Chronic Kindness

I Found It On Galleon.PH

2016-03-01T12:15:00.000+08:00

Online shopping has grown tremendously over the years and the Filipinos have embraced this popular trend with open arms and wallets. A quick look at a study done by Visa International shows an overwhelming 90% of Filipinos are shopping online. But with this rising percentage, a lot of online shoppers like me are searching for products that are not available here in the Philippines. It's a relief that there's now Galleon.ph.

Filipinos are really shopping online!

Emerging Online Site

As a mom, I've always been looking for products that I've seen in stores in the USA, but are not available locally. These are the following products that I would really like to get from Galleon.ph. I've searched everywhere for these but our stores are not carrying these items:

1.Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

This is the biggest bottle yet, at a whopping 32 oz! As early as November of last year, I can't find this brand or this size on the shelves of my favorite supermarkets. So, I was ecstatic upon seeing that Galleon.ph have this as part of their extensive selection of products!

Bragg Organic Apple Cider to chase those illnesses away.

2. Tamagotchi

Oh,my! My daughter and I were just discussing that we can't find any more Tamagotchi here in the Philippines, and ta-dah - they have it! What makes this doubly interesting is that this particular kind of Tamagotchi is not the toy that I used to know. In fact, it's modern and digitalized. Thanks Galleon.ph!

Tamagotchi : Still the best virtual pet by Bandai

3. Kahlua Gourmet Ground Coffee

Definitely a great treat for coffee lovers like me. This Kahlua coffee variant is truly a gem and I can't find it here in the country. Imagine the taste of Arabica beans mingling with the heady rum, vanilla and caramel flavors of Kahlua Coffee Liquer! I'm in coffee heaven...

delicious rum, vanilla, and caramel flavors of Kahlua Coffee Liquer

- See more at: http://www.galleon.ph/product/detail/4627021/kahlua-gourmet-ground-coffee-original-12-ounce#sthash.z8lZcP5i.dpuf

Kahlua Gourmet Ground Coffee? Yes, please!

Coffee featuring the delicious rum, vanilla, and caramel flavors of Kahlua Coffee Liquer - See more at: http://www.galleon.ph/product/detail/4627021/kahlua-gourmet-ground-coffee-original-12-ounce#sthash.7GdP8Rol.dpuf

Perks

Aside from the great products that you can buy online, Galleon.ph takes care of the little things that make shopping a wonderful experience. Where else can you find these:

Prices are all-inclusive and they take care of shipping, customs and taxes.
Ships nationwide and delivers via air (6-12 business days) and sea (35-40 business days).
Has efficient customer care. With that, buying and shipping of items not on their website can be requested.
Has multiple payment modes.
Has a “ship my item” feature where in Galleon.ph act as a PO box service but you don’t get charged shipping fee by the box but on the item itself. www.galleon.ph/shipmyitem

You can check the Galleon.ph website at http://www.galleon.ph/
Don't forget to follow them on the following social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Galleon.ph

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galleonph/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/galleonph

If you hurry and shop today, you can avail of the 10% off coupons till March 5! So hurry and do your online shopping now!
For my readers, comment and share my post so I can give you the discount code as giveaway.

Free Prayer Notecards for Hubby

2016-02-01T20:12:00.000+08:00

Taking care of our family takes a lot of effort. For the men in our lives, we take a double measure! One thing is sure, though, if we take the time to care for our partner's well-being in terms of physical comfort, shouldn't we also look into their spiritual lives, as well?

Our hubbies may not be the perfect beings that they are, but we're not 100% sterling silver, either. So everyday, we must take the time to extend grace, give a little more leeway and extra loving patience to show we care.

From head to toe, our dear husbands must be covered in prayer. Investing in their spiritual protection is necessary because today, we live in a world where family unity is compromised and the divorce rate is staggering. As the Lord protects our marriage, we must cooperate with Him and stay connected in prayer and be rooted in His Word.

How to Use

Oh, I would say use frequently and give some to your girlfriends! They will certainly appreciate the thoughtful gesture. Do buy quality card stock so these keepsakes will look extra pretty and sturdy. I laminated my own sets and gave some to my friends, as well. I even attached one prayer note card to a gift for a friend's birthday. The possibilities are limitless!

They are also great keepsakes for:

bridal showers
wedding anniversaries
women bible studies
church activities

I made the cards using Photoshop and applied some watercolor brushes to make those flowers and leaves.

Here's the download link where the PDF file is stored. I store my files in Mediafire, so it's safe.

Just click, save, print and give! https://www.mediafire.com/?4cc6yvtg919hswh

Enjoy the freebie!

Helping Busy Individuals: Gocery and sEATs

2016-01-27T22:45:00.003+08:00

Last October 2015, I had the privilege of writing an advertorial for Globe Telecoms, the country's premiere mobile brand through Clickthecity. Incidentally, my family and I are all subscribers of the giant network so it was fun writing for them. I had a great opportunity to test both mobile apps - Gocery and sEATs and up till now, both are very useful and running well.

As women, we are often tasked with the the mundane chores of restaurant reservations or buying groceries for our families. Most often than not, we dislike making reservation calls especially when we are already outside the home. Going to the groceries can sometimes be taxing especially when there are little ones needing attention or there's too much work at the office.

Read my review for the Gocery and sEATs mobile apps at Clickthecity. And tell me how the apps helped you in your daily grind.

Click on the link:
Gocery and sEATs: Two New Apps to Make City Life Easier

Review: The Instapray App

2016-01-23T17:31:00.000+08:00

Do you find yourself alone in your room and in need of prayers, but are too burdened to ask your closest friends or family? Then, welcome to Instapray, a FREE mobile app available in the App Store and Google Play that connects you to millions of caring and praying people worldwide. It boasts of users from 194 countries and over 58,144, 999 ++ prayers and counting!

Built on a Platform of Prayers
Fryderyk Ovcaric, a Stanford graduate built the app to what it is today, saying that Instapray is:

a safe place that connects people around the world through prayers."

For many people, this app serves as a lifeline, allowing users to interact with others by posting their prayer request, or inspirational photos that can inspire another. Within minutes of posting, expect encouragement from people all over the globe.

User interface is pretty and it is easy to navigate the site.

You need to register your email address or sign up using Facebook to use the app. After that, you just have to create your profile, maybe add an avatar and that's it. Navigating is easy, you click the HOME icon and you're taken to another page where you can scroll through a number of prayers being posted in real time.

Most prayers seek help in praying for a much-needed job, healing for a sick loved one, guidance for a decision and yes, prayers of thanksgiving for blessings and answered prayers. It's easy to get lost in a sea of prayers so you can:

Prayers in the Age of Technology

When Instapray founder Fryderyk presented the app at the Values Voter Summit in 2014, he cited the movie "Bruce Almighty" as a source of inspiration in the making of this app. The moment Bruce heard all the prayers from humanity and gets overwhelmed, you'll realize that you can definitely relate with him. Seeing all the prayers are humbling and it makes me wonder how God hears our own supplications all at the same time.

Walk the Talk

It's easy to see why Instapray has grown tremendously in the last 2 years. It caters to Christians who know the value of interceding for other believers in need. While the app is not a substitute for Sunday church worship, bible groups or small groups, it's still an exceptional tool for people who puts a premium on prayers.

Sifting through the many prayer requests, I can see how similar our needs are and it made me realize that this makes us more connected and less isolated. It humbles you and makes you grateful for what you have, compared to the many who are lacking and in dire straits.

Download the app today, you won't regret it. See how this can help you remain steadfast in your faith and provides you with discipline in praying for yourself and for others, as well.

