Need cash?

In times of desperate need for cash even when you have had a bad credit history, you have to thank the heavens for companies that offer you bad credit loans. Getting a personal loan from them is as easy as pie because you can do this on their website. All can be done in the comforts of your home. This is particularly good news for all concerned expecially on this holiday season of seemingly endless expenses.

Feast 170

Appetizer
What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride?
I am not really a person who likes amusement park rides. I am actually acrophobic but somehow I have managed to overcome this fear while riding the ferris wheel at Enchanted Kingdom. It's big and you can't see what's below, so I was able to stomach it. As for those rollercoasters, no thanks! :P

Soup
How do you react in uncomfortable social situations?
Well, I just keep quiet. If I can't handle it though, I might just walk out of it.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics?
Maybe a 7. It depends on the mood. Sometimes, I can't handle too cerebral conversations, especially after having a very stressful day.

Main Course
Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to?
Nope. I am not planning to but now that you mention it, I might ask our GP about it.

Dessert
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television?
Maybe around 20 hours at least. That is just a ballpark figure. I spend more hours on the PC for you-know-what. ;)

Smart shopping

With the Christmas season closing in, I am sure shoppers out there are starting to look around for potential gifts for their loved ones. And with the tremendous amount of shopping to be done, the smart shopper should look for ways to cut on expenses and get the best deals there are.

Well, here's a tip. If you are shopping around for HDTVs and other related items, you might want to check out Second Act's Great Deal of the Day. They are an authorized dealer of well-known HDTV brands and you are sure to get one of the lowest rates on their site for these products. If you want to be in the know of the latest deals on their website, make sure to subscribe to their newsletter via email or RSS. You will definitely be not sorry.

I will revive!

I can't imagine how much this blog has been revived after months of hibernation. For November alone, I have posted 59 entries (including this) thus far. It is amazing how much paid posting can influence your blog's activity, eh? :) Well, I am glad I decided to unlock this blog's potential, so to speak. It has been pretty rewarding so far! :)

Weekend preview

I am sure everyone back home in the Philippines are shouting TGIF today. It's a national holiday as it is Bonifacio Day. I'm glad they're having a long weekend after that stressful failed coup yesterday. They deserve it!

As for us down under, we still have a day more to grind before the weekend starts. I don't think the weekend will be relaxing either as I have yet to finish the tree. It's already December for crying out loud! :P

Going Coup-Coup

I'm sure you've heard of the recent foiled coup in Manila yesterday. Geez, these people never learn! They think they can get their way always by staging these attention-seeking acts. Yes, they have our attention, but is anyone listening? What they did is nothing new so I guess people are just immune to their ways by now. Had they not surrendered immediately, then that could have been something newsworthy.

My Birth Month Tag

Got this from Nol. It's a pretty long tag so please bear with me. :)

1. Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).
3. Pick your month of birth.
4. Highlight the traits that apply to you.
5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.
6. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve done it!

My birth month

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.


The Twelve Months

JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

Feel free to tag yourself! :)

Award-winning me!

Fellow blogger Era handed me the following awards:



Aww.... I am especially touched by the sexy blogger award because of the new body that I have since giving birth to Erin. Haha! :D

Dreaming of Europe (still!)

You've probably noticed a trend here now, if you are a regular reader of this blog. Yes, the common denominator is Europe, my dream destination!

Someday, somehow, we will be able to visit and explore this very interesting continent. I don't know when that time is but I will definitely make it a point to make this a reality.

And if that day does come for us, booking a hotel immediately will be one of my agenda. We will surely browse through Rome hotels and Barcelona hotels because those places are a must-see on anyone who's had Europe in mind.

As to when that time will come, that is the big question. I just hope it is soon! :)

Negative!

J just came back from his stress test at the Canberra Hospital. He had complained of shortness of breath a few weeks back so our GP recommended that he take the test to rule out any heart ailments.

It looks like it must have been just an asthma attack because the test results showed that he was negative for any heart illnesses. Thank God! But the attending cardiologist at the time suggested that he take half an aspirin pill daily because of his family history of heart disease and stroke. Regular excercise was also advised.

