Merrymaking during the Yuletide Season

I'm so excited. Christmas is one of the many occasions that I always look forward to every year. It is the time of the year when I feel so blessed. It gets me very excited every time Christmas is nearing. As early as September, I already start planning for the gifts that I will buy for my family and friends because I don't want to go through the hassle of the holiday rush. For me, there are many reasons why I always look forward for Christmas and I can enumerate a handful of things. First on my list would be the parties that I will be attending. I'm pretty sure that one of the highlights in every Christmas party is the exchange of gifts. Every time I look for the best gifts I always go to this specialty store in one of the malls near our place that sells a variety of gifts for every occasion. Name it, you get it. You can check unique gift ideas for weddings, christening, Christmas, valentines and birthdays including 50th birthday gift ideas. Second reason is the long vacation I have that I can spend with my family and friends. Usually, we have our high school class reunions every December in time for the holiday season. This is a well-planned activity so that everybody can attend. Also included in my list are the very sinful foods. I have this feeling that I have the license to eat anything I want without the guilt of adding up few pounds on my weight. I always rationalize that I can go on a stricter diet by the start of the year. I also make it a point to hear mass on Christmas Eve. It has been our tradition, then after which we have a get together at home. The list can go on, but these are just a few of the things that I look forward to every yuletide season.

Souvenir Shops

This is beyond my expectation. With patience and determination, at last I have established quite a number of loyal clients for my online accessory business. Within 3 months time, there is a return of investment already. Thus, my next move would be to put up a local shop where clients can actually see and buy the products. I decided to start in the province where competition is not that tough. One potential location I consider suitable is along the barangay road. Unfortunately, one prospect is also eyeing for the space since it is strategically located. His is a souvenir shop intended not only for tourists, but for local residents as well. Items include 25th anniversary gifts, wedding tokens, and the likes. Poor me, I have to look for another site where I can display my stuffs. I'm so excited that I can't wait to do some sort of interior decorating and beautification. Everything must be ready prior to the grand opening. Wish me luck!

Hand-made Business

My new baby; fashion accessories. While as I was busy doing my hand-crafted headbands; my cousin-in-law called me up and asked for assistance. He has accepted job-out orders from factories catering big companies. Since they are quite anxious as to meeting the deadline due to bulk orders, they decided to hire additional manpower to finish the stuffs. The task involved is quite simple, which is just incorporating wallet inserts into leather wallets. Thus, I immediately called our tailor neighbor for quotation. Luckily, he agreed and even gave us the cheapest rate available. Now that I have done my part, I need to finish my own business and come up with new ideas for my accessories. Although we make different products; yet, it boils down into one common denominator - survival. Life is just a matter of how you find ways and means in order to meet your needs. As long as it does not make you less of a person; then, there is nothing to worry about.

My Favorite Time of the Year

Everybody loves this time of the year. I can smell the crispness of the yuletide breeze. People tend to become jolly every time this season comes. Maybe it's because of the Christmas songs that filled the air everywhere you go. What I like most about it is the food preparation aside from the giving of gifts of course. I just love to bake; although, I don't have much time doing it lately. Thus as early as now, I already have a long list of goodies to make. One of my favorites is the carrot cake since it is nutritious and my daughter requests for it. She also does the shredding portion because for her it's just like playing. For us, it seems that there is some sort of magic during this time because the feeling is contagious. In fact, a lot of us have started buying presents for our loved ones to take advantage of various mall sales. Everybody is in the mood for it; thus, excitement overflows.

Nothing to Lose

I spend most of the time at home with the family watching television because its vacation time. After which, I see to it that my daughter takes a nap every afternoon in order to maximize growth spurt. At her age, I think she is smaller than the average children; thus, I worry a lot for her sake. Although my husband is tall, I won't take chances by not doing anything to support her at this crucial stage. Thus, I resort to various options that claims therapeutic effect whether medical or herbal remedies. I remember there is this show in one of the TV stations featuring newly discovered products. One is for growth enhancement applicable even for adults at their 30's. Not only that, other merchandise like skin care products particularly moroccan oil, skin ink, stretch mark remover are also present. Though I'm not sure about its effectiveness, still there is nothing to lose. At least, I've tried for the sake of my baby.

Family Should Be on Top of the List

Put your family on top of the list. Since semestral break is here at last, this time I make it a point to spend it purely with the family. With all the stress that has come our way, we deserve to loosen up. Our target destination is the hometown of my hubby. Since this is situated several kilometers away from the city, we can be assured of a tranquil ambiance. While chilling out at the seashore one starry night, we decided to take a quick plunge at the cool waters. It was so refreshing; thus, we stayed there for quite a while. Since it was getting late already, I asked everybody to get out and rinse. Because I savored every moment, I didn't notice that my skin and hair has become dry. Good thing I brought with me St. Ive's body lotion and organic moroccan oil for hair. At least, I won't have to deal that much with dryness. Although it was just a short vacation, we had a great fun. Everybody went home with a smile on their faces. It just shows that what matters most is how you spend quality time and not how often you bond with each other.

Hectic Schedule

No time to unwind. I was very busy lately with various stuffs like real estate review classes, wedding planning, and tutorials for my daughter; thus, I wasn't able to check my mails for a couple of days. To my surprise, I got almost 100 unread messages in just 3 days. When I go through it, I noticed that most are generated emails from several physical therapy websites offering jobs in different states. I don't know where they got my address, but in fairness to them they are every good at locating professionals through online directories. Anyways since I still have other things to do like making more customized headbands for my "soon to open accessory shop", I immediately signed out without delay as soon as I finished emptying the bulk and spam folders. I hope and pray that this business will prosper since every single penny earned here will be set aside for my daughter's savings account. Wish me luck!

Reading and Learning

I miss strolling at the mall. Going to the mall is one of my favorite past times, but due to hectic schedule I haven't been there for quite some time now. Good thing my friend asked me to accompany her to the mall for a job interview. There's an ongoing job fair that time; thus, she wanted me to go with her so that we can also watch a movie after. I agreed to meet her at the bookshop to check for new releases while waiting. I would always make sure I can grab one each month to add to my collection. As far as I can remember, reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies since grade school. Back then, there was a mini library in one corner of our classroom wherein there are plenty of storybooks to read on. Our teacher encouraged us to browse those reading materials to improve on our reading skills. So every afternoon before going home, instead of playing along with my classmates I would sit and read even when alone. Doing this almost every day made me finished all the available books. I've read them over and over again to the point of memorizing quite a number of lines. Whenever I have nothing else to do, I would always find something to read on whether a newspaper or a magazine. I always believe that acquiring new information is just like feeding your brain with the necessary nutrients it needs. On our way to the venue, we noticed people falling in line in the lobby instead at the conference hall. When I asked them what's the line for, a guy informed us that they are job ticket holders waiting for their final interview. He also advised us to go directly to the registration booth for the application form of the first timers. After two hours of waiting, she was finally interviewed and luckily got her first job. To celebrate her success, we went right away to the movie house as agreed earlier.

Me and My Gadget

It's just me and my gadget. These past few weeks, my laptop has been my constant companion. I now consider it as one of my best friends. I would say this is one of the many things in this modern world that I come to love each and every day. After winning an iPod in the raffle draw in one of the malls in our area, I was able to appreciate technology more and more. Since it's very handy for me to bring along my new gadget anywhere I go, I can easily browse the net wherever I have access to a wireless connection. Of course, I am aware that having easy access has its own advantages and disadvantages. But weighing those things, I would still say the former outweighs the latter. For sure others would disagree with me, because responsibility must also come with it so as not to create problems. At present, I can do things easily and more efficiently. I can update my status in social networking sites, check for the latest songs and movies, and even check for restaurants online. The last time I browse the net, I chanced upon an ad about a property in Tangier that is on sale. It's a great buy because of its location. It is sold at a very reasonable price because the owners are leaving the place; thus, they want to dispose it as soon as possible. My point is being technologically updated has lots of benefits. Even booking a ticket is not a problem anymore. It is so convenient that I just sit around and let my fingertips do all the work. As long as it won't harm me or other people, I will surely love using this device.

Skin Art

Down and bedridden. Being in the bed for three days now is such a boring thing. Fever, headache, muscle pain, and diarrhea; all these made me incapacitated. I can hardly move because my skin is painful to touch. Thus to alleviate my condition a bit, I managed to update my social networking account. By looking at the pictures of someone you know is like connecting with them at a distance. What caught my attention was a group of teenagers who happen to be the cousins of my friend. Their entire bodies are full of tattoos. I can directly say that they are Troubled Teens because of the way carry their selves. Although these are referred to as skin art; yet too much of it is unsightly. The new generations like to explore on what they call as latest trends. This is their way of expressing their feelings. Good thing such is uncommon in our clan or else I will surely freak out.

