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| Friday, May 30, 2008 |
| Blog Under Renovation |
Dear friends and friendlets,
As you can see, my blog is still quite unpresentable today. I am having it undergo some renovation, and I am still trying to figure out what to do with the design so please be patient.
As you wait, there are some drinks at the bar, and some goodies for you to munch on. This may take a day or so to fully set up but it will be back before the next sun rises. Okay? Do come back to check up on how it looks should you decide to wander for a while.
To those who may be thinking, "what on Earth is she up to now? Changing the template AGAIN?" No, this is not part of my chronic need to change templates. Lately I've noticed something wrong about my past template and I just don't have time to trouble shoot it. So I might as well do an overhaul.
Your links will be up and about in no time.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Bests,
 Labels: daily, improvement, personal matters |
| posted by Ann @ 4:47 AM
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| Thursday, May 29, 2008 |
| Girl Talk: Dress Up In Japanese Summer Style Basics |
It seems that it was only recently that I had bought my cherry blossom Starbucks tumbler, signifying the arrival of spring in Japan. Now, the cherry-blossom season is making way for the fast approach of the summer heat.
Indeed, despite the calendar saying that it's only the end of May, temperatures all over this country has been steady at the mid-20s in C (that's 70s in F) for several weeks now. The hot season has forced us to tuck away the trench coats and boots, and bring out the sexy, airy blouses, shorts, dress shirts (as well as surfboards and bikinis) earlier than usual this year.
Japan is not just hot, hot, hot right now because of summer though. The truth is, it can be hot, hot, hot the whole year round, what with the wild and quirky fashion and trends the people come up with. Having been born with no fashion sense whatsoever, this geek of a girl thought it would be the best opportunity to develop some skill in fashion assembly here in Japan. So, over the course of 2 summers, springs, winters and autumns, I have managed to acquire some of the yearly staple items in Japanese fashion and some basic knowledge on how to wear them. So far, in my attempt at going Japanese, I've been experimenting with all these:
1) Pile it up!
Yes, pile on those clothes. Despite the sticky heat of summer, some girls actually go out of the house with multi-colored layers of clothing on them. While my fellow Filipinas and I are sweating on our way to work underneath one layer of thin, short-sleeved tops, the Japanese women seem to be cool and comfy underneath three layers of clothing (and makeup).
Why all the layers? Perhaps because each layer brings something different to the whole getup. And then there's also the mathematical explanation... take three items, and you end up with 6 different layering combinations for each. That's like 6 days worth of clothes with just 3 different tops.
Of course, I'm not saying you wear them on consecutive days.
2) Leggings, stockings and socks
The leggings, stockings and socks store wherever I go here holds more colors than the rainbow, and, in combination, probably holds more designs than Imelda has shoes - stripes, plains, checkered, long, short, wacky, wild, bright, bland, you name it, they'll probably have it.
They, I mean we, wear it anytime we feel it fits the getup. The most common is, of course, wearing it with a short skirt or shorts, and a pair of boots, pumps, mary janes, or whatever we feel like.
3) Dress shirts
Especially those with grammatically-challenged prints. You know, those that make it on Engrish.com? Well, it's not exactly a difficult thing to look for here. Find one that nearly grazes your knee, pair it with a transparent pair of colored stockings (purple, brown, or green, anyone?) and a pair of high cut, high-heeled boots. Hmm... the thought of it makes me want to go shopping now.
4) Boots
The babies I own, which reach up to midcalf, are quite difficult to pull of in countries that know no other season than summer, like the Philippines. I mean, yeah, you could probably pull it off fashion-wise, but unless you're spending the whole day in air-conditioned rooms and buildings, you'll end up with sweaty legs throughout the day.
However, there are options of ankle-length boots that are more reasonable to wear even in 30-degree temperature. Perfect for the fashion-conscious this summer, but I'd rather have my slippers and sandals now.
5) Skirts
I really don't have even one of these yet, but I have been meaning to, in order to bring out the ultimate, ehem, girl in me. With or without frills, this works for every girl, I think. I mean, take the most boyish of the bunch and let her wear a cute skirt and see if no guy turns his head towards her.
But guys, if you're in Japan, let me warn you to be careful whenever you're in Akihabara or Harajuku. 'Coz eventually, you'll see firsthand that it's not only the women here who wear skirts.
6) Shorts
Can be just as girly and fashionable, and a tad bit more comfortable than skirts. Plus it's "safer" from peeping tom, dicks and harrys especially when you're on the escalator.
I've tried shorts and colored leggings/stockings. Tried it several times. And if I may say so myself, actually pulled it off all those times (I hope).
7) Accessories
Beads, bangles, anklets, huge earrings, fake lashes, and even funky glasses, and nail accessorries.
Do I really need to explain further?
If there's one word I can use to sum up the Japanese women's fashion sense, it would be "daring", because that's basically how it is. Although they sometimes follow what the fashion magazines dictate, they sometimes also listen to that voice in their head to just pick one piece of clothing out, pick another out, grab a few accessories, try the combination and see if it all makes sense.
The best thing for me, as I have observed, is that nobody really cares what you are wearing. This apathetic attitude may have its cons in other situations, but where fashion in Japan is concerned, it's a huge pro. It allows one to let out her voice, without being restricted as to what society might think or say about her.
And so I've made my decision. Come December when I'll be taking my usual yearly leave, Dumaguete better be ready for me - coz I'm gonna be doing some experimenting of my own ;)
***Written on 05/29/2008 by Lainee Uy over at The Girl In Geeks Clothing***
Labels: clothing, fashion, girl talk, guest post, Japan, tips tricks |
| posted by Ann @ 5:25 PM
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| Wednesday, May 28, 2008 |
| Learning about Louie Giglio, Laminin, and more |
As mentioned previously, Sunday gave me an experience of a lifetime. It was pretty much the first time I took up an offer from a friend to accompany her to her church. I was invite by another friend beforehand, but I was unable to go with her because I had some other stuff to do. That was bad, really, but I could not understand how bad that was until Sunday. At the very least, Sunday at the Bread of Life taught me the error of my ways. Next time around, I will take up Ibby on her invitation to her church. Who knows what I will learn there. Now to the lessons last Sunday...
From the very start of the service, I already wanted to cry. Something powerful struck me and I don't exactly know what. It started with the songs, then the message, and then the realizations. The topic was mostly focused on using your talents for God, and realizing that everybody has a talent and it is never too small. It made me acknowledge the fact that we are all, indeed, unique and significant in our own way. It made me remember that there is nobody like me (which is what the hub keeps telling me) and that, in our own way, we will never be replaceable. To be made in His likeness, it is a pretty amazing thing, don't you think so? And if we berate ourselves or put ourselves down, it is more or less the same thing as putting Him down. Now that is not good. He doesn't deserve the treatment we give to ourselves. And so we should be able to appreciate ourselves more and in that way, we appreciate Him as well.
Perhaps the part that hit home the most was when a footage from a gathering where Louie Giglio spoke was shown. It was where he said that even in our darkest time, through all our troubles, and through all the fast balls life throws us, God is there, holding us in the His hands. And that He will never leave us.
Now you might find this thought very basic. But it was just what I needed EXACTLY. To know once more that God is with me through all. I know I sound like a very happy person, and I am. But I have gone through a whole lot of sloughing through mud and grime just to survive. And for the past 3 years, it hasn't been easy. It has been so hard, that I think I just might break. Often, I've thought about giving up.. but I can't you see. And comfort and faith was in short supply... I needed that talk. I needed the realization once again. And I needed to be comforted... that was what I got.
To top things off, Louie answered one thing that has been in my mind as soon as he said the words about God being there for me. Like some, I guess others asked as well, I had silently voiced out "How do I know He is really, really there?". Louie, answered it as though he heard everybody: Laminin. Scientifically, and in a general sense, laminin is a protein that pretty much holds us together. Why? Because it holds cells to membranes and molecules ..(see Wikipedia) you get the drift. Imagine that? One small, virtually unknown and unminded part of our body essentially holds us together and is within us. Cool. I got the idea: God = Laminin = binds us and holds us together. But I still had some questions as to why this is proof enough. And Louie showed the answer:
Amazing, isn't it? Wow. Even now, I still.. oh well. You know... And so I learned the reason why I was invited. A good thing I chose to go to church instead of sleep, too! I think I might have finally learned to listen.
