Spices of My Life

Garnier BB Cream

2012-02-05T08:34:00.001+08:00

(This is not a review)

I learned about BB cream last year from beauty section of “The Philippine Star”. The featured brand was Etude. It has positive reviews that I myself want to try it. But at that time it is not available in Davao. There are BB cream for sale online but it’s quiet expensive plus I have to pay for the shipment fee.

BB cream stands for Blemish Balm Cream. From what I have read in the newspaper it hides blemishes and will even the skin tone as you continually use it.

It is famous in Korea. And as we can observe Korean is invading the trend in our country; drama, fashion, accessories, songs, beauty products, to name a few.

I’m a fan of Korean fashion and admire there porcelain skin. Hoping to achieve a skin tone like them, I thought BB cream is an answer.

I’ve been talking to my sister about this. She contacted her friend who is currently enrolled for PhD degree at Korea to buy BB cream since at that time it was not available in Canada.

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector

A couple days ago, while watching TV, Garnier BB Cream was introduced through an advertisement. It’s the first BB Cream here in Canada. When I saw the product at Walmart I grabbed one for me and my sister to try.

The Garnier BB Cream has two tones to choose: the light/medium and medium/dark. It’s about $16.

Today is my first time to use it, so I can’t give my review of the product. Perhaps after several days.

I’m thinking of creating a blog specifically for product reviews. So probably I’ll post my review there.

Wishlist: DSLR Camera

2012-01-28T08:24:00.003+08:00

This is my entry to the Week 23 of Techie She Weekly Giveaways. This week’s lucky blogger will win $10 Paypal credits from Borris of Snapshots as They Happen.

A snapshot of myself holding my sissy’s camy… I’m dieing to have my own DSLR camera. But it’s not my priority. Anyway I can borrow my sissy’s camy.

Actually I paid part of the cost of the camera as my gift for her on her birthday. I wanted to really pay the whole price but my savings were not enough and she was too eager to buy one…

We purchased it last boxing week, so we got it in a very good deal with two lenses and flash as package.

I am now starting saving for my own… I’m thinking of Nikon but I can’t decide yet. Gadgets are upgraded from time to time so my decision will vary when I have enough savings and depends on model and brand that are really of good quality.

~oOo~

Facebook Timeline

2012-01-27T08:19:00.001+08:00

Facebook Timeline is not new to FB users. I bet some of you are using it when it was first introduced. But as I can see not all loves it. Most of my friends are still in its old profile FB page. And I’m not using it either in my personal FB account. However I tried it in my other account which I used for connecting bloggers.

What I love with timeline is ONLY the header, the rest seems not appealing to me. Especially the side by side update which is confusing and looks overcrowded.

As the king of social networking sites, we are left with no choice when they will mandatorily replace our profile with the FB Timeline as circulating in the web. Perhaps eventually we’ll learn to love it.

Puto

2012-01-25T08:37:00.001+08:00

It tastes like heaven when you taste a food that you are longing for a long time. Thanks to my future BIL who cooked puto for us. Pinoy foods are still the best!

~oOo~

Malware Attacked (Files Indexation Process Failed)

2012-01-19T07:56:00.001+08:00

I was browsing different sites yesterday about polymer clay projects. Suddenly my laptop crashed; a message pop-upped that no matter how I click the “x” button it won’t go. So I decided to shutdown it forcefully.

But when I turned it on I got notifications that my hard disk was crashed. Their are many cascaded messages that appears and the start menu was empty. It says that Files Indexation Process Failed and it recommends to run file checker. It appears real and so I followed the instruction. But everytime I tried to fix the error it will lead me to a site that ask me to purchase something. Which I didn’t take the risk since I know there are lots of frauds in the internet.

I’m worried ‘coz my laptop is new and I don’t want to spend for repair for the PC. So I did research and found out that it’s a false message and my laptop was attacked by a malicious malware.

There are many ways to fix the problem but some requires you to purchase a software. But there is a way to fix it that even a non IT expert can fix and you don’t need to purchase anything.

If ever you’re PC is attack by this kind of malware check this Anti-Spyware/Malware & Hijacker Tools from Mcafee.com.

I’m not paid to link this site. I just found this site [worth linking] very helpful ‘coz it works with my laptop.

Confuse with Page Ranking

2012-01-16T22:38:00.000+08:00

My other blogger blog, Life Ascending, has been long neglected since I migrated into a self-hosted blog. I cannot delete it because of some paid posts that I made. It would be unfair to the advertiser if I will remove it.

Surprisingly, the page rank remains 1. That somehow I am tempted to update it. But I opt not to because it would be like having two blogs with “lifeascending” in the URL and discussing same topic into different sites.