UserTesting: Earn Money While Still Being a Hands-On Mom

2016-01-15T22:19:00.003+08:00

Let's face it, not everyone can be freelance writers, virtual assistants or digital artists. But today, it is easier to earn money as long as you have an internet connection. For parents who opt to stay at home, there's another earning potential that is worth looking into: User Testing.

A New Way to Earn

If you are a Mom with kids who chose to work from home, User Testing can provide the extra income you need. Although it will not make you wealthy, it can help in the household expenses, as well. It doesn't require any extra skills; as long as you can speak your thoughts out loud and have a decent command of the English language, then you're all set.

What is User Testing?

User Testing guarantees an earning of $10 per 20 minute video that you can finish; payable to your Paypal account. You get to visit a website or an app and literally test it, speaking your thoughts out loud as you navigate through the site. A set of instruction will be given to you and this will gauge user experience as you complete your way through.

Many companies use the site and pay for testers who can easily give them feedback before a commercial website become operational. So, it's an exceptional way to improve many websites to make it more user-friendly for everyone.

Have the proper equipment and a quiet place to make your recording (Getty Images)

Technical requirements include:

- an internet connection
- microphone or headset
- PC or Mac
- iPhone, Ipad, Android tablet or Android Phone for mobile tests

Other requirements to consider:

- ability to download the testing software (FREE)
- ability to speak out your thoughts aloud in English
- ability to follow directions
- a space or room where you can record without too much noise

How to Start

1. Sign up

Signing up is FREE. Go to their site at https://www.usertesting.com/be-a-user-tester and sign up using your email address and wait for the confirmation email. While you are there at their page, it would be the right time find out more of what you are signing up for. Please read the FAQ.

2. Complete a sample UserTesting recording.

You would also be asked to download their software that records your voice as you go through a site. Be sure to be precise and tell exactly how you feel about the links of the site, an example: is it easy to find what you were searching for? If not, you have to tell why it was difficult by explaining your reasons in detail.

After recording your thoughts, you will be asked to write short answers to simple questions they will be asking regarding your experience. Hit the send button to send your whole recording.

3. Wait for feedback in your email.

A confirmation email will then tell you that they have received the recording and will notify you again for their feedback. Based on your recording, UserTesting will give you tips on how to improve your performance. They will also inform you that there's a high volume of applicants so WAITING is necessary.

More tips:

Be clear, concise and audible (Web Image)

Continuously speak your thoughts:
- Speak loudly and clearly.
- Avoid long pauses while reading text or filling out forms.
- Keep explaining what you’re thinking.
Complete the tasks exactly as requested
   - Read the Scenario aloud – this is the mindset to keep during the test.
   - Don’t stray from the subject matter. Carefully read each task and complete it as best you
     can before moving on to the next task.
    - Answer the written questions honestly and completely.
    - Find a quiet place to record. If you get interrupted during a recording, click the "pause"
      button on the screen recorder and resume when you are ready to focus again.

Most of all, enjoy! It's a fun way to earn money.
So, how did you do?

Why Fasting is a Feast for Your Soul

2016-01-11T21:49:00.001+08:00

“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie.
It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for
heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world... (― John Piper, A Hunger for God)

Strong words.
But for many Christians whose churches have scheduled fasting for the first weeks of January, these are just the words that we need to hear spoken to our hearts and soul. Many might be wondering where fasting might fit in our modern world today; others might think that fasting is so Old Testament-ish. They couldn't be more wrong.

What Fasting Is and Is Not

Prayer and fasting are included in the spiritual disciplines for Christians. We see a lot of professional athletes and entertainers who are exceptional in their crafts and this is because of having a disciplined regimen. Isn't it only fitting that we also have spiritual disciplines to help us in our walk with Christ?

Relationships take a lot of effort and this is also true with our personal relationship with God. We can only be good at it when we have a daily discipline of reading His Word, praying from the heart during our quiet time and listening to Him. Fasting makes us forego a basic need of our bodies to nourish our soul. This is done by spending time with the Lord in prayer.

Why do We Fast?

Fasting is expected from followers of Christ

For a number of things listed below:

1. God expects us to fast.
Not "IF" but "when" as Jesus stated in Matthew 6:16-17:

"And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as they hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say unto you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face."

2. Jesus also fasted.
Jesus fasted before embarking on His ministry to prepare for the task ahead. Though fasting makes us physically weak, it strengthens our spirit to be more prepared for God's assignments for us.

"And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. -Matthew 4:2

3. The early church did their own fasting as well.
In the New Testament, we see the early Christian Church fast for Paul and Barnabas. Whenever they set out leaders to do God's bidding, they fast.

"Then when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." -Acts 13:3, Acts 14:23

4. When we fast, we demonstrate our humility before God.
Going without food and being weak makes us more aware that we are not invincible as we would like to believe. When we demonstrate this humility, it makes us experience God's grace in the way He upholds us to persevere.

"But as for me when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer kept returning to my bosom." - Psalm 35:13

5. Fasting makes us open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Fasting realigns our priorities to see a clearer perspective of God's leading to our lives. Focusing on God, and veering our senses away from food and pleasure makes us more sensitive to what He wants to bring Him glory.

"And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days and when they had ended, He became hungry." - Luke 4:1-2

6. Fasting brings revival on a personal and national level.
When Christians fast and go down on their knees, the change wells up from the inside out and spills over the home, the workplace and ultimately to society. God is able to heal individuals and countries so that revival happens.

"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will fogive heir sin, and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14

7. Fasting is good for our bodies and health.
Fasting is not only good for cleansing bodies but it also improves and clarifies the mind. It rids the body of impurities and makes us healthier. According to experts, fasting for 3 days is exceptional to rid of addictive habits and for spiritual cleansing.

Kinds of Fasting
These are starting points where we can choose which type of fasting we can do.

1. Normal fast - Foregoing food for a set amount of time such as 1 day, 3 days, a week or sometimes longer. Only water is taken in during this time but one must be cautious in extending a fast without consulting a physician. This is true for many people with medical conditions.

Drink lots of water when doing the normal fast to stay hydrated.

2. Partial fast - In this kind of fasting, one can set a number of meals to eat per day, sometimes limiting one's food intake to 1 or 2 meals. This was done by Daniel and John the Baptist during their fasts.

Intermittent fasting is one kind of fasting that we can do. (Image credit: fredduncan.com)

3. Juice fast - This fast is limited to juices only.

Fruit and vegetable juices are allowed. (Image credit: cfv200 site)

4. Object fast - One can forego other things such as social media or anything that can distract them in communicating with the Lord. Examples of this would be time spent on video games, television or computers.

Media fasting is good for everyone. (Image credit: willmancini.com)

How does Fasting Benefit Us?

Fasting is good for our spiritual health. (Image: compassionthatcomples site)

When the hunger pangs set in from lack of food, we turn to Him and acknowledge our even deeper need for His comfort and presence. For a world immersed in instant self-gratification, fasting disciplines our soul to wait on the Lord to answer.

Did you just say wait? God is not an ATM machine that dispenses material blessings at a push of a button or a genie that grants wishes. He heals, restores, guides and teaches - all the things that our heart needs in dealing with difficult people and circumstances.

If the Lord can see us through and gives us the grace to hold on from food, it gives us faith and hope that He will give us the same discipline when we deal with people who makes our patience wear thin. Be it in our marriage or our relationships with our children, our parents, friends and other loved ones, God's grace surrounds us and teaches us to let go and not manipulate things nor people.

When we stop playing God, we let people be themselves - broken, flawed, prone to sin....very much like ourselves, in need of grace and forgiveness. When people fall short, that's the time that we lift them up to God and intercede for them.