God is indeed there for me, and He is the force inside me making me hold on through everything I've gone through, and a little bit more. I'm glad. Thank you, God!
Now, I have another project to make. This is in relation to the "Making use of your Talents for God" part of the lessons learned last Sunday. It will be disclosed soon.
Thank you for listening or reading!Labels: God, improvement, laminin, learning, Louie Giglio, personal matters, religion, Sunday Goodness |
| posted by Ann @ 8:24 AM
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| Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: A Reaction |
As promised in my previous entry, here goes my reaction paper on "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." My family and I watched this movie last Sunday afternoon, and we had a great time. So, I will not be giving spoilers, I promise. I will only tell you what I think of it, my ratings, and my general reaction.
First and foremost, I would just like to share (if you have not been reading my other blog) that I love archeology. Aside from Dinosaurs, I think the culture that is Indiana Jones played a part in making me dream of becoming an archaeologist. I had this crazy idea that all archaeologists looked like Indiana Jones. And they would have the same adventures as he did. Well, I guess I did not end up to be fedora and leather jacket wearing, and bull whip toting archaeologist. Oh, but the fear of snakes is there. On to the movie...
The movie was a good one. Yeahp! A definite good one! Any movie that can get reactions from my babies is a good one for me because it proves that it can reach all ages. Right? There were a good number of laughs in the movie, and some action. A lot of the fight scenes were really, really, good. And I had no idea Spalko was played by Cate Blanchett. I couldn't tell from the start, but after wearing my glasses, I realized it was her. And of course, the handsome Shia LaBeouf also starred in the movie as Mutt Williams. I think he got his character down, and for eliciting some kind of reaction from me (I really wanted to hit Mutt at first, and I thought he was cocky) he gets props from me.
As for Indiana Jones himself. Hmm.. I think he is really getting a bit older already. But I would not want anybody else to portray Indiana Jones other than Harrison Ford. IMHO, Indiana Jones = Harrison Ford. I do associate one with the other on most occasions. Anyway, he can still act perfectly. No sign of age here. Although some of his stunts are not exactly as before, but it goes with the movie well. Leave a lot of the acrobatics to Shia and we're good. Fedora hat (check!), bull whip (check!), leather jacket (check!), fear of snakes (check!), yeahp, everything is in place. Plus give one or two more things to add to the bunch. Although I was looking for the bull whip in action, but I did not get to see much of it. Tsk tsk..
Movie plot-wise and other stuff, everything an Indiana Jones movie should be. I was a bit disappointed though, regarding the end part (not because it is a bad one) because I could see where it was going to head to. Although it was the most likely way to have the climax, but I wish it went some other way and not where it headed off. I still love the fact that I learned so many things from the movie, and it sent me off to Wikipedia and other places to research on them. I love the information and the way they make it look like they know so much about history. And the special effects are not at all bad. Plus, the movie does not, in any way, drag.
To sum it up, I loved it. I give it 4.5 golden stars out of 5. The end part mattered so much to me. AND I think it was quite obvious how at the very end, you know there's going to be another story. Hehehe..
Oh, go watch it yourself! I'm no certified movie critic you know, although I do watch a lot movies. So, there, go watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! If you love the Indiana Jones movies, then this is a MUST SEE!
Lights, Camera, ACTION! Popcorn please!
Labels: Crystal Skull, daily, Indiana Jones, movies, reactions, reviews |
| posted by Ann @ 8:14 AM
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| Tuesday, May 27, 2008 |
| What happened last Sunday? |
The weekend gave me something pretty awesome. In fact, Sunday was spectacular and somewhat life changing for me.. a bit. Hehehe.. it was perhaps the longest day of my year. Perhaps.
It started with a trip to the beachside for a good 6 hours or so. The story about what happened in those 6 hours is going to be posted at my Anthology of Snippets blog. If you are interested, please visit it later to view whatever I have posted there. So, moving on...
I planned to get some good afternoon's rest as soon as I got home from the early morning jaunt. To my dismay, catching some zzz's was not to be in the agenda. The kiddies were overjoyed to see me back home so they had a ball climbing over me as I attempted to sleep. What else could a doting mother, such as I, do? I woke up, played around a bit, and watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (review to follow) with the hub and kids.
Soon after the movie ended, I finally got Gianfranco to go to sleep. Belle and the hub went to sleep as well. Just as I was about to join the slumbering group, I noticed 2 text messages on my cellphone. Both from Daphne. One contained a question regarding our gift for Grand Master Joh, who was celebrating his 24th birthday at Mr. D, and the other was an invitation for me to join her to church at the Bread of Life after purchasing the gift.
At first I was quite in a debate with myself... the bed looked oh so inviting and my mind, body, and soul ached to find rest and relaxation. On the other hand, it's church! I haven't gone to church yet, and this would be a good time to visit Bread of Life, AND this was the first time Daphy invited me. It was not an invitation to gallivant, anyway, and we still had Master Joh's birthday bash to attend to. Hmmm.. So, I made up my mind, asked permission from the hub that I could go to church and just go directly to Master Joh's place afterwards. I think he was half asleep to think and he said yes! :)
Suffice it to say that I really liked my experience at Bread of Life. I learned a lot. And I mean, a lot - a lot!! I learned about Louie Giglio, Talent Management, Laminin, and so many other things (yes, this will also be posted later) and so much more. There was a reason why I was invited that day, and I am most definitely glad I chose to go to church other than sleep. :) I was almost crying then..
Anyway, after church, it was Master Joh's birthday bash. And we had a blast! If you want to see what we ate, go visit Master Joh's blog because he posted all that needed to be known about the food there. :) It was another experience of a lifetime. Seriously.
That was a long day, wasn't it? As soon as I got home and gave the hub his dinner, I asked to be excused so I can lie down for a while before tackling other things I had to do - which is a whole LOT if you ask me. I mean, I missed out on a lot of posts and tasks and other stuff. But what could I have done? Last thing I remember was that I lay down and closed my eyes for a while. After all I did have stuff to do. But when I opened my eyes, guess what? It was already 4:30 A.M.! Time to get up and get ready for work. Argh.
I don't like Mondays... ah, LIFE!
Labels: daily, improvement, personal matters, Sunday Goodness |
| posted by Ann @ 12:18 PM
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| 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals: Spurs vs. Lakers [Game 3] |
Yesterday was Game 3 of the 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers. Who won? Well, I think I just might be able to keep my Php. 300 if the Spurs continue with their wins - meaning, they won, of course. But I was a bit scared because they were behind 2 games already. At least this puts them a step closer to tying up with the Lakers. In the end, I still pray and pray hard for my dear Spurs.
There has been some talk, really as to who would win this series. Yes, it would be a bigger percent on the Lakers as they have two wins under their belts, and historically, not a lot of teams get back from an early 2 loss in the playoffs. But, as I said, I am hopeful. Besides, there have only been 14 teams out of 222 who have been able to bounce back from the said early 2 loss mumbo jumbo, and the Spurs are one of them. I think that would give me a reason to be hopeful.
This time around, Manu played better than in the first two games. Looks like he has really pushed his limits and ignored his hurting ankle. Would you be able to play in flying colors if you were not in such a fit position...? Ahh, but he played really well inspite of everything. Props to you, Manu! And this is why I named my son after you. nyahahahaha..! :P
Okay, so the next game is tomorrow, 9:00 A.M. PHT. Watch it and pray for the Spurs. Please, please, please, please?? ;) I know your money depends on it.. LOL jk.
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| posted by Ann @ 12:00 PM
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| Friday, May 23, 2008 |
| Confiteor Ex Animo: Tribute To The Man |
| I've rarely talked about my hub-a-lot. Yes, I am not married to myself, mind you! I did manage to snag a special somebody from the meager few who looked my way. It goes way back to being online buddies in 2001, to finally being dubbed as a "couple" both online and in real life. Fast forward around 6 years to the Present: married, spawned (twice!), and still inexplicably complicated. Truly a feat! Here goes a meme that plowed through my brain. In good timing, of course, as this might be something that I owe The Man for a long time. Mommy Ruby tagged/dared me to brag about my hubby. If he's reading this right now, I bet his first thought would be, "she wont have anything to brag about when it comes to me.." Au contraire, Ten, when it comes to you, I've got a lot to brag about... Allow me to talk (and brag a bit) about The Man.