I cannot understand how Mr. Google ranks sites. This site is more updated but the rank remains zero. When it comes to linking, I’ve got more link exchange here than the other blogger blog. Perhaps I’ll visit sites in my blogroll and check if they really do exchange link with me. This is a big issue that some bloggers do ask for exchange link but they don’t actually link back or some change domain that’s why link are no longer working.

Anyway, I’ll search and study about how Google page rank. Maybe there are still factors that I need to check to improve this site ranking.

Enjoying the Beauty of the Sky

2012-01-08T06:40:00.001+08:00

It’s January, yet it feels like spring according to my sister. They said it’s very unusual; the temperature should be on –20 to –25 by this time.

Last Christmas in fact was not a white one which I am expecting. Honestly, I’m lovin it given that I came from tropical country. I’m just concern what would be the effect of this condition to our nature.

According to my sister during winter time the sky looks gloomy but the picture below which I took last Thursday is the exact opposite – a very colourful and lovely scenery.

Tatay’s 72nd Birthday and Hello 2012!

2012-01-02T11:51:00.000+08:00

I am so thankful that God gave my father another year to celebrate life. Today is his 72^nd birthday. I and my sissy were not there to celebrate his birthday but he’s always in our hearts.

Happy birthday Tatay!

I love you...

By the way, it’s new year! I’m praying that this will be another prosperous year for all of us.

Christmas 2011: Missing My Family

2011-12-24T07:08:00.004+08:00

Christmas 2011 - no stress.... no gifts to wrap... no panic buying.... no foods to prepare.... no kids screaming – all I can hear is the clock ticking in my room….

Christmas is a big celebration in our family. We do celebrate it by attending a mass on the evening of the 24^th of December then party at house over night. We don’t sleep until the dawn breaks; even the kids. We do partying all night. Then we’ll have late breakfast at my sister’s house.

But prior to that is the huge preparation. Last minute shopping, gift wrapping, preparing prizes for the games, set up for the house, balloons, preparing foods, pleading my stubborn nieces and nephews to prepare a dance number, etc.... So much noise and sometimes it stress me out! But I’m totally happy with it.

This year would be a different Christmas; I’m spending it with my sissy and some friends. I can’t feel its Christmas! My heart is crying and screaming – ‘how I wish I’m home. I miss the stressful Christmas; I miss the loud noise, the crying and laughing around our home, I miss my family.’

Perhaps looking at this old photos will ease the loneliness inside me.

Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party

2011-12-13T11:04:00.002+08:00

There are lots of memories about parties that I can post here but there are two precious memories that will always linger in my heart: our family Christmas celebration and the Senior Citizen Christmas party last year.

For this week I will post about the Senior Citizen Christmas Party. Unfortunately I don’t have pictures of last year’s party but lucky enough ‘coz my sister uploaded photos of this year’s party in our family FB page. Looking at the photo brings me back to last year’s party...

My father was the Baranggay President for Senior Citizen Association. It was a very simple party held in the Baranggay’s covered court attended by more or less 50 members. You can see the excitement in their faces. Although they moved slowly they still participated on different games. I remember one old man walked out because he loosed in the game. They are like kids but are harder to please. Anyway the whole party was fun and ended with ballroom dance for everybody.

For this year, the president is my mother (my parents are both active in our community). I was not in the party to help her. But my sisters and my nieces and nephews were there to assist them.

Photos for this year’s party….

Jingles per group

Parlor Games

And some members of our family who showed their support…

On this photo: Sister Ging, her daughter Love, nephew Ernie, sister Pearl, and her daugter Lovhea

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Georyl Christmas Giveaway

2011-12-13T10:34:00.003+08:00

Georyl and her sponsors are giving away cash prizes and blog makeover this Christmas. To be honest I’ve been lazy joining giveaway but when I received an update email of her blog, Georyl, that they are moving the deadline from December 23 to December 18, I realized why not join; just for fun anyway. But I’m hoping to win one of the prizes, whether cash prize or makeover.

The Prizes

One Winner of $100 Paypal Credits

One Winner of $50 Paypal Credits

Three Winners of $25 Paypal Credits

Five Winners of $10 Paypal Credits

Twelve Winners of $5 Paypal Credits

Three blog makeovers – special prize for bloggers who do the optional task only

Major Sponsors of GEORYL’s Christmas Giveaway

Christmas Tree (2003 -2010)

2011-12-06T09:45:00.002+08:00

I grew up with a unique Christmas Tree. It’s made up of coconut leaf stick broom. We painted each strand of stick with white or gold or cover it with silver out of the cigarette packet. Then we cut circles in size of 25 cents out of colored paper. These circles are then glued in each stick about 3 inches distance and filled the stick from tip to tip. Then we’ll put all the sticks in one container. It looks like a fountain. My mom believed that it brings luck to our family.