Successive Tropical Storms

With the successive typhoons visiting the country, I feel like this is too much of a burden for the victims. News reports show that thousands of families are affected. Little ones as well as the old suffer most. It melts my heart knowing this will not be the last. As December approaches, more tropical depressions and tropical storms are yet to come. While the entire area has been extremely devastated due to strong wind and flood, their agony has not yet stopped until there. Diseases that are water-related are adding insult to injury because it made the situation even worst. They can't even go to the nearest hospital since the vicinity is also submerged in water. Since the evacuation centers are already overcrowded, some opt to stay on the streets with their makeshifts. Good thing there are private institutions who donated shed kits for their convenience. I sincerely pray that everything will be fine and that new hope will be shining upon them.

Going Through and Getting Out of Depression

It's very alarming to know that there are increasing cases of depression nowadays. What alarms me most is that a friend of mine called me up recently telling me she is very depressed. She feels like life is not worth living anymore especially now that she's been through a lot these past few weeks. Death in the family, losing her job and marital problems are just few of the reasons why she feels depressed. She called me up because she needs somebody to talk to; somebody who will listen and not judge her. So I vowed to help her in any way I can. In order for me to be able to know more how depression develops and how it can be avoided and treated, I have to read as much articles as I can so that I will be able to give the best possible help I can. As I was browsing the net for articles about depression and I chanced upon a recently published article about new discoveries regarding Lyme disease. I did not pay much attention to it though because I'm not very familiar with the disease. Aside from that, it was not my primary intention for browsing. Through reading articles, I now understand how the condition works and how complications develop because of it. It's so alarming that serious complications like diseases can develop if a person is depressed. I also learned the obvious and atypical signs and symptoms of depression and how to be able to recognize them. Knowing all these things, I am more confident now that I can be of better help to my friend. I'm already planning to set up a meeting with her so that we can talk about what she's going through and how we can find ways to divert her attention and not dwell much on her problems. I'm looking forward to seeing her get out of her present condition and survive all the trials she's going through right now.

Dinner for a Cause

I'm so excited for the coming weekend because I received a call from one of my closest friends who is very active in charitable works. She invited me to their "dinner for a cause" on Saturday, which will be held in one of the fanciest restaurants in the city. The proceeds of the said dinner will go to their funds that will be used for various medical missions. Aside from the fact that I will be able to help by participating, I also look forward to meeting other people and gain new friends. I also plan to volunteer in their next medical mission; hence, this would be a good start for me.  As human beings, I feel we have a moral obligation to help each other in any way we can. This would be a good outlet for me to extend a helping hand to the needy ones. Just thinking about it makes me all the more excited. In the meantime, I'm very busy preparing and deciding which dress to wear for the occasion.  After giving much thought on what to wear, I finally decided to settle on an elegant black little dress I have that goes perfectly well with the formal dinner. After that I turned on the television to let time pass by. And guess what, as I tuned in to my favorite channel I saw an advertisement of pressure washers arizona that features two grumpy old men demonstrating the product.  It was so hilarious that I can't help but laugh out loud. After a while I turned off the television to take a short nap. However, I can't do so because the thought automatically pops out of my mind every time I close my eyes. I'm looking forward to it already. Until the next update.

Learning to Appreciate Life

Appreciating life's worth. More than a week ago, I attended the death anniversary of our grandfather in one of the cemeteries in Cebu. Relatives and close friends gathered together for a mass. It was followed by a simple dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. On our way there, we saw a salesman demonstrating to a group of people how to use portable pressure washer. For whatever purpose it may serve the memorial park that I do not know. At first, I thought there was a commotion; thus, I was quite apprehensive when I saw the large crowd. I really can't help it every time I encounter occurrences that involve rumbling and fighting. It just makes me nervous maybe because of the experiences I had when I was still a child. Anyways, a very important lesson I learned is that life is too short, so we should learn to appreciate and make the most out of it. Do not wait for the person to pass away before you express how much you love them. Although death is also a celebration of life since it brings the family closer; still, there is nothing happier than to have an intact family full of love and affection. So start it now and waste no time.

Losing a Loved One

Losing someone close to you is one the most painful experience a person can bear. I recently experience that kind of pain because I lost a very dear friend due to a tragic accident. It's been a couple of days now since her passing, but I'm still grieving for her loss. I'm still in the process of accepting the fact that she is no longer around. We can no longer talk, hang out, eat together or watch movies together. The last time we talked was two weeks ago and she promised to treat me for lunch because I was not able to attend to her husband's birthday party. We agreed to meet one day and have lunch and probably watch a movie together as this has been our favorite past time. People going through the same thing I'm going through right now have different ways of showing their pain and grief. I know grieving persons go through different phases of grief and so am I. I'm doing my best to face and accept the truth that she is no longer here for me. It's just that every time I'm alone, the emptiness automatically sets in. But I know I will eventually get over this. In order not to feel depressed, I keep myself busy by surrounding myself with people who are willing to listen and support me. I'm just so lucky that I have friends like them.  Amidst all the pain, I received a call from a friend who is now based abroad inviting me to pay her a visit to forget the trauma. I learned that she is now working as a receptionist in Car Rental Australia. I wish I could fly there soon, but I know I still have to secure some documents. I'm looking forward to it already. Hope it will help me forget.

Enjoying the Freedom of Being on My Own

Independence is indeed a big thing. Finding a new place to settle down, whether buying a new house or renting a new apartment can mean many things. It can mean a new beginning for some or it can also mean independence for others. Just like looking for a Boarding School, looking for a new place to stay is sometimes stressful. Before you decide the place to live in, you have to consider many factors. Among the very important things you need to consider in choosing a place to live in could include the following: proximity of the location to your workplace, or to your children's school, or to the supermarket, availability of transportation and many other things. More importantly, you should also consider the safety of the neighborhood and the location. I once experienced this when I first moved out from my parents' house to be on my own. That was when I got my first job. I was so excited at first because I thought it would be the best time to prove to myself and to my family that I can already stand on my feet and look after my needs. And I thought I would be enjoying my independence for the first time. But the move was not that easy at all. I had a hard time finding the right place for me. It took me a week before I decided to get that apartment that was close to my workplace then. I was so lucky I have friends who helped me during the actual move. The first few days were the busiest because I had to arrange my things, decide on which furniture to buy, linens to use and all those stuffs. After accomplishing all those things, it was only then that I started enjoying my sense of independence. But it was not easy at all; thus, I thanked God I survived.

My Most Treasured Gifts

For many people, friendship is one of life's precious gifts that is worth treasuring. I only have a handful of friends which I really consider true friends. The reason why I only have few true friends is that I'm not the type who just collects without screening. I do believe friendship is not measured by the number of friends you have. I am very meticulous when it comes to choosing my buddies. I have to observe first and prove that he or she is worthy of my friendship. I categorize friends depending on the impact that person has in my life. But once I consider you as my friend, I will be your friend for the rest of my life and I will do everything to make you feel that you are not only my friend but my family as well. I will make an extra effort to keep the friendship alive. For me, one way to keep the friendship strong is constant communication. To keep in touch with my friends, I often text or call them just to check on them. One time, I phoned my friend who is now based in Nevada working as a physical therapist just to greet her on her birthday. She was so excited upon hearing my voice. She also shared her excitement because she received an invitation from the California Physical Therapy Board to attend in their annual convention. We talked for more than an hour making up for the lost time. Although distance keeps us away, that doesn't change the friendship at all. Communication is still there no matter what happens. That's why I won't trade my friends for anything else in this world because I consider them my best gifts.

Travel and Fun

I accompanied my cousin yesterday afternoon to the airport to fetch her best friend who flew in from Australia for a short visit before proceeding to Paris for her next work assignment. She is planning to stay only for a week so we have to maximize her short stay. My cousin invited me to go with them, so that I can help her organize their activities. Being the organizer that I am, I agreed to plan and make an itinerary for her vacation. It's a fun-packed week and I know she will truly enjoy all the activities that are in store for her. As we waited in the airport for her arrival, I busied myself reading my favorite book. I'm so hooked with it that I bring the book anywhere I go so that I can read it if I have a chance. As I sat there reading, my cousin was just listening to her favorite songs on her ipod. It's her way of fighting boredom. After about an hour of waiting, we saw a group of tourists emerged from the arrival area and two people approached them offering car rental deals. I did not mind them that much because a few moments later, I saw my cousin's best friend waving at us. At last, our long wait is over. We made our way to her and helped carry one of her luggage and then went straight to the hotel where she will stay. After dropping her things at her room, we went to a nearby mall to have something to eat. We capped the night by drinking coffee in my favorite coffee shop before heading back to the hotel to rest. I'm so looking forward to our first adventure in a while.

Restoration Mission

Time to do repairs. My uncle owns a resort in one of the towns in the Philippines. This has been operating for quite some time now. Since it is exposed to various elements such as heat, sun, and breeze; wear and tear is expected with the passage of time. The area that is mostly affected is the kitchen and dining area because these are the ones that are not enclosed. In other words, they are out in the open unlike the rooms, which have clear divisions. Because our main objective here is to attract clients including foreigners, it is a must to keep it in good shape at all times. Since I am the in-charged with the marketing, I need to come up with an effective idea so as not to cripple the sales. Although maintenance is quite costly, there is nothing we can do but to upgrade our amenities to make it competitive. Hence before we commenced with the renovation proper, I make it a point to canvass first to get the best value for the money. I browsed for various kitchen remodeling contractors through the net for comparison. Apart from it, I also searched for modern materials that may complement the present ambiance of the resort. The entire make-over process is not a joke. Therefore, it must be done with proper planning to avoid deficit on budget.