Tribute to The Man 
The Man's name is Richard O. Tecson, 25 years of age (turning 26 on the 5th of June, 2008). Ten, as what I call him these days, is obsessed with soccer and basketball (like me). His obsession leads to countless nights of no sleep because he is either playing Football Manager 2007 or watching soccer on TV. He's got this programming in his mind that allows him to store a whole lot of knowledge on soccer and basketballs stats, names, dates, and scores. I marvel at his brain, which must have the hard drive capacity of at least 10 Tetrabytes(?). He can memorize not only stats regarding sports, but of famous people as well, and of history and breakthroughs. On top of that, he is greatly interested in war - which means he knows weapons and their capacity. He knows who shot who and who fired what in whatever year it was. Things I have no idea about. In contrast to my brain capacity, I think logically I can compete, mathematically, I might be a step higher, but with regards to memory use, I have no idea. I have short term memory loss. HeHeHe.. Ten loves to read, and his readings are not limited to or consist of what men call reading materials, i.e., FHM, PlayBoy, Tech, and all that other stuff. Nope. He reads John Grisham, is rather obsessed with Tolkien and all his books (he remembers dates, places, names, and other stuff regarding Tolkien), Anne Rice, etc., and he goes through my Smithsonian monthly subscription more than I do. His musical tastes range from alternative to hard rock, from reggae to RnB, the RnB (reggae nga bisaya) and at some point he becomes a sentimental sap. He also loves the computer as much as he loves me - I think. If there is a computer game, a PlayStation, or an xBox around, let's just say his hands get all itchy as he craves to even try. In fact, when we were dating, he and I used to play PlayStation 2 every afternoon as soon as my classes end. We also both love to eat, walk around the boulevard, and just talk. Suffice it to say that our interests are almost the same. On top of all that, he doesn't even have all the time in the world to do everything, really, because he The Man. Yes, he was kind enough to put his dreams, his aspirations, his "guy time" and his pride to the side by willingly offering that he stay at home with the kids while I go out and gallivant, ehrrr I mean, provide. If I had been the one to stay full-time, it would have been okay, too. But for the sake of others, he was the one willing to compromise. Not only does he take care of the kiddies, he takes good care of me, too. In most cases, he and my friends agree that I drive myself down to the ground. And yes, they gang up on me, too! On top of that, he keeps pushing me to spend time with my friends when the occasion permits. Perhaps he is the most understanding guy I have ever known - save for a few diva moments or so. Hehe Right, Ten? One thing I was worried about (or still am, especially these days) is that if he leaves me. You know how sometimes men tend to stray especially if the wife is too busy. Even when we were still dating, I could not help but be a bit cautious with my heart. I do trust him not to stray. But a wife/girlfriend cannot help it if women display themselves or openly flirt with men. And I have seen women flirt with him in front of me even. But I never let my jealousy show. I've learned to just keep it cool. Surprisingly, he never has strayed - so far. Even his friends say that they've tried to get him to even just flirt with a girl, but he just doesn't show that much interest. And for that, he has earned their respect on that level. Now, they are more open with me, and I trust them as much as I trust him. Admittedly, there is a lot more to him. There are other things about him that I would like to keep to myself. Something which I often do. But this time around, I chose to talk about him a bit more as a lot of people tend to be a bit prejudiced with their impressions about him. A lot are confused as to why I fell for him. I do have my reasons, and if you know me more intimately, from what I shared above, I think you might be able to see why.
A toast to a Wonderful Dad, and a Loving Husband! Thank you for everything, Ten!! Payce! Ex animo,
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{Start Copy Here}
Rules: 1) Copy from {Start Copy Here} to {End Copy Here}.
2) Blog Brag about your husband - yes, the father of your child/ren. As I’ve said singles may also join by bragging about their own fathers, or even grandfathers. It doesn’t matter! Of course, Daddy bloggers themselves may also join, but you have to blog about your fathers and not about yourselves, deal? Okay. Good.
3) Add your blog in the masterlist below linking to the post that you just made. Or if you wish, do it as how I’ve done it in my other blog by adding a new page.
4) Leave some love here. Yup. Here. Thanks!
5) Let’s not forget Peppermint Creative for the corner border I used for the badge. 6) Lastly, let’s help each other by copying and updating the list of participants in your post. Come and visit once in a while for the benefit of the late comers who have also joined this meme.
Masterlist
When Silence Speaks | Everything About Deye | Etc Atbp | Pinay Mommy Online | Never Dainty | YOU ARE NEXT Labels: marriage, meme, men, personal matters, tributes |
| posted by Ann @ 6:19 PM
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| Thursday, May 22, 2008 |
| Up In The Morning; SPURS vs Lakers Game 1 in around 4 hours or so |
Well, hello there! Good morning!! In case you are reading this in the afternoon, good afternoon, mate! What's up?
A nice feeling to have slept at around 11 pm and to be awake at 2 am. Now I feel like my mind in running high on caffeine and chocolates. Perhaps that's because those are the only things I have consumed since I woke up. Methinks that I will probably have my fifth or sixth cup of coffee by 12 noon today. I really should lay off it, right? We'll see.. we'll see.. The problem is, once I get started, I go on and on.
One thing for sure, today is Game 1 of the SPURS and Lakers match up. You can bet 100 percent somebody who is already running high is going to be jumping up and down, and side to side. I hope they win. I hope they really really win...and here goes the chant again: GO SPURS! GO!! I am such a fanatic. So sue me! ;)
Welpz.. that is it for now, I shall come back in a couple of hours or so to share my thoughts, and hopefully a victory dance to go with it as well. :)
Oh, by the way, could you please drop by to this gem of a website my friend dug up? It's by Grand Master Joh [actually, I added the "Grand" 'cause he's like... The Master].
Cheers!
Labels: daily, ramblings |
| posted by Ann @ 5:07 AM
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| Wednesday, May 21, 2008 |
| Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? |
I do! Do you? You should, you know.. You could be one of those millionaires who the world does not know about, so you can still run around in your tattered shorts and rat-torn shirts and the who world would not pay attention to you as you do your own thing.
Well, okay, I really don't know about you, but thanks to my mom, I found "7 rules self-made millionaires live by" through Money Smarts. The lot goes something like this:
- Treat money as something to save and invest. Translation: the minute you get your hands on some grub, think of ways on how you can put it away as savings.
- Assume risks when you invest. Translation: no duh? If you don't go for the big ones, then you'll get your fair share of your little ones. Capisce?
- A Simple Life. Translation: Do not spend water like money. If you have to live big, live big, but live simply. Ex. Millionaires live in stone mansions passed on for generations. They do not build houses after houses after houses (unless if they plan to branch into real estate).
- A Goal is a Must. Translation: Make a specific goal, have timelines, have something to motivate you. If not, then you're just going round and round... soon enough you'll be creating crop circles.
- Good debt vs Bad debt. Translation: As what my mom said, if you have to be in debt, it should be because it is for an investment.
- Share the Love. Translation: Simple, really. Share your blessings. It is true, what they said about the more you give, the more you get back. Of course you should not count the things you've given out. Now that would be BAAADDD!
- Train your Spawn to Handle Moolah. Translation: Set an example to your kids, teach them the value of money and how to take care of it. Not only are you setting them up for life, but you are also helping them to help you in the long run. Or something like that..
Good words. Wise words to live by. I revert back to an old post I had at the start of my blog: "May your money work for you." Let's try to be at least a bit rich, because as they say, "the rich get richer," while the rest of us go the other way.
Now tell me, do you want to be a millionaire?
Cheers!
Labels: income, investments, millionaire, money, tips |
| posted by Ann @ 5:50 PM
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| Tuesday, May 20, 2008 |
| 2008 NBA Playoffs Round 2: San Antonio SPURS win over New Orleans HORNETS |
And they thought they couldn't make it.
