Basta Igat, Sikat! by MyMaria

Mother of... Guam. Let's Escape!

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:48:00 +0000

Source: http://grandpajohn.blogspot.com/2010/04/straw-that-broke-guams-back.html

The little island girl in me is screaming for more! A photo of this near-yet-so-far island haunts my dreams and I have so long wanted to see the island for myself. Ever since a dear friend, Rica Serafica-Torres went to Guam for an apprenticeship after going to culinary school, admiring her photos which I made a collage of below really excited the beach bum that is me.

Since I have lived in a coastal town and being a true blue island girl all my life, the beach is my home... or so I'd like to think even though I am happily married with a kid now. The thing is, my husband, the ever-supportive Noodle Boy, enjoys the very same things as I do and even though we have settled down, we both still want to see the world together. An island getaway is a very much welcome idea for us right now.

Here are our top 10 reasons why Guam, USA should be our next travel destination and what we ought to do should we win a trip to Guam. (All images below are from Google. I do not own them.)

10. Explore tranquil beaches and crystal clear waters.

Looking at photos like that makes me forget all the stress of being a wife and a mother of a bouncing baby boy. I want to go snorkeling and maybe find a couple of Nemos (clownfish) here and there.

9. Watch glorious sunsets and take strolls along the beach.

Is there anything else more romantic than taking photographs of sunset and walking hand in hand along the beach on barefoot feeling the white sand massage your tired feet?

8. Fun and frolic in the pools.

After a warm day out and about in Guam, the only thing sensible to do is take a nice cool dip in the Inarajan pools. Photo by by Ahiliil Saitanan.

7. WATERFALLS! And more water...

I think flying when to Guam I won't require much luggage because I don't think clothes are really necessary most of the time when we're there. There's just so much swimming, relaxing, and water fun out there!

6. LOVE...

Because I'm a hopeless romantic and would like to see where the two lovers jumped as a statement of their love and well, you know the story. I'm a writer so I do like to read even about tragedies.

5. EAT GOOD EXOTIC FOOD.

These Guam coconut candies looks absolutely yummy and I have to try them out! Don't they look delicious?

4. LONG WHITE BEACHES.

Joseph Flores Beach Park, Mata'pang Beach Park, Faifa'i Beach, Ritidian Beach... you gotta love TUMON BAY!

3. THE ART IN THE SKY.

I've always been fascinated with flying aircrafts and the fighter jets that fly across the skies in the Guam are not to be missed! I always love watching planes and helicopters fly by but looking at F16s and F22s paint the skies, boy, that's going down in my books! (Yes, I'm that type of girl.)

2. PACIFIC ISLAND DANCES.

I love culture, too. I enjoy watching dances and songs of the local people wherever it may be in the world especially during dinner shows. I have traveled far and wide but not to the Pacific Islands... and this just might be what's missing in my life.

1. DIVING IN GUAM.

If Ariel in the Little Mermaid wants to be part of our world, I think otherwise. Underwater is something else and Sebastian the crab is right. There's so much peace and colorful life under the water in contrast to the busy chaotic life on land. Even the sunken ships don't seem so scary (a mix of mysterious, eerie, and exhilarating rather!) under the cool waters of Guam.

Source: http://www.oustravel.com/category/australia-and-pacific/guam/

Okay, now time to put on my headphones and close my eyes as I listen to Rupert Holmes sing "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" and daydream about Guam. I suggest you do the same, too. De-stress. It's good for you.

xoxo,

Don't forget to LIKE if you enjoyed reading this and want to visit GUAM, too!

Heinz, The Perfect Ingredient, and A Real Recipe for True Love

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:08:00 +0000

There are just too many maxims about love and if I write them all down, it's going to be like a post-Valentine hangover. So let me spare everyone the agony and get straight to the point. What is the recipe for true love? I have a recipe I'd like to share. A real recipe... for TRUE LOVE.

Allow me to say state this all too familiar proverb: The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. / The shortest road to men's hearts is down their throats. Agree?

Based on my experience, it is in fact a big bonus to be able to cook a decent, if not a totally orgasmic, food for your boyfriend or husband. Even with watching Japanese anime over the years, I have observed that schoolgirls often give their bento boxes to the boys they like. (And you gotta hand it to them because making sushi for me is quite a feat!)

I can, however, manage to cook up a storm when I feel like it and/or when there's a special occasion. This year's Valentine's Day was no exception. Instead of going out to dinner and falling into a cunning capitalist scheme or a Hallmark ploy, I decided to try something... in the kitchen.

Enter the ingredients.

American beef ribs for true love! Is that my idea of a sweet, romantic Valentines Day surprise? Well, for one, ribs are especially tasty. I love eating barbecued baby back ribs. (Who doesn't?) And second of all, if you've read the Bible or paid attention at least to one of your early religion classes in primary school, you do realize that in Genesis 2:21, we read that God takes one of Adam's ribs then uses it to create Eve. (Okay, for the sake of Valentine's Day, let's not argue about that and just let it be.) RIBS = ADAM + EVE = LOVE. 'Nuff said.

