, MammaDawg is asking scrappers to share some of their favorite scrapbooking resources. Like Mammadawg, I am a scrapblog.com user, and I love it there! Unlike most scrappers, I have never used Photoshop in my digital scrapping. LOL I am a lazy bug, and I am a cheat. Anyway, if all digital efforts fail, I do scrapbooking the old-fahioned way. Here's a page from my baby scrapbook, which I did about ten months ago.

Scrapbook Saturday



Click on the image to enlarge, and click on the SS button to see more amazing works from SS participants.

Have a happy Saturday, everyone!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Why do I blog?

Now, everytime I'm asked that question, the picture of a hundred acre ranch facing the mountains with a farmhouse overlooking a handsome seaside cliff comes to mind. Gosh, I know, lofty goals, and how is this in any way connected to blogging?

About four months or so ago, me and some friends thought of getting our blogs out into the public eye (yes, we used to maintain private blogs, if there is such a thing), and earn from them. We like blogging so much, might as well earn from it, right? Not a bad idea. Then my ever lutaw mind automatically wanders off in a dream. Wow, finally, I can stay at home to take care of the husband and the kid, while I blog for a living. Perfect! And maybe I'd get too darn rich, I can finally have my dream farmhouse by the seaside cliff while I blog and scrapbook on the side. That is how lutaw my mind is; and that is when the connection of a seaside farm and blogging got established. Simply put, I made this blog public because I want to earn while blogging.

Then Gaya, a friend who also blogs just because she loves to, was faced by a dilemna of earning through it while keeping faithful to her readers. She said it felt like selling out. I couldn't say her sentiments were unfounded, because really, sometimes you get that feeling. My take? As long as you stay true to what you believe, as long as you don't lie to your readers, and as long as you give honest opinions, you're not selling out. You may even, in her words, be able to help your readers by imparting them additional information through your paid posts and ads. Sponsors also won't force you to write for them if you don't believe in what they're offering. Some won't even mind a negative review. It's a clear win-win situation.

And as what my esteemed friend wisely said, "mahirap ang buhay ngayon..."

I may be far from my dream of a rustic farmhouse life while blogging and scrapbooking on the side, but the very reason that I blog really is only because I love doing it. That's the most important thing, I guess, to love whatever it is that you do.


Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The HammeRuler convo

In our house, the hammer meets my grip more often than my husband's. The husband, with all the good things and virtues and wisdom that he has, is no handyman. Unless he really needs to (i.e. me pissed off because the screwdriver slipped) he'd steer clear of any handyman tools. Good thing the man has people working for him to do the task.

This is why I so find this innovation brilliant. Come to think of it, a hammer with a ruler in it's handle. Simple, yet brilliant. Read on the convo to learn more.




Quick update: purpledsky's featured blog in SocialSpark today. Check out SocialSpark now! Thanks, SocialSpark. You simply rock. Props to you!






I kick ass!!!

Kick Ass Blogger Award


Yep, that's me. I am a kick-ass blogger. Thanks to Faeryrowan and MammaDawg (who equally kick butts) for the recognition. No, you're wrong, I did not bribe or intimidate them into giving me this, it's my charm. My irresistible charm. Really. :-P Seriously, MammaDawg, will you ever run out of brilliant ideas? :-)

And I happen to know a lot of bloggers who kick ass as well. Without further ado, allow me to roll the credits, in no particular order:
  1. Pinay Mommy - You're sheer strength is an inspiration to us all. Here's hoping and praying that you remain strong no matter what.
  2. Sealed Reservoir - You are the only girl I know who's able to tame my good friend. Good job, girl! ;-)
  3. BoTtOmS.uP - Hey, you know you kick ass by simply being you! Darn, girl, I'd still snag you if I could. Love ya, yin! Really, get back to blogging. You're like taking off a portion of my oxygen with your blogging absence.
  4. Wat da wat daddy - You inspire me, watda daddy. I'd do anything to have a dad like you. And with that noble project? 'Nuff said.
  5. MammaDawg - Of course, you kick ass! I especially like the done-conforming-with-other-moms" attitude, and of course, you crack me up! I check your blog, read the early posts, and I cannot help but relate and laugh out loud. I won't read everything at once, though, careful to leave a bit of that surprise for the next visit.
I know more who kick ass, but unlike faery, I'm sticking to the rules. That fairy-girl, btw, just bends the rules because she has so much love to give. Not brown-nosing here, just facts.

So anyway, passing this on...

Do you know any bloggers that kick ass?

