Awards

 

I opened my WordPress dashboard and this award greeted me. Today is such a lovely Monday morning! First of all, I would like to acknowledge a truly great blogger and one of my favorites for giving me this award. Do pay her site a visit; its  ONLINE DATING JOURNAL . Take my word, her posts are worth reading specially for us all fun-fearless-fantabulously-wonderful women of this generation and you will surely follow to keep updated!

So here’s the thing: THE RULES

• Thank the person/people who nominated you and link back to them in your post.
• Share seven possibly unknown things about yourself.
• Nominate fifteen or so bloggers you admire.
• Contact the chosen bloggers to let them know and link back to them.

This is how I follow THE RULES:

• I am recommending my readers to check out my nominator and find out how awesome of a person she is and it is the least  of my only way to thank her.

Seven things about me:

 This blog is basically telling you all about me and my routine. I don’t think I will be able to share UNKNOWN things about my self. I have to discover them first.  Anything new? Well, let’s see….

- I’m still struggling to loose as much weight as I can. In fact, this issue isn’t even new at all. But, it is something I wish to constantly succeed and to maintain keeping the success.

- I still pretty much remember people’s birthdays- with or without the help of Facebook birthday reminder. I love greeting people on their birthdays. Life is good and we should live every bit of it to it’s fullest. An additional year means we lived the past year and will be looking forward to another year of great life. For the people who felt the past year was a mess, a birthday  will surely give hope to surpass it.

- I always thought motherhood is not for me and  believed I suck big  time portraying such role. Being a mom is the toughest job on Earth! I met other parents around my circle and I’ve heard the same struggles they went through everyday. To see other “horrible” kids’ attitude, harder to manage and control than my own kids’ made me realize that  I, after all did a pretty good job. So, Motherhood can be such a pain in the a**, but the self satisfaction it offers is the best and nothing comes close! (aside of course, great sex and love making with the one you love is also a thumbs-up in another category)

- I want to go back to school  but not sure what to study this time. I also wanted to learn more about  SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMAZION (SEO) and hopes to be really good at it. I’m currently searching for easy and free tutorials online. Recommendations? Anyone?

- Crazy for books- still is, and this isn’t new too.

- I envy craft genius people. They are such talented individuals with hands and minds that are so good with designs and ideas. Wish I can be one- trying but not happening,…never happened.

- I received a death-threat from a no-good jerk. The mean, worthless prick  was drunk and chose me of all people, who is half the globe away from him, who almost never interacts with him, as a target for such dumb bull shitting over Facebook Private Messages. Talking about cyber-bullying! I blocked him already. Lesson learned, even if the person was a good acquaintance or you may have shared a joke or two in the past, if they are known to be such an a**h**le most of the time, NEVER EVER add them as friends or accept friend requests because once a retard will always stay retarded for the rest of their life.(pardon me for all the not-so-impressive adjectives, I can’t help it.)

Here are the top-15 bloggers that I come to love.

• On Chocolate Hill – authored by my gradeschool and high school friend, Marj.
• Micanonymous – Fellow Filipina – smart, modern and young feminist
• My Story to You – first ever WordPress follower and friend- Andy
• The laughing Housewife – Tillybud’s hilarious posts.
• Three Months to Forty – Sill_G’s single woman stories
• OhmyGawd, just do what I say – musings on life , family and friendship
• What I mean to Say – Mrs. Cap’n Firepants’ blog
• Guapola – authored by El Guapo (the handsome)
• The tale of my Heart – love and life straight from the heart
• Young Force – voice of the youth by one and only Tagum City pride- Vince
• Hobbling Around – Mrs.Hobbles, she usually has her own version of blogger awards but she is in my top-15.
• Hot Chocolate and Books – fellow booklover
• Pasta for One – Cakes McCain’s Italian adventure
• The Way I live naturally – young at heart Shira
• Morning Erection – who doesn’t love one? , Check out Mr. Tom Baker

I constantly follow more than just these fifteen bloggers. I can list them all and make my blog the directory of awesome bloggers. Yes, I can go on. For now, pay these sites a visit!

Once again, Thanks!

my 100th post

 

To celebrate my 100th post for WordPress, I would like to thank thee my dear readers. My subscribers and supporters, fellow bloggers who turn into friends and old friends who are now fellow bloggers….You are my inspiration!