Jumpstart Your Day with a Healthy Routine

Start your day healthy. The first time I realized how beautiful our village is was when I took four rounds of jogging one weekend. Together with my hubby, we jog at around five in the morning when the air is still cool and fresh. Just few blocks from our residence, I saw a few people very busy even at an early hour. It turned out that they are putting up sunroom additions in one of the new houses there. They started working early because they are in a hurry to finish the construction in time for the huge celebration happening in two days. The homeowners have plenty of guests; hence, they want to utilize the space to accommodate their visitors. Since the area is facing directly towards the sun, they decided to put some sort of protection to lessen glaring. It was almost seven when we decided to stop since the sun was already hot. And besides, I still have to prepare breakfast for my family; thus, I need to be home in no time.

Sisterly Duties

What an exciting day ahead! I was invited by my sister to attend their company family day yesterday. It was held in one of the schools near their office. She wanted me to attend so that I can cheer for her because she played volleyball. I was so excited because that was my first time to attend their family day and I heard that there are plenty of activities in store not only for the employees but also for their families who will be attending the activity. After we registered, we looked for the tent assigned for their department and settled on our seats while waiting for the program to start. While waiting for my sister's event, I chatted with one of her officemates who later introduced me to her cousin who is working in an insurance company. She discussed her nature of work. She mentioned so many things including Annuity Leads and other things which are not familiar to me. Later on, we went to gym where the volleyball game was held. It was a very tight game between my sister's team and their opponent. The game was so exciting and all who watched were on their toes cheering for both teams. Fortunately, my sister's team won and they emerged as the overall champion in the volleyball games. To make it more memorable, she was given the MVP award. After the game, we went to the next venue for the badminton competition. It was a tough; yet enjoyable event not to mention the overflowing supply of food for everybody. Looking forward to the next family day.

Unexpected Happening

Savor every single moment because you'll never know what tomorrow may bring. My mother-in-law died just recently. We never expected this since we just celebrated her birthday exactly 1 week before she passed away. In fact we were all excited about her special day; thus, we searched the net for 65th Birthday Gift Ideas for mom. Her wake is in the province, which is approximately 3 hours travel from the city. Since we were all busy settling obligations and attending to the needs of the visitors, we tend to neglect our own needs. In fact, I forgot to brush my teeth one time before sleeping due to exhaustion. Most of the time, I take bath only when I have a vacant time; that is during lunch break. Now that she's been laid to rest, we all went home to the city to live a normal life again. It is only now that I noticed the effects of ignoring personal skin care routine. I have insect bites all over my body, pimples on my face, and most of all extremely dry hair. Since we are financially drained at present, I just opt for a home care treatment instead of indulging into lavish pampering. Anyways, with prayers and optimism I know we can recover as time goes by. Hence when that time comes, I promise to spoil myself with the best spa treatment in town. I just feel like I deserve it.

Keeping a Healthy Body

Health is wealth. Jogging has become a daily routine for me since I was a teenager. I jog for many reasons. I jog because it helps me maintain my ideal body weight. Not only that, it also helps me energized to keep me going throughout the day. It also serves as a form of relaxation after a very hectic and stressful day. I normally jog every morning to jumpstart my day. I usually go to the nearby sports complex every morning to jog along with others. Having a companion keeps me motivated since you get to see many people of all ages and sizes. However I did not go there this morning because I woke up very late already. So to save time, I decided to jog just around our village instead of travelling to the complex. Few blocks from my house, somebody tapped my shoulders; a former classmate in high school. At first I didn't recognize her because she is totally a different lady. Before, she used to be very fat or shall I say obese. You can just imagine, now she is the exact opposite. She just arrived from the states for a vacation since she's been working there for two years as an accountant. With all curiosity, I asked her about her secret and all she said was San Diego Weight Loss. After a short talked we separate ways. I continued with my exercise and after about four rounds of jogging around the village, I decided to go straight to the nearby bread house to buy something to eat for my breakfast. I settled for a couple of garlic toasts to match with my favorite brewed coffee. This is already enough to keep me going. So full; I'm ready to face tough work ahead.

Living on My Own

There is nothing sweeter than enjoying independence. Finding a new place to settle is the first step to becoming independent. Whether buying a new house or just renting an apartment for me; is a good start. I've been dreaming that one day I could be on my own to prove to myself and to my family that I can survive. It's not that I don't want to be with them anymore, it's just that I want to be self-sufficient and be responsible for myself. It's been my long dream to have a house of my own, drive my own car, buy all the gadgets I want and perhaps own a few properties. I also want to be able to do all the things that I want to do like travelling to different places since I really like to explore new places. In fact, I've been to other countries already; although, not that many. It's really a fulfilling experience. I experienced walking a long distance just to get to my destination because there's no other way to get there. I also tried riding a buffalo-drawn carriage. I also met people of different cultures and traditions and immersed myself in different cultures. What interests me most every time I travel are the new things I learn from those places like the people's customs and practices and their way of living. There was this one time while waiting for my flight back home inside the waiting lounge, I started browsing a travel magazine and I chanced upon Tangier property advertised on it. It seems so interesting because I've been looking for a nice place to build my dream house and I just wish I could contact them someday for assistance. If given a chance, I also want to live in a foreign land because this is an adventure for me. I know this is way far from reality, but there is no harm in day-dreaming.

Keeping a Healthy Body at All Times

A sort of ordeal. I've been feeling pain on my back especially on the right lower portion. This started a few months ago after a drinking spree with my friends. When I woke up the next morning, I just felt pain on my right lower back. At first, I just ignored it because the pain was bearable and was on and off then. I've been observing it for months now, but just recently the pain become more intense by the day. Right now, it is of constant and excruciating character; thus, it prompted me to sick professional help. After getting an appointment from my doctor, I went to the hospital to have my check up. While on my way, I saw this new billboard that seems so mysterious with only the tagline "what is innovation" on it. Since the vehicle was fast moving, I didn't have time to figure out what that means. I just assumed it was a teaser of a new product that will be launched soon. By the time I arrived at the hospital, I went straight to my doctor's clinic. I waited for about an hour before I was able to talk to the physician due to the long list of patients ahead of me. After a careful physical examination and history taking, she advised me to have further laboratory tests to establish a definite diagnosis. She referred me to a laboratory clinic just near the hospital for my convenience. Again, it took me more than an hour to finish all the tests and as of this time, I'm still waiting for the results. I'm praying for a favorable outcome, because health is my only wealth. I can't afford to sacrifice it since it will affect my ability to work as well.

Achieving a Perfect White Teeth

A pre-scheduled appointment. I was in my dentist's clinic the other day for an oral prophylaxis and teeth whitening. When I arrived, there were plenty of patients already. While waiting for my turn, I busied myself reading the magazines displayed in the reception area. In one of the health magazines I read, I chance upon ads about mn portable toilet rentals. I really find it weird to place such ads on a health magazine. Anyway I was able to read three magazines before my name was finally called by the assistant. I chatted for a while with the dentist before she started cleaning my oral cavity. It took her around thirty minutes to finish everything and after that I felt like I have the most beautiful smile in the world already and it felt so fresh as well. It's really a good practice to have oral prophylaxis at least twice a year to keep your teeth healthy and strong. And also if there are problems like cavities, it will be corrected immediately. After my dentist's appointment, I went to the mall to meet a friend to watch a movie together. We agreed to choose a comedy film and did not regret our decision. The movie was so hilarious; thus, we were laughing our hearts out all throughout the duration of the movie. It's really a nice diversion from stress watching funny films. I consider it a welcome relief. After watching, my friend invited me for dinner, which I declined. I didn't feel like eating that time because I just had my teeth cleaned. It was so funny of me, but of course she understood. So we just separated ways and I went home very happy and contented.

