my life...my own piece of heaven

Retail Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:10:00 +0000

You wake up one day and you feel something is not right. You prepare breakfast but the toaster doesn’t work. You take the kids to school and on the way there you get a flat tire. Of course you arrive late for work only to see an empty office since there was a meeting called at the conference room. It was for the announcement of your rival’s promotion. A promotion you’ve been hoping to get. Yes, indeed it is a bad day.

So what do you do when you need a little pick me up? Some reach for sweets, some go for some pampering at the spa, while others hop on over to the nearest mall to seek some retail therapy.

Retail therapy is simply shopping to feel better when you are feeling down. There is a code we women stick to, there is no problem that a new shade of lipstick can’t resolve… or in my case, a new book or magazine! Here are some retail therapy tips to make this experience for enjoyable.

• Don’t overshop. Retail therapy is more effective in lifting you up when you purchase for several inexpensive items rather than just one pricey one. The act of choosing and purchasing relaxes us and make us happy. Let’s admit it, we don’t actually need the items we buy; we just buy them to make us feel better. When you purchase overpriced, branded goodies, the bills can eventually cause more problems than solutions. Buyer’s remorse will cause stress and anxiety and that defeats the purpose of the therapy.

• Keep in touch with your feelings. Are you shopping to feel good about yourself or are you trying to escape the bad things in your life? Be careful. Masking and numbing your feeling with shopping can lead to addiction. Think drug addicts and compulsive gamblers. None of them started knowing they will end up addicted to their habit; they thought they’re only trying something for fun, until the habit got the better of them. Make sure you can still control your shopping. Can you still resist the siren calls of shops of sale? This is always a good sign.

• As much as possible, shop in cash only. Don’t use a credit card. If you can’t afford it, don’t shop. It’s that simple. Shopping is not the only thing that can make us feel better. There are other ways to feel good without breaking your bank. Talk to a friend, go for a swim, visit the local gym… it’s just a matter of finding out what suits you and your lifestyle.

Every so often, I also indulge in some retail therapy. Nothing beats the feeling of going through rows and rows of books… excitedly leafing through them, skimming through the contents to find something that piques my curiosity, until I find one that really interests me, slowly turning it over to look at the price tag and hoping it is something that will fit my budget. Once I’ve found what I want, I skip on over to the cashier. I pay for my purchases and the cashier places my babies in a paper bag…. Ahhh…I feel the stress drain from my body. I love it! This process makes me oh so happy, that is until I get home and I place my new books with my other unread books. Argh! I still have so many books to read! When will I ever find time to read them? When will I ever find time for myself?! Yes… by then I’ll be stressed again…and looking forward to that next trip to the bookstore. Hahaha!

Photohunt :: Daily

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:17:00 +0000

One day as I was browsing thru our local used books store, I chanced upon the book Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg. I was overjoyed! I often see this highly recommended book on online stores... and i got it for only P120. Talk about a bargain! Anyway, the author of the book preaches only one thing... if you desire to be a good writer... write DAILY!

No need for long prose or mind boggling essays... just write about any random thought in your head... no need to edit or proofread. in fact she says it is better not to go back and re-read what you've written until you've finished. The goal is to make writing such a natural experience for a person that it has become second nature. Time will come when you will be able to write no matter where you are, who you're with and what the condition of your working environment is. Through the practice of daily writing, you'll be able to free the writer from within.

That's exactly what I intend to do... I will write DAILY. I've got enough notebooks for this purpose... I just chose these two flowery notebooks to be included in the photos because I love the burst of colors.

That's the plan and challenge... WRITE DAILY!

Freelance Writing Becomes Me

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:10:00 +0000

Thank goodness for the social networking phenomenon that is Facebook, if I hadn't signed up with facebook then I wouldn't have gotten in touch with a long lost friend from my elementary days. When I asked him what he does for a living, he answered that he was a writer. Aha! Finally! Someone I can ask about the possibility of a career in writing. One day I as finally able to gather enough courage to inquire about his chosen field. I asked whether he studied for that job while in college, is writing his bread and butter, approximately how much income is generated?

Considering that we were not really that close when we were classmates, I’d have to give it to him for being so generous with his answers. If only he knew how much he touched my life… how inspired I’ve become since talking to him.

He said he is a stay at home dad yet he is able to provide for his family by being a freelance ghost writer for companies accepting articles from him. It was indeed his bread and butter. He said in freelancing, the biggest advantage is that you own your time. You get to budget your time according to your pleasing, as long as you are able to meet all your deadlines. The pay is not that great initially, and it entails hard work, but as soon as you get the hang of it and churning out articles becomes almost like second nature to you, money will start to pour in, since you are compensated depending on the number of completed assignments you submit. He said it is a wonderful way to generate extra income especially for moms like me….

I am so inspired! I’ve long realized that this is what I want to be, a freelance feature writer. I even placed this wish on my vision board because I so want to be a published writer. Now there is a chance for this dream to come true.

I now the road towards my dream is paved with trouble and hardships, but I am willing to pay my dues. I am willing to start at the bottom and work my way up. I need to write. I need to get out of my comfort zone and write. I can’t always write about what I am feeling at the moment or what my thoughts are about a certain topic… I must learn to be flexible, to learn to comply to the clients requests… I need to unlearn some habits I got along the way. I need to be disciplined and professional for I am aiming to be a part time freelance writer… looking at the bigger picture, who knows, this gig maybe my ticket to a whole new life and career. My chance to get out of the corporate jungle I’ve called home for the last 12 years.

