Barefooted Me

Save Now with Zenni Optical

2009-08-20T05:39:00.006+08:00

My little girl started wearing prescription glasses when she was 5 years old. Ever since she wore her first pair, I knew I had to start allotting a part of our yearly budget for 3 pairs the most, every year. Why? Because she needs: one for school, one in the bedroom for reading and a multicoated one for using the computer or watching TV. Sounds a lot, but there should always be extra pairs in case one gets misplaced.

We all know the gift of sight does not come cheap nowadays, so when I first heard of $ 8 Rx eyeglasses, I felt excited yet doubtful at the same time. But there’s Zenni Optical on TV!!! And I have also read the High Five to Zenni Optical that got me convinced they were indeed selling quality glasses to get these very good reviews.

Shopping for glasses at Zenni lets me save even more than half of what I would normally spend for my daughter’s glasses, and even fashionably, at that. They have stylish choices that would fit her well especially this back to school season. I know she would love this one in her favorite color!

Chestene's Monalisa

2009-07-31T06:28:00.009+08:00

'Chestene's Monalisa'

Meet my Little Picasso's first painting on canvas! I know, it's not very much like the famous Mona Lisa, but I'm really happy she came up with this masterpiece. She painted this lady (sorry I forgot the title she gave this!) sometime in January of this year. And knowing me, who is perennially busy with all sort of things (important or otherwise), I forgot to post it earlier as usual.

Since I don't want to influence her painting style, I just let her choose the subject, colors and off she painted away. This is her concept of a beautiful lady at her age-- still untainted and unprejudiced.

It's amazing how children remind us some of the the best lessons in life we tend to forget-- be what you are and think outside the box and society standards.

Once again, I'm thankful I have my Little Lady to teach me that.

Related Posts:

Child Discipline, My Style
What Type of Parent Are You?
The Little Entrepreneur
Two Lessons I Learned from my Child Today
Art by my Little Picasso
To My Child
Art on My Mind
My Art, Revisited
Framed
Sleepless Art

“You’re the 1, Goldilocks”

2009-07-14T20:43:00.026+08:00

They say that when you’re all grown and busy with adult life and all its entanglements, it’s easy to get jaded. True. And whenever that happens, I try to pull myself from the present and do a little reminiscing of happy memories from way back, when things were simpler.

The journey usually brings me back to my childhood and one of the most exciting days I looked forward to every year – my birthday. And in that almost blurry memory of home-cooked food, balloons, gifts, giggles and games, one thing always stood out – Dad, carrying my birthday cake in pink and white icing, embellished with colorful sugar flowers in one corner, where the beautiful princess donning a pretty pink gown gracefully rests.

So much has changed through the years that even Dad, the strongest man in the universe for me then, is now in his golden years surviving Congenital Heart Disease. Still, it’s amazing how the memory of a birthday cake makes me glow with so much love until now. I have my parents to thank for that.

I promised myself that when I become a mother, I will give my little one the same, if not, the best childhood memories I can create. But as fate would have it, unlike fairytale endings, the princess did not end up with a prince and lived happily ever after (well at least, not yet). I became a single parent with a beautiful, smart and talented daughter who is the love of my life. I thought it would be hard to build the same happy memories with my little girl without her Dad, carrying a birthday cake in pink and white icing, embellished with colorful sugar flowers in one corner, where the beautiful princess donning a pretty pink gown gracefully rests.

I'm glad, I was wrong.

Thank God for my wonderful supportive family, relatives and great friends, I am able to muster all the strength needed to brave the challenges of single parenthood. Good thing there is also Goldilocks, to make parenting life sweeter and my little girl’s birthdays even more magical than mine:

Background graphics and logo used courtesy of Goldilocks

From a true blue Goldilocks baby, you might want to try Chestene's Goldilocks Buttered Puto in Parmesan Cheese. She made this simple recipe last March, and it's been a family favorite eversince. Just roll the Puto in a generous bed of Parmesan Cheese and it's good to go!

I hope that someday when Chestene is all grown, and she looks back to recall happy memories of her childhood, she will remember me preparing her lunchbox favorites Fluffy Mamon, Egg Pie and Puto in Parmesan Cheese for her baon, our frequent trip to the neighborhood Goldilocks bakeshop after attending Sunday Mass to buy her favorite Hopia Monggo, the Cathedral Windows and Leche Flan “surprise” in small covered containers when I come home from the office, the Brazo de Mercedes she never gets enough of, as a prize for getting good grades in school, or Mommy holding the prettiest birthday cake with the brightest candles for her to blow.

But above all these, I hope she feels enveloped with the same glow of love that tells her how special and treasured she will always be, and how Mommy tried so hard to give her only the very best.