Fulfilling a Long Time Dream

My interest in learning to pluck the guitar started when I was still a child when my parents gave me a toy guitar as a birthday gift. I was so fascinated with it that I dreamed of becoming a great guitar player someday. That dream remained a dream for the longest time until recently when a friend of mine introduced me to her cousin who happens to be a music professor and who also tutors those who want to learn to play any musical instruments. Right away, I expressed my interest in learning and after that we agreed on our schedule. I asked my friend to accompany me to the store where I can buy my first real instrument. I was so excited because at last I will start to learn to play the guitar, which I've been wanting ever since. During our initial class, I had a hard time especially positioning my fingers on the strings. After one hour of trying to familiarize myself, I felt my fingers cramped but I'm not complaining because I know it's worth all my effort. Even on days when we don't have any practice, I tediously do it on my own because I really wanted to learn as fast as I can. It was during one of those days that I broke one of the strings; hence, I have no choice but to wait until I can buy a replacement. When I finally had the time to go to the shop to buy a new set of guitar strings, I passed by the hardware store displaying vinyl packaging that is on sale. At first I find it attractive because it comes in various colors; however, I did not bother to look at it closely because I was in a hurry to get back home and resume my practice. I just wish I could learn faster and be one of the greatest guitar players in the world.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Ways to Release Stress

My only outlet. Baking has always been one of my passions ever since my mom taught me how to bake since I was in senior high. Now that I have my own family, I bake cakes from time to time if friends would order to augment our family income. It is also a great way for me to release stress especially after a very long day.  It's always a pleasurable experience every time I bake. I've been doing a lot of experimentation lately to come up with new flavors and presentations to attract more customers. I was on my way home from church yesterday when I remembered that I have to buy some ingredients because I will be baking again for my cousin's son's birthday a day after tomorrow. So before heading home, I stopped by the supermarket to buy the needed ingredients. I was so engrossed in picking up stuffs I need that I did not notice that there are many people hanging around the entertainment area nearby. Take note, the number is increasing every minute. After paying for the items, out of curiosity, I went to the entertainment area to see what's going on. I learned that they are all shop ticket holders waiting for the raffle draw that will start in a few minutes. Since I have no raffle entry, I did not stay long and went home. I can't wait to bake another cake again. Hope I can give you all, so that you can taste it as well.

General Cleaning

I was so very busy that I almost forgot my promise to pay my friend a visit. It all started when I had to do a general cleaning of our house because we have visitors coming. We have to rearrange some furniture and vacate the storage room to convert it into an extra bedroom to accommodate my cousins who will be spending their vacation with us. They will be staying with us for about three weeks, so I'm sure that would be lots of fun. There will be plenty of outings, parties and night outs. As I was placing my stuff in a box in the garage, I chanced upon my floppy disk storage. It reminded me of my college days and my memories with my classmates and friends back then. I have plenty of them since that was the only IN thing we had before; no USB yet. After spending the entire day for the general cleaning, I got so tired that I decided to go to the spa and have a full body massage. It's been a regular thing for me to relax and to rejuvenate. So after a short break, I had a quick warm shower and then headed right to my favorite spa. I was already imagining sipping chamomile tea while being pampered when my phone rang. It was my friend who was expecting for a visit. Since I am still enjoying the indulgence, I just promised to make it up to her by visiting her the following week instead. I can't afford to discontinue the pleasure I am getting from it; thus, I have to make a choice by cancelling my other appointment. My apology, but I really need this badly.

Getting the Best Deals

Not everybody loves to shop, but for me this is always a pleasurable experience. Hence, every time I have the chance I would go shopping especially if there are mall-wide sales going on where you can have nice buys at discounted prices. Last Saturday on my way to a friend's house, I passed by a mall and realized that they have an end of season sale. So before proceeding to my friend's house, I went inside first to check the dress that was on display in one of the shops there. I've been eyeing on that for days now hoping they will sell it for less. True enough, they are selling that particular dress at half the price, so without any hesitation I purchased the item. After paying, I also checked out other stuffs on sale and I was able to buy bits and pieces at very reasonable prices. I shopped like there's no tomorrow. It's really a great idea to shop when malls are on sale because you can get great deals even on signature brands. I even bought one for my friend as a gift. As I was heading out of the mall, I noticed a group of people falling in line waiting for something. Out of curiosity, I asked one person what they are lining up to and she said they are job ticket holders waiting for their assignments. I also learned from her that they are going to be deployed abroad and they are just waiting for their schedule. Before proceeding to my original destination, I dropped by the pastry store to buy the favorite cake me and my friend used to eat before. It was nice talking to my friend again after quite some time. We talked a lot of things that we lost track of time. Good thing she offered to send me home since she has a car anyway.

Beach, Bonding, and Fun

Can't wait for the next outing! Going to the beach for me is always fun. It's also a great way to connect and bond with your family and friends. Yesterday, my friends and I went to the beach to unwind and have some fun. We went to this place up north where there's plenty of activities that people of all ages would enjoy. They offer fishing wherein if you catch fish, you can have it cooked by the staff there at a very affordable price. So when we get there, we rented fishing rods right away to start our fishing adventure. After about an hour of fishing, we caught a handful; thus, we decided to have it cooked in time for our lunch. After the hearty lunch when everybody's full, we proceeded to try our singing prowess because the resort is also equipped with state of the art facilities in their entertainment area where you can rent a room and sing your heart out. We stayed there for a while before heading to our last stop, which is their latest addition; the zip line. We were all excited especially me because it was my first time to try it. I knew it was a different level of fun. While waiting for my turn, I already felt my heart beating faster because I personally have fear of heights. But I have to do it to conquer my fear. More than the fear, I was so thrilled that I really have to do it. When it was my turn, and while I'm up there hanging on that 400 meter line, I saw nearby a secluded property which according to the staff was a Boot Camp. Anyway after that long thrilling ride, I have to do it again to go back to the base. Imagine it's a total of 800 meters of zip line. That was double the fun! Can't wait to try it again some other time. It's a must try for those who have a brave heart.

Experiencing Macau

Another "must visit place". Last July, my niece went to Hong Kong for a much needed vacation. It's been a while since she last traveled abroad, so when she got the chance, without second thoughts she grabbed the opportunity. After learning from a friend that one of the local airline companies is having a promotion where they offer very low fare rates for future trips in all their international destinations, she booked a ticket right away. Excitement was all she felt especially since this was her first time to travel with a friend. Thus for safety, I even contacted a friend of mine who's now based there to give her a tour of the place. Luckily, my friend was the one who fetched her by the time she arrived and was also her tour guide at the same time. To maximize her travel, we suggested that she go to Macau even just for one day to have a quick tour there. On her third day in Hong Kong, indeed a side trip to Macau was realized. It was just an hour ferry ride going there. She narrated that after getting a ticket for the ferry, she and her companion lined up right away in the immigration. As they waited for their turn, she noticed a group of tourists ahead of them whose plastic passport covers are identical. It caught her attention since these are very attractive. After seeing it, she also thought of buying her own cover for protection and personalization purposes. After an hour, they arrived in Macau and the place is magnificent. Hotels offering tourists lots of activities that are very hard to resist are like mushrooms that are visible everywhere. The gondola ride and bungee jumping in one of the hotels there are must try activities. Since those are very scary, she ended up just watching the more adventurous tourists who tried it out. The experience was definitely amazing; hence, the thought of going to Macau one day is already included in my future plans.

Pain of Letting Go

I can still clearly remember this out of the blue question raised by a friend. Why is the sunset more colorful than the sunrise? I was not able to answer right then and there. I was tongue tied for a while and it made me think real hard.  I was not able to answer the question maybe because I was not prepared for it. I was very bothered that time because our family just lost a very important person in our life. That was the time when we lost our grandfather. I was so devastated and it crashed my heart every time I see my mom cry over and over. It was so unbearable knowing how painful it was for her to lose a father. It was one painful event that we want to erase from our consciousness but we can't. Anyway that was few years ago and looking back, if somebody would ask me the same question, I'm sure I would be able to give a sensible answer to it. I would say that the reason why sunset is more colorful than the sunrise because goodbyes is not always sad or hurtful. If you bade goodbye to someone or something, I'm sure another thing is in store for you.  It's something that you can look forward to. And as I was browsing through my document storage in my laptop last night, I chanced upon an article about goodbye and letting go. And as I read through it, I was able to relate it to the question my friend once asked me.

Friend's Irresistible Invitation

I got an unexpected invitation from a close friend whom I never heard of for quite a while now because of our busy schedules. So when I received a message from her inviting me over lunch for some business opportunities she wanted to share with me, I did not hesitate for a second and accepted the invitation. We agreed to meet in a restaurant near her workplace so that it would be convenient for her. When I met her, I learned that she was on leave from work for 2 months because she's on a vacation with her boyfriend. They had a Caribbean tour for two weeks hopping from one country to another. She talked about her pleasure trip and even told me that her boyfriend proposed marriage while they were on board the gondola ride. I knew how romantic it was and for sure the boatman serenaded them while her boyfriend made the proposal. How I wish I could go to those beautiful places myself. I got so excited and engrossed with her stories that we lost track of time and I almost forgot the main reason why we met. So after all the stories she narrated, we got down to serious business. She told me that her fiance is planning to expand his business in our area and that they are looking for partners who can manage it. The nature of his business is mobile document shredding and that they are using document shredding phoenix devices which are on top of the market. She also mentioned that they cater topnotch business establishments in their area and they already have a proven track record. They are planning to start it by the end of this year and she's eyeing on me to run it. I told her it's a good opportunity, but I have to think about it first. I promised that she'll hear from me in a week's time. I went home so excited for the new opportunity and also for my friend who's getting married soon.