That’s it. There is no stopping me. I am writing therefore I am.

A nameless razor fusses.

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:39:00 +0000

Guess what? more silly words that seem to have to meaning at all...

A nameless razor fusses.

a weird thought

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:31:00 +0000

a weird thought just came up...

How will your filled film house the apparent clause?

go figure.

PLACES: LA MESA ECOPARK

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:17:00 +0000

Place to Visit: La Mesa Ecopark

Summer is definitely here! The sun is scorching hot outside, and it only just February! That is why we decided to go swimming, in celebration of my dad’s 69th birthday! We couldn’t leave early since the birthday celebrator still had a meeting at our parish. We decided to just eat lunch at home then leave for the pool after eating, this way we’d be bringing less stuff and just bring enough food for snack and drinks.

We decided we’d go back to the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City. We have very fond memories of this park, this is where Bea had her first swimming experience when she was only more than a year old. Although she doesn’t have any recollection of that experience, this time around it was clear that she enjoyed swimming at the pool. another plus is that it's really affordable. whoever said that you'd have to spend a fortune just to have a good time with your family?

Here’s some information about the ecopark:

La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City is the primary source of drinking water of about 12 million Metro Manila residents. The property is owned by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a government agency. La Mesa Watershed is 2700 hectares, 700 hectares of which is the reservoir and 2000 hectares of which is the surrounding forest. This forest is the last remaining one of its size in Metro Manila and serves as its carbon dioxide sink. La Mesa Watershed, therefore, is vital to the city, not only because it is a primary source of drinking water, but also because its forest functions as the lungs of Metro Manila, providing it with clean air.

Due to lack of funds, illegal settling, poaching and logging, La Mesa Watershed came into disrepair and ruin. In 1999, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. created Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch) and, in partnership with the MWSS, undertook the Save La Mesa Watershed Project. The project aimed to rehabilitate, reforest, preserve and protect La Mesa Watershed. The total area that needed reforestation was 1500 hectares. Today, eight years since the project started, only 158 hectares remain to be planted. Bantay Kalikasan’s strategy of actively involving the general public in the project, through its Adopt/Protect-ATree/ Hectare programs, was key to its success.

To sustain the Save La Mesa Watershed Project, Bantay Kalikasan, in partnership with the MWSS and the Q.C. Government, rehabilitated and renovated a 33 hectare public park located right outside the natural boundaries of the watershed and 40 meters below the reservoir. In September 2004, it was renamed La Mesa Ecopark and reopened to the public. All revenues generated by La Mesa Ecopark are utilized for the continuous preservation and protection of La Mesa Watershed.

The park is located in the East Fairview Subdivision, Quezon City.

La Mesa Ecopark Operating Hours: 8AM to 5PM Daily

PARK Admission Rates:

above 3ft P50
3ft & below FREE

POOL Admission Rates: ((9am – 4pm) Daily)
above 3fts P80
3ft & below P40

- Proper swimming attire is strictly implemented – no cotton made fabrics, no buttons & zippers.
- Pool Admission rates apply to all who enter pool compound, whether they will swim or not.

The pools close at 4pm, they are strict about this, once the whistle blows, it's time to leave the pool area.

SPECIAL Rates
QC Residents (w/ valid proof of residence) P40
QC Students (w/ valid id) P20
QC Senior Citizens (w/ valid id) FREE
Non-QC Senior Citizens P40

There are many things to do in the park aside from swimming.

boat rental - you can rent a boat for P100 for 30 minutes, maximum of 4 adults

bike rental - you can also rent a bike. price ranges from P50-80 per hour.

fishing - you can also try your luck at fishing. fishing rods can be rented at P20 per day. then you'll have to pay for what ever you catch. Rate is P80 per kilo. the bigger the catch, the higher the amount, but heck the bigger your pride too right?

for those who prefer to just relax and lounge around with the family, table and chairs are availabe for P120 per set (1 table and 4 chairs)

La Mesa Ecopark also offers several tour packages:

PACKAGE1 :BOATING

RATE:P100 per head (minimum 50pax)
Guided Walking Tour
Ecopark Overview/History/Amenities
Plan/Trees Identification
Entrance Fee
Boat Ride

PACKAGE2 :SWIMMING

RATE:P130 per head (minimum 50pax)
Guided Walking Tour
Ecopark Overview/History/Amenities
Plant/Trees Identification
Entrance Fee
Swimming

PACKAGE3 :SWIMMING AND BOATING

RATE:P150 per head (minimum 50pax)
Guided Walking Tour
Ecopark Overview/History/Amenities
Plan/Trees Identification
Entrance Fee
Boat Ride(30mins)
Swimming

PACKAGE4 :BUTTERFLY

RATE:P100 per head (minimum 50pax)
Guided Walking Tour
Ecopark Overview/History/Amenities
Plan/Trees Identification
Entrance Fee
Butterfly Trail

PACKAGE5
BASIC GARDENING HANDS-ON LECTURE
RATE:P150 per head
(minimum 30pax advance booking needed at least 1 week)
ECOPARK Overview/History/Amenities
Audio Visual Presentation
Entrance Fee
Basic Garden Lecture
Audio Visual Presentation
Hands-on, nursery activity
Tools, geminant