You’re the 1, Goldilocks because just like a true friend, you help me weave the sweetest memories of love and the real essence of being a family. Thank you for the gift of special memories that my daughter and I will cherish for a lifetime.

The Flu Fairytale

2009-05-22T01:35:00.010+08:00

"Once there was a beautiful young princess who lived in a big castle. She had everything she wanted; her parents gave her the most precious toys in the land.

But a room full of toys still failed to make her happy. She was never allowed to go out. The king and queen were worried about the terrible disease brought by a wicked witch that made a lot of people sick in town. So they waited for the good fairies to come and help them.

Until one day, the fairies came with a magic potion that will protect everyone from the dreadful disease that cursed the town. The king and queen were overjoyed when the helpful fairies gave them and the princess, a dose of the magic potion.

The young princess was very happy because she’s free to explore, once again! Since then, the town and its people became peaceful for a very long time.

And they all lived healthily ever after."

Okay, so I had to make up a flu fairytale when I was running out of ideas to convince my little girl to get vaccinated. She loves to read stories, and I thought this was a subtle way to convince her not to fear being injected. I even let her draw the princess and the ‘magic potion’ to complete the story. But we all know that life is no fairytale, and we have to face the harsh realities that we encounter on a daily basis, while searching for the happily (or healthily) ever after.

Currently, one of the harsh realities we have to deal with is the Influenza A(H1N1) virus that is continuously raising panic among countries due to the increasing number of cases and death reportedly caused by it. In times like this, we rely on both science and divine intervention to help us get through.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), efforts are underway to develop a vaccine covering the new flu virus strain. The best that we could do at the moment is to observe utmost vigilance, do preventive health practices, strengthen our immune system and get the currently available seasonal vaccine, for protection over other severe illnesses that kill 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.

I am relieved that my daughter and I were already Bakunado with the Vaxigrip Flu vaccine through Sanofi Pasteur Philippines’ Flu Awareness and Prevention Seminar, held at Max’s Tiendesitas last March 7, 2009. I am also glad to say that to date, we haven’t experienced any side effect - no fever or flu, unlike the common misconception that most people contract them, after undergoing vaccination.

I admit it gave me a certain degree of confidence knowing that both of us are shielded from several Influenza virus strains that can attack anyone anytime, especially those who are most vulnerable.

Who should be vaccinated?

* Any person who desires to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza
* Children 6-59 months
* Adults and children with risk factors:
- Chronic cardiovascular disease (e.g. congestive heart failure, hypertensive
cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, stroke)
- Chronic lung disease (e.g. COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, malignancies, chronic PTB)
- Chronic metabolic disease (diabetes)
- Chronic renal dysfunction
- Hemoglobinopathies
* Children and adolescents who are receiving long term aspirin therapy
* Immunosuppressed or those with weakened immune system
* Residents of nursing homes and chronic care facilities
* Pregnant women on their 2nd and 3rd trimester who have not received their flu
vaccine within the last 12 months
* Persons who can transmit influenza to those at risk: health care workers and other
personnel of out patient care settings, hospitals, nursing homes, and chronic care
facilities; Household contacts and caregivers of person at risk
* Persons who provide essential and emergency community services, students and
other persons in institutional settings

Source: http://www.bakuna.ph

An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. And like any responsible individual, we need to act now than regret when it’s already too late.

What preventive measures have you taken to ensure your health safety and that of your family? Are you ready to respond to the challenge of being immunized from flu? Then arm yourself with more flu facts by visiting http://www.bakuna.ph to learn why this is one of the important life-saving shots you should get today.

It's My Birthday and I'll Cry if I Want to...

2009-05-10T15:32:00.019+08:00

Two things today:

1. Happy Mother's Day!

From my number 1, taken at 12 midnight. :)

2. My Day!

And this started the heavy downpour...

FOR YOU, OUR DAUGHTER KAREN CLAIRE,
HAPPINESS IS WHAT WE WISH FOR MOST!

WE wish for you the self confidence to say no when it is necessary and the strength to stand alone.

When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not break them but bend them with gentleness with time.

Whatever you decide, whoever you become, OUR love for you is unconditional: OUR arms and hearts are always open to you. When the world closes in and lies so heavily upon you… remember that WE care.

When the ones with whom you share your life seem like strangers… remember that WE care.

Carry These Thoughts in Your Heart Forever…

If we could stand beside you always, WE would.
If we could carry over all obstacles, WE would.

If we could turn all your tears to laughter, WE would.

That is how we want you to know that being your parent has been one of our greatest joy!

Happy Birthday KC

Loving MOM (at 61) & DAD (at 72)

I told you it rains on my birthday, every single year.