Moving on... since I have no time to smoke some ribs nor an oven to cook a standard ribs recipe, I improvised with the use of a microwave. Perhaps when I'm older, more mature, and have become a full-pledged housewife I might consider investing in a real nice and expensive La Germania Americana stainless-steel cooker.

For now, my small and trusty microwave oven will have to do. The main ingredient I should say with this easy little recipe of mine is TO COOK WITH LOVE. The first trick I learned about cooking food is to use your hands... and second and most important of all is to cook with passion, thereby putting all the love you have to give on the food you are cooking. Sounds simple, right? It is! Trust me. And people will be able to taste that love in the food you just made. Just ask my husband. Tee hee.

For the success of this particular recipe, I have HEINZ Tomato Ketchup to thank for. Heinz claims to have the best taste for a tomato ketchup because it is sweet and spicy, intense, and concentrated. If you have not tried Heinz tomato ketchup, you have missed 1/2 of your life! There is no other tomato ketchup that gives that fullest tomato flavor with a perfect blend of spices.

Some people argue whether tomato is a fruit or a vegetable. It is, however, stated that a tomato is technically the fruit of the tomato plant but often we use it as a vegetable in cooking. Kind of a win-win situation for me. I got my GLOW food right thurr! Fruit and vegetable, all rolled into one! But that's just me.

Anyway, Heinz definitely has that taste of 100% real tomatoes. Just like love, sometimes it can be sweet and sometimes sour... but with the right blend, then it's TRUE LOVE! It is important that in loving someone you have to be like a HEINZ tomato ketchup -- completely free from artificial preservatives, colors, flavors and thickener! Just real, authentic, unconditional love. The PERFECT INGREDIENT if you ask me.

My husband's parents, my mother-in-law and father-in-law, have been happily married for 30 years... and my own parents, still together after 43 years!!! Now that's TRUE LOVE! I know my Noodle Boy and I are only about to celebrate our first wedding anniversary and we still got so much ahead of us. (A trip to paradise like Guam would be quite the adventure after being married for a year and considering we skipped a honeymoon vacation totally, don't you think?)

With our lives together just beginning, we do have such great inspirations looking at the love and lives of our parents, what they've been through, and how important it is to stay together as vowed -- to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part.

*SIGH* True love doesn't have a happy ending... simply because it doesn't end. :)

And the product of the love we made and the love we have for each other... presenting our baby love.

Be in love with love. Always.

How was your Valentine's Day this year?

xoxo,

Don't forget to LIKE if you enjoyed reading and would like to try this recipe, too!

Hair 2012: Light vs Dark

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:41:00 +0000

Today I woke up wanting to shave my hair off. It had been terribly unruly... kinda sexy but it was bugging me so much. So I decided to dye it so dark I now look like I've been casted for Twilight. FML!

Product used to achieve a provincial Bella Swan look is none other than 4.0 DARK BROWN hair coloring cream from Hortaleza and a 6% developer... all for less than Php300!

Oh well... it looks black after the first wash, maybe it will lighten a bit after a few more washes. But that's okay, I'm kinda feeling this whole new look now anyway. Totally different from the last one!

Twifuckinglight I say!
(Sorry, not a fan!)

And my son looked at me today as if to say...

So which do you think is better? Light or dark?

xoxo,

How To: Wear Men's Shirts!

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:52:00 +0000

I know it's been quite a while since I've posted anything interesting in my blog. Motherhood has really been quite a challenge. That and working more so I can pay for the additional expenses in my household. Nothing gargantuan but I oh so need more than 24 hours in a day!!!

Anyway, since it's Sinulog in Cebu right now and again, we weren't able to go for obvious reasons, the guys decided to celebrate anyway. So here we are at SALA Lounge + Cafe's Patio + Bar.

Nothing like RH on a rainy night.

Xiang, her Winter drink (a blue kamikaze pitcher), and sisig!

Of course, since I couldn't drink yet, I had to settle for Coke and jokes tonight. The interesting part though is discovering HOW TO WEAR MEN'S SHIRTS! Because now I wear 30 lbs more than I usually do, I battle with my closet every day trying to find something to wear that actually fits me! From a size 4 to a size 10!? GET OUTTA HERE!

However, here's the really cool thing.

So... what do you think?

Complete instructions on how to wear this in HERE. Okay so it's an old technique.. but hey, I could really use all of Noodle Boy's shirts for this! HAHAHA! Weeeeee!

xoxo,

The start of a great year, I know.

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:23:00 +0000

The New Year didn't just usher the whole new 365 days, but I received yet another wonderful prize. Okay, Santa was a little late sending me the gift I asked, but the good people at Pizza Hut made sure it was "safely shipped". And by safe... they weren't kidding!

You've got to hand it to LBC. They're my most preferred courier here in the Philippines.

I got this for the blog post I wrote for Supremo, one of Pizza Hut's Tuscany pizza flavors. We had a great time making that entry and now having so much fun playing with the prize.