I signed up for WordPress as my previous blog site has blocked me due to an unbelievable violation on the terms and conditions of the site. I have opted to keep my blog site private and according to them(I would rather not mention the blogsite) I violated the rights of publication. Whatever it is, and whatever that means I really don’t know. As far as I am concern, It is the prerogative of the writer/blogger to make his/her posts published and available to the public. One thing I am sure of, I am glad of  that incident lead me to WordPress and deciding to publish my posts is one of the things I will never regret doing. The experience is remarkable and the opportunity to interact with other amazingly talented writers and bloggers  is such an honor.

My WordPress family as I call you all…. Thank You  once again!

Related articles

• Hello WordPress.com! (karenhobi.wordpress.com)
• Why WordPress? (creatingyourselfatthetop.com)
• Just Curious… (teenagejesusfreak.wordpress.com)

Package Delivery

 

For over a month, I wasn’t able to go to Davao City, my schedule was just fully booked to do that hour or so bus ride. Feeling anxious to get my hands on those books I wanted from the favorite bookstore, which I wasn’t able to do too not unless I will go to Davao City, I kept myself busy with the computer. I discovered National Bookstore Online and Fully Booked Online. Two of the biggest and most visited bookstores in the country. I was like, “ How come I didn’t know this site existed?” Excited by the newly discovered convenience in book shopping, it made me even happier because the online shopping is powered by myregalo.com- it’s like the Amazon for the Philippines and in addition, they accept Gcash and Smart Money as a mode of payment aside from the well- known credit card charging or ATM card debit. You’ve just got to love www.myregalo.com. To make the long story short, I got this on the mail today delivered by 2GO courier service! Yeheey!

My week started good I can say hoping all goes well for the days ahead. Christmas indeed is for children young and old, specially if older children(like myself?) would get packages like this on the mail even though they got it for themselves!

Happy Reading!

Greetings from Tagum City’s HOLIDAY TREE

 

Tagum City. My hometown. Couple of years back, the  ceremony for the Official Lighting of the Christmas Tree would always get the Tagum City people excited for many reasons. Personally, I feel that it is like an opening ceremony for the the coming holidays. For many Tagumeños, this 108.60 feet structure made up of colorful lights has become the city’s holiday icon. This year, the famous Holiday Tree of Tagum City came to life last November 16,2011 in a heartwarming ceremony attended by almost five thousand Tagumeños and visitors from neighboring towns.

      During the Lighting of the Holiday Tree Ceremony- November 16,2011

There’s 26 days more to go before Christmas Day! My beloved Tagum City, known to be  the Palm City of the South and the nation’s music capital is wishing Happy Holidays Philippines and Seasons Greetings to the world!

Please Visit:

 

City of Tagum Official Website

Happy Sunday with Dancing Sales Associates

Sunday. After my daughter’s piano lessons we went to Gaisano Grand Mall to get some essentials. Little did I know, a reader will greet me. Stepping out from the escalator on the third floor we ran into Miss Tess. She greeted my daughter since it has been awhile since they last seen each other and told me she likes to read my posts and she is a follower of my blog. That is something I wasn’t really expecting. I was happy and beaming. Once again, deciding to publish my blog instead of keeping it private like I used to wasn’t so bad after all.

To Miss Tess, a heartfelt thank you for subscribing and for the support.

Surprises didn’t just end there. On our way out from the department store, I heard a sudden change of music from the background. I noticed all the sales associates get into some sort of formation and guess what? They danced!

Dancing Sales Associates of Gaisano Grand Mall Tagum City

Sorry for the poor video quality. Recorded it from my cellphone and my daughter happens to be the one holding the device. We can’t find a good spot to stay still without getting in the way of traffic from the people getting in and off the escalator and still be able to record the dancing beauties

It wasn’t my first time to see sales associates dancing. The NCCC Mall of Tagum Sales Associates have done it for years. Maybe, I was just in a joyful mood that I paused and spend couple of minutes of my precious time to actually watch them dancing. In fairness, I was entertained. I realized, this is just one among the thousands of Filipino’s joyful ways. I haven’t been to other countries except for Saudi Arabia and I know I will never see dancing sales associates ever in that country because I see that place  is rich in “anti-social happiness” act.