The former he can easily start on tomorrow, but the latter is going to take some scheduling on our part. We have got to find time to exercise! I wonder how.

Shopping around

I am still unsure as to what to give my younger brother D for his birthday and graduation next year. I have one thing on my mind though that he may like and it's an apple mp3 player.

But before I go out and buy him the first thing I see in the store, I want to shop around first and compare prices online like on SaveBuckets.co.uk so I know how much I'll actually be spending on it. I'm glad there are websites like this so I don't have to go out in the shops and tire myself from canvassing prices. It saves me a lot of my precious time.

All in the family

All this blogging business has gotten a lot of people interested, inspite of their age. J mentioned about my paid posting part-time job to his father in one of their recent talks. He loves to write so knowing that you can get paid for writing has somehow sparked his interest as well. I think he is even going to consider giving it a shot. Haha! Pretty soon, you'll be seeing another link of ours online and you'll get to read my FIL's entries in it. Now, that would be interesting.

Still on Europe

Travelling to Germany and Austria is definitely on my itinerary for my dream tour of Europe. I've done a little surfing and here's what I found.

Let's talk about Germany first. Based on my research, here are just some of the top destinations that you must visit while in Germany: the Cologne Cathedral, King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein castle, the Bavarian Alps, and the Black Forest among others. And if you're booked in one of the hotels in Berlin, make sure to explore Checkpoint Charlie where there is an exhibition on the history of the Berlin Wall.

Now for Austria. Checking into a one of the hotels in Vienna is a must because Vienna is a tourist destination. I'll make sure to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, the Wurstelprater, the imperial Schönbrunn palace, and the 252 meter tall Donauturm.

Note: For those looking to book hotels in Berlin and hotels in Vienna, you should know that there is also a German translated website for those who would rather view it in this Language.

Shopping Success

The first batch of stuff I bought online finally arrived yesterday and today! I was so excited about it that I tore off all the packaging material. I didnt realize how much clothes I bought. And there's another batch arriving probably next week. Oh boy, I better go through everything and calculate the total cost. I hope I did not go overboard with my budget. :P

Back to work

Yes, today is a new day and it started just the way I wanted it to be -- opps galore! Thanksgiving is over in North America so it is also back to work all of us paid posters in other parts of the world. It is a relief because now I can go back to earning again and hopefull I can reach that quota that I have been setting for months now.

Cool frames

Our families back home in the Philippines can hardly wait to see us, especially the little girl, when we come visiting them next year. In the meantime, we try to regularly send them photos of Erin so that they can keep track of how she's growing. It's a known fact how kids grow up pretty fast so it is important to document their changes though photos.

Since we have sent tons of pictures already back home, nobody really has the time to go through everything and choose which ones to have printed. J suggested to purchase a digital picture frame for the grandparents so they can just upload Erin's pictures and look at it anytime they want. It's a great idea really because it is convenient for everyone concerned. Plus digital frames are space savers no matter how many photos you want to be displayed. With this in mind, I'm thinking of getting our own digital photo frame as well.

Slow Day

It looks like it's going to be a slow day today for me as far as paid posting is concerned. There hasn't been many opportunities since yesterday. In fact, there were hardly any! Maybe it's because of the Thanksgiving celebration last weekend. Well, I hope work resumes soon. I almost nearing my quota for this month. I need to reach it or surpass it, which is even better.

On Close Combat

When I was younger, I always wanted to study martial arts. Being female, I think it's to your advantage if you know some form of self-defense. Up until now though I still do not know the the truth about martial arts. Do you?

Well, if you haven't the slightest idea about it and are interested to find out more (like me), I suggest you head over to Captain Chris' close combat website. He's a world leader in self-defense so you can be assured he knows what he's talking about.

Almost There

... but not quite. Yes, the tree is up, all six feet of it. And I've even managed to put on the fairy lights as well while the little girl watched on.