It's the 3G model of the iPad 2. I can't wait to test the internet speed of Smart once I get my hands on their microsim. Hopefully, it's available here in my area.

Big thanks also to my mother- and father-in-law for bringing us the pizza all the way from Cebu so we can join the contest. Also to Carl, the little boy, who was the lone caroler. :) Honestly, that kid loved the pizza... even with all the vegetables in it! I mean, when I was little, I always steered clear from those types of toppings. It's only now that I'm an adult that I appreciate the burst of flavors from all sorts of different toppings in my pizza. To Mianne, our cashier for taking the photos. And last but not the least, my Noodle Boy for adding melody into the words of the song I wrote.

Browsing Pizza Hut's website on the iPad is pretty cool!
How I wish there was a Pizza Hut branch here in Ormoc City so I can order delivery :)

Thank you Lord for the great start of a great year ahead. Wishing everyone a happy new year, a fruitful and prosperous one, too!

Michael, Maria, & Mikko Franco.

xoxo,

From our home to yours

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:58:00 +0000

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world and behold, everything is kinder, gentler, and more beautiful.

To spread Christmas Spirit throughout our community and our City, the Ormoc Festival and Cultural Foundation together with the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and in cooperation with Congresswoman Lucy Torres Gomez, is bringing you once again Light Up a Star. Now on its second year, the Light up a Star Christmas project originally launched on Dec. 11, 2011. We are all overjoyed with its immense success that is why we have decided to hold this event every year.

Essentially, this is a fund raising program of the Parish and of the Foundation for various projects; one of which is the coffee table book of Ormoc which we will be launching in a few months from now.

Our sincerest thanks to our dear Congresswoman Lucy Torres Gomez for her enormous help that brought this project to fruition. That Giant Star up there represents her. Also, our special thanks to our major sponsors whose names appear on each of the big stars atop these small Christmas trees. We would also like to thank all our donors of these stars around the Christ the King circle. Without you, the success of this project wouldn't have been possible.

May these stars brighten and bring light to our lives not only during this Christmas season but all throughout the years to come.

Thank you and Merry Christmas to all.

-Gloria T. Velasquez, Chairman

The older I get: the longer I hold on to a Holiday hug
The more I realize Christmas is a matter of the heart,
The more I enjoy giving than receiving,
The more I try to see Christmas through the eyes of a child,
The longer I sit in the glow of the Christmas Tree light,
The more wonderfully beautiful the Christmas story is,
The deeper my awe at God's infinite Love…
The more I LOVE Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,

If music be the food of love, play on. (PIC HEAVY!)

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Has an instance ever occurred to you when action seems to speak louder than words or when pictures really do paint a thousand words?

The wordsmith in me fumbles for words trying to write the perfect piece tonight. But alas, only a familiar tune keeps ringing in my ear. It sounds kinda trippy, too.

Like a kaleidoscope... Like the smell of gasoline...

It is said that good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it. I wonder what motivates some artists to write their music, but as a listener the music I hear becomes the soundtrack of my life.

Just like this.

Not familiar with the words?

WATCH THIS VIDEO!

If it's gasoline that fuels up engines and makes cars run, then my life's own gasoline would be a mixture of

LOVE + PHOTOGRAPHY + MUSIC.

I think that is what makes life worth living.

And in this digital world today, it's a challenge to keep memories when you run out of space to save them.
Just today I learned that I have this ~~much~~ left.

Que Horror!

Apparently, that is my ultimate motivation to submit an entry to
The Gasoline Dude’s Blogversary Writing Contest.
WHY? Coz I need to win a 1TB Portable Hard Drive!

If music be the food of love, play on. - William Shakespeare

-[abrupt end of post]-

xoxo,

True love is like the sun and moon; they hardly meet but one day they will eclipse.

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:59:00 +0000

You guys remember my dilemma during the last Total Lunar Eclipse right? yeah, too bad I had to miss it on purpose! Why? Because obviously, I was pregnant back then. I did note that there was going to be a lunar eclipse before the year ends but no thanks to my not-so-good-and-reliable memory, I almost missed it!

Twas a good thing that my dad had called me downstairs that night and told me about what was happening. I was so busy that day that the eclipse completely slipped my mind. That, and I was at the in-laws too so I wasn't on Twitter as well. *sigh* Being offline these days is almost equivalent to getting lost. Must stay connected all the time! Is this what the world is coming to really?

I wanted to capture every phase of the eclipse but I missed the start... Oh well, guess I'll have to wait for the next total lunar eclipse then. It should be on April 15, 2014! HOMAYGULAY! Kadugay paba ana! And I don't think that's visible from where I'm from. I should be anticipating the October 8, 2014 eclipse instead if I'm gonna be here exactly where I am right now.

But not to worry, there is a partial eclipse next year on June 4, 2012 and a penumbral one on November 28, 2012.

Did anything unusual happen during the last total eclipse last December 10th? Not here. Might be some dragons hatched somewhere else. Tee hee.

True love is like the sun and moon; they hardly meet, but one day they will eclipse.

xoxo,

The taste of Italy, the feel of Christmas, and the Filipino flavor.