Related Posts:

Happy Birthday to Me!
Who am I?: Just a Little Piece of Me
Celebrating Life!
An Officer and a Gentleman
The Best Mom in the World
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 1
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 2
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 3
Before You Call Me a Tease… (BFMUBL Part 4)

Mark Wahlberg Wears Pacquiao

2009-05-06T03:14:00.007+08:00

I'm not a huge boxing fan like my Dad and almost every single one of the male populace, but I always watch Manny Pacquiao's fights on TV. I'm a true blue Filipino, after all.

Well, who wouldn't be proud of the first boxer in history to achieve a 4th Lineal World Title, and the second boxer in history to win a 6th Division World Title? Definitely, not me.

Anyways, after his remarkable knockout victory over Hatton last Sunday, I saw this:

Yes, it's Mark Wahlberg wearing this red Pac gear:

Apparently, the guy is a big fan of Manny:

"I've come to see the man," Wahlberg said on HBO's De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7. "Freddie's been a friend of mine for a long time, and I'm a big fan of Pacquiao. It's nice to see him in person. I've seen him fight a couple times, but to see him this up close and personal is worth the trip. I'm going to bring my son down. I have a ring in my house because I've been training to do the Irish Micky Ward story for a couple of years. My son's always beating me up, and he calls himself Pacquiao."
Source: Boxing.fanhouse.com

Need I say more?

April Top Entrecard Droppers

2009-05-05T17:00:00.004+08:00

It's gratitude time once again!

First, I would like to thank this group who deserves some link lovin' for being my consistent Entrecard droppers for the month of April. Bloggers who, despite my utter delinquency in dropping back, took time to visit me several times last month. As a way of showing my gratitude, I have advertised on these sites, regardless if they carry EC paid ads on them or not:

verITableLIFE

ik.my
Programming Made Easy
Mr Soleh’s Outburst
Warcraft Blog
On The Bricks
First Time
Freelunch Comics
Jean sQuared
Beethoven Midi

On the other hand, a new group of lovely people was added to my list of Followers:

Please click on the icons/avatars to visit their cool sites!

And to everyone else who continuously support, read and subscribe to this blog along with my Entrecard friends and Followers, my sincere thanks and wishes of peace and blessings!

***~ DOMO ARIGATO ~***

I Dream of Kissimmee

2009-05-03T15:55:00.008+08:00

A friend was raving about her recent vacation, and I could only sigh over the detailed account of her seemingly marvelous trip. While a break for me right now is in order, not to mention long overdue and truly deserved, I have to think of priorities that need immediate attention. Well, they never go away, do they?

In times like this, I couldn’t help but wish for a generous sponsor who can send me off somewhere out of town or to be lucky enough to win a trip through a free drawing or sweepstakes. Why not? Although I’m aware that finding a sponsor maybe hard these belt-tightening days, one can always find generous companies or groups holding fantastic giveaways.

As you all know, I’m a freebie fanatic and luckily, I always stumble upon opportunities that can be had absolutely free. So here’s a hot tip, Kissimmee is holding a sweepstakes for three (3) getaways and two (2) weeklong vacations!

I've only read about Kissimmee, but my imagination had already wandered off to sunny Florida. Their fabulous theme parks like Walt Disney World® Resorts' Magic Kingdom® Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios™ among others, are perfect not only for my 7-year old, but for me as well, who never really stopped being young-at-heart. Moreover, I’m excited to check out the antique shops for great bargains and discover some new cuisine at the local restaurants. I’m sure that the moment I set foot there, there will be a lot more exciting things to do.

There are three (3) draw dates for the Kissimmee Freedom Sweepstakes scheduled April 1, May 1, and June 1, 2009; so if you missed the chance to win earlier, don’t hold back and take a shot at winning a FREE vacation now!

I’m a Pirate and I’ve Joined the Mafia

2009-04-28T23:00:00.001+08:00

My Mafia stats

Yes! Are you either, or both?

I’ve been giving my Facebook account some lovin’ lately, and along with it inadvertently came the opportunity to become a pirate and join the mafia. Who doesn’t need a breather, eh? I’m turning a year older in less than 2 weeks, and in between personal and career stress, there are a thousand things running through my mind that I’d rather not disclose. I’m sure you know the pressure of growing a bit older each year, so I think you get the idea.

While I'm counting the days until the day, if you’re already on Facebook and you feel like plundering and doing some hitlist jobs in your free time, then why not join my Pirate Crew and Mafia Family? Just drop me a line here or click on my Facebook badge to add me up.

This should be fun. :)

Always a Bridesmaid

2009-04-21T07:39:00.003+08:00

I've never been married, and I really wouldn't mind being called the perpetual bridesmaid or maid of honor. But my least favorite part of being on someone else's wedding is being forced to wear a dress, just because it matches the bride's favorite color or the wedding theme.