I must admit it was not all that easy. Probably it's because we chose a tall tree to start with. Anyway, all that's left to be done is to hang baubles on its branches. Oh, and let's not forget the pressies that go underneath it. :)

Business-minded

Times are tough these days so we have to think of ways to make sure that our finances are stable enough to weather the high inflation rates and the hidden and/or surprise expenses.

As such, I am trying to put up a business with a good friend of mine back in the Philippines. It is greatly related to our profession as therapists so it is definitely something that is close to our hearts. Once we have the goods, we plan to set up an online store with shopping cart features. There is no doubt we are going to install those ecommerce software to make online transactions with our customers more convenient and easy for both parties. I have already a website that's up and running so it's just a matter of creating a new page within that site and customizing it to our liking.

I am pretty excited over this because it has been a dream of mine of four years now and finally it is becoming a reality. *crossing our fingers*

Shopping blues

Oh boy, it looks like we might not be able to get J's dream shoes this Christmas. He has been yearning for this brand of shoe for years. Decades even! :) So when the opportunity for us to buy stuff in the States came up, we thought we could add this particular pair to our list. But when the time came for us to purchase them, there was no available stock in his size. Awww, poor J! He just shrugged his shoulders at the sad news and just said, "It's not yet time."

Let's hear it!

I think one of the most important senses that we have is our sense of hearing. My grandfather is partially deaf because he used to work with heavy machineries when he was a young civil engineer. All those big trucks and jackhammers must have definitely damaged his hearing at some point. Plus, he's not that young anymore so old age could have damaged it even more.

Not all people know how hearing protection is so important and that loud noises do a lot of harm on your precious ears. Take for example my younger brother who was into playing a lot of rock music for his band when he was in his teens. He should have worn musician ear plugs then. Now, I reckon he is to a certain point a bit deaf because sometimes, he can't hear me when I talk to him. He should have been more careful.

Election Day

Yes, today is the day for all Aussies. J went out to vote this morning. It is required of all citizens.

It's between the Australian Labor Party and the National Coalition. Rudd versus Howard. So, who do you think who's going to win? I think I have a fairly rough idea which party is going to make it. But I'm not telling just yet. It's too early in the day for that. I don't want to nip it in the bud, so to speak. :P

Top Destination: UK

The United Kingdom is something that has been featured over and over in our local TV travel shows here. Maybe it is because of this country's ties with the Queen. Admittedly, I find Britain also to be one of my top destinations in Europe because of its rich history and wonderful architecture.

We are sure to hotel hop so that we can see the different sites like the Tower of London, National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, the Canterbury Cathedral and so much more. From the hotels in London to the hotels in Manchester to the hotels in Birmingham, there is no doubt that we will be having a grand time.

TGIF

Woohoo! The weekend is finally here. :) I am sooo looking forward to it because we will be finally setting up our Christmas tree. J promised me this a couple of nights ago so it is going to be a full weekend once again for our family. I may have to purchase additional decors because I only bought the basics. If we still have some time to spare, maybe we'll drop by the mall as well.

Fast cash

With the holidays drawing near, shopping for loved ones is inevitable. It is common knowledge that we all go a little broke once the holidays are over because of the enormous amount of shopping we must do. Gift-giving has now been a tradition that sometimes we go way over our monthly budgets just to make ends meet.

Well, these days, you can thank the heavens for payday loans. They are short-term cash advances that you can avail of if you need to stretch your budget a little more. They are safe and secure so you know you can rely on them in times of emergencies when you are short on cash.

I personally will try my best not to go over our budget for this Christmas, but I will not promise anything. If something out of the blue happens and we might need to spend a little more, we just might consider that cash advance as a fallback.

Christmas & the heat

I hope this cool weather stays on. Christmas is not christmas with the heat! I just can't marry the two things together as I have always associated the low temperatures with the holiday season.

It is my first Christmas here in Oz. I know it's never going to be the same as it is in our beloved Philippines. But this is our life now. We have just got to embrace it.

On Tutoring

When I was a kid, I did not require much tutoring because I was the sort of person who loved doing her homework and made sure they were done ahead of time. In short, I loved going to school! In my brother's case, however, all he seemed to be interested in was playing. I think that is how boys really are.