I have heard of Cebu Pacific’s dancing flight attendants  also, though I haven’t seen them dance in any of my trips flying with the said airline. The dancing traffic enforcers will add to the list too, together with the dancing in-mates and many more. Known to the world, Filipinos are naturally joyous and talented and creative.

The dancing sales associates, one of a kind, originally Pinoy! Only in the Philippines!

after the chaos is more chaos

 

The holiday is over. Everything is going back to normal. The kids are back to school after their short “sem-break” and at the same time “Undas holiday.” The house will once again have its temporary solitude and me…. I am left with all the chaos to get tidied before this day end.

If it is exhausting to prepare for holidays and special occasions, I realized that it is even more bone breaking and stressful to tidy up the chaos after. I wish somebody is kind enough to step up and volunteer to do all of this for me. Since I have become a stay-at-home mother (rather a housemaid, ha! ha!- yep! I called myself that!) I can’t think of anybody to be the volunteer but no other than myself!

First stop: CLEANING

and cook before the “brat and brattet” will be home for lunch. Oh! by the way, that is mine and my husband’s term for our little ones- “brat and brattet”. Somewhere in between, I will and must find time to do laundry and ironing! Wheew!

The chaos after all the chaos or in other terms called post-holiday stress? But then again, every stay-at-home mothers(or even the working moms) are having this kind of chaos every time, post-holiday or not.

So today,

I will dedicate myself to become domesticated and my timer starts NOW!

Good luck Puddinggirl!

**illustrations from the web

Born to Run

 

I started joining fun runs early this year. I’m not a pro in running but I enjoy doing it. A very dear friend of mine Reverie Llanes-Aniñon told me to get this book about running which she and her hubby has been reading. Rev,has been my long-distant-walking-book-review-adviser. She is 10x more of a book worm as I am. I recall college days when we spent out mall hours digging books on any book sale we can find or killing time browsing the books trying to get free-reads on book shops. She told me the book was truly inspiring and she will share thoughts with me about it once I’m done reading it. I promised her I will get the book as soon as I can and true to my words, I purchased one:

BORN TO RUN

A Hidden Tribe , Superathletes  and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen

by Christopher McDougall

Category: Sports;Memoirs

Published by: Vintage Books a division of Random House ,Inc

New York

First Vintage Books Edition,March 2011

I walked inside the bookstore, normally, I will stop at the first shelf of books and work my way to the last shelf browsing and reading back covers. This time, I knew what I wanted and I went straight to the bookstore associate. I asked if they have available copy of BORN to RUN by Christopher McDougall and the lady told me there’s two left. As soon as she handed me a copy I smiled, held it in my hands like a priced possession and went straight to the counter to pay for it. Normally  once again, I will never  walk to the counter to pay for a book not until I have my arms loaded with books that I want and has to stare at them for almost an hour before I will  decide which one I would take home and the ones I need to come back for.

Since it was getting late, I haul my self to a bus before the rush hour. Sitting at the bus, I tore open the package and signed my name on the first page with a date. I always do this on all my books so I can remember when I got them. I wasted no time flipping the pages and started reading.

Running. Why do humans run? Do they have to? Why does animals do the same? Do they really have to? Christopher McDougall’s story, a.k.a “El Oso”(the bear) is not just incredible. It will not only engage our mind but inspire our body the moment we realize that you, in fact all of us were BORN to RUN.  As humans, we are designed to have two lower extremities not only for the sake of posture or form. These extremities we called legs and feet are designed to walk, swim, jump, leap gallop…. RUN.

As I was reading each and every page , chapter by chapter I had lots of realizations on why we are all born to run. *"We run when we’re scared, we run when we’re ecstatic, we ran away from our problems and run around for a good time, and when things look worst we run the most*” The book featured not only the world’s champions and ultra runners but the most distinguished experts and researchers, the respected sports medical specialist as well as the giant sports shoe companies that up to this date are still working hard to find solutions and remedies on how to avoid fatal running injuries which basically pushed El Oso to this epic adventure that began with his one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? Aside from these known personalities in the running industry, this adventure lead them to the hidden tribe of super athletes isolated by Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons, the fascinating Tarahumara Indians who have the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. They are The Running People sans expensive designer running shoes, sans training, sans stretching and warm-ups prior to race, sans power bars and energy drinks.

What made me love this book?