To end this dilemma, I promised myself that the next time I'd be given a chance to be part of the bridal entourage, I would recommend a store that doesn’t only have the best bridal prices in the market, but a wide range of beautiful designs as well that no bride could resist.

Now, that would make me a happy and helpful bridesmaid, for a change.

The Lessons of Easter

2009-04-12T22:52:00.022+08:00

I hope all of you had a very meaningful Holy Week. The long weekend passed by so quickly. I just thought I’d share with you my memorable Easter celebration this year.

My Little Lady took part in the recently held Parish Easter celebration as one of the angels who sang in the traditional Salubong, where the images of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, reunited in front of the church coming from two separate processions, to dramatize their union after Christ’s resurrection.

In last year’s Salubong, Chestene was part of the choir of angels; but this year, she was chosen among more than 20 children to be the ‘Queen of Angels’. She was made to sing the Latin song Regina Coeli Laetare, and she got the part. I was surprised and honored to know that she was chosen.

The group practiced for 3 days. I went with her to the 3rd and final practice where I almost had a heart attack watching her more than 10 feet high in a makeshift stage:

Chestene at the topmost center

The stage rehearsal took almost 3 hours, so just imagine how nervous I was, praying the whole time that she wouldn't slip. She also had to practice lifting the veil of the Virgin Mary through a hole just at the back of her spot. Although tired, she was still happy and excited.

We went to church 4:00 am, and the rest is history, as they say. Except for a minor technical problem with the microphone, the unveiling and the song went very well.

The "Salubong"

After the program, I overheard the teacher saying there’s supposed to be another soloist who will sing with the Little Lady during the program, but was not given a microphone. Then she remarked, “Siguro, siya (Chestene) talaga ang gusto ng Diyos” (Maybe, God really wanted her).

The last line lingered on my mind. Yes, I also believe God had chosen her, and I'm thankful for that privilege. It could have been two angels leading the song, but that part must have been really meant for her alone.

Suddenly, I realized it’s like God’s message for me wrapped in a different context, and yet, it hit me right on the spot: No matter what, if something is meant for you, then it shall be yours in His perfect time. Sometimes I forget that all I need to do is trust and wait. There are times when I get impatient rather than eager and thankful, of the blessings that are yet to come.

This Easter has been truly memorable, not only because of my little queen of angels, but with the important lessons God reminded me of today.

Happy Easter, everyone!

'Queen of Angels', Easter 2009

Charter's April HDTV Giveaway

2009-04-10T21:17:00.008+08:00

How would you like to take home a lovely 22” flat screen HDTV for FREE? Better yet, set aside some space in your home’s entertainment area for a brand new 52” LCD flat screen HDTV and a Home Theater System?

Sounds too good to be true, but it’s not! You can actually own these, when you join Charter Communications’ HDTV-a-Day Sweepstakes, where there are 30 units of 22” Samsung HDTVs to be given away daily for the month of April, plus a 52” Sony Bravia HDTV, Sony Home Theater System and one year free Charter Digital Cable® with HD programming for one lucky grand prize winner!

Charter Communications, in its continuous effort to adapt to new trends and cater to the growing needs of consumers, regularly offers its customers quality services with extra perks that make purchasing their products truly, money well spent. They gave away laptops, game systems and a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid last year, so it’s not really surprising if they’re back with another fabulous contest for this year.

The giveaway is open to all new and upgrading customers. All orders for the month of April will automatically qualify for the giveaway upon installation. Hop on now to their website to know more about this generous promotion.

Where is the Manager?

2009-04-09T04:36:00.009+08:00

One of the vivid childhood memories that I have, is fun weekends with my family. As a military officer, Dad had a lot of provincial assignments then, so whenever he’s in town with Mom (yes, she went with him all the time), he made sure that we spend our weekends with fun activities.

The usual routine was to go shopping first, and then eat in our favorite Chinese restaurant, The Bamboo House (in Cubao) where I usually end up unzipping my jeans due to a bulging tummy full of sumptuous Chinese dishes. After a hefty lunch, we head to the movie house and watch a Superman, James Bond, Jet Lee or Jackie Chan movie. The last stop is at the carnival for some games and rides.

It’s easy to remember the fun part of those memories, but along with it came the lessons that I didn’t know I had taken by heart.

“Where is the manager?” I heard this question too many times in my lifetime, and it always comes from Dad.

He’s never the loud and fussy type, but whenever there’s a need to call somebody’s attention whether it’s due to a major complaint such as poor service or a minor inconvenience encountered in an establishment, he asks straight for the big guy always. And every time, I noticed that his concerns were always easily addressed when he talks directly to the manager.

My sister and I learned through his example.