It’s our dream to have a fancy pine tree inside the house. It was only realized last 2003. Since then we are using it. But we still have the Broom stick Christmas tree in one corner.

2003 - see that broom stick Christmas tree behind my mom?

2004

2005

2006

2007

(no pics for 2008 & 2009)

2010

We usually decorate our house every November 30, which is holiday back home, together with my nieces and nephews. I miss decorating our house for this year.

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2nd Giveaway by SJB

2011-11-30T08:35:00.001+08:00

I want to win this cute and classy gold clutch giveaway by SJB. Valued at $24.99 Cad.

Why I am restraining myself from blogosphere?

2011-11-29T04:26:00.003+08:00

I’ve been a blog addict before. I even posted about my addiction on blogging. There came a point that I would go to city proper just to add post; and that’s a 30 minutes drive! I’ve been looking for ways to get internet connected. Although Smart Bro is not fast I still purchased it when it was first released which was a bit expensive. To my dismay it doesn’t serve its purpose well. I’ve been wishing for a 24 hour internet connected and often sneaked during office hours just to blog.

But why I suddenly restrained from doing so?

Last year, I received emails from a mysterious sender using my name with similar email ad to mine trying to ruin my relationship with my boyfriend. Actually there are two email senders, I don’t know if there are two different people or just one but certainly they have one goal – destroy our relationship.

Then last March and I my boyfriend had a fight and I blogged about it. Surprisingly, the mysterious email sender knows about it. And emailed me that she knows why we are fighting. Apparently, she’s my blog follower.

From then on I restrained from blogging about myself, about him.... and even came to the point that I lose interest in blogging. The only thing that keeps me blogging is the fact that I’m earning through paid post, which was not my first priority when I created it.

After back reading my post a while ago I suddenly realized, I don’t need to be dictated by a loser email sender... I should blog more and express more what I feel! This is my comfort zone that once destroyed and now I am reliving it.

Okra for $3.32??!!!

2011-11-28T13:14:00.002+08:00

If there’s a chance for us to visit Asian store we see to it that we buy vegetables even the prices are too much high. Like this okra or lady’s finger, we purchased it at T&T Supermarket, West Edmonton Mall, for $3.32 (0.302 Kg). Convert it and your jaw drops!!! Just like my first reaction... LOL.

It’s different back home, where we can pick vegetables in our garden or ask for vegetables in our neighbour. And the best thing is it’s fresh!

Too Many Spams in Chatbox

2011-11-28T12:05:00.002+08:00

I installed Chatbox widget in my blogs because it’s an option for many bloggers to communicate with me if they choose not to leave comment on any of my posts. But it’s annoying when you click the link and all you got are ads. Sometimes they use different names with different messages but will lead you to the same site.

I’m planning to delete the Chatbox but on the other side I’m hesitant since it serves its purpose too. For now I will just leave it in my sidebar.

Skywatch Friday: Going to Canada

2011-11-19T01:38:00.001+08:00

Taken during my trip going to Canada

Poppies for Remembrance Day

2011-11-11T14:49:00.000+08:00

I saw my friend wearing poppy; I thought it was just decoration only to found out that it symbolizes something…

Poppies are worn during Remembrance Day, celebrated every 11th day of November. On that day, Canadian remember the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty since the First World War. The poppy flower became popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle after John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”.

In Flanders Fields

by John MsCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Perfumes and Makeups on Super Good Deal

2011-11-08T15:39:00.000+08:00

Can you see the orange tag? Those perfumes are on super sale. The IDA drugstore celebrated their anniversary last month and some perfumes and make-ups are on super sale (up to 65%). Too bad I’m on the third day thus there were only few items to choose.

Reveal by Halle Berry – I love the smell of this.

Boucheron Paris – I bought this in a good deal, from $68 to $17

Faith Hill

Pure Nautica – I also like the smell of this. And bought this in a good deal too, from $56.99 to $14.25

Celine Dion Chic – Smells so good plus I love the bottle

Adidas Moves

Obsession – I’m getting obsessed with this.

I like the bottles. I know my sister, Ging, would really love to have them all. She’s collecting perfumes but not using it.

Aside from perfumes, I also bought some makeups.

I bought beyond my budget but all in all my saving is more or less 60%!!! Not bad!

Those items are not mine, will send it to the Philippines. My sisters would really love to have one of those.

~oOo~

I Miss Mr. Sun…

2011-11-07T15:05:00.001+08:00

It’s super chilly outside. It’s not snowing yet. But the –12 deg celsius wind chill keeps the plants frozen. I’m exited for snow but how I wish it will only last for month. But that’s impossible….

Oh! I miss summer, I miss the colorful surroundings… the lovely flowers that blooms everywhere. Perhaps looking at the picture will warm me up.