Maybe they've got incredible, original content. Or they're overflowing with creativity. Is it someone that helps you become a better blogger? Or a bloggy friend you know you can count on? Or maybe it's someone who simply inspires you to be a better person... or someone else who sends you to the floor, laughing your ass off.

Whatever the reason may be, I'm sure you know at least a couple of bloggers that kick ass. Well...why not tell 'em so?

LOVE ON 'EM
  • Choose 5 bloggers that you feel are "Kick Ass Bloggers"
  • Let 'em know in your post or via email, twitter or blog comments that they've received an award
  • Share the love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to www.mammadawg.com
  • Hop on back to the Kick Ass Blogger Club HQ to sign Mr. Linky then pass it on!
Grab code's below - don't forget to link up the person who nominated you for the Kick Ass Blogger Club. :)

BONUS: Are you a Mom or Dad Blogger, too? If so, join us at The Bloggerhood!


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Go everyone! Let's keep on kickin' ass!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Yep, I've tried skinny-dipping

And before your dirty minds wander, it's with my husband. :-P

I love answering surveys, especially if it's about me :P and I love that dNeero made their surveys into a convo. I get to answer the questions about me (which btw, really got me thinking what my favorite food is, because hey, I'd eat anything as long as it tickles my fancy and satisfies my palate), and answer other social people's questions, too. Plus, yes, there's a plus, I get to ask my question as well. How cool is that?

Here's my first shot at a convo with dNeero:

Saturday, August 2, 2008

SS: Xofia at two months

Scrapbook Saturday

Worry has no use whatsoever

I know, I am guilty. Sometimes, the daily humdrum of life takes away the very essence of my blissful situation as a whole. Not that the very thing robs me of it. But I am guilty of allowing myself to get carried away by mundane, not-so-trivial, beyond-my-control things. Allow me to rant...

The whole of last week, the router was acting crazy. It sometimes allowed my husband's laptop to connect, but never mine. Most often, it just blocked both of us off. So I instead went downstairs to use the desktop as it was the only computer in the house with a decent internet connection. An hour after I settled in, Globe Broadband decided to perform its very infamous disappearing act with no reason at all. A quick ipconfig gives me an IP Address of 0.0.0.0. Watda?!?!

I growled (which I do to release pent up emotions), and tried to relax my stressed muscles. I reclined in the couch, looked up the ceiling and there they are! Our ceiling was dripping in two places! I think our house is crumbling down. Literally. The house needs serious remodelling. Please, anybody from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition come see my desperate situation!

The wish of living in the province, tending to my farm full-time while blogging and scrapbooking on the side, has never been stronger. Aaah, I can only wish and dream. At least that made the situation less stressful.

Husband called some people to take care of the dripping right away; and talked to a friend of ours who can fix the router. I only had to wait.

Yes, a part of me got carried away, but mostly, the daydream took care of that. What did I learn? I learned what I have already learned long ago; that it's no use worrying something you cannot control. And while you're at it, worry just put more wrinkles on that face. So, I carried on. Read a book instead and played more with Xofia. Thanked the heavens for having a husband like mine. Guess what, I could never be any happier than where I am right now.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Get ahead in the game, get certified

There was this one time when a friend and I decided to share files without transferring them physically using a removable drive. We were confident, by virtue of common sense, to network our laptops with a LAN wire. Technical writers that we are, we should've known better. Needless to say, that made me realize how ignorant I am when it comes to the simplest task of connecting one PC to another. I have three computers at home, and I rely to a wireless router to automatically connect me to the Internet. Last week, the router was acting crazy and refused to give our laptops IP addresses. I had to wait for a week for a professional to come and check the problem. All the while, silently cursing myself why I did not take up Computer Engineering in college.

Let's face it, these days, if you don't keep abreast with the current technology, you're way way behind. Look around you, observe how IT career opportunities are growing and spreading like wildfires. Would you rather get left behind? Or equip yourself with the most updated and most sought-after tool? I know I'd rather sweat it out and choose the latter. You can't say you're way too busy to do it because nowadays, equal opportunities can be had for busy professionals.

Enhance and advance your IT career with Cisco certification, and watch as your opportunities grow massively. Cisco provides IT professionals with widely respected IT certification programs. These certification programs are categorized under Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert and Specialist to cater to all levels of expertise.

The demand for IT professionals all over the world is ever increasing. Your employer will be more than happy to have an expert in the team. Get empowered, enhance your knowledge, and that promotion will never be that hard to come by. Grab that one thing that makes you stand out. Get your CISCO Certification now!

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dNeero Convos

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