Often we pray for a changes to take place in other people, only to realize that He is changing us first.
Because He is wise, He knows it should begin with us...and rightly so.

Free Ebook to Enjoy: Marriage Hacks

2016-01-08T03:42:00.000+08:00


A very timely book for everyone!

Marriage is a lifetime of commitment... and navigating the straits of this remarkable union can be daunting. Being married for 24 years doesn't make my marriage any easier. In fact, it takes as much work as when my husband and I were starting out. Sometimes, it's easier to give up than make the extra effort to make any relationship work. In today's world where everything changes, I can appreciate how Shakespeare penned love in his Sonnet 116:

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken..."

Oh, my. When he says it like that, I can't help but be more determined to improve on my marriage. After all, if we take the extra effort to tone our bodies, boost our careers or upgrade our lifestyles, shouldn't marriage be our top priority?

Promoting Lasting Marriage

Taylor Ward, the author of this exceptional book understands that sound advice given by trustworthy experts is a tremendous help to keep the fire of marriage burning. He compiled the best marriage counsels of 25 leaders that includes:

• Gary Chapman, The 5 Love Languages
• William Paul Young, The Shack
• Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage
• Danny Silk, Keep Your Love On
• Jeremy Cowart, Celebrity Photographer
• Jonathan Jackson, Emmy-Award-Winning Actor
• And many more...

A Peek Inside

According to the official site, this book will touch on common marital questions and includes:

• how to keep things from going stale
• how to handle personality differences
• how to cultivate emotional intimacy
• how to spice things up in the bedroom
• what to do when your spouse isn’t as intentional in your relationship as you are
• and more...

If marriage is hard for you at the moment, this read will simply comfort you to know you're not alone.
If marriage is amazing and fruitful, it will help you sustain.
If marriage is confusing, it will offer some insight on this unique union.
If marriage feels pointless, it will add purpose and depth.

Nuggets of Wisdom I Gained

The book aptly started with author and practical marriage expert Dr. Gary Chapman of The 5 Love Language series (which, you must read, too!). Learning the love language of our spouses is important, because as Dr. Chapman explained, "Love stimulates love." Well, I thought I knew it all, but obviously, I still need a lot of improvement in this department!

I also appreciated the advices of the other experts especially the ones where it says, "Don't be afraid to be the one who loves the most." There were a lot of practical tips given that are so easy to do and are guaranteed to make you more connected to your mate. It makes you think, "Why didn't I think of that?"

God's Design

Marriage: Union of two good forgivers

God designed marriage to last and families to stay together. Sadly, this isn't the case today. As more couples head for divorce and disillusionment, it makes me wonder the future of marriage and our children. But in the midst of uncertainty, I also believe that if God is the center of any marriage, this union is built to last.

You can download the book by going to this legal site: https://books.noisetrade.com/tylerward/marriage-hacks

Happy reading!

Earn Money From Home Doing Online Surveys

2016-01-05T21:31:00.002+08:00

Surveys are great for earning extra cash.

If you are a stay-at-home parent and would like some extra income on the side, then you might want to consider answering surveys from the best paid survey sites. Even if you have a regular job, online paid surveys will give you the chance to earn extra income in your spare time.

Many companies are aware of the value of consumer opinions, but they also know that these do not come free. Yes, they are willing to pay for feedback, and that's where we come in handy. Depending on your age group, income, demographics and preferences, these surveys are valuable for improving products and services even before they hit their target market.

Millions of dollars are spent by companies on people who are willing to spend some extra time giving their opinions. In exchange for answering some easy questions, respondents may be given the following:

- gift checks that can be redeemed for products, services or given to charities
- money through their Paypal accounts
- gift cards that can be used for online stores, magazine subscriptions, digital downloads of music
- virtual currencies like bitcoins

Here are the best survey sites that I'm using that you can use. There are a lot of great sites but these have been consistent in giving out rewards and have plenty of surveys that you can answer:

1. AIP Online Survey


AIP Online Survey is my favorite survey site

What makes AIP Online Survey a great online survey site is how frequently they send us survey notifications via email - around three to four surveys per week. Just register your details online and you're on your way to answering consumer surveys ranging from food and drinks preferences to rating the effectivity of some marketing ads.

Some surveys are short, while other sets are a tad too long (but, you get 500 points or more for that!). Be ready to spend around 3- 10 minutes for these easy questions.

Redeeming Points and Rewards

1 EPoints = 0.1 PHP. Minimum needed for vouchers is 2,500 EPoints

Once you've reached 2,500 points, you can start redeeming your points or wait a bit so you can get more. AIP will send you Sodexo Gift Checks by regular post (sorry Muggles, no owl post available) which you can use to purchase goods and services from groceries, restaurants and more.

For a full list of merchants who are accepting these Gift Checks here in the Philippines, just click on this link.

Sodexo Gift Checks are sent via regular post as payment

So far, I've received around Php 1,200 worth of Sodexo Premium Pass for a year, which isn't bad at all! Depending on how diligent you are in answering these surveys, you can get more points that you can redeem for these useful gift checks.

Refer a Friend and Get More Points

You can refer up to a maximum of 5 friends per six months (180 days) by inviting them to register on the AIP site. Once they have registered and taken their first survey, you will get 350 EPoints while your friend gets 250 EPoints!

If you want an invite from me and get your 250 EPoints, just contact me HERE and provide me your email, it's that easy.

For more information on how you can start right away, just go over to their site at https://ph.m.aipsurveys.com/

2. MOBROG

German-based company MOBROG looks promising

MOBROG is a German-based company by market research group Dr. Grieger & Cie. They conduct global surveys online using a wide variety of platforms - laptops, smartphones, tablets and desktops. Make sure to register and choose your host country so you can begin to receive survey notifications in your email inbox.

Points, Rewards and Redemption

If you are in the Philippines, MOBROG gives Php30 - Php 180 per survey depending on the length of the questionnaire. In the USA, that's $ .50 - $3 per survey. Rates will vary depending on your country so check it out and sign up for their paid surveys.

Once you've reached Php 250, you can now redeem your earnings. All payments are made via Paypal.

Referrals for Friends

What's great about MOBROG is that you can refer a lot of friends and you get Php50 (Philippines) when they signed up and take their first survey! US residents get $1 per successful referral or if you are in the UK, then that's 1 Euro. If you know their emails, then invite them to join.

Check out their site at http://mobrog.com/ and start earning!

3. iPoll

iPoll has an interesting interface

I've forgotten that I have an account at iPoll, but was glad to get back to trying it out again after a long hiatus. I really enjoy the design of the site and it's more pleasant to view compared to most. Similar to the other two sites, you have to register and answer a lot of profile questions to make sure that you get questions that are most suited for your age, gender, demographics and the like.

Rewards and Points for Redemption

You need around US $25 to redeem or that's about Php 1178.13 as indicated in their website. Payout is through Paypal or you can redeem your points to your Rixty Online Entertainment Card. Interestingly, you can also do your part of making the world a better place by using your points to donate to various causes that you can choose in the iPoll site.

Some of the charitable institutions where you can donate your earnings include the following (there are a lot to choose from):

- American Cancer Society
- PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
- A-T Children's Project
- KCA (Keep A Child Alive)
- Pink-Link
- Habitat for Humanity
- Water First

They also give out a $5 sign up fee as a gift, so that's really good news!
Check out their Facebook page, as well.
Go to their site at https://www.ipoll.com/ to sign up.