Pain After a Vigorous Dance Rehearsal

What a terrible experience! I just woke and I have pain all over my body. It's very painful; I can barely move and get up. This resulted from the dance rehearsal I had last night. I had my first practice for our cultural dance presentation for our upcoming high school reunion. The routines are so difficult that we all have to exert more effort for us to get it right. Instead of the two hours we agreed, we ended up dancing and practicing for four straight hours. The stretching exercises that we did before our practice did not do me any good apparently because of the pain I have now. My calves are extremely painful that I have a very difficult time especially walking up and down the stairs. And I remember that my mom asked me before I left home yesterday to bring down all the files she stored in the attic, so that she can segregate it and bring the unnecessary documents to the document shredding shop nearby for proper disposal. Just the thought of it makes me twinge. How can I go up to the attic to get all those files with the aches and pains I'm going through? But I can't do it some other time because my mom already scheduled it. So after a few painful stretches, I got up and hurled down all the files to get it done early, so I still have more time to rest for our next rehearsal tonight. We really have to work hard because we only have two weeks to practice. We have to give our best to win the competition since huge prizes are at stake for the said event. Looking forward to another night of dancing practice. Hopefully it will not be as painful as it is now. Keep you posted.

Attending a Children's Party

I never expected this, but my cousin called me up one Saturday and asked a favor if I could accompany her son to the mall that afternoon because he was invited to attend his classmate's 10th birthday party celebration in one of the restaurants there. She cannot make it because she had some deadlines to meet. Since I was not doing anything very important that day, I said yes right away. I also remembered that I need to look for a gift for my other cousin; who will be celebrating her 18th birthday next month. So we agreed that I would pick my nephew up at exactly 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon since the party will start at three. He was very excited when I arrived because he looked forward to the games that he wanted to participate. After I dropped him off in the party venue, I excused myself to look for the gift. I promised him that I would be back in two hours just in time for the party to be finished. So I wasted no time and looked for that perfect present that my cousin would surely appreciate. I really had a hard time deciding what to buy because I wanted it to be very unique yet meaningful. After over an hour of looking I decided to give up and try my luck some other time. On my way back to the party venue, I passed by a sports store and I saw on their display window callaway golf balls that are on sale. I thought of buying some for my brother who's into golf lately. However, since I was in a hurry that time and plenty of people were lining up at the counter, I decided not to buy. Thus, I proceeded to the venue and saw my nephew very happy with all the goodies he won in the games.

Reliving the Past

It has been part of my routine to watch TV before going to sleep. I was just on time because when I turned the television on, my favorite program just started. It is actually a documentary program that features ancient cultures. What I like about it is that it takes me back in time because of their episodes. Last night the program featured the ancient Egyptian culture. It was so interesting because it talked about the lifestyle of the Egyptian people way back hundreds of years ago; how the pharaohs ruled their people and their customs and traditions. It also featured the pyramids of Egypt. It really amazes me every time I see pictures of these structures because it seems so perfectly shaped. It seems there's plenty of mystery inside it. I'm also interested in its symbolism toward the Egyptian people. I really wonder how I would feel if I'm actually there and right in front of me are those magnificent structures. How surreal the feeling would be, I suppose. I really want to get inside one of the pyramids and get the feeling of being inside it. How I wish I could travel there one day and experience it myself. That would be a very enriching experience. Anyway, in the middle of the program, it was cut off because of a breaking news update. The news actually featured relatives of a very prominent personality who recently died of a vehicular accident. They are squabbling over the assets of the said person because he had no immediate family anymore. They talked about Estate Finance as well. After that short pause, the program resumed and they ended it with an aerial view of the pyramids and it's just breathtaking.

Cousin's Send Off Party

I was just lying and relaxing on bed the whole day when I got an unexpected call from my cousin. She is inviting me and my family to go to their place the next day because they are throwing a big party. The party will start at around 6:00 o'clock in the evening and she wanted us to be there on time. I wondered what the occasion was since it's not her birthday yet so I asked my cousin what's the party for and she told me that their family is having a send off party for his brother who is leaving in a week's time to work in Australia. Her brother was actually offered by a multinational company to manage their branch in Melbourne. The package was great and there are better opportunities there so her brother accepted the offer without any hesitation. How I wish I would land a job like that. So the next day, we left our house an hour earlier than schedule so as not to be late and also to avoid the traffic. When we arrived at their place, there she was at the front door waiting for us. As I stepped out of the car, I instantly noticed that my cousin's hair was so shiny. She had very long, black shiny hair that bounces when she walks.  It also feels so soft when you touch it. I was so curious on what she did to her hair to make that soft and shiny. When I had a chance to talk to her, I asked her what she applied on her hair to achieve that shine. She informed me that her sister who is now based in Paris sent her two bottles of moroccan argan oil to try on her hair to see the results. She told me she will give me one bottle to try it myself when her sister would send her another package. It made me very excited. Anyway, the party went well and many people attended. I also saw many familiar faces.  We went home past midnight already and I still can't stop thinking about how my cousin's hair was transformed from very dry to shiny, bouncy hair.

Package I've Been Waiting

After more than 2 months of waiting, at last I already received the specialty paper from Singapore. This is the one my sister-in-law sent for their wedding on December. They want me to make their invitation letter, which is highly customized. Everything is ready except for the paper; thus, I am glad that finally it has arrived. At least now I can start making even few pieces of it, so that when the very day comes I won't have to rush things anymore. With regards to our outfit, she's still confused as to what design to choose because she's a bit obsessed with the Victorian-English theme. Take note, this style is quite expensive because of the cloth as well as the cut. Not to mention the accessory that comes with it such as the feathery fans and hats with fancy shapes and laces. Anyways, there is one thing more that we haven't finalized yet; the Bridesmaid Gifts. The stuff must fit with the theme as well. But the problem is aside from the accompanying cost; you can hardly find one in the shop. Not unless a giveaway specialist is present, so that you can ask for a made-to-order wedding favors. Good thing the actual date is yet very far. At least I still have enough time to go window shopping and canvass at the same time.

Healthy Body Goes with a Healthy Mind

Just a matter of self-discipline and determination. Finally, the rain has stopped! I can now resume my early morning activity. I regularly jog every morning at exactly 6:00 o'clock in the morning for about thirty minutes to one hour to keep my ideal body weight. I've been doing this for about six months now since I noticed that I started to stack up excess pounds already. Aside from maintaining my ideal weight, jogging also keeps me going throughout the day. If I miss jogging, I tire easily. I already missed two days because of continuous heavy downpour, so I have to double time. I prefer jogging outside over going to the gym because I feel so confined when inside the gym unlike outside where I can also breathe fresh air. Aside from that, I appreciate the surroundings especially the beauty of the sunrise. It gives me a euphoric feeling and I just love it. So after drinking a cup of tea this morning, I donned on my running shoes when the phone rang. I wondered who is calling me so early. It turned out that it was my classmate way back in college asking me for 25th wedding anniversary party ideas because they are preparing for his parents wedding anniversary. I told her that I will refer her to a neighbor of ours who is a wedding coordinator to help her on that. So after I hung up the phone, I went ahead to start my daily morning routine. I went back home after forty five minutes very sweaty but energized. Thanks to the great weather!

Client's Ultimate Dream

I'm kind of busy with my new booking. Few hours ago, I went online to search for outrageous or shall I say unique or extreme activities that I'm going to fulfill on my client's 25th birthday. I plan to suggest activities that he has never done before. During the previous birthdays I have coordinated, it includes parasailing, kayaking and other water activities. I also recommended travelling abroad because it's all fun. This time I'm planning to incorporate at least three extreme activities that one may not be able to do for the rest of his life. This will really make his natal day more memorable. With fingers cross, hope there will be no untoward incidents that will happen. While surfing the net for possible activities, I stumbled upon a website that suggests 65th surprise birthday party ideas. Out of curiosity, I opened it and checked for possible activities that might interest me. Unfortunately, suggestions there are very simple things that don't fit my client's preference at all. So I searched over and over again until I came across "must do activities in your lifetime." I was surprised after checking the site because they have a long list of activities that seems to be very out of the ordinary. First on my list was to try flying an airplane alone. Although scary, this will give you an intense adventure due to adrenaline rush, which can be very exciting. Next on the list is to ride a hot air balloon. I'm sure that would be very thrilling also. And third on my list is to do bungee jumping. I have to choose the one with the highest points for a more electrifying experience. The list can go on and on, but I think I would not be able to let my client do all of them; hence, I will just settle for these top three. Hope he will pick at least one; wish me luck.

Reunion is Almost Here

Lately, I was completely exhausted. I often go to the mall to look for the perfect dress that I'm going to wear for our upcoming college reunion next weekend. I've been looking for that little black dress that goes perfectly with the stilettos I bought last week. Finally, after three days of window shopping, I was able to find the perfect match. After paying for the dress, I went to a nearby fast-food chain to have some snacks. I settled for double cheese burger and sundae. After which, I went to the bookstore to check if they already have available stocks of the latest novel written by my favorite author, John Grisham. The last time I checked, they ran out of stocks so I have to wait for the next shipment. Luckily these are already available, so I wasted no time and grabbed my own copy and paid it.  On my way to the counter, I passed by the magazine stand and there displayed on the racks is a magazine that featured unique 50th birthday party ideas. I remembered right away that my mother-in-law will be celebrating her birthday next month so I grabbed a copy of that magazine as well. At least, now I can get ideas on how to surprise her on her special day. I was so excited that I went straight home after paying those reading materials and I started browsing it as soon as I arrived. I enjoyed it because I find it very informative that I completely forgot about our class reunion.