PACKAGE6 :ADVENTURE ZONE

Rate:Activity + 50 (minimum 30pax)
Rapelling - P50/head
Wall climb - P50/head
Zipline - P50/head
Paintball - P300/head (gears & 50 bullets)
- P500/head

PACKAGE7 :CHILDREN'S ARTS and CRAFTS PACKAGES
ACTIVITIES

(minimum 30pax/advance booking needed at least 2 weeks)
1)Figurine Painting (6”X 8”) – P150/head
2)Sand Coloring (6”X 8”) – P150/head
3)Paper Clay Art (6”X 8”) – P150/head
4)Face Painting – P80/head
Activity (1) + (2) – P250/head
Activity (1) + (2) or (3) + (4) – P300/head
Activity (1) or (2) or (3) + (4) – P200/head
ECOPARK Overview/History/Amenities
Entrance Fee
Materials
Figurine, Cardboard
Paint, tools, etc…

Looking for a place to take you family this summer? here's a great place to spend quality bonding time with the family. Take the chance to reintroduce your kids to nature and the idea of having fun without gadgets and technology.

FOR RESERVATIONS / INQUIRIES AND FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT:
(02) 430-4051/ (02) 430-5207/ (02) 430-5207 (telefax)
Sarah - 09062234125
Dong - 09159013772
lamesaecopark@abs-cbn.com
www.lamesaecopark.com
www.bantaykalikasan.com
www.abs-cbnfoundation.com

Banco De Oro Unibank Account No: 1270 8477 49
Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc./Ecopark

PLACES: CRIBS FOUNDATION, INC -- IT TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO RAISE A CHILD

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:56:00 +0000

MISSION VISION:

A loving home and environment for each child.

Compassionate, professional and responsive staff and volunteers who are committed to the caring, healing, recovery and development of abandoned, surrendered, neglected and sexually abused children and their families.
Together, creating opportunities for each other to become whole and empowered instruments for changing their social reality.

HISTORY:

1974-The first CRIBS volunteer foster home was born when two Lutheran missionary wives brought home two infants from the Reception and Study Center for the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

1979- CRIBS was incorporated as a non-stock, non-profit organization with the SEC.

1983- CRIBS was licensed by the DSWD as a child welfare agency for abandoned, neglected, and surrendered infants.

1986- A home called New Beginnings was opened for young female survivors of sexual abuse (aged 7-17 years old)

MAJOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

I. ALTERNATIVE FAMILY CARE SERVICES

Receiving Home provides an alternate home environment for abandoned, surrendered and neglected children aged 1 day to 2 ½ years old. It is staffed with compassionate, professional and committed caregivers 24 hours a day. The services of the program include:

Holistic Health Care. The attainment and maintenance of the optimum health for each child is ensured by a nutrition program designed to meet the nutritional needs of the children. Medical services are also provided by a team of nurses and midwives who focus on the early detection and prevention of illness.

Early Child Development. Psycho-motor stimulation and age-appropriate activities form part of the routine of each child to foster growth and development.

New Beginnings Home is a 24-hour Residential Treatment Facility that provides a nurturing and therapeutic environment for the healing and recovery of sexually abused female minors aged 7-17 years. Clients admitted to the program stay in residence for two years. Within this time frame, they undergo different phases of healing. The multi-dimensional strategies used in the treatment of sexual abuse seek to address the impact and issues of their traumatic experiences.

II. PLACEMENT SERVICES

Receiving Home Placement Program. The focus is on the permanent placement of each child within the shortest time possible. Permanent placement refers to adoption or reunification of child with biological parents/relatives.

New Beginnings Family and Reintegration Program. The program addresses the healing of families of the new beginnings clients; equips them with skills to effectively handle family issues and situational life crises, and prepares them for eventual reintegration with their child. These efforts are attained through family therapy, individual counseling and parent support group meetings.

Foster Care Program. Provides an alternative family care for children in need of one on one care and stimulation. These children are temporarily placed with licensed foster families to experience the warmth of parental care and family life while permanent placement is being worked on.

VOLUNTEER AND RESOURCE GENERATION PROGRAM

The organization has developed and maintained a considerable pool of volunteers and a resource network to expand its capacity to deliver the optimum service. Volunteer interests, talents, expertise and resources are mobilized and utilized to serve the interests of the children and support the needs of the program.

Resource development is an on going effort to achieve financial sustainability for the program implementation and development. This allows the program to be responsive and dynamic in meeting the needs of the children.

If you're interested to help in anyway or if you have questions, the person to call is:

Maritona V. Labajo, Executive Director

CRIBS FOUNDATION INC.
15 Major Dizon St, IVC Marikina City
1802 Philippines
Tel (632) 681-8078, 681-5921, 681-9705

Email: cribsnet@info.com.ph
site: http://www.cribsfoundation.org/

Places to visit in Marikina, Social Work, Charity Work, Donation, Need Help

2010 Razzie Award Nominees - Dis(Honoring) Performances and Films from 2009

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:17:00 +0000

Action movies Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Land of the Lost share the dubious honor of earning the most Razzie Award nominations as chosen by Golden Raspberry Award Foundation voters.

The Transformers sequel and the big screen adaptation of the classic Saturday morning TV show each picked up seven nominations, including nods in the Worst Picture category.