Daylight Saving Time

2011-11-06T15:09:00.001+08:00

Few hours to go and its daylight saving time! To be honest I’m still confused what it means; it’s my first time to experience it. They say that time will move 1 hour late (?). It means a longer sleep for me? LOL.... Well basically not!

(Photosource)

After asking Mr. Google what’s day light saving time is.... here’s what I learned from different sites.

Daylight Saving Time (or summertime as it is called in many countries) starts actually on spring time where in there is more daylight time. The clock is push ahead one hour, so it means waking up earlier. This is to take advantage of the daylight, like less usage of fluorescent lights.

When the days getting shorter in the fall, the clocks where turned back an hour to get more light in the morning. For this year the daylight saving ends today, November 6 at 2 am, here in Canada, I just don’t know in other places that follows daylight saving.

In Canada, it’s up to province if they will follow the daylight saving. As far as I know, Saskatchewan does not observe daylight saving.

For more information here’s one of the sites that serves as my reference, http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2008/10/31/f-timechange.html.

Thinking of Gift Ideas

2011-11-03T09:43:00.003+08:00

I can smell Christmas now. Stores are starting to put Christmas decors on shelves and keeping the Halloween Stuffs. In fact candies for treat or trick are on super sale.

Actually we had our Christmas tree at our flat since the Thanksgiving Day. See how excited we are for Christmas. For me, it`s the most wonderful time of the year. It`s the time where mostly have receive much money and spend more money – it`s gift giving time!

I am preparing my long list now, before I will be caught up by the Christmas rush I should think of what to give. Honestly, thinking of what to give is a very daunting task. Searching for gift ideas in the internet will surely help.

I have to categorize my list: gift ideas boyfriend, by age, by gender, etc. In this way I could easily identify what to give especially for kids. Usually kids of the same age will compare the gifts they received that could possibly screw your Christmas. It happen many times to us, my nephew wants the gift that my other nephew has. And you just can`t imagine how it turned out! That`s why at home kids of same age usually receive similar gifts.

We also prepare spare gifts because we usually had surprise visitors and we want everbody to have their Christmas presents from us. For this year I`m thinking of buying eos lip balm as spare gift; it`s cute that comes in different color and it`s practical!

Cute EOS Lip Balm

Whew! Thinking of gift ideas gave me headache, it`s hard to think of what to give honestly especially that there are lots of cute stuffs that are affordable. Anyway I still have more than a month to think on what to give. Small or big, cheap or expensive... it doesn't matter at all; it`s the thought that counts!

Halloween

2011-11-01T13:05:00.000+08:00

The long anticipation is over…. it’s Halloween!!!! I got excited looking at the kids and some grown up wearing costumes going in to different establishments saying “treat or trick”. They look so cute!

My friend, Shannon, had been convincing me for weeks to wear costume, but I’m not the fearless type willing to try Halloween fashion. Unless my sister will wear costume. LOL…

Instead she gave me a hat…… in case I’ll change my mind…

An Orange-Colored Fruit

2011-10-25T12:01:00.002+08:00

Color meme are very addicting. Everytime I see something that has dominant color my mind would immediately tell me it’s perfect for a certain meme; the “I-ba-blog ko yan” thing. I know if your blog addict you certainly experience this kind of thinking.

So when I found this cluster of tiny colored-orange fruit at the backyard, first thing that comes in my mind is Orange Meme.

P.S….Sorry I do not know it’s name… I don’t know either if it’s edible.

Aviva Community Fund Contest

2011-10-18T00:01:00.001+08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aviva Community Fund for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you want to make a difference by helping your community? Do you have those ideas to make your community a better place to live but what keeps you holding is the money you’ll need? Good news! Aviva Community Fund Contest is back for its third year to make your ideas come true. A Canadians $1,000,000 will be given to one community.

How to win the prize?

Visit AvivaCommunityFund.org, submit an idea then campaign for it. Winners are chosen based on number of votes, so spread the word! Use the power of networking whether online or offline. Tell your whole neighborhood, your friends and co-workers to visit the site and vote for your ideas. Promote it via ads in your local newspaper, radio or television. You can use the social media to promote it: Twitter, Google+, and don’t forget the giant social networking site –Facebook! Blog about it! Getting an insurance broker to support an idea increases the chances of winning too. And keep it updated; add latest photos or videos to show to the world that you deserve the $1,000,000 prize.

Idea can be submitted until November 30, 2011 and winners are announced on January 25, 2012 . To know more about the contest visit www.avivacommunityfund.org. To get more updates Follow @avivacf and like Aviva Community Fund on Facebook.

Who knows your idea might win the fabulous prize to make your community a better place to live. Make a difference, submit your idea now!