How I Started My Book Collection

This is how I started my own book collection. Finally, I was able to finish reading the novel from one of my favorite authors, John Grisham after more than a week of reading it. It's very unusual for me to take that long to finish one book since normally; it will only take me two to three days. It's just that I was very busy these past few days because I have to accompany my aunt who is looking for a Boarding School for his son; thus, I was not able to devote more time reading. Due to personal reasons, she wants to transfer him to another school although classes had started already. Since she is not very familiar with the place; thus, I agreed to go with her. After three days of going around looking for the best school for my cousin, she finally decided on the last school we went to. She was so impressed with the school's track record that she enrolled my cousin right away. Anyways just a quick rewind, I started reading John Grisham's novels when I was still in high school when one of my classmates let me borrow one and since then I was hooked to his books. If I remember it right, the first ever title I read was "A Time to Kill" and it was so beautifully written. Since then, I made it a point to buy every book released and to date I think I have more than a dozen already in my collection. I really like his plot and I love the thrill and suspense he puts on every story he wrote. Looking forward to his upcoming releases.

The Grand Mardi Gras

My aunt asked me to come home to celebrate with them and witness the town's first ever grand Mardi gras. She mentioned it would be very exciting since it's their first time to have merrymaking like that and everybody is doing their own share to make it a success. Since it's been six months since I last went there because of a very busy schedule, I made sure that I can make it no matter what happens. The drive going there was long; hence, it took me over two hours to get there. True enough, everybody was in a festive mood and was busy preparing for the grand parade that afternoon. It was indeed a grand celebration and I had great fun. Add to that, I also got to meet some of my old friends and classmates way back in grade school. We had a sort of reunion and went to the beach after to continue the party. There were plenty of food, drinks and a lot of talking as well. We talked about our lives when we were still younger; all the good and the bad times we had and we just laughed about it. It was indeed a great weekend and I had a blast. On my way back to the city the next day, I received a call from one of my classmates asking for possible Health Insurance Leads because she is now connected with an insurance company. She badly needs my help to meet her target and get her commission. I promised to give her a call back once I get to my place. Thus while on the bus, I started thinking of prospects in order to come up with a list of clients. I just hope she can get the quota.

My Friend's Dilemma

I felt nervous last night because I had a hard time falling asleep. I don't know why, but maybe it's because of a recent visit I made to a friend who is terminally ill due to breast cancer. I can't help it, but every time I close my eyes, she pops into my mind. I am really very bothered of what happened to her. She used to be very energetic and very bubbly and is always wearing a smile on her face. I know she's sick but I was not expecting she's in that bad shape already when I saw her because every time we talked on the phone she always crack jokes and everything seems to be very okay. But when I saw her, it was the exact opposite. She was lying there very weak and looked very small and frail. She lost so much weight already and can barely move by herself. I learned that she's been bedridden for over a month already and her condition deteriorated drastically. She's also in great pain. I was so shocked with what I saw. I was not able to hold back my tears when I saw her and I left her with a heavy heart. Since I still can't sleep though it was very late already, I grabbed a magazine by my bedside and started to browse in order to induce sleeping. I then came across an article that featured a woman who underwent a San Diego Breast Augmentation. It showed pictures of the woman before and after the procedure to see the difference and the result is great. I wonder if there would be complications as well just like cancer. I regret reading that article because it just made me more anxious; thus, I ended waking up very late the following day. Too bad since I need to prepare breakfast early or my child will be late for school.

Big Transformation

While doing the laundry, my friend called and asked me to pay her a visit. It's been a couple of months since I last saw her because she went to Singapore to visit her sister who is now based there. Just the thought of finally seeing her again made me very excited already. Knowing also that she have something for me that she brought from Singapore made me even more excited. So after I prepared the food that I'm supposed to bring, I wasted no time and went straight to her home. Since she lived far from my place, it took me almost an hour to get there. I felt a bit tired when I get there because of the traffic plus the scorching heat of the sun, but that did not lessen my excitement of seeing her. And to my surprise, I saw my friend looking very different that I almost did not recognize her. She looked very sexy now and is so stunning. She lost so much weight already; thus, I was not able to stop myself from asking her what her secret is to achieve such body. She told me that her sister recommended the San Diego Weight Loss program that she too has been following for almost a year now. For that, I will also suggest it to my sister who's having the same weight issues she used to have. Anyway, we enjoyed talking that we lost track of time. I ended up going home very late already, but that's okay because I got to see my best friend and I have a new watch from her as a gift.

Weekend Movie Marathon

What an exciting day! Last Saturday morning, one of our neighbors invited us to go to her place to enjoy a long day movie marathon. She mentioned that she just purchased a new set of gadgets and wanted to show it to us. Since most of us are at home that day, we all agreed to go to her house. I was very excited because it's been a while already since I last watched a movie. We first dropped by at the nearest convenience store to buy some chips that we can binge on while watching. After which, we went straight to their entertainment room and wasted no time because we planned on watching three recent films. Since it took us more than 4 hours to finish the second DVD, we paused for a short break to have lunch. And guess what, she also prepared a sumptuous meal for all of us. When the hearty lunch was over, we went back to play the last movie before calling it a day. The third one was not like the first two movies because it was very light. It featured a very scenic and beautiful place that we can't help but wondered where the place was. Because of curiosity, I immediately searched the internet to know more about the place and learned that it was shot in Morocco. I continued browsing and came across a website that featured cheap Apartment Tangier, a beautiful place in North Africa. Since most of us love to travel for leisure, we discussed the possibility of our future trip there. It may not be that soon though since we still have to do a little cost cutting to raise money for the said trip. Just the thought of it made all of us very excited.

Time to Give Back

It's time to do our share. Two weeks ago, I got a surprise call from a former college friend who I haven't heard for quite some time now. Since I was away for a short vacation, he just left a message to call him when I have time. So when I got back home, I immediately returned the call. Guess what, he invited me to participate in a community service that they are going to do the next weekend. He told me that he still remembered the time when I was very active in community extension programs way back in college. Thus, he took the chance of giving me a call hoping I would say yes to his invitation. He explained that they need every helping hand they can get to make the activity a success. After checking on my schedule, I accepted the invitation without any hesitation since this is my little way of giving back to the community; to share my time in any way I can. We agreed that he would pick me up at my place on that said day. On our way to the venue after picking me up, he explained that we are going to do tree planting. He also told me not to worry because he already prepared all the necessary tools needed for the activity. Actually, this is spearheaded by a friend of his who happen to be one of the California dog bite lawyers in the states. Although they are both busy in their chosen fields of endeavor, they managed to spend time on charity works to increase people's awareness on the environment. It was a very long tiring day for us but it was all worth the dirt and sweat. I went home very exhausted, but very satisfied as well. Thanks to my old friend who gave me that one of a kind experience.

Summer Team Building

Excited for an upcoming event. My best friend along with his officemates will have their quarterly team building and summer outing in my hometown. Thus I made the resort reservations and coordinated with various sectors for their itinerary, while he on the other hand was tasked by his supervisor to organize and prepare all the activities. The preparation was not that hard anymore since I always do event coordination like these. Because this was his first time to lead the group, I assured him that all the details of the event will be properly taken care of; from the place where the team would stay down to the food and beverages. For sure this activity will not only strengthen their bonding as a team, but will be a fun-packed adventure as well since games will also be included. Of course, prizes for the winning team will be given. Not only that, pre-arranged activities are also lined-up for the night to maximize their stay. Thus when the most awaited day arrived, they are all set to go - packed their things, boarded the van and headed up south. On their way to the destination, they were worried to see quite a number of men in uniform marching on the road. They thought something untoward happened. I forgot to inform them that they'll pass by a Military School in one of the towns here. They are celebrating their anniversary that day; hence a special presentation of their trainees was part of their activities. They stopped by to witness it; so as expected, they arrived at the resort late. However, they said their experience is worth the delay.

Bonding Time With My Friends

My usual routine. Every afternoon, I and two of my friends often go to this certain fast-food chain near the school to have snacks while waiting for my daughter. We have been doing this for the past weeks now because they have this promotional offer every time you buy a certain meal. You can avail of a specially designed glass at an additional cost of course, but very minimal.  The three of us intended to collect all the colors; thus, we diligently go there almost every day. But last Friday was a different story because instead of going back to that same venue, we agreed to go somewhere else and try something different. So we decided to go to the mall to look for a place to eat. We ended up eating in a restaurant where there's only a handful of people inside so we can have our privacy. While waiting for our food to be served, I noticed two middle-aged ladies settled in the table next to us. We overheard one of them asking her companion about where she can get professional Teen Help for her daughter since she tends to become rebellious at an early age. It is sad to think that being a parent is a very challenging responsibility. Good thing I only have one kid to raise and giving her full time and attention is not a problem at all. As we left the restaurant, we had a heavy heart as we felt the lady's situation.