When we were in grade school, he always had to stay back to finish his work in Math and Algebra. He also needed homework help. He needed a tutor but unfortunately, we couldn't afford one so my mom had to do all the hard work with him.

Had online tutoring been available at that time (in the 80's) it would have been a great help to all students struggling with school work. The extra load on my mom would have also been lifted. Children these days are lucky because there is so much that we can offer to them now.

Shopaholic me

I am getting addicted to online shopping, especially if there is major sale happening. Just this morning, I received a newsletter from one of my favorites online stores and they're going to have a sale! I think this is part of the black friday sale they are talking about. I have to check it out just in case something nice is up for grabs. Gosh, I am all giddy just talking about it! :P

Fan of fans

Ah yes, summer is almost here. I can tell by the rising temperatures and the occasional rainfall, which signifies the change of season here in Australia. With a young baby like ours, we need to do something about the heat!

Ceiling fans are a good way of cooling one's home. Actually, I love ceiling fans because they remind me of the good old days. But since we are going for the contemporary look, I rather fancy those modern ceiling fans and the reliable and durable craftmade fans. Not only do they drive the heat away. They are also lovely fixtures to look at. You can't go wrong with them!

Loving the weather

Finally, we have some relief from the sweltering heat these past few days. It has been raining since last night and it has been cool and lovely 'bed' weather until now. I wish I could just sleep in for the entire day. But sadly, work awaits. There are tons of chores to be done. I hope this will continue until the weekend so all of us can take advantage of the weather.

Spring cleaning

This house definitely needs cleaning up. Being busy parents that we are, we hardly have the time anymore to primp up our home. And it irritates me so much because I am a stickler for neatness and yet, our time is limited. It is something we have no absolute control of.

It was even worse when our vacuum cleaner broke down. J had to shop around for vacuum cleaners and considering brands like Dyson. He had to make sure that it was of the best quality so that it would last for years to come.

The vacuum cleaner is very much an important gadget for our family in particular because both J and I suffer from some form of allergy. J has asthma while I have rhinitis. Plus we have a little baby as well. So we need to eliminate as much as possible all that dust and dirt, especially those found in our carpet. Whoever invented this is a genius! :)

Thanks Alexa!

Finally, I have my alexa traffic rank running. It has not been working for some time because all it showed was the number 12. Now, my traffic rank is not that high can it? In short, it was an impossible figure to believe. And although I am still in the 8M rank, it's fine with me. I am sure it'll be better in the days to come. :)

Thinking of the future

When you have a young family like ours, it just makes sense to draw up long-term goals and think of the future of your family, especially your kids. Getting family insurance is ideal because life can have its surprises, pleasant or otherwise. So it is best to be prepared always.

When searching for the best policy, make sure to do your homework and get insurance quotes from as many companies possible so you can save money on insurance premium and still get a good coverage. Advantage Term Life can do just the job for you.

Oprah's favorite things show

I just learned from Jen that Oprah recently aired her Favorite Things show. For all Oprah fans, it is a must-see. You'll just die of envy because each guest gets to go home with everything that Oprah features on that show. From camcorders to refrigerators, geez, your shopping's done with all of that new stuff. I wonder when I'll have the chance to guest on that show. *wishful thinking*

Have faith

At one point in our life, we may have made the big mistake of not paying our debts on time. Let us face it. Times are hard these days and you are lucky if you have a nice big savings account to fall back on when things are not going your way in the finance department.

Well, for those who have had the unfortunate experience of having bad credit histories, fear not. Nowadays there are many providers who specialize in bad credit offers. In fact, at BadCreditOffers.com, they can help you compare the different offers and choose one that suits your needs. Whether it is a home loan or an auto loan you are after, they have got one for you. Make sure to check them out.

Where did the time go?