Also feeling a lot of Razzie love was the second film of the Twilight series, New Moon. New Moon star Robert Pattinson picked up a nomination in the Worst Supporting Actor category, with Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner joining him as nominees in the Worst Couple category. Even potential Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock didn't emerge from 2009 unscathed. Bullock earned a Razzie nomination in the Worst Actress category for her starring role in the box office bomb, All About Steve.

'Winners' will be revealed on Saturday, March 6, the night before the Oscars.

30th Annual Razzie Award Nominees
Worst Picture of 2009:
All About Steve
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Land of The Lost
Old Dogs
Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
Worst Actor:
All Three Jonas Brothers, Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience
Will Ferrell, Land of the Lost
Steve Martin, Pink Panther 2
Eddie Murphy, Imagine That
John Travolta, Old Dogs

Worst Actress:
Beyonce, Obsessed
Sandra Bullock, All About Steve
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie
Megan Fox, Jennifer's Body and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Sarah Jessica Parker, Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Worst Supporting Actor:
Billy Ray Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hugh Hefner (as Himself), Miss March
Robert Pattinson, Twilight Saga: New Moon
Jorma Taccone, Land of the Lost
Marlon Wayans, G.I. Joe

Worst Supporting Actress:
Candice Bergen, Bride Wars
Ali Larter, Obsessed
Sienna Miller, G.I. Joe
Kelly Preston, Old Dogs
Julie White, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Worst Screen Couple:
Any Two (or More) Jonas Brothers, The Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Experience
Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper, All About Steve
Will Ferrell and Any Co-Star, Creature or "Comic Riff", Land of the Lost
Shia LaBeouf and Either Megan Fox OR Any Transformer, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Kristen Stewart and Either Robert Pattinson OR Taylor Lautner, Twilight Saga: New Moon

Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel:
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Land of The Lost
Pink Panther 2 (A Rip-Off of a Sequel to a Remake)
Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
Twilight Saga: New Moon

Worst Director:
Michael Bay, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Walt Becker, Old Dogs
Brad Silberling, Land of the Lost
Stephen Sommers, G.I. Joe
Phil Traill, All About Steve

Worst Screenplay:
All About Steve, Screenplay by Kim Barker
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Screenplay by Stuart Beattie and David Elliot & Paul Lovett
Land of The Lost, Written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas
Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, Written by Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Twilight Saga: New Moon, Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg

Worst Picture of the Decade:

Battlefield Earth - (2000), Nominated for 10 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 8 (Including Worst Drama of Our First 25 Yrs)

Freddy Got Fingered - (2001), Nominated for 9 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 5

Gigli - (2003), Nominated for 10 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 7 (Including Worst Comedy of Our First 25 Yrs)

I Know Who Killed Me - (2007), Nominated for 9 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 8

Swept Away - (2002), Nominated for 9 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 5

Worst Actor of the Decade:

Ben Affleck - Nominated for 9 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES® Daredevil, Gigli, Jersey Girl, Paycheck, Pearl Harbor, Surviving Christmas

Eddie Murphy - Nominated for 12 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES® Adventures of Pluto Nash, I Spy, Imagine That, Meet Dave, Norbit, Showtime

Mike Myers - Nominated for 4 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES® Cat in the Hat, The Love Guru

Rob Schneider - Nominated for 6 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 1 RAZZIE® The Animal, Benchwarmers, Deuce Bigalo: European Gigolo, Grandma's Boy, The Hot Chick, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Little Man, Little Nicky

John Travolta - Nominated for 6 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES® Battlefield Earth, Domestic Disturbance, Lucky Numbers, Old Dogs, Swordfish

Worst Actress of the Decade:

Mariah Carey - The Single Biggest Individual Vote Getter of the Decade: 70+% of ALL Votes for Worst Actress of 2001 for Glitter

Paris Hilton - Nominated for 5 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 4 RAZZIES® The Hottie & the Nottie, House of Wax, Repo: The Genetic Opera

Lindsay Lohan - Nominated for 5 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES® Herbie Fully Loaded, I Know Who Killed Me, Just My Luck

Jennifer Lopez - Nominated for 9 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES® Angel Eyes, Enough, Gigli, Jersey Girl, Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, The Wedding Planner

Madonna - Nominated for 6 “Achievements,”“Winner” of 4 RAZZIES® Die Another Day, The Next Best Thing, Swept Away

By Rebecca Murray, About.com Guide
source: http://movies.about.com/od/2010filmawards/a/razzies-2010.htm

Pepole: Kevin Smith: Too Fat To Fly?

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:55:00 +0000

here is a news article from CNN about Kevin Smith aka Silent Bob's unfateful run in with Southwest Airlines, all because of his weight:

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Southwest Airlines apologized a second time Monday to film director Kevin Smith for pulling him off a Saturday flight because of his size.

"We're very sorry for how his night unfortunately played out," Southwest said in a written statement.

The airline said it "could have potentially handled our communication better," but defended "the determination that Mr. Smith needed more than one seat to complete his flight comfortably."

The controversy is a public relations challenge for Southwest. The airline had the lowest rate of passenger complaints among U.S. airlines last year, according to a government report issued last week.

Smith -- known for his movie character "Silent Bob" -- began posting a barrage of angry messages on the online network Twitter, where he has 1.6 million followers.

He vowed in a recording posted on his Web site to "scorch the earth" with his complaints against Southwest.