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:43:00 +0000

There was a time in my life when all I wanted was to travel and eat delectable food. Sometimes I still get that feeling overwhelming me and my thoughts would always wander off to good ol' Italy. It's been my life's dream to visit that place and eat all the pizza I want! But alas, I cannot afford the luxury and time so I will just continue to dream about it... for now.

But allow me to share with you a story of something that just happened very recently.

Over the years, however, there are pizza parlors who have managed to give us the very taste of Italy right here and right now without having to sell an arm or a leg to savor such goodness. What am I talking about? Well, have you heard about PIZZA HUT'S Tuscani Pizza? You should if you're not living under a rock because this is the way pizza's got to be -- THINNER CRUST, FULLER FLAVOR! If you haven't tried it, you're missing half of your life! Trust me... I feel like I've waited all my life for this.

Just the mention of those ingredients sends shivers down my spine and I can picture how the pizza bursts with so much Italian flavor in my mouth. These are very premium ingredients and Pizza Hut sets a standard of using only the choice toppings to deliver us the maximum taste of real pizza!

I love pizza especially how it smells when you open the box. My favorites are the ones with basil because of its distinct aroma but I really don't mind sprinkles of oregano here and there for its pungent and woodsy flavor.

Let's grab a bite, grab a pizza slice

With 9 choice toppings and everything nice

Let's take a trip to Italy

Taste the flavor of Pizza Hut's Tuscani.

I only want the very best,

Supremo, it's gotta be

The only pizza for me.

Beef, Italian sausage, smoked ham, too

Bell peppers, black olives, an onion or two

With sauce made of fresh tomatoes

Makes me forget my worries and woes

I gotta have my fix of premium delight

Oh Supremo, such a pretty sight!

I want you now, I need you now

I've got to get you, someway, somehow.

I want my crust supremely thin

Oh Pizza Hut, how long has it been?

I can smell u now, I can feel u now...

Just like in Italy, where I long to be.

Supremooooo oh oh oh

Oooohhhh I love you so...

Pizza Hut provides a genuine Italian taste but still it has a Filipino flavor in it which is very much welcomed by my Pinoy palate. More often than not, strange flavors really taste strange especially to kids. But I haven't seen a child say "NO" to Pizza Hut. Definitely, not this one here.

Pizza Hut's Tuscani SUPREMO Pizza is perfect for men, women, and children of all ages! The perfect blend of cheese, vegetables, meat, and spices makes it the ultimate pizza concoction.

Dear Santa Claus,

I've been very good this year. I would like an iPad 2 for Christmas. But I understand that you might be so busy and might not be able to deliver it yourself, so perhaps you can whisper to the ears and knock on the hearts of the good people at Pizza Hut to let me win this prize and give it to me as a gift. Why do I want an iPad 2? Here let me show you why...

1) Because it would be easier for me to keep up-to-date with the latest about Pizza Hut by browsing their website regularly. Their specials and promos are something I keep looking forward to.

2) Easier to access social media networks like Facebook by clicking an app to interact with fellow fans of Pizza Hut and easier for me to share to my friends my latest discoveries and update them with what's happening. A big bonus also is the camera so I can take and post pictures and HD quality videos.

3) And speaking of pictures, so I can browse the web for images of Italy as I continue to daydream about going there.

4. Last but not the least, I would like an iPad 2 because just like Pizza Hut's Tuscani Pizza, I'm pretty sure that it will add flavor to my life making it more colorful, more enjoyable, and more gratifying.

Love,

Maria Franco

AVALON.PH: What are you thankful for this year 2011?

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:03:00 +0000

I never thought that 2011 was a BIG year for me until I realized what took place in my life. MAJOR MAJOR things have happened and I couldn't be more blessed looking back at the awesomeness of 2011.

Let me highlight the important life events.

Noodle Boy proposed.
Our truly amazing prenup photoshoot.
I got married... TWICE... to the same man. Once during a small civil ceremony/beach wedding and then a bigger wedding in a Catholic chapel.
I got pregnant and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.
Opened an extension to SALA Lounge + Café, with SALA Patio + Bar.

There are also quite a lot of minor events that took place in my life this year that I am grateful for also as they have given me strength and taught me so much about life.

But if I have to state in a sentence what it is that I am most thankful for this year 2011 it would go like this:

I am thankful because 2011 turned me into a wife and a mother.

The year 2011 will finally come to an end in less than a month's time. It had been a good year indeed but now we must move on and look forward to the future. Which means, I need another planner.

It was in 2010 that I discovered the importance of keeping a planner. I don't really write "plans" in it though but random stuff. Mostly you'll see computations, expenses and all the boring Math stuff I need to keep track of. Ugh. But hey, at the end of the year, it pays off. It makes me smile thinking how financially responsible I've become.

I could very well do it via Google spreadsheets and the like but somehow, I'm pretty old school when it comes to journals and notebooks. Well, you know... I wrote how I feel about it.

Come 2012, I know just the thing to start it with!

BEHOLD!!!

