Discover and Explore: Chronicles of MODERN PSALMIST

Hush Hush No Rush

2011-12-13T22:59:00.001+08:00

I’m back but not in full swing… just dropping by my blog to sustain life in it…(^-O) Is there such a phrase for inanimate and pulseless thing? Oh well… what’s new for this last month of the year? It is mid-December and I haven’t written entries in any of my blog…except for this nonsense one. hehe…. Anyway…got a chance to pose in a giant Christmas tree at SM Davao… I did not go there to shop though I got a thing or two for vanity sake… Oooops! But it wasn’t to lavish myself with no good reason at all… Ive great reasons to pamper myself…For one… I got a 1.0 grade in my grad school subject last semester, and I haven’t rewarded myself yet for working and studying hard (uhuh!) …

Anyway, here is my usual self every saturday… I travel 4 and a half hours to attend my graduate school classes… but let me previse you that I do not go to this mall every saturday too…my routine is from home to school then vice versa… I rush after my last class in the afternoon to catch the last trip to GSC, otherwise Ill be staying overnight…which is I don’t like to happen at all.

Sidetrip

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Rosebud

2011-11-14T23:30:00.001+08:00

I call my new baby Rosebud… After Roze retired, I waited a few months to finally have her…while reviews have been coming out about this cyber shot DSCW510, I simply did not check what other people say about this digital camera [before buying it]… I only have two concerns before getting this gadget. Read on so that you will know… It might help you too come up with a decision when you buy new dojiggers.

I do not care so much of the branding or the models…To me they are all the same, the adage that says “once you’ve seen one, then you’ve seen them all” is quite true for me in this situation. So with that in mind, I simply did not bother whether it’s the latest model or not—I just need one for documentation… so whenever I buy, my priority is the price.

If this is a hobby, for sure I would love to get a Canon or Nikon but since this is not… Sony Cybershot is already good for me. Considering the service center too, I’ve to send my unit to Manila if ever my would-be Canon or Nikon goes berserk—with Sony, that would not be a problem.

Obviously, the picture above is the color that I chose. There are other colors to choose from, like silver and red.

So far… those are my two criteria in buying Rosebud. Click here for the spec of this thingamabob, or you may go directly to Sony website.

Color Bloom

2011-11-07T22:34:00.001+08:00

For the past month, I’ve been searching for the perfect lip balm… I say perfect because I’ve been jumping from one brand to another but I could not get that kind of balm that would relieve me from chapped lips… but the relief it offers only last for awhile…

Then I found the Color bloom of Maybelline… I find it a treat because it does not only hydrate my lips but it also gives me a pink shade. It only costs me Php99.00. There are two shades of this color bloom, rose pink and peach.

BookSale

2011-10-31T22:24:00.001+08:00

I am simply grateful this “thrift” bookstore exists in our place. You do not have to buy expensive books just to keep up with the hobby. My husband and I value reading… Both of us are bookworms (I hate that term) or “book lover/s”. In fact, I’m a bibliophile.

*Me The Bibliophile*

Since High School, I started collecting books from Sweet Dreams to Sweet Valley High. Then, I began collecting the works of Sheldon, Demille, Grisham, Ludlum, Roberts, Lindsay, Steel, Sparks, and others. I saved a lot to buy those books. Some were gifts during birthdays. But then, those books were devoured by termites. How did it happen? We left for Manila last 2008, stayed their for 6 months. Obviously, all our stuffs were left in the house we rented. Upon our returned, I saw my collection was destroyed by the termites already.

Today… I have shifted from novels to inspirational books. I have the books written by Joyce Meyers, Joel Osteen, Charles Swindoll, John Ortberg, Henry Blackaby, Elizabeth Moore, Tom Holliday, Rick Warren, and a lot more.

*Flashback*

I started reading thick novels when I was 11. But I could remember loaning books from my aunt who literally had a library in her house since grade 1. I could still recall that the books during those days had hardcovers like real wood. Most of it were published in the USA… no wonder, I knew about Lincoln and the cabin… I knew about the legend of the Washington Apples, most of the fairytales and myths. I grew up with Greek myths and Norse myths. I met Odysseus, Loki, Thor, Vikings, mermaids, Cyclops when I was in grade 2. Also, I could remember I was a fast reader in Grade 1… I found the name “Mayette” when I was in Grade 2, and I named my sister after that baby in the story. I was just “in love” with the character.