Whistle-blower Body Shape

Do you envy girls with almost perfect body shape? Having a whistle-blowing curve is every woman's dream. It makes her look and feel sexier; thus, makes her more comfortable of her body. This also helps her exude confidence.  There are many ways to improve a woman's body contour and these include exercise along with proper diet. Before I used to be very slender, but now it is the exact opposite. After a couple of months in Singapore, I gained several pounds of weight. My problem areas are abdomen, waist, hips and thighs, chin, upper arms, and armpits. I find it disgusting every time I look at myself at the mirror. At first I thought, this will eventually go away now that I'm back in the Philippines. But sad to say, it never did and that made me very conscious to the point of experiencing loss of sense worth. No matter how hard I exercise and how strict my diet is, still it is not enough. Mother Nature needs a little nudge in the right direction. Because I am already very desperate, there were instances when I almost considered liposuction as an option. While searching the net for solutions to my problem, I came across San Diego Liposuction. Several testimonials say this is the best decision to make; however, I'm also quite hesitant since this involves general anesthesia. Thus, I need to talk to professionals first for a careful evaluation before undergoing the procedure. I'm just crossing my fingers, but I'm giving myself 1 month only to gain my figure back. If not, come what may.

Unexpected Call

I was taking a nap when my phone rang continuously. I received a call from my best friend inviting me to attend to his parents' renewal of vows.  I got so excited because I've been very close to the family since grade school; in fact I often visit their place during the weekends.  The mere thought of attending a special occasion of two beautiful people celebrating a momentous event of their lives makes me very excited. Thus when I learned that my neighbor is scheduled for a trip to Hong Kong next week, I asked her a favor to look for the perfect 50th wedding anniversary gifts. I wanted to have something unique yet relevant; hence, I told her to seek suggestions from their tour guide. I'm pretty sure that specialty stores that offer tokens for all occasions are swarming all over the place. To add a personal touch to it, I asked her to have their names engraved on it as well as their wedding date. Since this is something that can be displayed on a shelf, this will remind them of how long they've been together and how strong the relationship has become over the years. I can't wait to attend the said merrymaking since I know a smile would surely be noticeable on their faces.

Life's Perspective

It's a matter of how you look at life. If you know how to accept things the way they are and allow God to lead you to the right path; then you won't have to think of ways to solve your problems. He will do it for you as long as you believe in Him. This is what I've learned after having stayed in Singapore for more than 2 months. Before, I used to ask God to allow me to go to a foreign land for a greener pasture. Every time I pray, I always include this in my prayer. But what I noticed is that the more you keep on asking for something, the more it won't happen. He wants us to be concerned of today and not of tomorrow. Everything has been planned even before we were born; thus, allow God to do things according to His timetable. Same as getting anxious about birthday preparations. You do not have to be worried as to how to accommodate your guests or what unique 50th birthday gifts to give. Do not think of things that are beyond your capacity. Let God do the thing, anyways he is the overall master.

Savoring Online Business Opportunities

After having enjoyed the fruits of labor from one of my sites, I talked with my cousin about the idea of creating another website. This time, I want to choose something that is in line with my passion. Since the new generations are fond of fashion, I decided to be associated with accessories, trendy outfits, and chic gears. Aside from the latest craze, I also have a strong liking on party favors and other special occasion-related stuffs. In fact, at present I have a booking for birthday that requires invitation card-making and souvenir production. I just can't explain the feeling I get every time I create something that is customized for each client. The fact that you've come up with unique ideas as 65th birthday gifts for dad or as token for your baby's christening; this alone I consider a talent. Of course in order for people to learn about the products and services, I need to do some sort of marketing. Online selling is a very popular method of getting customers; thus, it is important to advertise by displaying finished products. Currently, I am taking several pictures of it so that I can upload them later on. I just hope this new business venture will be a hit not just to the youth, but to the general public as well.

Wheel of Life

It's a wheel of life as many people say. Life of a real estate agent can be very unpredictable. Sometimes, you can afford all the luxury in life if and when you are fortunate in closing a deal. You'll have more than enough not just for the basic needs but also for wants and longings. On the other hand, a low profile is usually expected whenever transactions are unsuccessful. So the best way to deal with it is to always save a portion of your commission for the future. Do not be overconfident at all times by being a one day millionaire because you do not know when you will receive your next pay check. It's a matter of right timing and right client. For the meantime, do your job by being patient in searching for prospects as well as increasing property listings. Together with prayers and willpower, I'm pretty sure you will be few days away from getting your next fortune. One thing more, do not forget to share your blessings to the least fortunate ones. It can be in the form of sponsorship, donation, and the likes. With various charity event ideas, I'm certain that you won't have a hard time deciding. As long as it is heartily given; hundred folds of blessings will be poured in return.

Whole New Challenge for a New School Year

Another year, another challenge. Since school year has just begun, most of the schools are having the PTA meeting. Being the incumbent secretary of the school, I need to attend even if I have previous appointments. Because this is an official meeting, I need to look presentable in front of many people. Aside from preparing my outfit the day before, I managed to sneak to the grocery and purchased argan oil for hair. Our crowning glory is very important since it represents our personality in general. I also allotted time to iron my bangs to tame my wavy hair. When the time came for me to do my duty as an elected officer, I felt fulfilled when everybody looked at me with respect. The fact that you have accomplished the assigned task effectively is already an achievement. Although I am not aiming for a higher position, I am very willing to share my administrative skills for the improvement of the institution. Just for FYI and humility aside, I used to manage an international school; thus, I know how to make it run with less cost, but with higher revenue.

Accepting Things as they Come

Let things happen the way they should because sometimes, it is good to not expect anything at all. Accept things as they come and you'll enjoy it more. You might be wondering what I am talking about. Simple; it is not harmful to wish for something wonderful to happen in your life. Dreaming of making big financially is a free thing anybody can enjoy. However, too much desire to the point of pushing things to the limit is undeniably over board. Learn to appreciate what you have at present. Instead of wishing only and being passive, why not turn unoccupied state into something productive. Work hard to reach your objectives in life; however it should be slowly but surely. Great things don't happen overnight; thus, do not aspire for lavish lifestyle. Be contented with simple pleasures. As long as you can pay your monthly bills on time, unwind with friends every payday, and drop by at Santa Clarita hair salons once a month for a make-over; then that would be more than enough. Everything happens for a reason; hence, the least that you can do is to pray for guidance and do your part.

Inactive Lifestyle can be Harmful

A passive way of living can be harmful to one's health, while staying at home means boredom. With nothing to do, one can't avoid but fall asleep even while watching the television. Thus, my weight is obviously increasing because of sedentary lifestyle. Since I am petite, it's a big "No No" for me to don a chubby physique since it will make me look more undersized. While tuning in at the Biggest Looser reality show, I came to realize that I still have a chance of trimming down my sagging tummy. All I need is to move in order to control heaviness. From now on, I start my day by sweeping all corners of the house as a form of warm up since I don't have a vacuum cleaner to make cleaning easier. Good thing I don't have rugs and mats since those will only add burden on my part. Anyways for those who really are obese, having a carpet is good source of work out. Instead of hiring the services of a professional cleaner such as carpet cleaning Saranac Lake, why not do it yourself. This will serve as resistance while exercising; thus, gets rid of more calories instead of the usual mobility exercise.

An Onion-skin in So Many Ways

Comparable to an onion-skin, I am so emotional in so many things even when watching movies. Thus, I seldom watch one together with my husband because he hates it when I cry over somebody's character. But what can I do? I can't help but watch 3 Idiots and indeed it made me cry again. Although the story was simple because it mainly depicts the realities in India, but you can see how difficult life is for those who don't have freedom to choose what they like. By the time they were born, parents already have plans for them; from the school they will enroll including the partner they will marry. Instead of following their own dreams they live for the well-being of their respective families. It's so touching; thus, I strongly recommend it to other viewers. It's like an ordeal for them and I see a lot of "Teen Help" needed in order to carry on. You can learn a lot of lessons and it's very motivational especially to students who want to excel in their chosen fields regardless of economic status. I just hope that those who enjoy freedom at present will make use of it properly to become successful at the same time fulfilled in life.

A Crucial yet Life Changing Decision

When I left my work, I know my decision was right. As a full-time mom, I can do everything and anything I want without having to worry about being scolded by boss or getting late at work. I have all the time to go to the beauty salon for make-over from head to toe. Unlike before, I look several years younger than my actual age because my life at present is so stress-free. Hence those who share the same sentiments as mine, but don't have the luxury of time; you may also want to try supplements instead such as GenF20 Plus HGH. Choose the most convenient option that will suit your lifestyle. Nothing should keep you from staying young and healthy, not even your work. Always find time to unwind with friends or hubby as this will enhance disposition in life. Now that I have a small business of my own, I can say that I am so fortunate for having been given so many blessings such as a wonderful family and good health. The least that I can do is to bring back all the glory to Him and make it flourish.