My Turn

I don’t always ask for the manager. I’m typically the patient and persevering customer; generally forgiving of slight slips and inefficiencies. So the moment I open my mouth or start writing what I’d rather not verbally express, that’s when you’ll know that I’ve been pushed to the limit.

Some situations do not merit verbal confrontation, even if the concerned individual/group displays the most unprofessional behavior. It’s too tempting to indulge in one; but is it really worth it? Sure, it would feel good to spew words dipped in venom, or tell somebody to crawl in a hole and get a life or something, if only to release an emotional rage. But as a civilized individual, one has to rise above that and stick to the fundamentals of being objective.

The wise thinks before he acts. It takes breeding, composure and a lot of deliberation to muster the self control needed to avoid stooping down to somebody's level. This actually makes me remember a scene in The Parent Trap, where the well-bred Lindsay Lohan twin delivered in British accent: “I, have class, and you don’t.” True enough, those who have class, won’t.

I would normally compose a two-page complaint letter that narrates the situation in detail, how the inefficient act was committed, suggestions on how to prevent its future occurrence, and the mandatory recommendation for the concerned staff/group to undergo a refresher course in customer service.

So far, I received immediate responses from biggies like French Baker and Jollibee who I believe value the importance of delivering customer satisfaction.

When to call the "Big Boss"

It’s easy to manage these day-to-day inconveniences. But life is not like a business establishment where you can call the manager to fix a situation when things don’t live up to your standards. In a broader aspect, when it’s hard for humans to render sound judgment to life-changing issues, when it’s easy to be emotionally beaten, misjudged and persecuted, when all else fails and there is no one to turn to, it’s comforting to know that we can always call on the "Big Boss" to serve perfect justice.

This Holy Week, we are again given the chance to set aside a few days from work, not to go on a fancy vacation, but to ponder on how we’re leading our lives according to the higher plan. We must ask ourselves: Have we done our own share of misdeeds to others worth complaining to the Big Boss? Are we the victims of those who rejoice in the misery of their neighbors? Are we ultimately living the life our Creator wants us to lead?

You know who you are. You know what you’ve done. You know what you’ve failed to do. You know what you must do.

Have a meaningful Holy Week. :)

Enjoy 75-80% Off from Sears

2009-04-06T17:07:00.009+08:00

I am not called a bargain hag if I don’t have the eye for a good clearance sale. As with most online and offline finds, I always try to share with you, dear friends and readers, how to spare some cash - even cents for that matter, by giving sale alerts whenever I can.

It’s always a pleasure to search for fab finds at more than half the price slash that translates to great savings. Well today, Sears takes this sweet spotlight because they have an ongoing sale happening at their stores. Yes, they are taking away a hefty 75 up to 80% off original prices on their fall and winter apparel until April 18, 2009! As any smart shopper would advise, it’s always best to do shopping during season sales, so stock up and hoard if you must.

I browsed through the selections and here’s a favorite pick for my little girl - the Southpole Girl’s Velour Butterfly & Logo Hoodie. As you all know, I love pink in all forms, and this girly piece is quite irresistible with the soft fabric and pretty butterfly embroidery all for only $3.99 - definitely a steal from its original price of $36!

You too can penny-pinch while picking a little something for the whole family from a wide range of categories, so visit them now before stocks run out.

Earth Hour 2009

2009-04-02T06:28:00.008+08:00

Last Saturday, March 28, at exactly 8:30 pm, we turned off the main power switch to join countries across the globe in observance of Earth Hour. It was the shortest, yet the most meaningful hour I shared with my family for a good cause.

While all the neighbors went on with their usual activities, wondering why it was 'brownout' in this particular house, we explained to the little ones why we had to turn off the electricity for a while. We wanted to instill the significance and impact of the event in their bright young minds.

Earth Hour Kids

So how did you spend Earth Hour 2009? Did you vote for Earth? This is how the Philippines joined the global event:

Earth Hour 2009 Philippines

Officially Bakunado sa FLU!

2009-03-26T00:31:00.004+08:00

Believe me, it's not as painful as it looks!

I told you I am SO getting a Flu vaccine for myself and the Little Lady.

Well, we did!

Last March 7, Sanofi Pasteur Philippines, in collaboration with Nuffnang Philippines, conducted the 2nd wave of the Flu Awareness and Prevention Seminar at Max’s Tiendesitas, Pasig City. I was given the opportunity to attend this event along with fellow bloggers, parents and their children alike.

No less than Sanofi Pasteur’s medical director, Dr. Ruby Mendoza-Dizon talked about Influenza and its potential harmful implications especially during flu season.

We usually dismiss the common cold and cough as a normal occurrence during season transitions that can be remedied by popping a cold medicine, taking cough syrup, increased fluid intake and bed rest. But not everybody is aware that it could lead to Flu – a highly contagious respiratory disease that can be life-threatening to high-risk individuals of all ages.