Not all survey sites are created equal, some have a lot of in-house purchases while others have very low payout rates. So, don't forget the following tips in order to maximize your earnings:

1. Search and find the right survey site for you. Make sure your country is included before registering.

2. Register immediately and complete your profile to be able to start receiving your survey questions.

3. Activate your email. A link will be sent to your email to verify your identity.

4. Periodically check your email inbox for new surveys. Some have short time frames so it's important

to answer them once you've received your survey questions.

I will be posting more survey sites that actually pays the respondents so watch for it! Do you know of anymore wonderful paid survey sites that lets you earn extra income?

4 Signs That You Missed Christmas

2015-12-30T19:41:00.000+08:00

Did you or did you not miss Christmas this year?

The festivities are winding down on my side of the world. For some, they might just be asking "what festivities?" If that's the case, let me be the party pooper and tell you that you missed Christmas this year!

Under the Radar

Was this season a blur of activities for you? Or a whirlwind? Let's do a status check to see how your fared by checking out if you had the following maladies that made you missed Christmas:

1. The Innkeeper Syndrome - too busy with making a living

Too busy to live life (Web Image)

Two thousand years has passed and people are still guilty of this. An old adage comes to mind that says "people are too busy making a living that they forgot to make a life." For many, Scrooge is not a fictional character because he lives in most of us. How many times have we missed being with our loved ones because work comes first? In the busyness of life, it is easy to forget what matters most such as:

God, family, compassion, forgiveness and love.

Christmas is an event that changed the face of humankind with the birth of Jesus Christ. The perspective that is easy to overlook is this: God reached out to us. He didn't have to, but He did. Out of love. Out of His desire to show us that there is a better way through Emmanuel.

2. The Herod Syndrome - too afraid to let Jesus rule

Are you caught in a sea of fear?

Have you ever wondered how a small baby can evoke fear in the heart of an Emperor? How a babe can threaten a lifestyle or a powerful belief system? Is there an inner Herod in you that has always been there, lying in the darkness of your heart? We missed Christmas when we go on our own destructive ways and rely on our own strengths; falsely believing that our abilities are the ones that will make us succeed in life.

3. The Jewish Leaders Syndrome - too blind to see what's in front of them

Do you know Jesus?

For many who are waiting for someone to save them - a Savior that was foretold long ago, it's sad that when the Real Savior came, they were unaware of it! In our world today, there are many false saviors and heroes among us. Sometimes, our savior can be our money in stocks, or our savings in the banks, or our position in society; even our careers. We missed out on Christmas when we don't recognize the reason why we are celebrating this Season of Joy.

4. The Roman Empire Syndrome - too many gods to worship

Money. Booze.Power (Image credit:The Guardian)

Modern idolatry today consists of bowing down to materialism, our own self-indulgence and false heroes. We missed Christmas when we believed that this Season is all about gifts, bonuses, parties and endless shopping sprees. We delude ourselves when we think that we deserve all the excesses of life such as binge eating, drinking and a lifestyle that does not glorify the Lord.

After Unwrapping the Gifts: Now What?

The Unchanging Jesus

By this time, the novelty of the gifts that we received and gave has worn off. Next month or in the coming year, these gifts have been forgotten or junked with newer and better models of gadgets coming out. Bigger...better...that's how it is in our world.

But the true meaning of Christmas cannot be outshone with newer and better things. Christ is ALWAYS current - He is the same yesterday, today and forever! There won't be any new version of Jesus coming out, no deity that is more powerful or mightier than Him. He is the ultimate gift.

For us, that's the good news!

What about you? Did you miss Christmas this year?

Aneko Press and the Power of Christian Publishing

2015-12-22T04:22:00.000+08:00

Christian Publishing that helps ministries worldwide!

Aneko Press is a Christian publishing and printing firm that showcases Christian authors with a heart for God and the Good News. They have a wealth of books in print and digital forms that you can purchase on site or at Amazon.com.

Calling All Writers of the Faith

Are you a Christian author with a manuscript that you want to publish? Then submit your masterpiece to Aneko Press where it will be reviewed. When your manuscript has passed their review process, chances are, you're on your way to getting published.

You can also get a printing cost for those who are looking for reasonably-priced book printers. Geared towards helping ministries have an advantage by acquiring high-quality and cost-effective printing solutions,contact Aneko Press for a quote.

The Prison Ministy is close to the heart of Aneko Press and everyone is encouraged to do their part by bringing in as many of these books to be read inside the prison walls. Browse their Ministry Resources and find out how you can help.

Great Promos for the Christmas Season

From December 23 to the 27th, more than 50 books belonging to various genres will be on sale at wonderful, low prices. These include Christmas Time selections and other books that are exceptional gifts for friends and loved ones. Check out their selections HERE.

My favorites:

Christmas Time: It's All About Jesus! Kindle Edition

Author: Susan M. Barkdale, et al.

For Ages: 3-9

Not to be missed book

This wonderful ebook is charmingly illustrated by Alicia T. Young and is a joy to give to your little ones. Discussing the Christmas story with children is a way of honoring the King of Kings . This will help them understand the true meaning of Christmas apart from the toys and the festivities.

G.I.F.T.S.: A Prayer Book for Kids and the People who Love Them Kindle Edition

Author: Susan M. Barkdale, et al.

For Ages: 3-9

Giving the gift of prayer

Your kids will love this and you will too! Teaching them about praying and talking to God is easier to do when you have this beautiful book. Starting kids early to have meaningful communications with our Heavenly Father will benefit them tremendously.

The Pursuit of God (Annotated) Updated Edition (Kindle)
Author: A.W. Tozer
FREE!


For fans of Tozer

This FREE ebook is a welcome treat for all readers of A.W. Tozer. If you are serious about your spiritual walk with Christ and would want a deeper communion with Him, then this book will not disappoint you. Not to be read in a single sitting because of numerous thought-provoking points, get your pens and journal ready for a deeper study of this book.

More Books to Discover

Aneko Press has tons and tons of books to offer. Hop on to their site and discover endless treasures that will surely please you. Don't forget to give these books for the Christmas Season!

Aneko Press Website: https://anekopress.com/

5 Priceless Christmas Gifts to Give the Wealthy

2015-12-16T22:16:00.000+08:00

Gift giving need not be painful

Yup. We all have them - friends or relatives who are well-off that gifting them is a perennial headache. Because really, what do you give friends or loved ones who have everything? This Christmas, I'm exploring more options and reminding myself that giving is not all about material things...because not everything that sparkles is gold. Christmas is much, much more. It's the birth of our King Jesus and in keeping with the spirit of His simple birth in a manger, we must return to the basic joy of the Season.

Five Gifts to Give People Who Have Everything

Be creative and get out of your mall mentality! Here's my top 5 gift ideas:

1. Give the gift of serenade.

Do you know that there's a lot of untapped talent in the country that's just waiting to be discovered? Maybe you know of someone with a great singing voice whom you can pay a little extra to sing a Christmas song or a couple of favorite songs for your wealthy friend? Think of the joy in the faces of the persons at the receiving end of your serenade!

Don't worry if you don't know of someone who can sing, there's a lot of professionals who sing for a living.

Check out the site:
Harana.Ph
harana.ph

From known singing personalities to rising talents, this site offers a treasure of talents

This cool Pinoy company has tons of talented singers whom you can select to sing. According to their site, Harana.ph is the only business of this kind that serenades people professionally. There's a lot of videos of their clients and indeed, the expression of delight and surprise on their faces is priceless!