My husband told me he was reading Hardy Boys too ( I read that when I was 11 including Nancy Drew) He said, he rather stayed home and read, than played with friends. He was always seen at his Dad’s study reading the encyclopedia. He got mad when his dad donated those in one of the schools in his place.

*And Now*

Anyway, my husband and I are teaching our kids to love reading too. We do not mind buying books they like to read. Like I said, we treasure reading.

<-----This is what my daughter got from Booksale. My little one has Handy Manny coloring pages.

Flavored Coffee Beans

2011-10-13T11:09:00.001+08:00

I am a self-confessed coffee lover. I have several blog articles with this subject… and even if I have palpitation issues, I still haggle, bargain, bluff, blackmail my husband who is strictly guarding my coffee intake… Most of the time I succeed in rigging him to my want, besides what’s that coffee-maker for (take note it was his 2009 wedding anniversary gift).

Anyway…my best local coffee bean product is the Monk’s Blend. Nothing comes close with its taste. It tastes heavenly. I am so glad we have that product here in our place – oh well, technically, “here” means in the Philippines, but I have to order it from home… my current geographic location is somehow 8 hours drive from our hometown.

Anyway, I tried other brands too. I tasted the Folgers when my husband’s tita came home from the US. That was her present for me. I liked its taste… It was strong plus the aroma is certainly enthralling and euphoric.

So whattabout this flavored coffee beans? Today, Tita Marvie is home again for a short vacation…and she brings me Godiva flavored coffee bean (Hazelnut flavor, and mind you it’s a decaf – so I am safe from palpitation *LOL*) and Godiva Chocolatier Hot Choco (Caramel Flavor). Sure, I have several servings of flavored coffee whenever I am in a coffee shop with Torani syrups… or sometimes at home, I have coffeemate with flavors. But not flavored coffee beans. The smell of the hazelnut is really in the coffee beans. While brewing the coffee, the aroma is sooooooooooooo delightful, mouth-watering and savory (I know the adjectives in my last statement are all synonymous – that’s how triply good this stuff is)

Obviously, I am so excited to try it. I am very swashbuckling when it comes to trying out new flavors (in the context of coffee of course!). Right now while blogging about this new love, I am also sipping this freshly brewed coffee. The verdict? Terrific! That 10 oz (284 grams) of foil-pack Godiva coffee is only $12.00 … if we have the 1:1 ratio of currency, that’s cheap for a delicious coffee (don’t start converting the USD to PHP, because that is not fair and certainly it’s ridiculous)

Godiva

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The Romantics

2011-10-13T02:07:00.000+08:00

I have written my mini-review of this movie in my other blog… I talked about the characters and how I think of them… My observation was not pleasant because, the personalities of these characters are certainly beastly, not literally though.

Since, I said my piece about the characters in my other blogs… you can click it here if you wish to know what I think about the three lead characters…

Anyway, let’s talk about the movie as a whole. If you are from a conservative culture, you would detest the theme of the story. But the plot is good… the revelation of every scene hooks you from beginning to end, at least in my end… of course the effect is different if you read more reviews prior to watching it…because many critics are spoilers to some degree… So I tried very hard not to do that to my readers… So like I said, reading reviews could make you a sour viewer because you know too much about the movie already…

At any rate, the whole time I was watching the movie, I was really on the edge of my seat…-- anticipative of what might happen next. I had my moments of criticizing aloud the responses of certain characters. Oh yeah! I truly forgot about movie etiquette, good thing I was watching alone so nobody was pissed off with me being a bit blatant (in the sense that I was thinking aloud)

Now, going back to the theme… It is not something that you would appreciate, especially women, because we enjoy or prefer the typical love story—we expect that the lead female character gets what she hopes and or deserves because she is the cool “jeune fille”. In the case of Katie Holmes, she used to be the “girl Friday” of Anna Paquin in the movie, and she has somehow been stepped on… But reality check, Life is somehow like that – not fair (as always)… and it is not bad if we do watch movies that depict what’s REALLY happening with the relationships of some people… Not everybody gets a happy ending…Somehow we learn lessons from watching films that realistically reflect unpleasant events… though the ending of this movie is somehow cliffhanged. So you get to decide the ending… oh, that’s how I understand it. Go watch it but take this unsolicited advice--- rent the DVD rather than watching it in the theater.