I just hate it when there are so many things to do and I only have little time. The pressure is driving me insane. In fact, I am so frantic, I do not know anymore which task to finish or tend to first. Yes, it's obvious that I only need to prioritize everything. I just don't have any idea where to start. Maybe I am just procrastinating. :P

Planning your travels

When you are planning to visit or explore a new place, it is always best to consult a travel guide first so that you can maximize your visit and you get to see and experience everything about that place.

I personally do a little bit of research whenever I plan to do a bit of travelling to a new city or country. We all know that travelling for the holidays can be very expensive so there's nothing better than being prepared for your vacation. That way, you know that you are sure to get the most out of it.

We're travelling to the Philippines next year so as early as now, we are asking friends back home the new must-see sites and restaurants to visit. Just thinking about it makes me excited all over again. :)

Cooling off

The heat down here has become quite unbearable at times. It looks like summer is slowly kicking in. We are more concerned of Erin because she gets really irritated and fussy when it gets too hot in the afternoons. Poor baby!

To solution the problem, we drove down to the mall yesterday to purchase another cooler for the house. It's pretty compact and even has a remote control. We're test running it now and so far, it has managed to keep ourselves cool and comfortable. I reckon the bigger challenge would be to test it at the height of summer. It's a good thing it has a one year warranty so just in case, it breaks down on us, we can easily have it replaced. :)

Discovering Oz

I have been residing in Australia for almost two years now. But I have not really seen much of it as all of my travels so far have been to Sydney and Canberra only. Motherhood has kept me from exploring all the other states. When Erin is a bit bigger though, we will make it a point to visit them.

We will definitely include the Gold Coast in our itinerary. Staying at one of the hotels in gold coast is ideal because most of the attractions (e.g. theme parks) are just a stone's throw away. We might also hop over to one of the hotels in surfers paradise because the beaches there are a must-see.

Adelaide, I heard, is also an interesting place to go to as they are famous for their wineries. We don't have any friends or relatives residing there so we will surely book a room at one of the hotels in adelaide.

Last on the list (but definitely not the least) is Perth. Some of J's friends say it's good place to live in, which got us quite curious. We'll get ourselves a room at one of those perth hotels so we can go around the place and see if what our friends say is true.

Gosh, lots of places to see but so little time!

Brand Tag

1) What’s the brand of your wristwatch? I hardly wear one these days. But if I had to, it's the Citizen watch my mom gave me in 1995.

2) What’s the brand of your bracelet? Don’t wear one

3) What’s the brand of your cell phone? Nokia

4) What’s the brand of your computer? J had it assembled so there's really not one brand. Our LCD monitor is by BenQ, our printer from HP and our webcam by Logitech.

5) What’s the brand of your bags? Marithe Francois Girbaud

6) What’s the brand of your undies? Some local ones from the Philippines. Others by Triumph, Target. I can't remember the rest!

7) What’s the brand of your flip-flops? Freeway

8) What’s the brand of your shoes? Nike, Celine

9) What’s the brand of your wallet? MFG, Something by Rusty Lopez

10) What’s the brand of your shirts? Bench, GAP, Penshoppe, Pink Soda, Miss Shop

11) What’s the brand of your TV? Samsung, Telefunken

12) What’s the brand of your cars? Toyota

13) What’s the brand of your mp3 player? Don't have one :P

14) What’s the brand of your make up? Covergirl, Maybelline and Chapstick

15) What’s the brand of your shampoo and conditioner? Dove

16) What’s the brand of your jeans? Bench, Penshoppe

17) What’s the brand of your laundry soap? Earth and Napisan for Babies

Alright, your turn! :)

Light up your life

It is amazing how light fixtures can affect the tone or mood of a room. I would definitely consider home lighting one of my top priorities when decorating or renovating a house.

I think the type of fixtures that you choose also reflects the personality of the home owner. For example, for the sophisticated one, you are sure to see some chandeliers in their home because of the elegance and class that this type of light exudes.

I am all for mood lighting too. As I am an emotional person, I go for whatever stuff that suits my mood.

Feast 169

Appetizer
What was your first “real” job?
My first real job was a summer job my brother R and I had back in the early 90's. We worked in our mom's repacking business doing admin stuff and also doing quality control work. We also stickered some labels. We were paid piece rate. I think I managed to earn Php 3,000 net. :)

Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?
I usually read up on current events or surf the net. Sometimes just having time alone jumpstarts the thinking process.

Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…
... my mom recalls stupid things I did when I was younger. I'd hate it especially if she told other people about it when I'm around. :(

Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?
Respect authority or your elders and to always have some pride in yourself. Never be a doormat to anyone.

Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years.
1) Remember Aquanet? Yup, I had made mountains out of molehills of my bangs. :P
2) Hgh-cut rubber shoes. Brands like Reebok and L.A. Gear were very famous for it.
3) Slumbooks or autograph books. Everyone in my class seemed to have one. It got passed around so everyone got to sign it.

Dream destination

It is no secret that Europe is on top of my list of dream destinations. The fact that there is so much history in that continent makes it all the more an interesting place to explore.

Our first stop would probably be England, being isolated on an island and all. We don't have any relatives there so it makes sense to book ourselves in one of the Hotels in London. Next is the mainland. Here we can go on road trips as countries sit side by side to each other. A definite stop-over would be Paris since we have relatives there. But so as not to be a nuisance to them, we'll just stay at one of the Hotels in Paris. We can then hop on to one of the Hotels in Berlin when we visit Germany. Also on our list is Spain. I have an uncle residing there, but, just the same, we'll get our own room at one of the Hotels in Barcelona.

That would be the perfect holiday. The only problem now is where to get the money to fund such a vacation. That is the big question!

Disheartening news

Have you heard the recent news about this pre-teen girl who committed suicide because of extreme poverty? *sigh* J told me about it last night as we were about to settle in bed. My heart broke again into a million little pieces, especially when I knew that they found a letter that she was writing for the show "Wish Ko Lang" underneath her pillow. According to the news, her parents parents have no permanent work and are reportedly earning P200 a week or P40 a day.

To take one's life is such an adult ting to do. But what would trigger a young, innocent girl to go down that path? It is times like this that I feel truly blessed for all that we have. The sad reality is, not all people are lucky to afford to go to school, to buy the things that they want, or even to eat 3 basic meals in a day. *sigh*

To point fingers or not, that is the question. I'd rather they do something to remedy the poverty situation in the Philippines fast before another similar incident takes place.

Related link:
Gov't takes responsibility for girl's suicide

Thoughts on the Elderly

Not all of us are lucky to have our families still care for us when we grow old. In the Philippines, it is part of our culture to have extended families all living under one roof so there is always someone who can look after the seniors in the family.

However, in most western countries, the opposite is true. Most of the elderly wind up in nursing homes because there is no one in their family who can take care of them. Others prefer this because they do not want to be a "burden" on their relatives. Others just want to be in the company of their peers.

I, personally, was raised on the idea that we are obligated to look after our parents when they grow old. It is what we Filipinos term it as "Debt of Gratitude." We believe that we are somehow indebted to our parents because they have gone through so much sacrifice when they took care of us as children. In other words, it is payback time.

I have nothing against people placing the elderly in homes. In fact, if it is for everybody's happiness, then I am all for it. To each his own I guess.

Wake-up Call

I just realized that I have technically less than a month left to complete my application for permanent residency. Oh dear! And I am nowhere near completion because there are still some paperwork to be done (statutory declarations and all). Not really my cup of tea, if you ask me. But, do I have any other choice than to do it? Nada! Tough luck! :(

Making Ends Meet

Have you ever been in a situation where you shopped quite a bit and when it was time to pay up, you opened your purse only to find out that you were short on cash? That would be some nightmare, I know. But I have been in such a situation before. It was good thing though that my mom was meeting up with me in a few minutes so I saved myself from the embarrassment.

In times when you are not so sure if you are going to make ends meet in terms of finances, it might be worth your while to consider getting Faxless Payday Loans. With the internet these days, you can apply for one online within minutes and you are on your way to probably getting that much needed financial help that you need. Let's face it. Not all of us are lucky or blessed to have a hefty savings account to speak of. Things like short-term loans are perfect because it can help us get through the financial bumps in our lives.