Yes, a lot of talk for the couple of days was the bet that the San Antonio Spurs would not be able to pull through the Game 7 of the series against the New Orleans Hornets. Like many times in the past, the often dubbed 'boring' Spurs did it again, shocking a lot of basketball enthusiasts. It would have seemed to a lot, even to yours truly, that the Spurs would be definitely hard pressed, and they were. Yet without giving up hope, they managed to win Game 7 by having their first win away from home since the series started. If you had been following, you would understand how scared I was. But that is all done and gone now.
The Spurs won against the Hornets with a score of 91-82. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't really..but hey, they won!!! Yey!
Now the new challenge: Western Conference Finals San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers.
GO SPURS, GO!!!!
Labels: basketball, Manu Ginobili, nba, SPURS, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker |
| posted by Ann @ 6:55 PM
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| Monday, May 19, 2008 |
| Rediscovering Happiness by Being a Kid |
Isn't it amazing to learn something from someone you least expect to? They say that one learns much through the eyes of a child. That somebody was not kidding at all.
Yesterday taught me a lot from my kids. Something irreplaceable and true, that somehow I had forgotten for a long time. It is relatively easy to forget the simple pleasures of life once you reach a certain age. You get jaded and too stressed to even think of smiling. Yet you wonder and envy how small tykes can smile and laugh despite their obstacles and occasionally falling down.
I was amazed looking at my baby boy and little girl, yesterday, as they played with my younger cousins outside at the lawn. You could see the wonder in baby boy's eyes as he examined the grass, the leaves, and the small plants. One could see the laughter in their eyes as they watched how the others ran around, jumping, attempting to cartwheel across the grass. Pretty soon, little girl was bowing on the grass trying to flip over, too! Baby boy wanted to do so, too, but he later stuck to his conquests around the garden.
By and by, I joined the games as well. I attempted to cartwheel, too! To my dismay, I just couldn't quite get it right. After a series of tries, my babies were squealing with delight as they saw me tumble on the ground. Both ran to me laughing and giggling, it just made me smile more.
I've thought about it, and I wondered. When was the last time you had genuine fun? No, not shopping, not playing online games, just old fashioned playing. Kids these days do not exactly play hopscotch, jungle bars, and stuff. Perhaps we should do these things too..
Here are some things I could think of that perhaps you would give a try. Let's see how you feel after picking something from the pack:
- Cartwheels. Do you know how to do cartwheels? If you don't, don't you think you missed something in life by not being able to do it? If you do know how to do cartwheels, do you think you still have it in you?
- Rollerblades. How long has it been since you've put on a pair of rollerblades? Wasn't it fun to rollerblade or rollerskate? I bet you fancied yourself to be Evel Knievel to jump places and race on by.
- Skateboards. I love skateboarding. Turns out, I still can manage to stay on board the skateboard, but I'm having problems doing a 360 deg these days.
- Hopscotch. We all have our different styles of playing hopscotch. But when was the last time you played it? I can remember the last time I played this was back in elementary. Too long ago.. I'm thinking of playing this next Sunday.
- Jump Rope. Perhaps you use this as a training device, or for fitness. But do you remember how it felt to jump rope just because? Or played Double Dutch just because it was fun. I'm willing to be there are some of you who can hardly make it to 20 counts before you trip your feet.
- Dodge-ball. There would be some who would have nightmares because of this game, but there are some who love it, too! I can still remember the laughter and shrieks of joy when my playmates and I did this. Last night, the kids had fun trying to hit me with their toy balls. Pretty fun though.
There are so many games and things we used to do as kids without the determination or seriousness of an adult. It would be very nice if once in a while we relaxed a bit and remembered how it was when we were younger. I guarantee you'd be grinning like the Cheshire cat after a couple of tries. Just like old times.
Have fun!!
Labels: family, fun, games, happiness, homegrown, improvement, kids |
| posted by Ann @ 5:15 PM
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| Monday Hacks: Taking Care of Your Inbox |
I use Gmail everyday. Perhaps the fastest way to get to me is through my email. Although I no longer keep it on or check it every few seconds (I used to check it frequently), it is still a part of my day.
One thing you will be able to notice if you look at my email is that my Inbox is almost always empty. No, it is not because nobody loves me and nobody sends me emails. On the contrary, I receive almost a hundred emails per day. Why? Simply because I my email address is like the core of my command center, with iGoogle as the whole enchilada. But that is a different story. Today, I share my secret of having an empty Inbox.
- Don't check your email every minute. I think most people would agree that your time is wasted hugely on the fact that you respond almost immediately as soon as something new comes in. If you've worked with email clients, such as Outlook or Thunderbird - like I do at home, then make sure the alert is turned off. It is best to check emails in intervals. To be honest, I check my emails hourly or every two hours.
- Apply filters. Gmail has this feature which allows you to automatically archive emails and put labels in them. Since my email serves as the command center, I have already set filters into my emails. That way, I can set time as to when I deal with emails that come for which ones. That way, I can easily focus my time into one set of emails - like those that are work related, forwarded, from my mother, from online opps.
- Take care of each email right away. I am not going back on #1, what I mean to say is that you take care of each email as soon as you've read it. Decide what you do with it: delete, archive, forward-archive, forward-delete, reply-archive, reply-delete.
- Is it important that you have to read it for information? If so, I recommend you Star it then Archive, or file it away to a folder/label called "Readables" then Archive it, as soon as you have dealt with it, remove the label and you're good. Or you could print it out and have it as a reading material when doing something outside cyberspace.
- Does the email contain things that you need to do in the future? Take note of the things and details and mark them down in your calendar, to-do list, or somewhere else. Archive email after taking notes.
- One location. In essence, I have just one folder, and it is Archive. The Inbox simply acts like some kind of waiting room where emails wait to be executed. I merely add labels to make me get organized more. If I ever need something, there's always the search option which has not failed me yet.
Coming to a clean Inbox is just perfect for me. It is easy to achieve, too! To top it off, you can be oh so productive! Perfect.Labels: email, getting things done, how to, improvement, Monday Hacks, productivity, time management, tips, work, work at home |
| posted by Ann @ 5:00 PM
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| Saturday's Hike to The Top of the World |
As planned last Friday, a couple of colleagues and I went jogging/walking in the early morn. We did manage to do so despite some delays, and we had a ball!
Although the idea was to do brisk walking and some jogging, I believe the correct word for what we did was "light short hiking." Oh sure, we walked, but it was a pretty steady up hill climb all the way to the top so there was nothing to brisk about the walk we were doing, but brisk enough to send a friend trying to catch up. Although the course was in not really rocky, or in rough terrain, it still had some of its "hike-like" charm.
After an hour of the steady uphill climb, we reached what I call "the Top of The World." The name fit for that was perhaps the highest place I've come on foot. If you're familiar with Dumaguete, then you might understand that we hiked from Taclobo towards Cadawinonan to a new cemetery called "Gardens" From there, we ran/jogged around the islands. After catching our breaths, we took some really cool pictures (pics to follow), and headed to the Paunay (a marketplace where fruits, veggies, and even meat are really cheap). All those things done in around 2 hours. Pretty accomplishing especially since we started at around 5:00 A.M.
The hike left me exhilarated, if not bushed as well. It did make me consider joining this mountain climbing expedition some colleagues had in mind to go on - around next month. Something tells me I will have a very good time if I go. However, the thought of being out for two days? Hmm.. Hub might just throw a fit. We'll see..
I can't wait to go back on that trail next time.Labels: endurance, exercise, hiking, lifestyle, running, walking |
| posted by Ann @ 2:20 PM
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| Blogabsence for the weekend. |
I was given a very rare 2-day off from work over the weekend. On most weeks, I get a min-max day off of just 1. That would be Sundays. Sometimes, you can even find me at work on that day. Yes, it is the truth!
Although I would love to b*tch out about the whos, whys, whens, wheres, and whatevers of the workplace, I would very much rather share with you the good things that happened today in a series of posts. That would most definitely be much better, right?