Change as a Constant Word

Change is the only constant word in the world. If you try to compare children of yesterday and today, you can point out obvious difference in many ways. The way they dress simply says it all. Unlike before where conservativeness is apparent; now you can see all skin displayed regardless of the place. Conversing is another observable change we see. The new generations are fond of fabricating their own language only they can understand. They use this while sending messages through text or even communicating with each other. The most important difference that is a cause of concern especially of the parents is their behavior. They seem to grow with less respect for elders. They want to exercise freedom at an early age; thus, they often end up frustrated in life. As I see it, guidance is a must to keep them focused and disciplined. If the family has the capacity to spend extra, putting their strayed children in Boot Camps is highly recommended. Just keep in mind that you are doing this not for your sake, but theirs because you love them more than yourself.

Unwinding Through Television

What's happening to the world? With all the problematic reports featured on the television such as calamities, financial crisis, and starvation; at least I get to watch some light and refreshing news from celebrities and fashion. Although this should not be given utmost importance, yet this kind of information unloads people a portion of stress brought about by everyday living. Since I was out of the country for 2 months, I'm quite behind when it comes to our local television industry. Thus, I was surprised after learning that Lani and her Senator husband got married again to rekindle their love for each other after 25 years of being together. Since I am a freelance wedding planner, the giveaways and decors caught my attention. Take note this was held in the US; hence, expect wide array of nice bits and pieces especially in the reception area. Having watched it gave me an idea as to the perfect 50th wedding anniversary ideas for my client this coming December. Though they differ in the number of years of togetherness, but the theme and motif suits their preference completely. It is good to be updated for unique concepts at all times so that you can offer variations to every customer.

Happy Days; Almost Over

Counting the remaining days of our vacation makes me feel a bit sad. Since we only have 2 more weeks left here in Singapore, I promised to make the most out of it. Thus, we never let a single minute pass without visiting its famous places. These include malls, which are known for their unique architectural designs such as the Esplanade, Iluma, Wisma, and Vivo City Malls. You simply can't get enough of it because these are not created solely for adult's gratification. Children's sake is also their utmost concern; thus, you can always find specific areas intended for the kids like the splash park, public library, and kid's spa. It is so amazing since we seldom see one in our country of residence. What caught my attention most is the latter since cute babies are the major bulk of their clients. They have complete facilities, which include Jacuzzi, massage plinth, play area, and sleeping haven. Accessories like White noise machine and musical mobile are incorporated for a more dramatic impact. Hence, this is the reason why parents are not hesitant to entrust their precious ones because their maximum well-being is highly regarded.

Importance of Money

Although money is not everything; but it means a lot to everybody. If you all have the money in the world then you can do anything you want at any time. This is what I felt when we were strolling in one of the malls in Singapore. Every time you turn your head, you can really see striking bits and pieces everywhere. You can't help but feel desirous of those things because these are simply enticing. If only I have more than enough bread with me, then it would be more fun to travel. The goods are priced fairly; just do not attempt to convert it into pesos or else you'll get shocked. The best time to go shop is during their mall-wide sale, which is usually on the month of June. Marked-down items are overflowing here and there; thus, a lot of tourists find this month the best time to travel since they can avail of great discounts. So if you have something special to celebrate such as birthdays or anniversaries, start saving in advance. For sure you will never run out of birthday bash presents or 50th wedding anniversary gift ideas either for oneself or for a loved one. This is your opportunity not only to tour around the place, but to indulge in a shopping splurge as well.

Getting Vain and Beautiful

I'm always vain when it comes to personal care. It's been eight months already since I had my hair re-bonded in one of the beauty salons in Singapore. But due to environmental factors such as wind, sun, and pollution; it has ripped off its natural oil leaving my hair dull and dry. Unlike before where I don't have to comb it to remove tangles, now I can't live without using conditioner everyday just to make it manageable. But since hair treatments and procedures are now very costly, my crowning glory is being deprived of pampering. How I wish I have all the luxury to go to the spa and indulge in extravagance. But let's face it; most of us are having difficulty in meeting every day's needs. On the other hand, it is not appropriate to completely neglect personal happiness. So I decided to buy argan oil for my hair to at least give it a glow despite economic crisis.

Second Time Around

This is my second time to do job hunting. Because my main objective for coming to Singapore is to find a job, I make it a point to come up with perfectly organized curriculum vitae. With my vast experience for more than twelve years in various fields, I am qualified to apply for quite a number of posts. Thus, from time to time I always make revisions just to make it suitable for a particular position I am applying for. Take note, this means a lot of printing jobs. Hence it's so disappointing to know that nearby shop only offers document shredding service and photocopying, so I have to ride a bus just to have my resume printed. However it charges too much, which is around twenty pesos per page in its equivalent. To address my concern, my brother decided to purchase a personal printer at home. Now I can print all I want anytime with less hassle and expenditure.

Hitting Two Birds with One Stone

This is like hitting two birds with one stone. While we are in Singapore, I managed to do some sort of job hunting to maximize our stay. Who knows, I might be lucky enough to land a good opportunity while on vacation. Of course, to make it possible I have to leave a contact number where they can keep in touch with me in case I get shortlisted. Since we've been here for almost two months already, it is not unusual to receive numerous calls in a day for job interview. Some of which are directly from employers, while others are from employment agencies who ask for certain amount just to get an appointment from contracting companies. But to my surprise, I was confused when somebody called up one day and referred me as one of their Health Insurance Leads. I forgot that this number used to be that of my sister-in-law's; thus, it is not a remote possibility to receive phone calls that are not mine. Now, all I wish is to get a job before our stay expires. If not, we will be left with no choice but to go back to the Philippines and face the reality.

Adventures in Singapore Zoo

We've been to Singapore zoo and everything inside is spectacular. The nature speaks for itself with all the green bushes and foliage covering the entire place. For sure you'll be at awe by simply looking at it; not to mention the countless species of animals widely dispersed in every corner. Because the place is so huge, one whole day of walking can make your feet tired and numb. Thus by the time we reached home, we didn't have time to chit chat at the couch anymore. What I did was checked my mail first before sleeping. But to my surprise, I have more than 50 unread messages in just a span of one day. These don't include bulk messages in the spam folders. The worst part of it is that most are just marketing announcements like product launching, discount vouchers, and Internet Insurance Leads. So after I get rid of unwanted emails, I went straight to bed to relax and eventually sleep. I just love the experience and I can't wait for the next day's adventure.

Pleasure of Watching Television

While taking a sip of red wine, I watched my favorite entertainment show about celebrities of today and yesterday. Revival movies are being launched just like Charlie's Angels with its new casts. Journalists can't help but compare fresh personalities with the iconic figures because let's face it they really left some kind of marks to the memories of the viewers. But let's give chance to the new artists by letting them prove their talents. What caught my attention most was to see the face behind the original wonder woman character - Lynda Carter. Though it is pretty much obvious that she has matured a bit, but you can still see the beauty and grace in her. Technology has played an important role in keeping the youthfulness of a person. Good thing there is Cosmetic Surgery in San Diego to help maintain ones vanity. I just wish that when my time to get old comes, I too can avail of some kind of "Thank You Doctor" procedures, so that I wouldn't have to bid to my freshness that soon.

Culture Acclimatization

It is a must to learn other's cultures in advance, so as to avoid culture shock. This is what I noticed after having stayed in a foreign land for almost 2 months. Unlike in the Philippines where our parents have inculcated in our young minds the word conservativeness; teenagers here are very much liberated. They don't show even a little sign of hesitation at all when it comes to expressing their feelings. They just love public display of affection whether on trains, buses, or malls. I can't imagine seeing my daughter doing things that are certainly regarded as taboo in the society. Although I find it convenient to live and work here, but definitely I am against the idea of living here for good. I just pity women in general because it is their reputation that is at stake. Thus, I highly appreciate television shows giving relationship advice for women because these greatly help boost esteem and confidence in them. I just wish that the concerned individuals will also give a little consideration to their parents. Bearing in mind that they will become parents too in the future, so why not be sensitive enough.

Giving Second Chance to Used Items

After doing some mall strolling one afternoon, I hurriedly went to school to fetch my niece. Since it was raining cats and dogs that day, I made sure to pass under the hallway of several buildings for protection. While walking, I can't help but notice a pile of used clothing and appliances scattered along the passageway. At first, I thought somebody is moving to another place but I was amazed when a lot of people tried to flock together and search for some useful items. I asked my brother about it and said it is a common practice for Singaporeans to throw away old things especially when Chinese New Year comes. This is their way of instantly getting rid of timeworn pieces rather than resorting to online silent auction ideas, which is of course more helpful and profitable. The big difference is that they do not sell these things; instead they just want to dispose of the goods without expecting any profit at all.