Sketch

2011-09-12T23:51:00.001+08:00

today is our 13th year wedding anniversary… my husband gave me this gift… this is another masterpiece of Dopong Evidente, a local artist here in out place who is very skillful in a lot of art works including wood carving!

Sketch

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Adjudicator

2011-09-07T21:07:00.001+08:00

This week is the intramural of our school… One of the activities is the Debate… and today, I am one of the adjudicator since one judge could not make it… The debate follows the Oregon Oxford type…

I personally like this type of debate because it preserves order in the presentation and is more formal than parliamentary style..

Oregon Oxford Debate

It was in 5th Century B.C. in Syracuse a city from Ancient Greece has gone through war and revolution. People struggled for peace and order. A particular concern for them was land ownership for lands were claimed through memory.

Case-building

BURDEN OF EACH TEAM

Affirmative – Burden of Proof

Must establish a prima facie case
Must prove all aspects of their case to win
Can not win based on the inability of the negative to prove its case.

Negative – Burden of Rebuttal

Must destroy either the P, N, or b of the affirmative’s case

Can not discuss anything that the affirmative did not bring up

ASPECTS OF THE CASE

o Practicability – feasibility of a proposition, includes matter of:

*law *clamor *finance

o Necessity – need for the proposition, discusses the presence or absence of an inherent flaw in the status quo.

o Beneficiality – advantages or disadvantages of adopting or rejecting the resolution, includes;

* specific beneficiaries *specific benefits

Speaker Roles

3 Speakers

Practicability speaker
Necessity Speaker

Beneficiality

1 Scribe

***

The perks of being an adjudicator are the snacks (of course), the certificate, and the token… oh! not to mention you get to have a constructive arguments with fellow adjudicators too.

The Token

VAPUR

2011-06-16T20:06:00.001+08:00

Since I’ll be going back to school (as a student), I thought of buying a water bottle since I’ll be travelling to Davao for my grad school…I’m trying to be frugal or economical with my expenses…bringing my own water is one way of saving… commercial bottled water is pricey these days, especially when you buy in bus stations…

But of course, I try not to buy water bottle like that of my daughter… so I found this anti-bottle called VAPUR.

Here’s what I found about this amazing water container:

The Anti-Bottle: A Foldable Water Bottle?

Reusable

Vapur Anti-Bottles are completely BPA-free and are constructed of three layers of ultra-durable plastic. The innermost layer is made from FDA-approved polyethythene, which is then bonded to two layers of nylon for strength and durability. Every Anti-Bottle is designed to withstand everyday use and regular cleaning. The inner layer is odor, taste and stain resistant, so it can safely be reused again and again! Vapur is also proudly made in the USA.

Foldable

The Anti-Bottle is designed to stand when full and can be rolled, folded or flattened when empty, making it easy to use and carry everywhere you go. Unlike rigid water bottles, that are bulky when empty, the Anti-Bottle can be easily tucked away, conveniently fitting into pockets, purses and packs. The Vapur Anti-Bottle is quite simply the most portable, reusable water bottle on the planet.

Washable

We often get asked, what is the best way to clean an Anti-Bottle? Well, good news! The Vapur Anti-Bottle is dishwasher safe and cleans easily on the top rack of most dishwashers. First, remove the cap and carabiner, blow a little air into the bottle to inflate, then simply turn upside down and insert the spout over the prongs on the top rack of your dishwasher. It's that easy!

If you put any liquid other than water in your bottle, we recommend that you hand wash, using a few drops of dish soap and a bottle brush to completely remove any residue.

Freezable

You can freeze your Anti-Bottle for nice cold water or use it as an icepack! Fill your Anti-Bottle half-way, place it in the freezer overnight and then fill it the rest of the way with water in the morning. You'll have an icy-cold beverage for hours!

Attachable

It comes with a convenient carabiner, making it easy to clip to your purse, belt-loop or pack. Vapur Anti-Bottles also do not crack or dent, so there's not as much worry as with traditional rigid bottles. Just clip it and go.

Identifiable

Flip the bottle over and write your name in permanent ink on the white space on the back of your bottle. If you have multiple bottles, this is a perfect way to keep track of them or even just to personalize your own!

Asian Tongue

2011-05-14T21:01:00.002+08:00

A new restaurant has opened in our city… and yeah! It’s called “Asian Tongue”… Obviously, from the name itself…the place offers the best Asian cuisine… they got the best chef who can do the haute cuisine… that by the looks of the food alone… you will simply drool… all the more when you get to taste it.
Although the food is the main attraction but you can not help but love the ambience of the place. While you dine, you also get to be serenaded by a band who performs live.