How does a Moleskine weekly/daily planner sound? I think it will make a real loud and a pretty BIG BANG for the new year!

Photos from Avalon.PH

If I were you, I'd also join the Moleskine Weekly Diary/Planner 2012 Giveaway sponsored by AVALON.PH and let's altogether plan our 2012 to be more organized and really productive in the coming year!

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

xoxo,

You win some. You lose some.

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:09:00 +0000

I do believe I already blogged about being a contest whore earlier this year, and Lady Luck pretty much has not left my side. I do hope she stays as I really get a kick out of joining online contests and games especially if I need to blog my way through it. As you can see, I blog when I feel like it and when I am motivated some more (ahem, with the prize) then I get to unleash whatever creative demon I have kept chained in the deepest recesses of my mind. Har har de har.

Just a few days ago, I got notified that I won 2 contests... on the same day! How lucky, right? One worth PHP7,000 of Mary Kay products and the other (supposedly) an iPad -- but that was before I got DISQUALIFIED SOON AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED AND THEY INFORMED ME AS THE WINNER! Who does that? I mean, what is this? ELECTION???

Here's the story. First the good news.

Mary Kay Philippines sent me this package full of goodies.

Eng eng eng... What could it be?

Gosh! How I love loot bags...

Might be time I learn to put on eye shadow correctly because as much as I would love to put make-up on, I simply FAIL at it! FOR REAL! I'm simply just the eye-liner-mascara-type of gal... =D

I guess to start with Mary Kay, how can I possibly go wrong? Oh and I got this awesome sweet-smelling little gift set, too! :) Can't thank Mary Kay Philippines enough!

Any proper lady should smell like this! I gotta stop relying on just colognes. Tee hee.

And all that I won because I participated in a makeover contest with Mary Kay with this look:

Look achieved using Mary Kay® Mineral Bronzing Powder - Desert Sun (Duo Shade), Mary Kay® Lash Lengthening Mascara™ - Black, Mary Kay® Creme Lipstick - Give Dreams (Coral Pink), Mary Kay® Tinted Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 15 - Apricot, Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color - Honey Spice, Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color - Coal, Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color - Espresso, Mary Kay® Eyeliner - Deep Brown

Pretty cool, huh? :) But I would like to thank everyone who voted for this look. If not for you guys, I wouldn't have won any of these. You guys made me a winner. Mwahhh!

And now the second part.

The more interesting... and controversial story.

This one's from the Lipton contest. It's a blog contest so this is more my type of contest because I do enjoy making and writing a blog story about something. And since I'm not new to online contests, I read RULES and MECHANICS over and over again to make sure I don't violate any to cause any disqualifications. Again, I'm not new to contests obviously and have had my fair share of winning and losing. The number of wins I have had is almost the same ratio as the number of times I didn't get to win. All the same, I really don't count my losses because each contest gives me a chance to write passionately and express what I can creatively in any way I can provided it's not illegal to do so.

At first, I had used Lipton BRISK tea which the supermarket person told me was pretty much the same as the Yellow Label tea brand.

When I realized I should have used the other product, I emailed the organizer and they replied telling me I could just change my entry which I did... BY EDITING THE PHOTOS. Heck, my Photoshop skills have been honed for over a decade since Photoshop 5.0 and I do believe it's a great talent. Bleh! =P

I guess the word "CHANGE" can be relative. Change is defined as "to cause to be different". They don't suppose I write another recipe just to cater to the YELLOW LABEL tea brand when in fact my recipe is pretty valid using any kind of black tea. I didn't want to waste a perfectly good recipe and blog post so I resolved to edit the photos instead... to be different and to abide the rules. That is CHANGE for me. And besides, as per mechanics:

Compare that to this contest's mechanics:

Now that one with Vice Ganda is pretty UNKABOGABLY CLEAR to me. NO EDITING it says. Am I right or am I right? Clear?

I didn't even bother posting these photos below because I didn't want to get in trouble with His Excellency the president or Her Majesty the Queen... BUT STILL... It's pretty convincing enough! =D

When I could make up a really good story about these two photos... I didn't. Even so, I don't think even these two will cause any disqualification had I included these in my entry for some humor or what. Looking at Queen Elizabeth, could you really tell that she's NOT using Yellow Label tea? It's an advertisment or a commercial! Show me an ad that is not edited. Even Angelica Panganiban went to the extent of altering her whole body for a freaking calendar!

Whatever, I'm not arguing anymore. I don't freaking care about the prize, however sayang it is. I was happy to write a blog and that is that!

They asked for an explanation.

Complaints daw o! From SORE LOSERS obviously if you ask me. But I replied to the email:

Like I said, these are just photos! Why make a big fuss about it? I delivered what was asked to be part of the contest. Don't tell me the photos are all that matter?! What about the recipe? The blog story? The audience impact? I really do not understand why should I be disqualified for something that the organizer had suggested.

It's just one contest though. There are still so many contests to be won! I can't believe some even cared to send me messages like this one here who said he's not BITTER daw but apparently he is... else why send me a message? HA? HA? HA?