But here is a quick summary of what happened: I had fun. Perhaps it was the most fun I had in a long while, and I am very glad it did not involve me having to do it in front of the computer. As a result, I have come to a decision that there will be no posts heard from me on a Sunday - if I can help it. There will also be no email checking and chatting on a Sunday. Therefore, Sundays will be strictly "FAMILY DAY" for me. Besides, I've been earning all week, I think I deserve to have a full, non-interrupted day for friends and family. Do you agree?
So now we are back to the production phase of the blog. The start of the week, and a very energized me! Catch up on your reading!
Alrighty! Stick around for more posts.
May everybody have a blessed and wonderful week!!
Labels: daily, family, personal matters, Week Starter |
| posted by Ann @ 2:15 PM
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| Friday, May 16, 2008 |
| A Moment of Personal Awareness |
In a day, have you ever thought to stop and think for a while as to how you're feeling? Perhaps there was once a time when you did not realize that you were almost half forcibly dragging your body around. Were there times when you just realized you must have been bone weary because the minute you laid your head on your pillow, you drifted off to Neverland? Well, if so, then this is a time for you to take time to realize what you are feeling.
While you are at it, please do the following tag. ;) As per instructions of Mommy Ruby who tagged me with it:
Rules:
1. List 6 things that describe yourself today.
2. Add your blog to the list. Feel free to add all your other blogs.
3. Tag other online friends you know.
1. Sleepy
>>>>>>> Sleep beckons - haven't had a decent night's sleep in the entire week.
2. In Pain
>>>>>>> Coccyx is in pain again.. coccydynia = pain from too much sitting down and from after pregnancy.
3. Worried
>>>>>>> Future-wise, some things feel so uncertain.
4. Hopeful
>>>>>>> I'm praying that "something" is coming my way fast.
5. Tired
>>>>>>> My eyes feel like they're bloated or something..and I feel soooo tired
6. Happy
>>>>>>> Despite everything, I still feel quite happy... The babies are growing up well, my life is chaotic, but I'm coping. Wouldn't you be happy?
Links: Creative In Me Little Peanut Me and Mine Pea in a Pod Sugar Magnolias A Slice of Life Simply Jen Jenny Said So This and That We are Family Mommastuff MoMieSpace Being a wife & mom ChatnChill moms..... check nyo A Simple Life Mommy's Little Corner My Life's Rollercoaster Ride My Inner Thoughts Revealed MOMEMO Pinay Mommy Online NeverDainty Anthology of Snippets My Climbing Peso
I'd like to tag all of you. But just to really ask somebody to do so, I'm tagging: Z'riz, Zheon, Miss Feyoh, Sendo, and the GiGC.
G'day!
Labels: fun, meme, people, personal matters |
| posted by Ann @ 3:45 PM
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| Blog Readability: How Readable is Your Blog? |
I was happily blog hopping this morning and as I did my routed hopping, I found this rather interesting blog post from Mommy Ruby. She had come across a website that determines the reading level of one's blog, and she achieved the score of a Genius Level [Congratulations, Mommy Ruby! :)].
Although I was already familiar with this test, I could not remember what my grade was, so I tried to figure it out. As it turns out, both my main blogs have the readability score of Elementary Level! On the other hand, my secondary blogs scored a good High School Level. I was appalled of course! But then again, perhaps it was right, or probably not. Either way, it nagged me from start to end, and I almost gave up blogging totally.
Another question arrived as I contemplated on taking my blog off cyberspace: "What is the best readability for blogs?" That way, perhaps I could still improve my blog. God knows how I'm already ashamed to think of the level I gained. But it posted as a challenge, and so I researched.
From my treks through the Internet I found a couple of things that determines correct readability. It started from another test called TxReadability. From then on, I learned the importance of readability and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (draft version).
Just in case some of you have no idea what the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is, please allow me to explain. The WCAG 2.0 provides recommendations for making content accessible, and helps make content accessible to a range of people who have disabilities. In addition to this, these guidelines will also often help make one's Web content be more usable to users in general.
WCAG 2.0 tackles readability through Guideline 3.1 - "Make text content readable and understandable." The outcome of TxReadability should help determine if the content in your website/blog has met the success criterion on readability. Success Criterion 3.1.5 states that, "When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, supplemental content, or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, is available."
After taking the test, I came out with a Forecast Score just in the lower secondary level. Which is great. In fact, it provided a salve to my wounded soul (ego). Though undeniably, my blogs are still in the Elementary Level, I am happy at the very LEAST that it still passes Success Criterion 3.1.5. Which means that my rather basic style of writing still helps people! ;) Yipee!
It still comes down to one thing, though, would you rather have a blog at a high level? Or something basic that others can understand? For me, what I would give to be able to write for great minds... But, I think I'm good.
What about you? How did you fare?
Labels: blogging, blogs, improvement, personal matters, readability, reading, TxReadability, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 |
| posted by Ann @ 3:30 PM
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| Friday Fitness & Health: What to Eat After Working Out |
We're walking/jogging tomorrow early morning. The plan is to be up and about at around 4:30 A.M., and get it kicking by 4:45 A.M. Of course, that is if I ever get my body off the bed. I plan do it, really. Why? Simply because even us, mere mortals, need to get in shape. Sitting in front of a computer day-in and day-out is just lacking movement, IMHO.
Now, I've been down the road of an athlete. For a good number of years, I've played badminton and gone to many competitions in aims of getting the coveted gold medal. Those were the days when I was more mindful of the things that I put in my mouth. These days..not so much. Since I've descended into the realm of the non-moving geeks and worker ants, the question of what to eat before and most especially after working out arises.
When I hang out with my jogging buddies, the usual ending to the workout/exercise is a chow-down at a local eatery. Talk about putting everything lost back on. So, I was thinking, what does a non athlete eat after working out?
Here are some ideas as to what to healthily gobble up after an hour or so of sweating.
- Consume 16-20 oz. of water after working out to aid your body in recovering the fluids lost when sweating away. Fact is, the body loses around a quart of fluid in an hour of exercise.
- Dried fruits and nuts.
- Fruit juice with cheese.
- Yogurt with fruit.
- Chocolate with milk.
- Cereal with milk.
- Eggs and toast.
- Ham or chicken sandwich.
- Pancakes and eggs.
- Any regular meal that contains lean protein, starch, and vegetables.
That means, no more bacon, salami, hotdogs, eggs, rice, and everything nice. Okay, so there are some goodies though. The thing is, eating the right food at the right time after working out is an essential in helping you keep up your energy up, extend the fat-burning mode longer, and your workout performance higher.
Now, I already have an inkling as to what I'm going to have for breakfast after running around tomorrow. Cereals! Mmmm..
Enjoy your weekend everybody!
Labels: eating, eating habits, exercise, Friday Fitness and Health, fruit diet, fruits, health, healthy living, improvement, lifestyle, running, tips |
| posted by Ann @ 3:15 PM
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| Thursday, May 15, 2008 |
| Girl Talk: Care For Naturally Curly Hair |
Last week, I shared some tips on how to take care of straight hair. However, straight hair is not the only hairstyle on Earth. Women with curly hair encounter as much problems regarding their tresses as those with straight locks. So, as promised, I am now sharing some ways to care for naturally curly hair.
- People with curly hair do not need to shampoo everyday. However, conditioning is important every time you shower. Choose shampoo and conditioner that leaves you feeling good, not the ones that make you feel like you haven't cleaned it at all.
- Air dry or blow dry your hair. Choosing to completely blow dry your hair can cause frizz and you don't want that. So stop the drying before your hair is completely dry. Alternate it with air drying once or twice in a week.
- Avoid the daily use of these: elastic bands, blow driers, flat irons, and chemicals.
- Do not use a lot of products. Just use a small amount, rub your palms together to warm it up, then use evenly. Using a lot of products can weigh your hair down. You wouldn't want that. Products that contain alcohol should also be avoided as they dry your hair and often increase frizzies.
- Brushes are the usual culprit of frizz. Use combs or better yet, use your fingers.
These are just a few basic things you can do to take care of curly hair. Follow them, and take good care of your tresses. If you care for them correctly, you will not have to trim your hair as often as others who use flat-irons, blow driers, or brushes because your split ends will be almost extinct.
Ready to flaunt those curls?