Nearing my goal

Ah yes, slowly (but surely!) I am nearing my ultimate goal for this Christmas. And that is to save up for a laptop so that I can bring it anywhere I want. It's hard to just stay put infront of your desktop PC when you've got a baby who's got a very short attention span. At least when I have the laptop already I can bring it to the bedroom with me while the little girl plays in our bed. (She enjoys playing there compared to playing in her portacot.)

Hooray for broadband!

Whoever thought of inventing broadband, in my book, is an absolute genius! I used to surf the internet on dial-up connection and at that time, it was pretty fine by me. But now that I have been using broadband, I don't think I could go back to dial-up anymore. The speed difference is just way too big!

When you are trying to decide which broadband isp to get, make sure to consider the maximum download allowances. If you are not into music or video downloads, then you can just get by with the cheapest plan there is. At BT broadband, there are several plans to choose from, depending on your needs. They even offer broadband calls, which is sure to save you heaps on your phone bills. If you need to contact their technical support team, they are available for you 24/7. They were voted Best ADSL Broadband for 2007 so you are sure of getting quality service from them.

That Time of the Month

This is definitely not my favorite time of the month. With raging hormones and all, you can bet your a$$ that I am nobody's bestfriend right now. I have the shortest of tempers and I can be very unforgiving. Last night, I cried out of sheer frustration. It was silly but to tell you the truth, it actually felt soooo good to release all those pent-up emotions. The tears just kept coming and coming. I was like a child who's favorite toy was taken away from her. I think J understood what I was going through because he just gave me a big warm hug when I came out of the toilet (my hiding place). Thank God for hubbies like J! :)

Told you so

I don't know if you have noticed already but I posted at last an entry that is proof of my recent submission of this site to those blog advertising companies. It is nothing new really, especially if you have been a regular internet surfer. I am sure you have seen sites by people who blog for money.

Yes, I did finally include this blog because of its quite good page rank, considering that it has not really been very active in a while. As I have mentioned before, it would be a total waste if I just left this unattended, when it could be another avenue for me to increase my chances of grabbing those paid post opportunities.

Getting paid to blog is a great way to earn extra cash if you are a stay-at-home parent like me. Even if I am stuck at home, I still get the chance to earn my keep, so to speak.

Post-wedding blues

I know our wedding was done more than a year ago, but frankly, I think I am still hung up on it. Every time someone we know is getting married, I get flashbacks from the past and always try to relate it to our wedding. It is not that I am unhappy about ours. Please don't get me wrong! I loved our wedding and would be glad to do it all over again (sans the expenses of course).

Our friend K and her husband A recenlty shared their wedding AVP and as usual, I got misty-eyed because their wedding was held at the same church and country club as ours was. It definitely brought back wonderful memories. I wish we could get married again, but it is quite too soon for that, eh? :P

For the player in you

I have never been a great risk taker especially when it comes to money. I was not born into a rich family so I had to save on cash whenever I can. But for those who can afford to spend a little money here and there and are into casino playing then you must check out topusaonlinecasinos.com.

It is basically a website which ranks online casinos according to several factors: ease of use, number of games, bonus size, customer support, deposit options, payout rate, and graphics. They are ranked by both professional poker and black jack players. So, you see, it is a good resource for those based in the US who are interested in finding out the best place where you can play these games of chance with others. And if you are really serious about improving on your game, you might find their resource page very useful in your efforts to be the best player that you want to be. The best part of it all is that it is free! What more can you ask for?

Life in a flash

This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds. To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance. A lifetime is a flash of lightning in the sky. Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.

~ Buddha

J told me about the recent car accident that Rene Saguisag was in. His wife died on the spot, when a big truck crashed into their vehicle a couple of days ago in Makati. Mr. Saguisag's condition is now stable but he continues to stay at the ICU.

Mrs. Saguisag was a breast cancer survivor, but lost her life in a senseless vehicular accident. You just never know when life is going to end for you eh? That is why we should always live each day to its fullest. Carpe diem!