I had been a victim of Flu on many occasions and have painfully survived it by taking doctor-prescribed medicines and ample bed rest, but it also resulted to a lot of absences from work. Nobody knows if I’d be as lucky to recover easily with the next strain of Flu virus that will hit me, so when Nuffnang invited me for the second time (that’s right, because I missed the first one), I made sure to grab the chance of getting bakunado and being protected from the Influenza virus for the rest of the year. The vaccine costs around P1,500-P2,000 per shot – the exact same amount of savings I had that day, multiplied by two!

I thought the Little Lady won’t qualify for vaccination because she had colds that time. Some vaccines have certain limitations, but Vaxigrip turns out to be generally safe for everyone except for those who have genuine allergy or hypersensitivity to eggs. It's a killed vaccine, which means contrary to a popular misconception, it will not cause anyone to get the Flu after being vaccinated. There is also no need to be isolated from other family members in the household, and one can resume normal activities after receiving it.

Here's a video of my Little Lady taking the Flu shot in painful anticipation - facial expression and all, only to be surprised when it turned out to be painless!

"Sorry, Mom. I did not believe you," was all she said after the shot. I told her earlier that "It will only feel like an ant bite" (I didn't believe this either, but what's a mom got to say?) Lucky for us, the one who administered the vaccine - Sanofi's Product Manager Ms. Bing Sonsona, did it painlessly perfect. No side effects, no sore arms!

Huh, that's it?

With Nuffnang beauties Jing and Roanna

Thank you Sanofi Pasteur and Nuffnang! :)

The Complete Guide to Botox Injections

2009-03-25T21:35:00.008+08:00

In less than two months, I’m going to turn another year older. Again. Time indeed, flies so fast! I’m sure most women my age are already panicking about facial lines, wrinkles and anything that sags. Well, who doesn’t? In this day and age where the enhancement and preservation of youth and beauty can be conveniently found over the counter or in thousands of beauty clinics under the able hands (and knives) of beauty experts, there is absolutely no reason for anybody not to look their best.

One of the beauty miracles that successfully hit the market is Botox Injection. I've been curious about this for the longest time. When facial creams fail, this formula proves to be a better and more popular non-surgical alternative to slow down the signs of aging.

Do you know that medical doctors can actually train on this beauty procedure through the botox injection training DVD? "THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BOTOX® INJECTIONS" instructional video is professionally demonstrated by Dolores Kent, M.D., an experienced Beverly Hills-based cosmetic surgeon, where she shares her expertise on botox guidelines, techniques, precautions, contraindications and more.

Interested? You can visit www.VideoShelf.com for more information on how to order your Botox DVD copy now.

Botox Injection Video

Botox Training | Botox Injections

Rockwell's Basketball with Coach E for Free!

2009-03-19T07:01:00.010+08:00

Rockwell's Summer Series presents Basketball with Coach E, a basketball school founded by Coach Eric Altamirano, a veteran basketball player and coach. All sessions for this weekend are FREE!

March 21: 10am-12nn (ages12 & below) 2pm-4pm (ages 13 & up)
March 22: 10am-12nn (ages12 & below) 2pm-4pm (ages 13 & up)

Coaches: Jenkins Mesina, Jod Pengson, Vic Epres, Kim Gandarosa and Xavier Nunag (Former UAAP & PBA Players)

Don't miss this chance to bring your kids to enjoy and perfect the skill of basketball! All sessions are open to BOYS & GIRLS! Limited slots available -- we are accepting 20 students per session so hurry and register now! :)

Register your kids by shooting an email to LisaG@rockwell.com.ph with the following details:

1. Child’s Name
2. Child’s Age
3. Date and Time of Session
4. Contact Number

Enjoy! :)

Related Posts:

Free Beauty Power!
Christmas at the Mall

Free Beauty Power!

2009-03-16T06:18:00.009+08:00

Got this Beauty Power Salon gift certificate from Powerplant Mall for free! Picked it up at the cool and colorful Urban Bazaar yesterday. It's not really a biggie, but I love getting freebies! Most especially during hard times (read: now), saving money from what you could have originally paid for feels great.

I told you before I'm a low maintenance gal and don't spend much in beauty treatments, but now I don't have a reason not to go to the salon, do I?

Thank you, Powerplant! :)

A Thankful Friday

2009-03-13T00:22:00.012+08:00

One of the most rewarding things about blogging is knowing that people from different walks of life actually read and appreciate what you write. I'm always thankful for those who take the time to read my posts, regardless if they agree with my ideas or not. The fact that they spent time to stop by already means a lot to me.