2. Pick a charitable cause and give a donation on their behalf.

A. Human Charities
I know there's a lot of known charitable institutions around, so let's pick those that are unknown or do not have the media mileage, ok? Like this one:

COPING: Children of Priests International
http://www.copinginternational.com/philippines/

A worthy cause to champion

We all make mistakes, and sometimes, these can be costly for those who are involved. In the website, it states that we ought to "consider the plight of the ordinary, those less fortunate, the children of priests shadowed, forgotten and ignored within the Philippines." The stigma alone is heartbreaking and to be able to give these children a second chance to a humane life is honoring a God of second chances - one who never gave up on us. Although not registered as a charitable institution, one can help in other ways. Take a peek at COPING, search your heart, ask how you can be of help and do so in behalf of your friend, all for God's glory!

Christ's Commission Fellowship
http://www.ccf.org.ph/give2014/

Giving for missionaries who spread the Good News can be done by anyone

Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) is a non-denominational megachurch who takes discipleship seriously and is a church I go to. One of the ways you can donate is by giving to the many missionaries who go to other parts of the world to take the gospel and make Jesus Christ known. What better way to give than to these missionaries? Donate under your friend's name. They'll appreciate it, knowing they are part of something lasting and eternal.

B. Charities for our Furry Friends

Chances are, these wealthy friends of ours are animal lovers. What more to make them more happy than to donate to a particular animal shelter under their names? They'll love the gesture and you'll be able to help a lot of these animals for their upkeep or maintenance.

Check out the following:

International Animal Rescue
http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/

Our furry animals need our help too!

Like most animal shelters, you can donate or give a gift. Your friend will love you for thinking of this kind gesture and giving them the credit for it! Once they learn of International Animal Rescue, they can even leave a lasting legacy by making a gift in their will for these suffering animals around the globe.

World Vision
http://donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/by-category/animals

Donate animals who can help families in their livelihood

World Vision has been synonymous with giving children a chance to be educated through our donations. But do you know that you can even donate animals such as goats and chickens to families who need them? These animals can provide extra income for the family while at the same time, provide nutrition for the kids in the form of eggs or milk. So, donate in your friend's name and be happy that you have given a family who is halfway around the world a chance to live in dignity.

3. Give the gift of experience.
I have a friend who loved the gift that she got many Christmases ago. It was a gift of experience, she said. Now, I know what she was referring to:

Tuason Racing School
http://www.tuasonracing.com/

For a handful, the need for speed is real

Do your friend have a secret yearning to become a race car driver? Why not give him or her an exhilarating experience by enrolling your pal to a racing school? Maybe a trial lesson, if you're on a tight budget?

Hot Air Balloon Rides
http://www.philballoonfest.net/online-ticketing/hot-air-balloon-rides/

Up, up and away!

For a one-of-a-kind experience, why not buy him or her a ticket to a hot air balloon ride? If you are in the Philippines, there's the 20th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta on February 11-14, 2016! The venue is at Clark Freeport Zone and it's guaranteed to be fun and memorable.

Air Sports Adventure Philippines - Tandem Paragliding
http://www.airsportsadventure.com/courses

Paragliding at its best.

Tandem Paragliding is an exciting adventure where you fly in tandem or with a certified Tandem Pilot. For a 10-15 minutes flight, the cost is Php 3,500. What's more exciting is that you can take a camera with you on your flight and record your adventure. Check out their site for special rates and other information.

4. Give the Gift of Your Presence

Do you know that a lot of people around the world suffer depression during the Holiday Season? Stress, worries, money woes or missing loved ones are just some of the reasons why people succumb to this condition. For people who have everything, it could be a particularly trying time, as well. Sometimes the jovial atmosphere only adds up to the gnawing feeling of isolation especially for people whose reasons for living are to make more money, acquire more properties and be on top of the financial ladder.

The presence of a friend is a healing balm to the soul. (Image credit: wallpaperwide.com)

What can you do? Spend time just being with them. Invite them for coffee and girl/guy talk...or a baking spree in the kitchen...non-stop karaoke in your home or elsewhere...maybe a morning jog and breakfast after? The possibilities are endless!

Or...invite them to church. It's an opportune time to reignite a meaningful relationship with the Lord.

5. Give a Jar of Hope and Blessings

I once made a jar filled with bible verses that shows God's promises. It was a thoughtful gift to give. So if your friend needs a jolt of God's love and promise, he or she can just take one rolled thingy and be refreshed instantly. Praying for your friend is also a way of showing that you care!

My jar filled with favorite bible verses to soothe tired souls.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/04/16/how-to-make-a-scripture-personalized-box/

Personalized scripture boxes or jars are welcome gifts.

This is a wonderful site to get you started on how to make a jar or a boxful of personalized scriptures for your friend. The site also provides a free PDF file of the verses that was used. All you do is just print, cut and roll! For many wonderful and kawaii jars, I do recommend Japanese store Daiso.

More Ways to Give

There's a lot more ways to give; these are just some of the things that I really considered based on my friends' lifestyles and preferences. What about you? What would you give a wealthy friend or relative this Christmas?

5 Tips to Boost Your Immunity During the Holidays

2015-11-26T14:27:00.000+08:00

Boosting our immunity with 5 Great Tips

The Mythical Creatures are back! Those whimsical beings with the power to do a hundred different things at the same time are in full force. Have you seen them already?
In my experience, when these fanciful beings appear, then the Christmas Season is upon us.

These creatures have the uncanny ability to flutter about in every mall sales, posses immense courage to meet traffic head on, attend all kinds of parties, buy gifts listed on their lists and STILL have energy to do a thousand other things! For non-magical people like us, the ability to stay fit, healthy and with more energy to spare during this Season of Giving is a challenge.

Staying Fit and Healthy: My 5 Tips to Boost our Immunity During the Holidays

Minimizing our sick days, especially at these times can be challenging, but it can be done! These are some of the ways to ensure that our whole mind, body and spirit remains in tip-top shape. As always, prevention is better than cure:

1. Getting into the mindset: Remember the Reason for Christmas.
Ey? You have forgotten?
Let me refresh. Thousands of years ago, an Angel chatted with a Virgin and told her of a Baby who will change the course of mankind by His gift of life, death and resurrection. Called Emmanuel, He will be hers by virgin birth. Many will be threatened by His existence, many will die for Him, but countless more will live for Him as changed individuals.

So where does the endless parties, non-stop buying (till our credit cards got worn out) and pigging out fit into the Christmas story? There were none mentioned.

Go think about it and be less stressed. Your T-cells will love you for that.

Remembering what Christmas is all about (web image)

2. Live below your means.
That's right, get into the LESS is better mindset and your immune system and wallets will thank you for it. Does it mean being like Scrooge? Of course not. It means not buying useless gifts just for the sake of giving. Ouch! I'm guilty of this as well!

Let me tell you a Christmas story. My friend and I knew of a couple who owns a very large company in the country. In one of our past celebrations, my friend gave the CEO a huge pack of giant marshmallows wrapped in Christmas wrapper. To the wife, who happened to be our dear pal, we gave these: a set of cute gel pens of various colors (my bff's gift); while I made a customized drinking jug with her name and matching cartoon character that I knew she will delight in.

We were happily surprised that they loved their presents! They said that only a few do care to give them gifts; thinking they have everything. While some are just contented being recipients of their generosity. So, please, do take the time to give from the heart. It will save you from unnecessary debts from buying useless things. It will make your life less stressful, giving your more time for the things that matters.

To keep yourself sane and healthy this Christmas Season: keep it simple. And keep it real.

The simple joys of Christmas stays with us. (Image credit: http://blackrainbownihon.blogspot.com/)

3. Get plenty of sleep.
It has been proven by the elves of Santa: cranky people do not have enough sleep at night, which results in overeating during the daytime - that often leads to obesity and other health problems. This can also compromise the body's natural capability to fight off sickness. In essence, sleep deprivation can literally makes us sick!