"Dude, I know I'm fat," Smith said. "That's not why I was truly thrown off that plane because I fit perfectly in the seat."

Smith said he had no trouble buckling his seat belt and lowering his armrests.

"I am not fat enough to eject off a Southwest flight," he said.

He said he suspected he may have been bumped by an airline employee who did not like his comic films, which include "Zach and Miri Make a Porno," "Clerks" and the upcoming "Cop Out."

His goal is to force Southwest to change the way it deals with overweight passengers.

Southwest said it is listening.

"We want to assure everyone that has expressed concern over the situation that we will use this experience in our customer service program when training our employees on the correct way to apply the policy," the airline said.

The "customer of size policy" implemented 25 years ago requires "passengers that cannot fit safely and comfortably in one seat to purchase an additional seat while traveling," it said.

"If a customer cannot comfortably lower the armrest and infringes on a portion of another seat, a customer seated adjacent would be very uncomfortable and a timely exit from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement," the airline said.

"I can buckle that seat belt and that is a hallmark for any fat person," Smith said.

Smith did purchase two seats for the flight to Burbank, but he was allowed to board an earlier flight as a standby passenger, and only one seat was available on that flight.

The extra seat is not a necessity, he said, but a luxury because "Southwest flights are cheap."

"I'm flying on the welfare airline, food-stamp airline," he said. "So I think I can indulge myself with two seats, and I can afford to do it."

Although Southwest said airline executives have personally called him to apologize, Smith insisted Monday afternoon he's not gotten a call.

Although he bought 10 tickets on the airline in just the past week, he said "I'm never going on Southwest again."

source:http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/15/kevin.smith.southwest/index.html?hpt=C1

too bad. I think these airlines need a refresher course about ethics and tact in dealing with paying customers. this reminds me of the Cebu Pacific Flight Bruhaha about a flight attendant trying to kick out 2 passengers with learning disabilities.... tsk tsk tsk...

Places: St. Pio of Pietrelcina Chapel Schedule of Masses

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:35:00 +0000

Monday & Tuesday

5:00 pm Rosary and St. Pio Novena
5:30 pm Mass followed by the veneration of the St. Pio relic

Wednesday

5:00 pm Rosary and Novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Pio.
5:30 pm Mass followed by the veneration of the St. Pio relic

Thursday & Friday

5:00 pm Rosary and St. Pio Novena
5:30 pm Mass followed by the veneration of the St. Pio relic

Sunday

10:00 am Mass followed by the veneration of the St. Pio relic
12:15 pm Mass followed by the veneration of the St. Pio relic
6:00 pm Mass followed by the veneration of the St. Pio relic

Every 23rd of the month

5:00pmRosary and St. Pio Novena
5:30 pmSpecial Mass for the St. Pio prayer group of San Roque Parish of Bagumbayan QC,veneration of the St. Pio relic glove, and prayer meeting

(relic habit will be used for veneration starting July)

* The St. Pio Chapel is open daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

GOD CAN!

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:47:00 +0000

The Lord Our God Is Worthy.

He can do anything but fail.

He can comfort lonely hearts.

He can change adverse circumstances.

He can heal diseased bodies.

He can mend broken relationships.

He can move our mountains.

He can conquer our worst enemies.

He can fix every problem.

He can guide every footstep.

He can heal our deepest hurts.

He can forgive our worst sins.

He can lift our heaviest burdens.

He can calm our worst storms.

He can satisfy our deepest hunger.

Bless His Holy Name…

--Rev. Dr. Geoffrey V. Guns

Sinulog Festival of Cebu, Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:05:00 +0000

We will be leaving for Cebu this Friday, to go to the Sinulog Festival. But what is the sinulog festival? Well, Wikipedia has this to say:

The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. The festival honors the so called vision of the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño (Holy Child), patron Saint of the City of Cebu. It is a dance ritual that commemorates the Cebuano peoples Islamic and pagan origin, and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism.

The festival features a street parade with participants in bright colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumphets and native gongs. Smaller versions of the festival are held in various parts of the province, also to celebrate and honor the Santo Niño. There is also a "Sinulog sa Kabataan" performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the parade. Recently, the festival has been promoted as a tourist attraction, with a contest featuring contingents from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex.

The Sinulog celebration lasts for nine days, culminating on the final day with the Sinulog Grand Parade. The day before the parade, the Fluvial Procession is held at dawn with an statue of the Santo Niño carried on a pump boat from Mandaue City to Cebu City, decked with hundreds of flowers and candles. The procession ends at the Basilica where a re-enactment of the Christianizing (that is, the acceptance of Roman Catholicism) of Cebu is performed. In the afternoon, a more solemn procession takes place along the major streets of the city, which last for hours due to large crowd participating in the event. It is noted that excessive alcohol consumption is commonly observed at this event.

On the feast day at the Basilica del Santo Niño church, a Pontifical Mass is celebrated by the Cardinal with the assistance of several bishops of Cebu. Most devotees go to the Basilica to attend the mass before heading out to the streets to watch the parade.

The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb sulog which is "like water current movement," which describes the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound of drums. The dance is categorized into Sinulog-base, Free-Interpretation. Candle vendors at the Basilica continue to perform the traditional version of the dance when lighting a candle for the customer, usually accompanied by songs in the native language.