Okay, so much for the dramatic intro. :) It's time to spread some link love once again! Today I'd like you to meet the lovely people who follow Barefooted Me. I would also like to thank my lurkers (if there's any). In my heart, you are equally appreciated! :)

*~ THANK YOU ~*

Please click on the icons/avatars to visit their cool blogs!

For those who would like to be added to this lovely group and to see my updates on their dashboards, you can follow me. Or, you can always subscribe to my feed via RSS/email by hitting the pink button or typing your addy below.

Got a message for me? I love emails and snail mails! You can type your thoughts here and I'll try to get back to you the soonest. Have a great weekend ahead, everyone! :)

Related Posts:

My February Top Droppers
Entrecard Top Dropers for January
What Have I Been Up To?
Two Lessons I learned from my Child Today
Shameless Plug and a Bunch of Thanks!
God's Ad
An Officer and a Gentleman
The Best Mom in the World
Statement of Gratitude

Oh my Puto!

2009-03-10T06:39:00.012+08:00

Buttered Puto rolled in Parmesan cheese

Preparing my Little Lady's "baon" (snack) for school can be challenging sometimes. Most days I'll run out of imagination on what to stash in her lunchbox. They have 2 morning breaks, so I always need to prepare 2 kinds except when she's having her favorites - pizza or calzone.

Sometimes she just wants toasted wheat bread with melted butter, sprinkled with Italian herbs. In sandwiches, she just likes Spam Turkey or just plain scrambled egg with mayonnaise. No jams or peanut butter for her. So the usual snack that she usually brings apart from those are cookies, biscuits, bananas, donuts, hopia mongo or other baked goodies from our neighborhood bakeshop, Goldilocks.

She used to be a "puto" (rice/flour cake) monster, but she lost the appetite for it. One day I bought a pack from Goldilocks and forgot it already ceased to be her favorite. I was convincing her to bring it to school but she kept on saying "I don't like to bring it, Mom" with sleepy eyes and in between yawns (She needs to wake up before 5:00 am everyday for her 6:15 am class).

I don't want to waste it so I tried harder to convince her. Maybe out of her desire to just agree with what I want, she said "Okay, but please put cheese on them" pointing to the big Parmesan cheese shaker in our condiments rack. Hmm, I never thought of that.

I rolled the buttered puto cakes in a bed of Parmesan and surprisingly, they turned out to be yummier! Seems like I got a budding chef in the house, huh? :)

Related Posts:

Sbarro Baby
My Version of Puttanesca
Surviving the First Week of School
Two Lessons I Learned from My Child Today
School Thoughts

Where is your Passion?

2009-03-09T21:30:00.004+08:00

One of the things that most ‘overdue’ singles face is the perennial question, “Why are you still single?” It becomes irritatingly redundant to explain oneself a lot of times on different occasions why you still haven’t met the “one.” Sounds familiar?

I used to think that my prince charming will come searching for me, climbing mountains and crossing the deepest oceans no matter how worlds apart we are. I’ve always believed that searching for him will spoil the entire fairytale story I creatively weaved in my head since childhood. So I waited, and waited.

Until one day, I snapped out of it and realized I’m no Sleeping Beauty and that the prince I was waiting for is actually busy somewhere climbing the corporate ladder, romancing his laptop, has already survived a bunch of relationships, with definitely no idea whatsoever as to who I am, and absolutely not planning anytime soon to search for me on the other side of the world. Times have really changed and in this modern day setting where time is of the essence, this old adage still rings true: “Seek and you shall find.”

I tried a couple of online dating sites in the past but I eventually grew tired of them. True, that I got a lot of interested matches, but the sites that I joined only kept me interested for a short time so I stayed away from them for a while. And just when I’m planning to rekindle my interest to join the dating scene again, did I stumble upon a new online dating site - passion search, which got my attention almost immediately due to a very catchy layout in no less than my favorite color – red.

Registration was a breeze with the nice talking lady who guided me through the whole membership process. It was actually entertaining! If signing up turned out to be fun, then I can’t wait to see more of what this site can offer. Did I mention that I got in for free? Yes, you can also try creating a free account for yourself. I have yet to explore the site’s features and browse through 19 million members in their network to find my match. Hopefully, I get lucky so wish me luck! :)

My February Top Droppers

2009-03-04T22:33:00.010+08:00

It's that time of the month again to spread some link lovin' to my top regular droppers. Thank you for always visiting here even during times when I couldn't visit you back. You all deserve the special mention and to share my favorite sinful Ube Macapuno cake!