Labels: how to, improvement, lifestyle, preservation, street smarts, tips, tricks, women |
| posted by Ann @ 4:00 PM
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| What's inside YOUR Purse? |
I got tagged by Z'riz. Being the good friend that I am, here it goes.
Her instructions goes like: the first one lists the contents of your purse/bag that you would find a usual time, and the next one shows the list of the contents of the purse/bag of the person who tagged you. (Zr, please correct me if I'm wrong) Anyway, here goes:
My List
- Ball pens (I normally have 2)
- Coin purse (I don't bring a lot of cash around especially since the frequent robberies here)
- Glasses (I hate wearing my glasses all the time, but I use them frequently)
- Menthol stick/cone (for headaches, colds, nausea: Five Cranes)
- Eye-drops (Celluvisc MD; Sterile Opthalmic Drops Eye Lubricant - opthalmologist prescribed)
- Beauty kit (just in case I feel like going girly [lipgloss, lipstick, eyeliner,face powder, leave-on conditioner])
- Cellphone
- Hair doctor comb
- Small notepad
- Company ID
I was tagged by Zerisse, and her purse/bag contains the following- Wallet (of course!)
- Coin purse (it seems I have a lot of coins)
- Pen
- Cellphones (yes, I have two...)
- Ipod Video
- School Id (unfortunately I still need to enter the campus grouds)
- Lip Gloss (currently using Sweet Talk by Victoria's Secret)
- Hair Doctor (brush/comb)
- Pieces of paper (I need to throw them away)
- Hand Sanitizer (Bath & Body Works Country Apple)
So..the meme goes to those next in line. I'm tagging: Mommy Ruby, Mimay, Miss Feyoh, DhaDha, and KCee.
Please do the honors!
Labels: daily, female stuff, meme, personal matters, women |
| posted by Ann @ 3:30 PM
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| Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
| Pseudo-Celebrity Talks about Being a Dad |
While I was catching up on my reading at RebelDad, I found his rather close to violent reaction to an interview he found between MomLogic and reality TV's Ryan Sutter (The Bachelor). In the interview, Ryan reveals some intesresting things us moms should know (I think). Ryan and his wifey Trista have a 9-month-old son named Max.
Here is Ryan's 10 Things You Don't Know About Dads
- Even when you're about to breastfeed, we get turned on because we're guys and we just see boobs.
- When we're left in charge, we break all the rules. (Sorry Trista, I know you said it was too cold for Max and I to go out the other day, but we bundled up and did.)
- Sometimes we "don't realize" they have poopy diapers and let you discover it.
- Dads are sensitive too, and sometimes we feel fat.
- Honestly, we do steal glances at 25-year-olds who walk by. That's why we never leave home without our sunglasses!
- We really do love having our mothers-in-law around when they help with the kids and give us a break.
- We're actually really proud when he discovers his pee-pee.
- It's really sexy when you have no makeup on. Honestly, we prefer less makeup and seeing you in casual clothes.
- We're scared to death during the days leading up to the due date. We have no idea what to expect during the birth process. Everyone says just focus on caring for your wife...what does that mean? We need more direction than that!
- We just don't talk about beer and sports with our friends. We actually talk about being dads and how much we love our kids and wives.
... see Reference
I just had to laugh after reading it, you guys. Seriously. I mean, it's funny, but I think it kinda shows dads as insensitive @$$h0les - at some point. Hey, maybe that is the truth, I wouldn't know. Or maybe it shows the pseudo-celeb as a bad dad. The hub had some smaller violent reactions of his own regarding the 10 things. He says it is so NOT true. But I do know that sometimes he does #3. I mean, it is pretty obvious.
To all the dads out there reading this, is this really true? No, please don't lie...! Mommies, what do you think?
Cheers!
Labels: celebrity, Dads, discussion, men, mothers, people, Ryan Sutter, women |
| posted by Ann @ 5:20 PM
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| Monday, May 12, 2008 |
| Blissfully Rainy Day: Adventures of the Working Girl |
I almost did not want to go to work today. I kept ignoring my alarm and snuggled deeper and closer to Gianfranco. Ahhh... but the call of the coins clinking in my piggy bank was just so strong that I had to wake up - quarter to 5, mind you! - and took a cold, freezing bath. It might sound crazy, but I love taking a bath especially when its raining.
Dressing in my casual, formal work attire, I rolled up my slacks, donned a long sleeved blouse, and my bulky jacket (courtesy of my aunt in the UK). I had to wear my bulky jacket in anticipation that the air conditioner above my head at the office would not be turned off. Of course, I had already stacked a makeshift blanket in my office box. Instead of wearing my usual 3" heeled work shoes, I opted to wear flat sandals which are totally not allowed at the office. Like I care... It was bloody raining!
I went outside with an umbrella - which does not belong to me because I do not have one. Lo and Behold, what did I see? Puddles of mud up to calf-deep! Our road is currently under construction, so the rain had nowhere to go. I had only one option, and that was to keep on going forward. Going back into the house was definitely not on the list as I had already locked the door and I am up the river without a key. So, I did what any normal working girl would do. I climbed the pile of stones and gravel in an attempt to get across to the other side of the huge mud puddle. But as fate would have it, the stones somewhat loosened and my foot got stuck. Yeahp! Stuck and the rain was still pouring.
Nevertheless, I went ahead and dislodged my foot, wiped it clean and went on. When I safely reached the crossing, no easyride was in sight! In short, for all my adventures, I still got to work late, and soaking wet. :)
Still, I couldn't be happier as pie. Tomorrow.. Well, even though I love rain, please don't let me go through all that AGAIN!Labels: adventures, daily, fun, personal matters, rain |
| posted by Ann @ 9:29 PM
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| Monday Hacks: RescueTime rescues MY Time |
 I am a busy person. I don't deny the fact that I do have a day job. On top of that, I have other stuff going on. I have tried to manage everything carefully, but not as much as I would like to. But I've found something good for those of you, like me, who are all too fond of multitasking.
I think I've established in the past that multitasking is a bad thing for EVERYBODY. Okay, perhaps not all the time. But if you're anything like me, you'd probably try to multitask every single opportunity you get your hands into. All in the name of getting things done. But as I said, it doesn't exactly get much done is it?
So here is something I heard of from Alfa Mercado (a blogger friend I met online in 2004). RescueTime helps nut cases like me manage our time through collecting data, break times, and even those 2 minute sneaks to check our email. Oh yes, it even catches that. It is a definite eye opener. At least, at some point you get the drift of how productive you've been, or how productive you think you've been.
To top things off, RescueTime is relatively light so you barely notice that it's there! Pretty cool. I recommend those stay-at-home mommies to give it a try. It could help you manage your time better, too. As for me? I still have a lot of rescuing to go! :)
Cheers!
Photo: GettyImages
Photo Host: ImageShackLabels: Monday Hacks, multitasking, productivity, time management, work, work at home |
| posted by Ann @ 11:59 AM
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| Sunday, May 11, 2008 |
| I [heart] MoM |
Mommy Ruby gave me something to do a while back, before today, and I should have done it, but being a double working mom means I have small bits of time in between. Nevertheless, here it goes:
Rules :
- Just choose any mother’s day graphics from zwani to greet the mommies you know.
- Add your blog to the list. Feel free to add all your other blogs.
 - Tag other mommies you know.
bloggerhappy | berryscrappy | A Sweet Taste of Life | Me,Myself+2 | Confessions of a Supermodel Wannabe | Fun.Fierce.Fabulous | When Silence Speaks | Everything About Deye | Etc Atbp | Hailey's Domain | Hailey's Beats and Bits | MOMEMO | PM's DigiScrap | Pinay Mommy Online | Never Dainty |You're Next Here...
If it's okay, I'd like to tag all mommies reading this. Thankies!! :)
Mwahz!
Labels: meme, motherhood, mothers |
| posted by Ann @ 8:26 PM
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| Happy Mother's Day |
Today started pretty nice, if I may say so. I woke up to a couple of text messages greeting me a "Happy Mother's Day!" One particular greeting tickled me pink that it surely shook off whatever cobwebs were left in my hollow head.