The Sinulog dance steps were believed to originate from Rajah Humabon's adviser, Baladhay. It was during Humabon's grief when Baladhay was driven sick. He then ordered his native tribe to bring Baladhay into a chapel where the Santo Niño was enthroned. Moments later, surprisingly, Baldhay was heard shouting and was found dancing with outmost alertness. Baladhay was questioned as to whether why was he awake and was shouting. Baladhay explained that he found a small child, pointing to the image of the Santo Niño, on top of him and trying to wake him up. He, at great astonishment, scared the child away by shouting but couldn't explain why he was dancing the movements of the river. Up to this day, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward movement dance is still used by the Santo Niño devotees believing that it was the Santo Niño's choice to have Baladhay dance.

I'm so excited!!! It's our first out of town trip with my family...and the first airplane ride for Bea and me!!! =)

Yep, I'm 33!

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:32:00 +0000

I remember, i went through a phase in my life when i wasn't very happy whenever my birthday rolls in... it's around the same time when i'm not so very happy with myself and my life in general... those were the days when i was seriously contemplating whether i was clinically depressed... whether i was just in a bad mood or maybe it's time to start thinking about seeking professional help. I had to drag myself out of bed every morning... I just felt so useless and disposable...

Thankfully, those days are long gone... i am now super excited whenever my birthday nears... no need for grand celebrations, just being treated like a princess my prince charming on my birthday week (this year it was longer!) is good enough for me!

Maybe it comes with age, with maturity... you learn to appreciate things more... people more...
You learn to love yourself more... i know i do! =)

after thought...

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:10:00 +0000

My previous post got me thinking… maybe aside from the fact that our family is not as complete and in tact as it used to be…maybe my bah-humbug attitude was also brought about by my many activities leading to the big day. I didn’t really have enough time to internalize and appreciate the season and what it means. I’ve had so many things going on in my life… my personal life (gimiks/reunions with various groups of friends, anniversary celebs, tons of pic taken and waiting to be scrapped, books purchased and waiting to be read,), my daughter’s school activities, my so called career (blech)…,I am just not used to this! I just like being laid back and basking in nothingness… hahaha! I guess I got caught up. It’s my fault. hay.

Misa De Gallo

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Christmas is definitely here! This despite my not feeling very Christmassy… Hubby and I attended the first day of the novena masses yesterday. We attended the anticipated mass at the Greenbelt Chapel where he works nearby. We decided not to attend the dawn masses simply because there is a higher probability of us finishing the 9 succeeding novena masses if we attend the masses at night instead of the dawn masses. =)

Here’s to hoping we complete it this year! =)

The Super Duper Hectic Weekend That Was...

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:35:00 +0000

It started last Friday, officemates scheduled a dinner at a nearby restaurant. I really wanted to go since it was a new resto and I wanted to try their food, but I was also thinking about dropping by the David’s Salon near our office, since I badly needed color on my hair. In the end, I opted to go to the salon and just gave away my slot at the dinner table… I spent a couple of hours at the salon (got myself a pedicure too, and chose a fire truck red nail polish) hubby fetched me and we proceeded to the Mang Inasal Restaurant for a late dinner. We got home late, but still went ahead and watched the DVD we rented (Lindsay Lohan’s I Know Who Killed Me).

The next day, I woke up early… trying to accomplish some scrap projects. Then I snoozed for a bit with the little girl… when we woke up, we ate a late lunch and proceeded to Puregold to buy some stuff for the Barkada Christmas Party the next day. Hubby and I then proceeded to the Intellicare Clinic in Makati for my check up. The verdict: I need a colonoscopy. (sigh!). We made a quick stop at Watson’s to buy some goodies for relatives leaving for the US. Our next and last stop was the Magallanes Complex. Hubby’s boss was celebrating his birthday and he hosted a dinner/videoke session. I was not in a sociable mood so I opted to stay in the car, still tinkering with my scrap projects… After more than 2 hours, we were on our way home… stopping at the 7-11 store just to buy a hershey’s hot choco…

When we got home, we were dead tired and just literally fell on the bed and in deep slumber in no time…

After a few hours, I woke up at 3:30am. I got up to wash my face and brush my teeth… then I remembered that I still had some chores to do… the dishes I whipped up at Café World were cooked and ready for transfer to the counter *wink*, and I still had gifts to wrap. I knew I needed to wrap these gifts while the little girl was still asleep since she’d want to play with the toys meant as gifts for other kids….I got a little carried away when I decided to print my own Christmas tags. I found the cutest tags online and I tried printing them, but the black ink on my printer was running low, so I had to replace it first. It was my first time to replace the cartridges, so it took me so long… =) After a while I was finally able to print the tags, wrap the gifts and just as I was to put them in the bags, I heard small footsteps behind me, I didn’t notice that it was already 6:00am and the little one was already up!

I played with the little one for a little while, then I woke the nanny up, told her to start feeding the little one, since we were going to hear mass at 9:00am. As for me, I went back to bed and fell into a fitful sleep.

Hubby woke me at 8:30am. We all rushed to get ready for church but we still arrived late, leaving us no choice but to stand since there were no seats left.

After mass, hubby proceeded to a christening of a friend’s daughter, while my sister, the little one, the nanny and I hopped on my sister’s car and proceeded to Cabalen at Sta. Lucia Mall for our relative’s despedida. It was a rare occasion since we were almost complete =) save for my father who had a prior commitment and a cousin who was in the province, Pamilya Ganda was complete! It was an eat-all-you can buffet, so after lunch I was so full I literally thought I was going to burst! Hahaha! I only went to the buffet table once but since I was having digestion problems, (hence my check up) I felt soooo full!