Asian Tongue: A View from the parking lot

Banana and Lychee In Sweet Coco Milk

My Share for:

Beauty Regimen

2011-04-10T16:49:00.003+08:00

Vanity is not the word for taking care of one’s skin. This habit should come innate like taking care of your teeth or bathing every day. Hygiene should be the generic term for all of these, though not everyone agrees with it… nevertheless, I insist that it (skincare) is necessary.
Beauty regimen should not be expensive, simple washing of the face and eating the right kind of food will suffice. However, in this fast-paced world, everyone is in a hurry and everybody is dead tired by the time we get home. In that sense, a good lifestyle is compromised. Some people resolve in eating fast-food, which most often than not lacks the nutrient that our body needs- talk about flavonoids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Obviously, as a result when our body (as a whole) gets bombarded by stress, environmental factors, and stuff---our skin cells (just one of the many effects of beaten-up body) go bad because they are not fortified by the nutrients that the body needs.
So that’s where skin care products come in… I have found an excellent brand that truly works so well and is not pricey at all. For sure you heard about Garnier. Yeah that sister company of L’Oreal that produces “mass market cosmetics”… though the market niche is for the hoi polloi, it doesn’t mean that the products are ineffective. As the vision of this brand says:

Garnier offers women skincare solutions that safeguard the long-term health and vitality of their skin. Your skin is a reflection of your inner vitality. For your skin to be the best it can be, it needs natural nutrients to stimulate cellular activity and to protect against external aggressors. Garnier always gives preference to active natural ingredients which perform for the skin's maximum benefit. Garnier's skincare products are developed using cutting-edge Bioscreening technology which has been proven to promote healthy skin. With Garnier, taking care of your skin reveals your inner beauty.

I am not working for this company, I am not earning anything from them… I am just one of the customers who finds their products good for the skin. It contains the vitamins that your skin needs.
Vitamin C proves to arrest ageing and protects your skin from cancer. Applying it topically using skin care products that contain Vit. C is a good way of supplementing the vitamin into your system. The vitamin acts as an antioxidant that fights off the free radicals present in your skin.
Having vitamin E in a skin care is magnificent because vitamin E protects your cell membrane from skin disorders like acne. It also works in synergy with vitamin C as antioxidant. Thus, the duo protect the skin from photo damage.

Siam Yoko

2011-04-03T19:40:00.001+08:00

I am not working for this company neither I get paid for endorsing their products. I learned about salt spa products back in 2004. My good friend aka sister aka godmom of my younger son introduced it to me. I liked that green tea salt spa then. That was what I had been using.

This year, I discovered another brand with varied selection. So far I tried the milk and the cucumber. What is so nice about these products is that the effect is long-lasting. The “silklike” feeling stays for hours. Truthfully, I have not paid attention really as to how long my skin stayed satiny since I’m not using the product for a paid review, but as I am blogging this, I am trying to recall how long the effect lasted… and I think it is safe to say that it dragged on roughly 8-12 hours. I normally used it in my morning shower, and I could still feel my smooth skin in the afternoon. Since I use it once a day, I apply skin moisturizer at night to maintain a supple skin after bathing.

Puttanesca

2011-03-31T11:32:00.004+08:00

A few weeks back… I was craving for pasta. Actually, the appetence for something (normally food) happens every month. It’s a periodic appetency that women who are challenged with their hormones must satisfy, otherwise you get (speaking for myself) depressed over this trivial matter.

So, I was hopping from one café/fastfood chain to another… I ate three pasta dishes that week, not three days in a row.

Here are my ratings of the three pasta dishes:

The Shrimp Aglio Olio of Greenwich really sucked! The dish sounds nice but the food itself??? NOT! T’was like eating some kind of rubber than eating a juicy tasty shrimps ( that’s how I imagine the looks of its poster)… False advertising, right? I just got that picture from google for representation. But the Aglio Olio they served me here was way too lapsed. For this one, considering the worth of the meal, I gave 0.5 over 5 stars.

The Puttanesca of Fagioli’s was commendable.
Considering that there was no meat in it and not a sight of a single anchovy fillet in it , still I was able to raven the whole serving. I saw a shiny empty plate when I left… with a tummy fully satisfied. The food was worth every cent, but I can only give 4 over 5 stars because of the missing anchovy fillets.