With this book, I realized I made the right choice purchasing barefoot minimalist shoes.Ha! Ha!… It’s pretty obvious I love this weird-looking toe-shoes called Vibram Five Fingers as I have mentioned in my previous blog. Naturally, a human don’t need  shoes to run good. According to Barefoot Ted “*our feet follows the concept of bricolage—that less is more,the best solution is the most elegant. Why add something when you are born with everything you need*” I have been using it for months, I got myself two pairs and I seldom suffer from leg cramps lately. I guess it is working good for  me.

On one of my recent blog To Do List, losing weight and working out is my To Do list that I can’t seem to finish off. Hopefully, as inspired as I am with this book, I will be able to mark it done by RUNNING. “* If you’re tougher than you think you are, and you can do more than you think you can*”. So, there is nothing impossible. I will run and I can be good if I want to. “*You don’t’ have to be fast, you’d better be fearless*” . I’m fearless enough alright. I know I am. Slowly but surely. I don’t have to go speeding off right away. I am walking now as much as I can and so is my friend Rev. According to the phantom Caballo Blanco’s lessons on running, just think of these four words EASY, LIGHT, SMOOTH and FAST. “* start with EASY, if that’s what you get, that’s not so bad. Make it LIGHT- effortless,don’t give a sh*t on how high the hill is or how far you will go. SMOOTH- smooth enough your embracing running that you forgot you’re practicing the first two words. FAST- get those first three and one will be FAST in no time*” Four words to remember and master. That would be easy. For us who are now inspired that we can be ultra runners (wishful thinking  ), to truly conquer something is to truly love it. Way to go Rev! Who knows?, We will be cruising with the Raramuri someday!

As I closed the book , few of El Oso’s words remain to linger on my mind. “Nothing works out according to plan but it always work out” Well then, I may still won’t be able to mark running as done on my To Do list soon but  definitely, I will be running.

“* When you run on the earth and you run with the earth, you can run forever!”

Happy Reading!

^{*lines from the book}

^{Read More:}

- Second Wind (
http://caloybsecondwind.blogspot.com/
)

- Iron Jonas (
http://ironjonas.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/34-miles-in-90-hours/
)

- Running with Lobos (
http://ironjonas.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/34-miles-in-90-hours/
)

- Running Inspired Blog (
http://runninginspired.wordpress.com/
)

- FatSmokerIronMan (
http://fatsmoker2ironman.com/
)

-

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Check out related YouTube video clips:

Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon in Born to Run–Actual Photos during the race by barefoot Ted.

 

Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon–Taken two-days before the race when the participants walked the first section of the course together–by barefootTed

 

Featuring the Super athletes of Sierra Madre , the Tarahumaras with the phantom himself Caballo Blanco

To Do: Finish it or Do write it again!

What is that one thing  you can’t seem to scratch off your to-do list?

To-do list book.

I started making a “To-Do” list when I was in college. Back then, everything listed gets done. For some time when I just started working I get rid of making a “To-Do” list. The reason?.. I simply don’t know. Maybe I got too occupied with the thrill of being a young career woman and wrapped myself in a whirlwind of events that a “To-Do” list don’t seem necessary or was just forgotten and ignored. Then I got myself a level-up on a job and worked overseas as a Medical Laboratory Science Officer particularly in a Blood Bank Department. I undergo a tough training that was focused on quality control. Efficiency on the job wasn’t just a target and preference but a command for every Blood Bank Staff. The department has different checklist for whoever is working on a particular shift. It served as a guide to avoid making mistakes and forgetting to do what needs to be done that would result to compromising the entire workflow of the department or in some cases the hospital’s. Experiencing the organized system with the checklist, I decided to make a “To-Do” list once again. Aside from our usual 8-hour or 12-hour shift at around four-five times in a week ,there is really nothing much to do when you are in a place where it is prohibited to have fun. Since going out of the prison-like accommodation is limited, we make ourselves busy with cooking, reading, laundry, TV, getting online to keep in touch with family back home, marking Xs on the calendar towards your next vacation, budgeting your hard earned money left because a large part of it belongs to the remittance center sent back home, there isn’t really a long list to write on my so-called “To-Do” list. We spend our time most on cooking then as a result we gained weight and a plan to lose weight gained is some thing I was never be able to scratch off and marked DONE on my “To-Do” list.