Although we live in a 24/7 world and most people are working in different time zone settings, the bottom line remains: that proper sleep is a necessity for a healthy lifestyle. Going to sleep at the same time everyday and waking up at the same hour the next day will will help our bodies learn the routine of good sleeping habits.

Sleeping is best for all ages. (Image credit: http://unschoolers.org)

4. Eat "real" food.
Real food constitute whole food that are usually from nature rather than a byproduct of industry. Real food makes you literally "go, grow and glow"! If what you are eating makes you sluggish (do I sense Carbo-loading, dear?) or bloated (not good) or turns you to a raging monster (read: mood swings/agitated), then take a good look at what you are eating or drinking.

Our bodies need more fruits and vegetables, moderate consumption of meat, and lesser still of food rich in trans-fat. There are many nutrients and natural vitamins that are present in whole food. These makes our bodies healthier, stronger and more equipped to fight off infections and common illnesses such as colds and flu.


Real food makes our bodies stronger. (Image credit: http://filipinofoodaficionado.blogspot.com)

5. Take Fern-C to amp up your immunity to the max.
Do you know that Vitamin C comes in various forms, the most common of which is Ascorbic Acid? But not everyone can tolerate it, including myself. So, it's a good thing that there's Fern-C, a Vitamin C supplement that comes in the form of sodium ascorbate.

Closer Scrutiny: Ascorbic Acid or Sodium Ascorbate?

By a landslide, Sodium Ascorbate is better for the following reasons:

• Very tummy-friendly.

Unlike ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate is in alkaline form and therefore may not irritate our stomachs.

• Enters the bloodstream slowly, more like a timed-release tablet and stays longer inside our bodies.

This protects our bodies all day and is a powerful antioxidant to chase those diseases away.

• More sodium ascorbate is absorbed by the body than ascorbic acid.

While only around 1/4 of ascorbic acid is used by our bodies, sodium ascorbate shows an amazing 95% absorption!

Sodium Ascorbate Fern-C taken twice a day boosts our immunity. (Image credit: http://fern-c.com/)

So is it better to take Fern-C? Absolutely.
It is also a powerful antioxidant that binds free radicals from harming our bodies. It still provides the best armor against diseases, including the common cold and flu. The immunity-boosting prowess of Fern-C is a super ally this Christmas Season. It guards our bodies against stress that can debilitate us physically and mentally.

Fern-C is also an awesome Christmas gift to give and share this Christmas. Giving the gift of good health is a wonderful way of showing people that you love them to bits! AND people always appreciate a loving gesture.

To find out more about Fern-C, go to their website at http://fern-c.com/ .
You can also follow Fern-C on their various social media accounts for more updates:

Fern-C Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fernconline/

Fern-C Twitter: https://twitter.com/FERNCOnline

Fern-C Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ferncofficial/

What about you? Do you have your own tips to boost our immunity during the Holidays?

Fragrance Oil Burner:How to Use Effectively

2015-11-21T05:06:00.000+08:00

Electric fragrance oil burners are useful if you know the right way to use them.

There are a lot of questions regarding fragrance oil burner, how to use it effectively and what oils to use.
These might be some of your questions:

1. What is a fragrance oil burner? Are electric types better than candle lit ones?
2. How does it work?
3. Why do I need one?

For many of us who find solace in the comfort of our homes after a grueling day at the office, going home to a relaxing place is a necessity. Even for stay-at-home parents or those who work from home, the need to be in a place where one can recharge is a must.

My Little Helper

This is a little secret that I want to share, and for your eyes only, alright? I've been using these ceramic fragrance oil burners for several months now and wow, these babies have done marvels to my home, filling every nook with a heady fragrance that's so calming and fresh.

Made of white, glossy ceramic, I just plug it in, put some fragrance or aromatic oil on top with a bit of water and wait for the aroma to kick in. Easy-peasy!

Ceramic Fragrance Oil Burner 101

The intricate design makes it a fabulous decor piece when not in use

The high gloss ceramic finish of these burners makes it more attractive and easy to clean. The glazed material is able to withstand the heat of the halogen bulb that's inside the beautiful body. But watch out that you don't handle the burner while in use because it can get pretty hot. A small heat-resistant mat may also be placed at the bottom of the ceramic burner to protect the surface of any table.

The halogen bulb is included when you buy the burner. It is durable and will lasts for many months. I was able to buy a replacement from Ace Hardware- a Firefly brand which the company calls a Peanut Bulb for under Php 50.
Why not LED you say? Well, LED does not heat up so it will be unable to heat the oil, as well, and we don't want that!

Firefly Peanut Bulb

How to Use:
1. Plug the burner into an electrical outlet.
2. Fill the top of the fragrance burner with water.
3. Put some drops of aromatic oil or fragrance oil into the water. I usually put 7-15 drops of oil depending on how strong the scent of the oil is. It will also depend on the size of the room and the ventilation.

My favorite oils are Green Tea and Lavender which are not so heavy and overpowering. Great for those who have allergies or asthma. When you buy the ceramic oil fragrance burner, a bottle of 5ml fragrance oil comes with it for FREE, so you can start experiencing such heady scents. For me, that's a great deal!

Green Tea evokes freshness and is feathery light that makes it easy to relax and rejuvenate.

Advantages of Using Electric Fragrance Burner vs Candle Oil Burner

There are a lot of advantages of using electric fragrance burner vs candle oil burner. The following reasons are just some of it:

Safe to use - There's no open flame to worry about. Even with pets or children around, it's safe. Votive candles remain a fire hazard, especially since the house is laden with rugs, curtains and even blankets.

More economical - No additional candles to purchase. You might think candles are inexpensive, but when you add up your consumption for months, the costs of purchasing these are quite high.

Longer burning - Since these are electric, you can use them for longer periods of time. Unlike candles which can burn for 1-2 hours, electric fragrance burners can be used for the entire day.

Great for the Christmas Season and Beyond

I love how the white ceramic fragrance oil burner electric tool blends into my Christmas decor! It adds a nice touch to the home or the workplace. It is safer than using the traditional votive candle since there's no open flame that can be a fire hazard. It also has a dimmer so I can easily adjust the light to pace the burst of fragrance that I need.

When used inside an air conditioned room, set the dimmer to low and use a small amount of oil and see how the aroma just fills the room with more energy (depending on the scent used) or just relaxes you to bits! I hope this article on fragrance oil burner, how to use it effectively and other information related to it will help you make the right choice.

My ceramic oil fragrance burner fills my home with the scent of the Christmas Season

Product Specifications:

White glossy ceramic material
With light dimmer
35 watt halogen mini bulb (peanut bulb)
White, heavy-duty cord
220 volts

For more information on the product and prices, visit the Philippine Creations FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/philippinecreations/

Does your home smell of cooked food? Let our Ceramic Electric Fragrance Lamp fill your home with relaxing scents. FREE...
Posted by Philippine Creations, Inc. on Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Facebook Like Button Chokes Up These Sassy Emojis

2015-11-17T20:02:00.002+08:00

Have you noticed it yet? I opened up Facebook in my laptop and saw these peculiar buttons when I hovered on the LIKE button. So, these emojis, which are officially called Reactions have rolled out to Philippine shore.

Like Test...1..2..3

When Facebook top boss Mark Zuckerberg revealed that something is a-brewing in FB headquarters back in September, many were wondering if the dislike button is being hatched. But nope, what Mr. Z had in mind all along was a set of emojis called Reactions which will take the LIKE button experience to a more personal level. It makes sense that being positive in life and in FB works great by tapping on different sets of emotions, other than dislike.