The Pasta Perfetto of Pizza Hut topped and satisfied my appetence. I ordered their Spaghetti Shrimp Garlic and Mushroom dish. All I can say was YUMMY! T’was not only affordable but it did meet my craving! I must give 5 stars for this one. Perfetto indeed!

Since this blog entry is all about Puttanesca… here’s the recipe I got from Rachel Ray’s Food network site. The recipe was rated 5 stars. But course!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons (2 turns around the pan) extra-virgin olive oil
4 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tin flat anchovy fillets, drained
1 /2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
20 oil-cured black olives, cracked away from pit and coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons capers
1 (32-ounce) can chunky style crushed tomatoes
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
A few grinds black pepper
1/4 cup (a couple of handfuls) flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 pound spaghetti, cooked to al dente (with a bite)
Crusty bread, for mopping
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Romano, for passing, optional

Directions

Serving suggestions: a simple salad of mixed bitter greens dressed with oil and vinegar, salt, and pepper, recipe follows
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add oil, garlic, anchovies, and crushed pepper. Saute mixture until anchovies melt into oil and completely dissolve and garlic is tender, about 3 minutes: your kitchen never smelled so good! Add olives, capers, tomatoes, black pepper, and parsley. Bring sauce to a bubble, reduce heat, and simmer 8 to 10 minutes.
Toss sauce with cooked pasta. Pass bread and cheese at the table and serve with a simple salad of mixed bitter greens dressed with oil and vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Cook's Note: Get your olives from the bulk bins in the market, rather than buying a jar. The unit price is always much less per pound and you can get just what you need for each recipe.

BlogBerry

2011-02-06T17:16:00.001+08:00

I am the type of person who wants to scribble my thoughts, recent events, and record appointments. I basically keep a memoir.

Two weeks ago, I was already late in buying my 2011 planner. I wanted to get the Belle De Jour 2011… but then I could not find one here in the malls specifically the bookstores [National Bookstore branches and Fully Booked branch] I tried ordering online but couldn’t get a chance to pay via money transfer, how I wish they accept credit/ debit card. It is much easier for me…

Anyway… I have no regrets because I was able to find an equally charming planner. I bought the Stradmore Blogberry specially designed for mommies like me. See insert photo.

This planner fits my personality. It has the exact representation of my favorite colors, and the things that I really want to see in my organizer… my kid’s schedule, menu planning, budgeting, even my monthly period can be tracked here. It also has mommy time pages, school tracker, health guide, plans and goals page, vacation planner, Christmas gift list, calorie counter, kitchen measurement and equivalent, conversions, and clothing sizes for women’s, men’s and children’s apparel.

Indeed, there are so many things that you can get from this planner aside from the very purpose of this product. You also have the Hotline list, and the phonebook page. Though, I am not really excited with the discount coupons because I can not avail these privileges in our place, but still I find it a good treat for moms who can make use of these GCs.

Thor | OFFICIAL trailer #1 US (2011) 3D Marvel

2011-01-10T18:55:00.002+08:00

1960s

This movie looks cool! I cant wait til it hits the silver screen. If you love the story about Thor in the Norse Mythology... then you could be thrilled watching it in Theater... What is more is that, this movie comes with a sequel that would be released in 2012. If you are a collector, you can start collecting the Marvel Comics... I learned that the comics featuring Thor began in 1960s.

2000s

Fedoras

2011-01-08T17:28:00.002+08:00

I love Fedora hats… This cutie is one of the timeless fashion accessories. Materials vary from felt, to straw, and other synthetic materials.
What is a Fedora?

Fedora hats were highly popular in the early twentieth century. These hats are typically composed of felt material and have what is called a C-crown, or a place for the head to fit into the top of the hat. Fedoras have a distinct shape that is easily recognized. The tops are creased and the front is pinched on both sides.
Read more: Fedora Hat

You can personalized your own fedora hat. This is if you are like me who doesn’t want to bump into someone who wears the same thing. I find this embarrassing, so I rather accessorized stuff that I bought in the mall and put a touch of artistry. This is the downside of living in a small place, you do not have a lot of choices and you end up wearing the same thing like the others. So the best way to be unique is to personalize or customize your item be it dress or hats or other accessories. There are tons of ideas in the internet.
Here is what I did for my fedora:

Fedoras,Fedora,accessories,Materials

1.1.11 Medianoche

2011-01-01T19:43:00.003+08:00

We welcome 2011 with so much anticipation… this is going to be a great year… Of course, we had the usual preparation for the celebration. I didn't prepare much for our Medianoche. Medianoche literally means midnight in spanish language, but here in the Philippines, it is associated with the New Year’s Eve feasting.
Anyway, I just cooked java rice that went with Hungarian sausage ~ I know this meal is good for breakfast…but it’s midnight so, it’s a good excuse for a snack on New Year’s eve. We also had ham for the kids. Then, we had a gelatin for dessert, cakes ~brownies and butterscotch, french bread, carbonara, and cream bread.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T18:41:00.001+08:00

Christmas celebration does not have to depend on your bank account… the presents that you will give to your loved ones do not have to be pricey. It is the thought that matters so to speak. It is the act of giving, sharing, and loving one another that brings meaning to Christmas… In short, we value relationship more than the tangible things that we give or receive.

This Christmas, hubby and I decided to stay put~ though he really wanted to spend it in his hometown where his mother stays. I could feel his longing… good for me that my Mudra (momma) and sistah are moving here in GSC with me [ they are practically my own familia ~ my Padre left us and my hermano (brother) died 5 years ago]. Hopefully, we could go home by January 20th 2011 since my best buddy is getting married.

Meantime… we just had a great time [and were contented]. We enjoyed our Noche Buena and opening our presents. Here is our souvenir picture.

This Little Thingy

2010-12-21T17:01:00.001+08:00

I have another confession to make. Of course this is not something so grievous. So here’s the spill. I’ve panic attack. This happens whenever I am so tired and I have done a lot of thinking~ considering I have to raise children with my husband plus I’ve two jobs on the side, like teaching during day time and write online stuff during night time. So whenever I've panic attack, the only thing that would help me calm is my reflex ball. I’ve to carry it along because somehow attacks happen when I am teaching in the class, or even out in public. There was one time I was riding on the train, and I started to panic. There was also an instance that I had it while I was riding a taxi, or in a mall, or even in a convention. Good thing I’ve discover this reflex ball. This is known as massageBall^tm in the market.

This ball is small enough to be gripped by your fist. It is has an average size of 6 cm- 10 cm. It is made of rubber with dimples or sometimes called spikes around it. These dimples are the ones that press the reflex points in your hand, thus relieving me from the tension. I’ve been searching in the net the color of my reflex ball but I only found blue and green, I’ve red orange. This reflex ball helps me do away with my medication, I can already go to bed without taking xanor. I simply need this ball and a good music like Colbie’s.

Here is an detailed info of what this reflex ball all about:

Suitable for Hospital and Clinical Use
Massages skin, Fascia and muscles
Has 230 raised points
Firm, but NOT hard feel
Ideal for fascial stretching and trigger point release
Stimulates increases blood flow
Increases afferent stimulation of the nervous system

Click here for further info

Gifts: Did you get ‘Em all? [A Repost]

2010-12-18T11:10:00.002+08:00

Common problem during Christmas is finding the gifts for your loved ones. This is a perennial concern of most people. Then cramming begins…

Like right now, seven more days to go before Christmas Eve… and some people are not halfway done with their list… mom? Check! Dad? uncheck… gramps… sistah 1, sistah 2… brother 1, cousin 1… god child 1…2…3… and the list goes on… ALL UNCHECK!

Aside from the dilly-dally attitude… it is quite a challenge to think of what gift to wrap.

Lemme list down this unsolicited advise. Here are 10 general items that you can rush buying before time beats you.

Toiletries
Gadgets
clothing
shoes
gift certificates from SPAs and Saloon
Wine/ Basketful of fruits or goodies
Jewelries and Accessories
Home Decor
Office Stuff
Books

You can write on your list… Dad- Book… Gramps- Wine... Sister- Chanel Lipstick... in this way it is easier which section to go rather than doing “random pick”… or that “mini-mini-mynimo” thing. It’ll save you time.

In case, time really is a constraint, you can go to online shops. It is the easiest way. But bear in mind that the Holiday is nearing, so they probably are on their peak… your loved ones might be receiving their gifts next year.

If I were you, I rather pick those items by myself and really take time to shop. It is all worth it. Seeing their faces when they open your gifts? That’s priceless and it pays the time you spent.