At 2:30pm, no one was still standing up to leave, but we had no choice but apologize and leave early since we are still going to host a Christmas party for friends at 4:00pm!

Before leaving the mall, we went up to the department store to get a gift for the little girl who was christened that morning. Then we rushed home, hoping none of my friends decided to come early… on the way, we picked up some ice and table napkins. When we got home, we cooked the rice and the lechon kawali, bought the soft drinks, arranged the rented tables and chairs, hubby attached the balloons on the gate and grills, and made last-minute ligpit around the house.

Finally at 4:40pm, our friends and their families started to arrive…we decided to go potluck this year so they came bringing their promised dishes and desserts. I warned them that the little girl didn’t really have that many toys so friend Apple, volunteered to bring her son’s plastic slide and rocking horse so the kids were able to bond and play together. Hubby and I were very happy to note that the little girl is now big enough to play with the other kids, unlike in the previous years when she couldn’t join in the fun since she’s easily knocked down by the boisterous boys… =)

The yummy smell of Lechong Kawali filled up the whole house, provoking our appetites, so by 5:30pm, after a round of picture taking, we started eating dinner. Yum-yum!!!

After dessert, the boys started their own discussion/bonding session while drinking beer, while us girls caught up with the latest chismis over a bottle of The Bar. At around 9:00pm we exchanged gifts, to the delight of the kids! The husbands played their roles perfectly, paparazzi for the night, as we happily gave each other gifts. One of them remarked that next year they should be part of the exchange gifts too. Hehehe…good luck with that!

Before going home we tried rounding up the kids for a photo op by the Christmas tree, but since it was already late, they were already cranky and some refused to cooperate so we just moved the photo op to the couch and just clicked away since none of the kids were really in the mood to face the camera directly and smile… =)

After a few more pics of us – the party officially came to a halt… and with it our super duper hectic weekend!

Whew!

Hard Work

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:17:00 +0000

I read something funny early today… very apt for me…

I know this is the universe’s way of sending me a very strong message…

Doing nothing is the most tiresome job in the world, because you cannot stop and rest!

Get it?!? Hahaha!

Karen start working na kasi!

Dinner at Piazza Pazzo - Powerplant Mall

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Yummy food, great company, wonderful evening. (click here)

need i say more?

This Is Getting Ridiculous

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:28:00 +0000

I feel like a ping pong ball… I am again to be transferred back to my former unit…; the unit I was more than happy to leave…

Yesterday, my boss talked to us. When he called the meeting, I had no inkling that this meeting was going to involve me… I’ll have to hand it to my boss though, he handled the situation pretty well… he tried to break the news to me as gently and as professionally as possible…

My former boss resigned (something I was hoping for while I was there…) and so there was a void in the organizational chart. A section head will assume that position, and being that I worked there for sometime and that I supposedly I had a “grasp” of the transactions(boo), I was hand-picked (blech!) by our division head to assume the vacated position….

Hmmm… how do I feel? Mixed emotions really, all of them negative. Hahaha! I thought I was already home, back to my original department 12 years ago…back with the boss I’ve stayed loyal to through the years and through the other bosses I had… only to be brought back to the unit I (ehem) disliked and which I thought I’ve finally escaped. Hay.

Although this time, I can choose to see this positively. This time I was transferred because apparently I already know most of the transactions there. As opposed to trying to teach a new officer everything about the department.

Please bear with me. I just received the news yesterday afternoon, just before leaving for home. I’m giving my self 0.5-1 day more to wallow in my misery… then tomorrow, I’ll be back to being a ray of sunshine. =)

This is a blessing. This is good for me… the universe has conspired for this to happen… this is meant to be…

Hmmm. Maybe tomorrow I’ll believe these words…

For the mean time, I still have a couple more hours to wallow in my misery… hehehe.

UNFRIEND is the New Oxford American Word of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:28:00 +0000

How many times have I uttered the words “it’s a good thing there is Friendster / Facebook”? A few too many! =) Well, I AM thankful for these social networking sites. For an introvert like me, it’s a great way to stay in touch with long lost friends… without having to actually commit to awkward “catching up” conversations. You can stay privy to their latest activities just by simply peeking into the latest pics they uploaded to their account or reading their shout out or status. Do you know of anyone who doesn’t have an account? In our office there are only a handful of people left… they are the only ones who can’t relate to what the rest of our group is talking about (Farmville, pet society, café world, typing maniac etc.)

The fact that Unfriend —as in deleting someone as a friend on a social network such as Facebook, was even chosen as the word of the year is proof enough how widely these social networking sites are used worldwide. Just say it and everybody understands. Sure there were other contenders for the honor of being the word of the year. According to a Oxford University Press USA blog post, words like netbook and sexting were in the running, but in the end, Unfriend won hands down. Haha!

There, I just had to share that factoid. Ok, gotta go, I’ve got a list of people that I gotta unfriend. *wink*

Books: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:23:00 +0000

As I previously shared, I went on a shopping spree on scrap books, and one of these books is The Big Picture by Stacy Julian. In the book, she listed books that inspire her in her scrapbooking projects, I copied her list thinking that I’ll check them out the next time I go window shopping in our local bookstores. She had only good things to say about a particular book: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She said that it is a must-read for all scrapbookers. That the author has proven that ordinary life is interesting, important and valuable. Aha! That was enough for me… I got really curious and interested.