The message went something like this "Hi Ann! Gud am! The details of the bike are as follows: ... Happy mother's day!" Funny how I get a message about business before anything else! At 6 a.m. no less! I guess the texter did go biking today. Whereas, I should have gone jogging, but the lazy bug told me to rest. Who am I not to follow?
So anyway, first thing I did as soon as I sat in front of the PC was make my mom a little something for this special day. I know I am not a whiz at it, and I use Adobe Photoshop 7.0 rather than the savvier Photoshop CS (it's a long story that is totally not supposed to be in this post). Just in case you were wondering, this is how it looked like:
It's not much, really [it's actually bigger], and I wanted to buy her the pearl necklace I was aiming for. But the financial odds are not in my favor, so that is it for now.
Another thing about today, as the TV tuned in and pointed at ASAP whilst eating lunch, there was a tribute to moms and an advertisement of Lactum (of course!). Surprisingly, I almost cried. Crazy! Uber crazy. But somehow, people telling the world what a wonderful mom those people who were singing were, made me cry. I want to be a good mom. I want people to say I'm doing a good job. I want people to tell me "well done, pig, well done" *sigh* Nevertheless. It was really touching. Many mothers really do a lot for the sake of their children, and their children often take them for granted.
Today is Mother's Day, Happy Mother's Day to all Moms!
XOXO,
Labels: current events, mother's day, motherhood, mothers, special events, tributes |
| posted by Ann @ 8:05 PM
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| Sunday Blackout Ruins My Entries |
Funny how I woke up at around 6 a.m., wrote two entries, halfway into my third when, at 8 a.m., the power dies. How harsh could it get? What's worse is that I did not save my entries - I type them first on the WordPad - and everything, and I mean EVERYTHING got lost!
A pity since I think had gone through a lot of trouble over nothing. I think those were good posts, too! Oh well, serves me right for not SAVING, SAVING, and SAVING. And I'm supposed to be a huge fan of Ctrl F,S, or in my PC and office PC it's Ctrl, Windows. My preference of course. So anyway, here we go... I'm a definite goner. I can't think properly right now because I am dead tired as I resorted to cleaning the whole area where we usually stay at from top to darkest corner. *wheew!* too tired. But at least Gianfranco is happily walking around now with his new space. :)
Let's see if I can come up with a good enough post for today, okay? If not, then it's "See Yah Tomorrow!" Latez peeps!Labels: blackout, blogging, blogs, daily |
| posted by Ann @ 7:57 PM
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| Saturday, May 10, 2008 |
| Saturday Recipes: Easy Quick Fix Club Sandwich |
My day started out with a huge craving for a sandwich. All I want is an honest to goodness Dagwood sandwich. Even thinking about it right now is making my stomach growl. Considering that I haven't had a decent breakfast or a good enough lunch, I think I just might be able to have room to down one and a half of a Dagwood sandwich. Care to test my theory? :D
The Dagwood Sandwich
However, in light of my health goals and other pocket concerns, I think I might have to resort to just making my own sandwich. I actually found a recipe online, but since there are some ingredients that are hard to find or are costly, I tweaked it up a bit and I believe this will serve as a basic club sandwich.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 slices crisp bacon
- 3 slices toasted bread
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 leaves lettuce
- 2 slices cold cut ham (can be substituted for any meat you prefer)
- 2 slices tomato
DIRECTIONS
- Place bacon in a heavy skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Spread each slice of bread with mayonnaise. On one slice of toast, place the ham and lettuce. Cover with a slice of toast, then the bacon and tomato. Top with last slice of toast.
There! Think that's easy enough? It's yummy, too! I believe it could pass off as a complete meal already.
As for me, my stomach is really, really noisy now... Sandwich!! Sandwich!!
Alright, folks! Chow down!
Labels: bread, cooking, Dagwood sandwich, food, ham, health, healthy living, homegrown, how to, recipes, sandwich |
| posted by Ann @ 3:00 PM
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| Friday, May 9, 2008 |
| Friday Fitness and Health: Reasons To Eat Slower |
Yesterday, a colleague of mine voiced out his complaints regarding the speed when we eat. Given the 30 minute allotted time for breaks, who wouldn't learn to eat as fast as Speed Racer's driving speed? But we all know this should not be the case.
Although accomplishing a record time of eating is quite admirable, there are numerous reasons as to why each of us should eat slower. Not only is speed eating a sign of a stressful and unhealthy living, it becomes a lifestyle to each of us that we carry on in our lives.
You can snap out of that unhealthy living by starting off by eating slower. How hard could it be? You take smaller sizes, chew slowly and longer, and you feel the play of the tastes of the food you just put in your mouth.
Easy enough? Let's take a look at other reasons to enjoy a good meal:
- Meal enjoyment - If you live by speed eating, you tend to just eat because your stomach needs to eat. You should be able to enjoy the food you bought or prepared. Why go through all the seasoning, spices, and hard work if you're just going to gobble it down in less than 30 minutes.
- Prevent indigestion - Who wants to have digestive problems? Eat slower so that your body can digest the food better.
- De-stress - Forget about what you're supposed to be doing. When you're eating, your time should be devoted to eating. Being conscious of the things that are happening right now rather than thinking of your to do list gives your brain and body some "down time".
- Weightloss - My favorite part. :) Studies show that by eating slower, you actually lose more weight even when you've skipped on your exercises. By eating slowly, you are consuming lesser food, and thus, lesser calories! :)
- Time for relationships - Eating slowly gives you more time to spend with people around you. It allows another facet of your life to come out for a walk. No doubt when you're at work, work is pretty much in the agenda. So just be on your break.
Perhaps these are such small reasons that you feel you can brush it off. But truth of the matter is, if you simply eat slower, you are making the first steps to having a slower more meaningful life. Speed and hype might feel really good, but in the end, it becomes unhealthy and a stressful.
Relax, enjoy your food... Live life!
Cheers!
Labels: eating, eating habits, food, Friday Fitness and Health, health, healthy living, improvement, lifestyle, nutrition |
| posted by Ann @ 3:00 PM
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| Thursday, May 8, 2008 |
| I "C" You! |
Mommy Reese chucked something my way, and it's my way or the highway, so here goes.
She wanted me to name ten things that start with a letter "C".
I am totally stumped right now, but I'll give it my best shot:
- Chocolate - I'm a chocaholic, what can I say?
- Cats - Domestic cats scare me, but I love lions, white Siberian tigers, leopards, cheetahs, mostly wild cats.
- C2 - From the first time I tasted it, I fell in love with it.
- Cellphone - My constant companion. :D Busy with ...stuff
- Computer - My life consists of almost 20 hours of facing a computer.
- Cash - Something I need.
- Chat - I am a certified chatter for both IRC and IMs.
- Clock - Everyday, I race the clock. Surely it should give up by now.
- Clouds - I love to look at clouds to calm my mind.
- Cans - the house is full of milk cans
Alrighty! That took me long enough. I am tagging ShenZee, miss feyoh, ZTe, Sendo, and Mommy Ruby.
Good night everyone! Have a great day tomorrow!
Labels: blogging, blogs, daily, meme, personal matters |
| posted by Ann @ 10:40 PM
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| Make waves with Bloggerwave |
Let me have do a quick jig of joy. Well, what do you know? I found another source of income! :) Yey Me!!
This time it's called Bloggerwave. Fast on the track in becoming Europe's biggest advertising media, Bloggerwave is open to anybody who has a blog. Of course, there are conditions before they approve your blog, but if you want to Make Money then why not go for it? :)
Bloggerwave helps advertisers reach out to clients, and helps bloggers earn while doing what they love. Give it a try.
 Labels: blogging, blogs, income, money, services |
| posted by Ann @ 4:52 PM
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| Girl Talk: Care for Straight Hair |
Some women are born curly haired, some frizzy, some wavy, some with fine strands, while others have thicker ones. I was blessed with straight hair. And through the years, I never did take time to take care of my hair, and now, it is not as straight as it was before.
Straight hair is by nature, fine and thin. Those women on TV who show off their long locks that look so thick they could pass for a curtain have, in fact, lots of fine strands of hair.