Maybelline EYESTUDIO

2010-12-11T22:27:00.003+08:00

My last eyeshadow had been used up three weeks ago… since it was hard to buy that particular product here~ that cosmetic was actually from The Face Shop, and which I also believe I had blogged sometime 2008 or 2009…I could not pinpoint specifically the year since [~~another excuse~~] my memory doesn’t serve me well [as always~ I got 3 major operations y’know, and if you know what that means too].

So since there is no The Face Shop products here in our malls, I need to find a replacement brand. And, Maybelline New York is one of the quality brands that I used.

I felt that my buying was timely because the mall was having their cut-rate sale on some selected items, and Maybelline had picked out products that were on sale too. Would you believe that from P499, I bought my eyeshadow for P349.30. Yeeeeha! So, I chose the GD-1 Autumn Spirit Quad. Lovely color pallet~ a taupe combo that’s perfect for Asian beauty: It has White with gold undertones, pinkish taupe, beige brown, and bronze brown flux.

My Review:

The texture of the cosmetic is really super smooth and silky on skin. I love the shiny shimmery effect of every shade… the chromaticity [if that’s the right term for it] of all four shades are splendidly perfect! The blend looks awesome…
Modesty aside, my students [TTh class ] told me I looked pretty that very day I used the eyeshadow. It had accentuated my eyes…to be objective about the effect of this particular makeup.

See insert picture below for other color pallets:

Demo:

Guinness World Record Archive

2010-11-28T21:21:00.004+08:00

I was really wondering if the GWR has complete archive of all the records in their website. I simply could not find the “Most Languages Sung in a Song by Multiple Singers” that I participated last July 23, 2010… I have browsed the recent record, went through every link but still could not locate it.

Anyway, here is the link of my other blog for the rest of the story. Click here.

Cinnabon: An Indulgence

2010-11-20T23:30:00.001+08:00

I love Cinnabon. Their baked goodies are simply mouth-watering. I simply like their classic cinnamon roll. Sadly, we do not have Cinnabon here in General Santos. So whenever I have the chance to visit a place where there is a Cinnabon Kiosk like in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport… I could not help but give in to my cravings.

One time, my flight home was delayed. So I have lollygagged in the Cinnabon kiosk. I absolutely had a great time guzzling my latte and manducating my cinnamon roll. Perhaps, had it not been for the Cinnabon, I must’ve been kvetching the whole time for my delayed flight.

beautiful in my eyes

2010-11-05T12:56:00.000+08:00

I just couldn't help but blog this AVP. It is not because my pictures were collated for this slideshow. I just love the song. It is one of my favorite love songs that I also placed in my playlist.

Love Beyond Reason

2010-10-16T17:00:00.001+08:00

The title of this blog is obviously the title of the book, which has been in my shelf for quite awhile already… LOVE BEYOND REASON by John Ortberg. [overkill! since the picture is inserted below]

I got no time to read it since I started teaching last June… Had I not cleaned up some stuffs in the house, I would not realize that I have pending books for me to read [ there are 5 of them… yeah shame on me, I know ]

Last night… I was already telling my hubby that I needed a book to read on while I am enjoying this semestral break, which officially started today by the way…, He just went “ah huh” to acknowledge that he heard me, but perhaps not sure what I exactly wanted him to do. I am not sure if all husband are certainly clueless, or they simply refuse to read between the lines…

Oh, so what do I wanted him to do? Well… that I am not sure too… *thinking mode now* … perhaps he could say, “would you like me to go with you in the bookstore tomorrow?” That would be sweet right?

Anyway… I’m just saying. I am not yawping about him not responding in his sweetest way he could have possibly done at that moment. My husband is lovable and sweet in his own way or terms. His love languages are service and gift, ~ just so you know.

Anyway, back to this book… I am not done yet. However, reading a few pages, I can tell it’s going to inspire me and change some of my perspective about loving people and having genuine relationship.

Here is a product description I stumbled upon in an online shop:

How do you explain a love that has no explanation? What will happen if you let it touch your heart? God loves you neither because you're flawless nor because you're perfect, but just because you are. In Love Beyond Reason, John Ortberg reveals the God you've longed to encounter: a Father head over heels in love with you, his child, and intensely committed to your highest joy. After exploring how this love has been revealed through Jesus, you'll learn how you can love your family, friends, and the world around you with the same transforming love. Dispelling your fears and misconceptions of God, Love Beyond Reason brings you face to face with the love of God that frees and empowers you to love.