And what's this pagpalain ka chuva ek ek... I am not TAGALOG and you think I don't realize that this feigned well wishing doesn't reek of sarcasm? And so what if you're a fan? Are you gonna stop reading my blog now? Pfft. Did I ever ask you to read my blog? Wait, do I even know you?!?

Anyway, for all the emotional distress that the organizers of this contest has caused me, I think I'd want some settlement. Can you imagine if I had a heart problem, I get elated one moment because I won a major prize then minutes later it gets retracted!? I'd probably have a heart attack! But I'd be lying if I say I didn't shed a tear or two. Can you imagine being so happy this minute and the next minute you're being treated unfairly with people calling you a cheater? WHAT THE EFFFFFFF...

I was basically putting my baby to sleep when all this happened that crazy afternoon and I had to leave the poor boy crying because I couldn't focus lest I drop him or what, no thanks to the sore losers and all the stupidiTEAS.

Wait a minute, did this contest have a DTI permit? Hmm... I should look into that. But really... it would all have been better if I were disqualified the first time I submitted my entry or that time I submitted again! It's bad enough to wait for how many weeks to know the results of the contest and who won... and then you found out it's YOU but then it's NOT YOU anymore. I mean, FML! Tsk tsk tsk... Looks like Lipton got FREE ADVERTISING from me all the while, don't cha think? Gosh, I feel so... USED!

Oh well. You win some. You lose some.

Ahhh, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

NEXT CONTEST PLEASE!

xoxo,

Star Wars fans and writers, this one's for you!

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:18:00 +0000

Hey look what we have here? It's a Limited Edition Moleskine Star Wars Large Plain Notebook!

Accordingly, this notebook is presented in a black hard cover with silk screen printed and debossed Star Wars graphics, quotes, logo and a paper band with a fleet of X-Wings. The inner pages are decorated with material from the Lucas film archive and include bespoke Star Wars paper inserts or stickers and full-colour end papers.

It also features 240 pages of acid-free plain paper, pocket, ribbon and elastic closure.

Want to win this? Simply join Avalon.PH's latest giveway.

Check out full mechanics in HERE! May the force be with you!

xoxo,

30-DAY BLOG CHALLENGE: Mission Accomplished!

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:29:00 +0000

30-DAY BLOG CHALLENGE:
Mission Accomplished!

Day 1 A photo that makes you happy
Day 2 20 of my favorite things
Day 3 A photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 4 Something you are OCD about
Day 5 Your dream house
Day 6 A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 7 My worst habit
Day 8 What’s in my handbag/purse
Day 9 Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 10 A dream for the future
Day 11 Who can’t you live without?
Day 12 If you could wish for anything that would come true, what would you wish for?
Day 13 Have you ever had your heart broken? Have you ever broken a heart?
Day 14 What do you like most about yourself?
Day 15 What do you dislike most about yourself?
Day 16 What do people notice about you?
Day 17 What’s something you wish you could say to someone?
Day 18 Whom do you admire the most?
Day 19 What is your goal in life?
Day 20 What are the 10 most significant events in your life?
Day 21 If you died tomorrow, what’s one thing you’d regret not doing?
Day 22 What’s an inside joke you have with someone?
Day 23 Two months ago, where were you and what were you doing?
Day 24 Do you have saved text messages? If so, who are they from and why do you still have them?
Day 25 Write 5 messages to 5 different people without using names.
Day 26 What’s something you’re really excited for?
Day 27 What do you feel guilty for doing?
Day 28 Tattoos. If you have one, post it and its story. If not, what do you want?
Day 29 Picture of your makeup collection
Day 30 When were the happiest days of your life?

xoxo,

Reel Life PossibiliTEAS: My Lipton FruiTEA Melody!

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:36:00 +0000

I'm still on the process of opening up SALA Patio + Bar which is waayyy overdue already and had been experimenting with a couple of drinks to serve by pitcher. I stumbled upon a really cool concoction as of late that can either be alcoholic ~~or non-alcoholic depending on your mood~~. Very easy to prepare and perfect for those hot summer nights... or if you just want a cooler to share with a couple of friends.

First things first... the basic ingredient is none other than LIPTON Yellow Label Tea. Now, here's something I'd like to share since I'm a big fan of tea. My grandfather is of Chinese descent and he used to drink tea a lot. I think he did just that every day when he was still alive. My mom keeps reminding me of the benefits of tea to our bodies. I don't really use those instant iced tea litro packs because aside from being too sweet for my taste, it doesn't do justice to the tea I'm very used to drinking. So LIPTON black tea it is for a premium tea experience...

Truly you can just add the tea bags to a cup of hot water, but I like to properly steep my tea. I know, it's a bit tedious but hey, THERE REALLY IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN TASTE! You'll see... just try it.

No rules in steeping tea really... I say, just STEEP TO TASTE! ;) Then let it cool for 30 minutes before drinking it. If it's iced tea I want, I usually refrigerate the tea first.