Here are some basic care tips for straight locks:
- To take care of straight hair, look for shampoos gentle enough for daily shampooing. If you want to use conditioning products, make sure they are light, such as sprays and NOT creams. And you have to make sure to wash them out well, because conditioners tend to become the ultimate death of fine hairs as they drag it down.
- To create volume, use a mousse or gel on the roots of your hair. For better effect, go against the natural parting of your hair. Better yet, tip your head upside down while for a minute or two.
- To create some bounce and body to straight hair, find thickening shampoos and make them your BFFs. These usually have panthenol, which makes each hair strand thicken.
While straight hair looks lovely, it can also be a bit lifeless. Unlike curly hairs, which will be discussed next Thursday. :)
Cheers!
photo credit: http://www.schwarzkopf-professional.comLabels: female stuff, girl talk, how to, improvement, tips, tricks |
| posted by Ann @ 2:15 PM
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| Wednesday, May 7, 2008 |
| I Scream for Snapbomb! |
Dear friends and foe, come near and hear me clear! You want to earn more? I know you do! You want to earn like the probloggers do! But you know you can't just fly all the way to the top. Let snapbomb help you pop!
What is Snapbomb? While in search for opportunities from all over cyberspace, I heard talk about this company that provides buzz for advertisers through blog marketing and blog advertising in the form of posts from the ever efficient bloggers! Snapbomb.
If you have a business or a website that you want to promote and increase traffic. Snapbomb works wonders in doing so. It becomes your Buzz Machine and helps you get more prospective clients down your way.
If you are a blogger, then I think you know where I'm headed. I have been trying to get some moolah out of my blog for days now, and Snapbomb is the answer for me. Opportunities? They've got them! Reasonable prices and easy sign-up? Right this way..
Seriously, it's great! :) I couldn't have said it better.
Cheers!
Labels: blogging, blogs, good finds, income, money, websites |
| posted by Ann @ 8:55 AM
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| Tuesday, May 6, 2008 |
| Oh the Joy of a Busy Schedule! |
I would like to think that my schedule is not as complicated as I think it would be. Many people think it is, but when I look at it, it does not seem much. But for the fun of it (although I would like to refrain from posting memes) I am doing what Sendzki is asking me to do. List down the things I need to do this week. (Which reminds me, oh GiGC, isn't this what we were talking about? :D Oh wait..that was the Bucket List.. Nevermind..)
- Finish watching info videos sent by Rob
- Finish transferring reminders to GCal
- Clean up mess - crib, laundry, room
- Help hub cook foodie
- Check barangay clinic for Frankie and Sophie's immunization schedule
- Daily: give babies their vitamins
- Clean room - hopefully by Saturday
- Bring out notebook for notes
- Come up with recipe for toddlers
- Contact nonol for dried fish business, etc.
- Give chess game for PC to JJ
- Post miss feyoh's jewelry pictures
- Update Jumble SALE
- Post items in ebay.ph
- Clean up drives
- Send follow up email to Sir Ray
- Follow up with Julius regarding schedule to come to Dgte.
- Inform mother dear of Julius' updates
- Go to Grandma - preferably with cash
- Contact stepmomma for jewelry inquiries
- Buy CDs for father dear's movies
- Find clear schedule to play Badminton
- Find way to get Bucket List film
- Daily - check for new money making opps (hihihi..)
- Help Owen find a job (because I love Ibby)
I don't know what else. I know I'm missing some things. Uhmmm.. I'll update it as soon as I remember them. Besides, it is still Tuesday. A lot of things come up my ToDo list every single day. Hehehe
I don't know who to tag. So if you got this far reading, that means I'm tagging you!! :D GOTCHA!
Labels: blogging, blogs, meme, personal matters |
| posted by Ann @ 6:25 PM
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| Boost Your Traffic with TrafficEra! |
Just a quick stop before I move on to another post.
I came across TrafficEra to be a gem. TrafficEra not only helps you increase your traffic, it also helps you earn a little more. I mean, it helps your blog earn, and it helps YOU earn! How cool is that? We all need a little Help to make us go our way, so they offer tutorials, support, and easy to understand instructions. Perfect.
Labels: blogging, blogs, Traffic |
| posted by Ann @ 5:36 PM
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| Sunday, May 4, 2008 |
| Good Things Free For Giving |
Since it is a Sunday, I am feeling quite good and thankful for all the things that are going on in my life. I realized that there are simply a lot of things we take for granted and so many things we can give to others that we do not give a second thought to.
What are these things, you ask? In a world of high prices and poverty, can people really afford to give? Of course we can. There are things we can give that can make others happy. If you read on, I will tell you the things I think we all should be giving each other.
Here is a list of small things that make big effects that we can just give out everyday:
- A "Good morning!" One ex-colleague of mine remarked one time while we were on training how not a lot of people actually greet people they meet in the morning with that time-old greeting. Since then, I have made it a practice to greet people, "Good morning!" (with a smile of course) as often as I can. Sure enough, it makes other people smile and feel like they really can have a more pleasant morning.
- Greeting elderly people. Elderly people often feel alone and left out in the everyday hustle and bustle of young'ns. Have a heart. Show those who are in their Golden Age some love by giving them some attention and greeting. No doubt you will warm their hearts.
- Tell an older woman she looks lovely. I've found out that the older women get, the more concious they are with their appearance. They often feel like they are on a verge of becoming a withered fruit. Although she may not be quick to trust you, if you assure her that it is true, I am pretty sure it will make her day complete. See it for yourself.
- The power of "Thank You!" Sometimes when service is given to us, we automatically assume that it is our right that they are serving us and that they should at least be honored that they have us as customers. Admit it! You've got "the customer is always right" written all over your face. You should keep in mind that even if they mess it up or do a good job, they still deserve at least a "thank you" for their efforts. Do it, and for sure you have earned a smile, or at least better service next time.
- Share a smile. I may not be the perfect person to say this, but over the years I've learned that a smile can go a long long way. Of course, bad days are bad days, and sometimes one cannot simply just flash that blinding smile. But bear in mind, what if somebody else had a bad day and was scowling at you, you wouldn't like it one bit. Right?
These are but a few of the many things one can do. In the name of Kindness and Care, these gifts can have a great big impact and go a long way. Christmas is not the only time for giving. Give a little love and it all comes back to you..
Be nice kiddies! ;)
Labels: daily, friendship, improvement, people, prayers, smiles, Sunday Goodness, women |
| posted by Ann @ 5:42 PM
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| Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
| Blogger BUZZ: Scheduled Posts |
Oh, goodie!! I just could not contain my happiness when I noticed this announcement at Blogger BUZZ. I know I should have noticed this yesterday, but I didn't - so there!
What is this all about? Blogger can now publish your posts without you pushing the "Publish" button. Soooo cool! It's like this feature with some email clients which allows the user to send the email at a later date, or something. While that is an email client feature, this one pretty much has the same concept.
What you do is, you write your articles, posts, meme, whatever and then you save it. There are post options below the WYSIWYG for you to indicate when you want the post to be published, or if you simply want to save it in draft. It indicates the time, too!!
Incredible function allows people to save massive amounts of posts and set them on schedule. That way, even if you are out in the jungle wrestling gorillas, or under the Tuscan sun, or wherever, you are not neglecting your money making blog! UBER cool right?! Well, I think so. :D
I am trying it right now. I know it will work perfectly as it has already gone through the testing phase. No decent programmer launches something without going through a thorough test. Anyway, as I write this, it is 11:34 A.M. I am setting my timer to post at 2:15 P.M. - according to my schedule, I should be gallivanting around town at that time. Boo yah!!!
WTG, Blogger!! ;)
Labels: Blogger, blogging, blogs, good finds, how to, improvement, productivity |
| posted by Ann @ 2:15 PM
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| About Me |
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Name: Ann
Home: Philippines
About Me: even when she has fairy wings on, this girl is anything BUT dainty. perhaps the size, the weight, and the personality alone are just too much for her to be considered delicate, prim, proper, and refined. this girl with the mud smudged cheeks has been down on the ground one to many times. these times forced her to be tougher, smarter, and more savvy than she has ever been. perhaps she will always be, never dainty.
email me: neverdainty [at] gmail [dot] com
See my complete profile
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