Why press LIKE when you can express yourself in six more varied ways:


Ooh-la-la Reactions are more fun!

Is it Working?

Initial tests were done in Ireland and Spain, two countries which are ideal closed test groups, according to Adam Mosseri, the director of product for Facebook. These countries have similar large national user bases but without the extensive network of friends. Spain allows Facebook to test how effective these pictographic emojis affect non-English users, while Ireland is ideal as an English-speaking nation.

A family of Reaction Emojis

The Reactions are designed to appear across the desktop and mobile versions of the app, including posts in our News Feed. This will include posts from friends, advertisers or pages that we follow. No plans are being made for these emojis to be placed in Facebook-owned products or in Messenger.

On desktop, just hover on the Like button and the emojis will appear over the button; just click on it to use it. On mobile, touching the Like button on the screen will make these emojis appear. However, from my experience, the emojis do not appear on the FB App, but only when you use FB on the mobile browser of your phone. I will update this post if this changes in a couple of months.

Reactions as seen from an Android Smartphone

The Emotional Appeal of Emojis

Emojis are so easy and useful to use. When I lack the words to express how I feel towards a post, an emoji or sticker will do the trick. Does this mean we are breeding a generation of people who cannot articulate how they feel? Or are we just too busy to even type in the words, where a smiley will do?

Surprisingly, earlier researches has found that these typographic representations of facial expressions had a gratifying reaction when it comes to interpersonal relationship, enjoyment, perceived richness in information and usefulness. Hmmm, this means that these cuties do humanize our mobile experience and makes it more pleasurable and enjoyable.

Ok, I get it now. :o)

How Emojis Will Help Business Owners and Advertisers

Smiling Buddy

These emojis comprise data that will be part of Facebook's analytics and insights on user activities. Page owners and publishers will be able to see how their audience react emotionally to their page's contents. This will help them come up with more beneficial content targeted for a particular market.

Better User Experience

I like these emojis. They're great additions to Facebook and I enjoy using them. Now, I won't make the mistake of liking a sad post from a sick friend or someone who has just gone through a difficult time. If I'm feeling lazy with words, yet, would still like to engage with friends, a quick tap will show them what I feel.

In a busy world, these emojis or Reactions will make mobile engagement easier. Although I know that nothing can replace face to face interaction, these emojis can bridge that gap. So, tap into these cuties and see how you can make others feel more connected with you on a daily basis.

What about you? What do you think about this latest feature from Facebook?

My Belkin Wishlist

2015-11-14T15:45:00.000+08:00

My Wishlist Galore!

It's all a matter of connectivity, isn't it?

Everyday, we find ourselves getting more and more dependent on gadgets that make our lives easier. These gizmos make it effortless for us to reach out to friends and loved ones from around the globe, or even when they're just nearby. These gadgets can also assist us with work-related tasks.

For people with multiple gadgets, challenges arise when these little babies have to get their power drink either inside the house or on the go. The downside with technology is that cables are downright tricky and need to be suited for a particular gadget, or else, suffer the consequences of damaged thingamajigs.

Why I love Belkin @))-->>-----

Belkin has always been creating products that inspire and are innovative. The brand has always been identified with quality, affordability and seamless connectivity, RAWR! No, wonder that for my gadgets, I only trust Belkin. Do I have to rub it in?

Today, I'm sharing my Belkin Wishlist to everyone. Christmas is just around the corner and I am making my list, plus checking it twice. I'm sure that these Belkin beauties will have your tech-hearts-a-flutter!

Looky....

My Top 5 Most Wanted Belkin Products:

1. Belkin Dual Swivel Charger with Lightning to USB Cable

THE GOOD: Imagine charging 2 gadgets with a charger that rotates to 90 degrees and you'll see why I love to have these in my hands. The cable that's included in the pack is 4" in length, yes! No more gadgets in a death choke like Hangman (don't you just hate short cables?)
THE BAD: I never realized this could be a life changer. With 2 lightning cables, Apple products can be charged simultaneously- be it your iPad, iPhone, iTouch...you get the drift? Sad part, I still don't have this Belkin!
THE UGLY: When there's only 1 outlet in a Coffee shop, hotel or airport, and another person has this gigantic plug that covers up the whole thing...it could get ugly without the Belkin. It could mean war! That swiveling prongs assure that you'll be able to charge even in a crowded Cafe outlet, without getting into a fight! Amazing cable that even doubles as peacekeeper. Hurrah!

Belkin Dual Swivel Charger with Lightning to USB Cable

2. Belkin Road Rockstar 4 Port Family Car Charger Port 7.2A (Black)

THE GOOD: Definitely a much-needed purchase for a family of 4, like mine! A 6 foot long charging cable with 4 USB ports that allows even passengers at the back to charge their gadgets? Priceless! It even gives a speedy charge and lets you clip the Road Rockstar at the back of the passenger or driver seat for ease of use.
THE BAD: How we can ever get along without this Rockstar is beyond me! Road trips can be extremely taxing without the entire family wanting to charge their smartphones or tablets! Without this baby, it's just one long bad trip.
THE UGLY: Don't you just hate it when backseat passengers reach over in front to charge their gadget in one puny lighter charger? Can't they just wait for the next pit stop to charge? Obviously, tempers can fly and it's no joyride!

Belkin Road Rockstar 4 Port Family Car Charger Port 7.2A (Black)

3. Belkin Mixit 4 Feet 90 Degrees Lightning to USB Cable (Black)

THE GOOD: Charge. Connect. Sync. All these are possible using just one cable. The sleek right angle tip is pure genius! Who would've thought of designing this cable to protect the plug and ease out the strain on the cable? Fast charging and data transfer is possible and is made for your iPhone, iPad or iPod.
THE BAD: Regret. Regret. Why didn't I buy this Belkin when my lightning cable went dead on me? The bad part of regret is that it always happens in the end. Duh.
THE UGLY: "My precious." I really got to have this...it would end all my *ahem* suffe-ring: no more endless replacements of expensive cables due to damaged tips.

Belkin Mixit 4 Feet 90 Degrees Lightning to USB Cable (Black)

4. Belkin Universal Window and Dash Car Navigation Mount for Smartphones (Black)

THE GOOD: This Belkin is fierce! I would be most happy having this as my trusty companion to hold any device that measures up to 6 inches. Hubby will love this, it can be mounted securely on the dashboard or window. Rotate it, tilt it...whip it good (especially with my husband's bulky smartphone)! You can easily do all of that to choose just the right angle for navigation.
THE BAD: The way that traffic is so horrible these days, we can't go out without using our Waze. We can't navigate our way through traffic and dirt road without this Dashing helper, either. For drivers, it's a must!
THE UGLY: I rode with a close friend of mine and oh, it was u-g-l-y! I was holding my phone, checking the Waze, and making her read the tiny street names on the screen. It was a silly and dangerous thing to do! There should be a Belkin Universal Window and Dash Car Navigation Mount inside all our vehicles!

Belkin Universal Window and Dash Car Navigation Mount for Smartphones (Black)

5. Belkin Micro USB Cable with Lightning Connector Adapter (Black)

THE GOOD: Just one cable to charge numerous devices? YES, please! Charging and syncing your Micro-USB devices such as Android smartphones, tablets or Kindle and your Lightning connector Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, iTouch or Nano is a breeze! That ingenious little rubber clasp will ensure that your connectors don't get misplaced inside your bags. What a beauty!
THE BAD: Where have you been all my life? I've been tangled, tripped and made crazy with lots of cables in one big heap! My bag is full of cables alone, it's crazy! Totally bad experience, if you'll ask me. I thank you Belkin for this, it's a must-have for people like me who have numerous devices.
THE UGLY: I.Must.Have.This.Now! I can envision myself being tangled-free and never rummaging inside my bag for endless lengths of cables and connectors again. How many precious minutes were spent just raking inside my tote? I'm so glad that this product is available. I really am!