Recipe for My Lipton FruiTEA Melody mix as follows:

You can use calamansi or lemon if you wish but I was inclined to use orange juice this time. I also prefer the fresh ones but if there aren't any available, any PULPY orange juice mix will do. My preferred fruit cocktail is the one with grapes, pears, apples, peaches, and cherries. Not really fond of the local fruits, i.e. pineapples, papayas, etc. (But that's just me and it's my recipe, sooo...) Oh, and don't forget the NATA DE COCO! (Goodness! I love really really those!!!) To sweeten the tea, either I use honey, sugar, or caramelized sugar -- depending on what I have on hand or the time I have to spend to make my tea. Tee hee!

Writing about this makes me really thirsty for My Lipton FruiTEA Melody! Wahhhh... Note: Must make some after I blog this.

The making of My Lipton FruiTEA Melody:

And here's my first customer, Ms. Aning Acebedo sampling My Lipton FruiTEA Melody!

She came by after running some errands all over the city and was pretty tired from it. After sampling and downing her first drink she exclaimed, "LAMI-AHHHH!" (Delicious!) And she also added that it's a real thirst quencher considering how hot and humid the weather gets. So very pleased to see her reaction! I mean, I felt and said the very same thing when I tried it the first time.

Because iced tea is refreshing and fruits are good for you, this drink is highly recommended! And I'm glad I can share this to the whole world; well if not, to my family, friends, and customers at least anyway. ;) Sharing is loving, diba? LIPTON is LOVE!!!

Whenever you drink tea, think about these top 10 benefits:
1. Tea contains antioxidants.
2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee.
3. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
4. Tea protects your bones.
5. Tea gives you a sweet smile.
6. Tea bolsters your immune defenses.
7. Tea protects against cancer.
8. Tea helps keep you hydrated.
9. Tea is calorie-free.
10. Tea increases your metabolism.
(Source: iVillage)

But for me, I think the best thing that tea does to me aside from all of the above is the fact that I can get really CRAZY CREATIVE (sometimes O.C. in a good way) when I drink tea. I mean, take a look at this blog post. I drank tea just before I wrote this!

Furthermore, come nighttime, if you're the adventurous kind (Ahem!) and want some good time, you can add some liquor to My Lipton FruiTEA Melody and it becomes a real mean fruit punch. (Think: Long Island Iced Tea!) SWEEEEEET! Talk about versatile! So now I'm considering making this concoction a regular drink at our cafe. I'm pretty sure it's gonna be a big hit with the young ones. ;)

Since tea makes me feel good, I get to run my business (and my life!) even better. It doesn't matter how big or small you are or what you do, it's all about having fun and loving it. Managing a business, however small, is so much sweeter with Lipton. I'd like to share that experience with everyone. So I think I'm gonna start serving this at SALA Lounge + Cafe (SALA Patio + Bar) soon. Drop by if you wanna try it!

Photo: Full size in Flickr.

oxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 30

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:46:00 +0000

Day 30: When were the happiest days of your life?

For this year alone? I had my wedding and the birth of a son to account for that. 2011 is the year indeed!

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 29

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:25:00 +0000

Day 29: Picture of your makeup collection

Sorry to disappoint, but I really don't have one. I only use but some moisturizer and powder on my face now, save for the eyebrow pencil and occasional lip gloss and cheek tints.

xoxo,

Blogs, Domain Names, & Keywords -- HUH?

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:54:00 +0000

I remember like it was yesterday when I registered my domain name, WWW.BASTAIGATSIKAT.COM. I got it from GoDaddy and I was sure as heck certain it was available once I searched for it. True enough, it was! I then wondered if there were any promotional coupons from Blogger or Google or any other amazing web hosting features I could take advantage of.

It was just recently that I discovered I could use my own domain name for my email address! HAHAHA! Now you can email me at mymaria(at)bastaigatsikat(dot)com! I consider myself still pretty green to this whole internet blogging experience. I may be internet-savvy, but NOT THAT internet-savvy. Not yet, I guess. I came here to blog some years ago for the sake of writing and keeping an online journal. But lately, with all the search engine optimization hype, I'm beginning to see there's more to blogging than camwhoring and just baring your soul for the whole world to see... just because.

I did come across some pretty interesting keyword searches that landed people on my blog. The phrase "basta igat sikat" obviously, "sailormoon" being the most popular search according to the Analytics, and even "ormoc city sex scandal" will render you my blog in Google results. LOL!

Honestly, I still don't understand the whole website optimization thing or getting high page ranks for that matter, maybe because I think it's confusing really or I just couldn't care less about monetizing my blog. Tee hee. As a writer, I guess blogging will stay that way for me. Sure, I join contests and I'm glad my blog's got enough exposure. But more importantly, it's a place for all my memories. By the time I'll get Alzheimer's I think I'll be really thankful I have my blog to read. :)

What about you? Why do you blog? ^_^ Comments below.

xoxo,

Blog post courtesy of Alma who writes for a promotional coupon blog catering to web hosting. Check out the latest 1 and 1 coupons and midphase.com coupon code.

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 28

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:53:00 +0000

Day 28: Tattoos. If you have one, post it and its story. If not, what do you want?