I got the chance last Friday. Hubby and I went to Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, Makati. Of course I simply had to pass by Fully Booked =) I asked customer service if they had the book in stock.. after a few minutes of frowning into the computer monitor… his face lit up, yes ma’am we have one copy! Lucky me!

He proceeded to ask an assistant to bring it over to us. When I got it, hmmm… it wasn’t really what expected, it didn’t really ring any bells and whistles.. It was a simple paperback…bearing my favorite color combination: blue and yellow. =) There was a simple upturned umbrella on the cover.. and these simple words: I have not survived against all odds. I have not lived to tell. I have not witnessed the extraordinary. This is my story.

That’s what struck me. Those statements summarized my whole life! Haha!

Although I was hooked, I wasn’t reeled in that easily. How do I say it? It wasn’t exactly love at first sight for me. When I opened the book I initially couldn’t understand what it was supposed to be. I had dates and lists and tables of random tidbits. I felt confused. This was supposed to be an inspiring book, and yet as I skimmed the pages I didn’t feel inspired at all.

So I stood there, in the middle of Fully Booked, trying to decide whether to purchase this supposedly great book… in the end, I decided to trust Stacy Julian (she is a scrapbooking guru after all). The book wasn’t that expensive anyway at P546.00.

When I started to read the book… I still didn’t like it that much. I just kept on. Until slowly, I started to understand…I started to relate…

And then I came upon an entry: “Tries to write fiction in a creative class in college. Keeps writing the truth, stuff that actually happened“. Ding! That’s me again! For the longest time a writer for me is a writer of fiction, and since I can’t even come up with a fairly decent short story, I have always cringed at the thought/dream of me being a writer. Friends keep on telling me I write well, but how can they understand that I write well only when I am sharing my own thoughts and feelings? How can I make them understand that I need to be inspired/moved by what I am writing about to be able to write well. All the while I though I was just a literary freak that way. Writers are supposed to write prose, and amazing stories… not short, simple, irregular statements of thoughts and ramblings. AKR understands! Hehehe! She even wrote a book about it! She went on to share how mastering the segue worries her, how her writing is such that each paragraph does not drift fluidly and seamlessly into the next. Goose bumps ran up my arms. It’s like she’s a kindred spirit!

I bought this book to inspire me in my scrapbooking projects, instead it has inspired me in my writing…

Thanks for the inspiration… thanks for understanding… thanks for giving due credit and attention to the much-unappreciated ordinary life.

Scrapping Mojo Is Back With a Vengeance

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Last Saturday, they arrived! the package i've been waiting for since i placed my order last wednesday:

Yes, i did. i splurged a bit. i reasoned these books are advance birthday gifts to myself. and they will surely last for a very very looong time. these books have anything and everything there is to discuss about the art of scrapbooking!

I have already finished reading Clean and Simple The Sequel by Cathy Zielski. It was such a good read! definitely both inspiring and educational. it was well worth every penny! it is the kind of book that i will refer to again and again. Although i must say that her designs may be too clean and simple for me... hehehe. i like my pics crooked and embellished. =) it helped a lot just the same, especially as to theaspect of organization and creating a system for my scrapbooking hobby.

I am now reading The Big Picture by Stacy Julian. Now her designs are more like mine... organized and clean chaos if you will. i'm not yet done reading but already i am learning so much. i especially admire her handwriting. it is so pretty and she can vary it depending on her mood. and to think i have to purchase the fonts that i use... if i had the confidence to use my own handwriting someday that would be simply awesome!

I realized the importance of scrapbooking. It's not just about the pictures or the embellishments or the alphas... it's about the story behind the picture that needs to be told...

i feel obligated to preserve our memories. if i don't do it, who will? =)

Starbucks 2010 Planner

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Since i have been able to kick the caffeine habit just this year, i really told myself i won't even try to get a starbucks plannner for next year...

the promo started last november 4, 2009... 2 days into the promo... i only have 5 more stickers to go... hehehe. of course i didn't drink them all, my friends and i had coffee there yesterday as a despedida to our friend who was transferring to another office. lucky for me, none of them were planning to collect enough stickers to get the 2010 planner... all their stickers were stuck to my stub! woohoo!

plus, i ordered decaf! =)

Stop Negative Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:35:00 +0000

Here is a way to stop negative thoughts: Focus your mind on your heart. Breathe in deeply, keeping your focus on your heart. Really focus on feeling love in your heart. Breathe out holding focus on your heart and feeling the love in your heart. Repeat this for a total of seven times.

When you do this correctly, you will feel a very big difference in your mind and your whole body. You will feel more peaceful, you will feel lighter, and you will have stopped those negative thoughts.

-The Secret (daily teachings)

The A Team - The New Generation

noreply@blogger.com (karen) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:25:00 +0000

Yep, there is a new crew in town, and they are the A Team ...woot! I remember watching the old version on TV with my mom and sis... it's great that they have decided to make a movie version.

The movie will have Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley and Quentin “Rampage” Jackson . I'm sure the effects will be wonderful. i just hope they don't make a comedic version just like they did for starsky and hutch. =)