Belkin Micro USB Cable with Lightning Connector Adapter (Black)

Good News

I'm happy to tell you that My Top 5Most Wanted Belkin Products are now available. Check them out at Lazada and get them while they're hot!

Click on the link to my happy place: http://www.lazada.com.ph/belkin-ph-by-macpower/

My Top 5 Belkins at Lazada

What about you? What's your Belkin Wishlist this year?

Taking Gifting to the Next Level

2015-11-12T22:34:00.000+08:00

"Did Christmas change...or just me?"

This early, many people are looking forward to Christmas Day. If you are from the Philippines, then you are familiar with starting the season when the months have the -BER suffix behind their hems. I, for one is looking forward to spending the firsts of many Christmases with my daughter who was away for five years, and my parents who retired to the country for good.

When I was a child, I looked forward to toys, candies and stockings filled with all imaginable goodies. I became a Mom to two daughters and I transformed to being Mother Santa to them (*wink), leaving trails of mystery and cookie crumbs and an occasional reindeer footprint for good measure. Now with two grown ladies, Christmas holds a different meaning and a purpose for me.

Enter the Magical Christmas List

Does wanting grow shorter as we age?
Because my Christmas wish for myself has become shorter!

Instead of gadgets...--> I want my family to bond on a vacation to Japan where we can talk, stare each other in the face, eat food till we bust, see old world charm in Kyoto and enjoy the fashion on the streets of Harajuku.
All the while donning cute earmuffs and winter clothes, oi!

私は日本が大好き Watashi wa Nihon ga daisuki

(Simply put, I love Japan!)

Visiting Japan in winter is included in my Christmas wish.

For First daughter, I would like to give her the gift of fun and being a child all over again. She has always loved ice skating and giving her a chance to have formal training in ice skating...why not?

Giving the gift of Ice Skating Classes: Olaf will be so proud!

Second daughter, who enjoys baking, will surely love this: a Lifestyle short course in the culinary school of Heny Sison! This means more baked goodies for the whole family, yay!


A lifestyle course of her choosing is always a delicious treat

For hubby who loves his CoC (you know, Clash of Clans!)...a better visual experience and Retina display with iPad Mini 4...so he wins all those battles. Am I not the most understanding wife?


Ridiculously thin iPad 4

The Art of Giving Back

Last year, my daughter and I had the most amazing time bundling up toys and stuffs for kids and teens. Dubbed the "Shoebox Giftgiving", we plan to do this all over again. Preparing these boxes with the kids are just heartwarming.

All we need are some big shoe boxes, the ones where these large rubber shoes are placed in and some goodies to put into. Not to mention, plenty of imagination to make these boxes colorful and festive.
We even placed some canned meats for their Noche Buena and plenty of candies and chocolates.
For teens, we prepared some simple blings such as friendship bracelets and toiletries for their enjoyment.

Shoeboxes: the ordinary become extraordinary containers of Joy

The Birth of Our King

All these gift givings are nothing if we don't have Someone's birthday to celebrate. This Christmas and everyday, I thank the Father for His gift of Jesus. He is the true meaning in this season of giving.

Don't forget that SM is celebrating with the whole nation this year.

Visit their site to see more at:

https://www.smsupermalls.com/merrysmchristmas2015

Catch their Merry SM Christmas campaigns and have a truly meaningful Christmas!

“For more updates about this year’s “Merry SM Christmas” campaign, visit SM’s official Christmas microsite (https://www.smsupermalls.com/merrysmchristmas2015) and follow its official social media accounts at Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/smsupermalls), Twitter (https://twitter.com/smsupermalls), and Instagram (https://instagram.com/smsupermalls/); and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber (http://chats.viber.com/SMsupermalls). Shoppers can actively share their holiday merriments inside the SM Supermalls by posting their photos on social media and adding the hashtag #MerrySMChristmas2015.”

Free Christian Ebooks from a Legal Source

2015-11-11T23:58:00.001+08:00

Legal and Free!

I recently stumbled on a site that's offering free Christian eBooks, and boy, was I happy! This useful site helps the authors promote their books by offering it for free, but for a very limited time only. I've come across authors that I'm not familiar with and I'm so grateful for to be able to read their works.

David Who?

That's the first thing I asked and willed myself to find out. After all, I've been getting these free ebooks, I would really want to know who my benefactor is. It turned out that David is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to empower Christians all over the world to be able to disciple others, as well as grow in their faith. Through "Discipleship Shaping", this is being done.

So David is Not Real?

Unlike the Velveteen Rabbit, there is really a person who founded the organization in 1875 in Chicago, IL. His name is David C. Cook. His ministry has not only published these books and distributed these all over the world. They also partnered with various church organizations to endow their leaders with materials for distribution in developing countries and in those places where Christians are persecuted for their faith. The ministry either subsidize the cost (for developing countries) or distribute the books free of charge for underdeveloped nations.

So Many Ebooks, So Little Time

The site lists the retailers where you can get your free Ebooks: Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Google Play, iTunes, and Christianbook.com

When I got the first email from the ministry (I don't remember how I got one in the first place) I did the following obvious things:
1. I chose the Ebook I wanted.
2. The link took me to http://www.dccebooks.com/
3. The site lists the different retailers where I can download the Ebooks - Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, iTunes, Google Play, Christianbook.com, among others.
4. I download the Ebooks to my Kindle Fire.

Ebook Format for Different Devices

I do a lot of reading on my Kindle Fire HD7 and these free Ebooks have been welcome additions that I love. My only problem now is how to read all of these books in my lifetime!

My trusted Kindle Fire and Her (yup, it's a she) treats

Once you've downloaded tons of Ebooks, you'll realize that there are a lot of different Ebook formats specific to a device.

The following Electronic Book formats fit these devices:

Epub - Nook Reader (Barnes & Nobles)
Mobi - Kindle Readers (Amazon)
AZW - Kindle Ebook Readers (Amazon)
PDF - Supported by Nook, Kindle and other kinds of Ebook readers

You can use online converters to change from one file format to another so you can use it in your different Ebook readers.

Get Your Free Ebook

David C. Cook sends emails twice a week and reminds everyone to download the book as soon as possible because there's a limited time frame for that. Free Ebook downloads expire at midnight on Tuesdays and Fridays. So, check the schedules, which depends on your timezones and make sure that the retailer indicates that the Ebook is FREE.

Don't forget to check the site to see if there are already FREE Ebooks available for the week.
Click on this link: http://www.dccebooks.com/

Do you know of any FREE Ebooks site that gives out complimentary digital tomes?

Those Little Kawaii Paper Owls

2015-11-10T18:07:00.000+08:00

Something to print, cut and assemble

I admit.
I secretly love printable stuff and cute little owls. When I saw these lovelies in my favorite Pinterest page, I knew that I have to add these to my growing collection of free printables. The colors of these owls are fascinating and the ease of assembling are noteworthy, as well.
In case you would love to have these, a website owned by 3Eyedbear have hundreds of these critters just waiting to be found!

Craft and Creativity even printed and assembled a couple of these darlings and they were quite adorable!

Click HERE download the template from 3EyedBear. It's totally free and a fun way to do craft with your friends, kids or the whole gang!

For more of these kinds of printables, visit my Pinterest page!
https://www.pinterest.com/dmagdalene/diy-printables/

Do you have any more printables that's so uber cute?