I ended my contract and came home. I am now a full-time, stay-at-home mom and my habit of making and following my “To-Do” list really help. As

I go over my note pad which I call my Power-Notebook ,one thing has never get marked as done and would always end up listed on the next page. I am alternately writing in on the top, in the middle or last on every list I wrote. The familiar “take a walk”, “run”, “work-out”, “no-rice day”, “no-SODA today” were the written always like the rest such as “pay the bills”, “make a reviewer for Wine”, “Check pointers for kids exam” but unlike the latter my lose-weight plans list doesn’t have a tick, a scratch, a check but instead….it will end up listed on the next page like an endorsement.

Do you have something that you can’t seem to scratch off your To-DO list?

Gift Ideas for Christmas–#3

 

I started Gift Ideas for Christmas because I am oh so ready to be festive! I was thinking of our dear youngsters when I wrote the two previous posts. I didn’t get to shop before my birthday but I don’t mind it. Surfing the net this morning, I came across a couple of pretty stuff and honestly I wasn’t thinking of anyone but myself to have this “pretty stuff” I am talking about. This batch of Gift Ideas for Christmas will be good for your wives, girlfriends, lady boss, moms, sisters, aunts, and of course for me!( advance thank you! ha! ha!)

 

LV – Monogram Canvass           Softsided Luggage

 

Perfect for travelling that is why I want it!!!

 

Polaroid SUNCOVERS

My Auntie Inday from Canada gave me a pair about 4 years ago, I used them everyday since it is always sunny in Saudi Arabia. It broke because its too worn out and she gave me another one last year. I am noticing the scratches on the lenses lately and I know this pair will soon retire. Polaroid Suncovers is one of the things I can’t live without because it is perfect for my eyeglasses which I can’t live without as well. I can’t find this kind here in the Philippines.

 

      WONDERSTRUCK Perfume by Taylor Swift

I just want to add this to the collection. Besides, I love the girl and her talent!

 

 

  

  P U L S E    The Electric New Fragrance by  BEYONCE 

The bottle is pretty, and I don’t have any of Beyoncé’s perfume yet, so for the sake of collection…I want to have one.(wish wearing this scent would make me look like Beyoncé on that picture)

 

 

 

 

  

DIGITAL PICTURE FRAMES

Because I love family pictures and I love looking at them.. could any of the two or both from Sony Erickson or Samsung

 

 

  Kitchen Stand-Mixers – Just because I am a mom and a wife and baking and cooking comes with the job description. I guess I need one of the perfect and important tool to make me play the role better.

 

Well,… I hope I gave you ideas! How I wish I will find all of these under the tree or inside my stockings on the wall on Christmas day. I surely  won’t mind at all!  I promise to post more of what I can find.

Happy Reading!

Moms and Magnolia Chicken

 

I actually saw this TV commercial first before the other one (Surrogate-Best Daddy is Mommy) which I wrote something about the other day. I was watching the prime time soaps and this came on during the break. I could give a standing ovation to the very person who come up with this advertising design. Lately, I am impressed with Magnolia’s recent advertisements. It is realistic, timely and most of all it made viewers like me relate to the commercial scene.

Curious?

Check this out!

Robot Scene:

 

I was teary eyed after seeing this for the first time. Why? Because this TV-ad was actually the scene at my house a couple of minutes before this came on our TV screen.  I was screaming and frustrated and telling my children to clean up their mess of toys that made the room looked like a typhoon had just went by. I can actually hear myself and its more like bitching! I rolled my eyes at my kids and sat in front of the TV screen to watch the prime time soaps trying to calm myself while my kids were cleaning up. What made it similar to the scene was my daughter handed me my glasses because she knew I needed it to watch TV. I was touched and kinda guilty for all the screaming I did on them. I told her to sit beside me and we will watch together. She smiled and told me she will be back as she needs to help her brother put all their toys away. As she turned going back to what she was doing was the time the commercial came on.

I know its not only me who got affected and who can relate with this TV-ad. I know that some mothers out there got teary-eyed like me watching this. Mothers as we are, we may be able to get really frustrated and bitchy but it doesn’t mean we don’t love our children, in fact we do ……a whole lot ! To non-mothers who can relate to the clip may have seen themselves when they were small. Little did we know someone out there have exactly have the same scene in their memory.

A mother’s love… can be express in both hateful and loving words. Whatever those words are, a mother’s love is always pure and indescribable!