I will try my best to do my regular rounds again, after I finish a couple of important stuff offline. Anyways, more power to your blogs and see you again next month! :)

TOP DROPPERS FOR FEBRUARY

Warcraft Blog	31
Lola's Diner	31
ik.my	31
Programming Made Easy	31
Mr Soleh’s Outburst	31
Freelunch Comics	31
verITableLIFE	30
Of Trends and Aces	28
My World in My Own Word	27
SkipRatt The Mountain Bike Enthusiast	26

Cryo-Cell and February Babies

2009-02-27T01:41:00.007+08:00

I got in touch with my mother’s instinct the minute my little girl was born. It’s a part of me that just came out of nowhere. All I knew then was that I had to protect the precious little human being from any kind of harm at all cost.

As she grew older, I realized that I can only do so much to shield her from getting sick. The most that I could do is to give her supplements to boost her immune system and to let her undergo scheduled shots or immunizations. Other than that, I would give anything to ensure her health and well-being not only today, but in the future as well.

Lucky for parents whose children will be born in this age of advance technology and science breakthroughs, they have a better chance of securing the health of their offspring.

Stem cell preservation of the umbilical cord blood is now an available option for families who wish to save them for future use. Stem cells have the potential of curing over 75 kinds of diseases, while a host of other medical miracles are still being determined through continuous and rigorous research.

Backed by quality certifications and accreditations, Cryo-Cell, the company behind innovative stem cell solutions, is one of the most stable family cord blood banks, servicing more than 175,000 satisfied clients worldwide. Enrollment is free, and there are flexible payment plans to accommodate any budget, which gives everybody the chance to benefit from this potential life saver.

There is even good news for parents who will have February babies this year! Cryo-Cell is currently running a special offer on UCORD at $300 off and Protect Baby, Protect Mom at $400 off! All you have to do is to enroll now and deliver by February 28 to avail of this promotion. This limited offer is only valid up to 12 midnight on the said date, so check it out now and take advantage of huge savings on a lifetime investment.

My Valentine's Day and Shopaholic Loot

2009-02-23T19:04:00.012+08:00

Belated Happy Hearts' Day!

Sorry, I let Valentine's day pass without the customary V-Day post and greetings. I wasn't able to partake in one of the most commercialized holidays of the year. So?

I didn't want to bore you with the story of not having someone to be with on that day. Well actually, I didn't make plans because I had to work. I came home from work early that day to do some more work at home. I would've dropped everything for a date, but, I absolutely had to attend to something um, rather important.

Bored you already, huh. I told you! ;P

Anyways, I was able to attend Nuffnang's awarding ceremonies for the Confessions of a Shopaholic Contest at Heaven 'n Eggs. It was great to meet fellow bloggers I only know through their respective URLs and a couple of photos in their blogs.

Lizz, Annabel and I weren't able to join the rest near the "stage" as it was already full. The program was short, fun, and quite surprising because we each had to talk about our entries. I also learned that my post was among the Top 10 because apart from the advance screening tickets, I also got premium Shopaholic items. Thanks, Nuffnang!

• The Top 15 best entries from the top 20 will win advance screening tickets for 2
• The Top 10 best entries from the top 15 will each get a “Confessions of a Shopaholic” premium items
• The BEST ENTRY will win the limited edition “Confessions of a Shopaholic” Gucci bag.

Even though I did not get the limited edition Gucci bag (only 100 of them in the whole world!), knowing that I'm in the Top 10 among 70++ entries is more than enough.

The Loot

These are the stuff I got in my lootbag: 2 tickets for the advance screening, pink Shopaholic wristlet pouch, Shopaholic charm keychain and Shopaholic cube pad care of Nuffnang, freebies from movie sponsors Meiji, Astringosol Specialist, Ipanema and OK! magazine from Frances, the Best Entry winner. She was so nice to bring back issues for all of us. :)

Obviously, I forgot my camera, so no photos here of the event. I won 2 tickets, so I was able to watch the movie and had the overdue post Valentine's date by myself at the same time. Too bad no one is available to use the other ticket, but I had a blast, nevertheless!

The movie is not just another chick flick. It's a story of a woman who had overcome an addiction and turned her life around. And just when things are going great for her, career-wise, Derek Smeath turns up with the help of Ms. Spider Long Legs to pull her down. Ahh, what is life without the presence of green monsters, eh? They are just everywhere! I can't help but relate with dear Becky there.

Pretty much the same scenario with my shoes!

There are a couple of lines in the movie that I wish I could have jotted down, but they all point to the lesson that we are not defined by the things we possess. I'm definitely going to get this in video and watch it all over again. I believe the original book version is better though, if only I can finish the E-Book of the series sitting on my hard disk for ages now. But if you're on for some feel-good stuff with a moral lesson, don't miss this movie. You'll surely enjoy the ride! You can watch the teaser HERE.

The Dance

P.S. Hugh Dancy is a revelation! ;-)