First. Butterfly. Mariposa. Me.

Second. Butterfly. Mariposa. Me again.

Third. Butterfly. Mariposa. Uhhh, Me?

Fourth. Okay, now I'm a pixie. :)

Fifth. Save the turtles... NOT!

Sixth. A name. Go figure.

I only have 6, one tattoo shy of the 7 I've always wanted since I was in high school. LOL! I don't think Noodle Boy will let me add the last one. Boohoo! But I will get that done. Someday.

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 27

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:48:00 +0000

Day 27: What do you feel guilty for doing?

I'm not the type who dwell on the past or feel guilt. I try to avoid doing anything that leads to any guilt. If I really have to tell you something that makes me feel guilty, it's this huge jar of Nutella sitting beside me and that big bar of Hershey's waiting for me in the fridge. Other than eating extra calories, I think there's nothing on top of my head that I can think of which makes me feel guilty.

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 26

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:46:00 +0000

Day 26: What’s something you’re really excited for?

A Romantic Stay at Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan is a much welcome idea after having a baby and battling sleepless nights. After 9 months of pregnancy and being hands-on parents of a darling baby boy, my husband Michael Vincent Lladoc Franco and I need a break and quality time to renew and create the spark between us. :) The rooms and villas are reminiscent of that perfect honeymoon escape and the ultimate getaway for couples.

We pack our Moleskine, some sunscreen and food
We bring a guitar, some pens, and candles to set the mood.
It is a quiet late lazy Sunday afternoon
A perfect time to be in a place called Crimson.
The Mactan Island wind blows through our hair
As we write prose and poetry of our love affair.
We look and stare at each other’s eyes
Listening to a melody of romance that never dies.
With silly grins we slowly smile
At things that make living and loving worthwhile.
On the shores, we walk in the sand
As pleasurable as the first time we held hands.
Into each other’s arms we carefully glide
Our love is so powerful, we truly cannot hide;
Can you see the flames burning in our eyes?
It’s as sweet as sugar and exciting as spice.
Our lips gently touch and we feel the sweet caress
That tender touch we both so long have missed
At night, underneath the shining stars, we both lay
And tell each other we’d be together ‘til our dying day
We close our eyes and gently kiss
In each other’s embrace, we could stay like this.
Our love together lights up the night
In darkness, our love does shine so bright.
The romance in the resort’s air feels just right
Being together here, there’s no greater delight.
So now we dance in the light of the moon
‘Tis but paradise to be together here in Crimson.

(c) 2011 Michael & Maria.

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 25

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:28:00 +0000

Day 25: Write 5 messages to 5 different people without using names.

Message #1: Thank you for EVERYTHING. For bringing me up like this

and for giving me all that you could, when you could and in any way you could.

Message #2: You are my sunshine. :) My only sunshine.

Message #3: I love you... always and forever. You have my heart and you will have it even after death.

Message #4: There's a big chance that people don't like me... but there is a bigger chance that I don't care!

Message #5: I would be nothing without you.

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 24

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:23:00 +0000

Day 24: Do you have saved text messages? If so, who are they from and why do you still have them?

Found this message, one of the oldest I have. The year is 2001! It's a decade old SMS! Woot! But I don't know who's it from. Whoever you are... That's some cheesy text message ha! Tee hee!

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 23

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:10:00 +0000

Day 23: Two months ago, where were you and what were you doing?

One-week-old Little Mao: Doesn't he look like Master Oogway?

That would be August 23rd. Obviously, a week after I had given birth so I should be right here in this very room watching my baby sleep or feeding him. Yup, most likely learning all about breastfeeding him. Oh and yeah, this was about the time I took the first picture of him smile. :)

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 22

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:57:00 +0000

Day 22: What’s an inside joke you have with someone?

You've got to be kidding me?! I'm not revealing an inside joke, because well... they're meant to be private. HAHA! And it won't be as fun anymore... I got a lot of inside jokes with my husband, with my classmates mostly, and some with my close friends. Okay, next question, please?

xoxo,

30-day Blog Challenge: DAY 21

noreply@blogger.com (⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ChenMeiXi ★ 陳美西 ⋆ღ㋡✌⋆) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:50:00 +0000

Day 21: If you died tomorrow, what’s one thing you’d regret not doing?

You know that I live my life with no regrets (or at least I try to!) and I always make it a point to live each day like it were my last... asking myself, "If this was my last day, would I want to do these things I need to today?" That I have been doing just over the recent years, because I admit that before I wouldn't give a shit about dying. But now I get weird moments where I r eflect about death and get really scared. Eeeek! I guess this is why I show people I love them and tell them I love them every time I get the chance to and tell people things before it's too late because I don't like regrets. But okay, for the sake of this blog challenge, the only thing I do regret is not having gone to a better school, pursuing a writing career, and living in a First World country. I guess that's just it. But now with Noodle Boy and my little NoodleLito, it's not so much of a regret anymore. Because I'm happy with my life right now, like this... but I still wish it could be better though but with the two loves of my life. Hehe.

xoxo,