A Writers Den

Dance With Me This Christmas

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:48:00 +0000

Who told you that I can't dance? (smiles). Well, Christmas is fast approaching and I am giving you guys a warm up dance to light up your spirit. As always, this video might last for up to a few days only. Thanks to Jibjab and ElfYourSelf for sharing this cute program.

Madonna Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2010 Campaign

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Looks like the queen of pop is up for another modeling partnership with the world's passionate and most admired fashion duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana or better known as Dolce&Gabbana or D&G.

Madonna will work with the two fashion icon for their Spring/Summer 2010 Dolce & Gabbana adding to their online fashion magazine Swide.com's statement with the two saying:

To have Madonna in our campaign is a dream come true.

Madge seems to be the style duo's favorite. I believe that the two designed Madonnna's The Girlie Show tour's costumes and her more recent Sticky and Sweet shows. The offers can't get any plentiful than this.

I'm so excited to see her in the Sicilian-inspired 2010 D&G collection. Will look forward to another enchanting fashion show in Milan!

Comfortable and Safe Baby Bedding

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:24:00 +0000

As parents, we want our children to have a safe place to live especially when they sleep. I know some parents spending a huge amount of their savings just to buy their babies a comfortably Baby Bedding Sets. I've experienced taking care of my younger sister and helped my mom with her all the way in order to safekeep my little sister's safety back then.

Aside being comfortable, we need to make sure that its safe for children, too. I advice you to check on the safety label and read all contents that could possibly harm your little ones.

If you are doing online shopping for your baby needs, you can try Baby Bedding Palace. They have great selection of beds fit for your angels. For a complete set, you can have them from $59.98 to $69.98 available in different colors and styles. These are all handmade and are made with baby-friendly cotton materials, preshrunk and slightly processed and without harmful chemicals. You worry about your baby developing an allergen from these bedding because they are all 100% safe.

Invest on your kids stuff. Your baby's health starts with what you uses for him to wear and sleep on. If I still haven't mentioned, these products all adhere to the highest level of environmental safety. It supports our environment and the locals who are producing the material for us. You may want to check on the site and tell your friends, too.

How Do You Define Success?

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:45:00 +0000

My friend asked me:

Friend: Where do you work?
Jules: @___
Friend: Why not go abroad? You'll be successful there.
Jules: Ha?

It saddens me that people define success by how much money we earn and how much savings we have at the bank and how many cars we have or whatever. Success is relative and is defined differently by every individual.

I don't believe that we become "successful" by acquiring something; I think that we become successful by appreciating the effort that we do as part of achieving our goals because we know that we did our best and gave everything that we have and realize that we have touched other people's lives along the way.

Next time we assess if someone has achieved success, think about counting your hair strands. It probably ends when we finally made the final count.

Did You Consider Getting Online Math Tutors?

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Math. Who loves math? A lot of people are having problems dealing with math subjects and I consider myself lucky for passing my highschool and college for this.

If you or your lovedones are one of the many individuals who are having difficulty with the subject, its about time to take on a tutoring assistance. You can take advantage of Algebra tutoring online for math problems. You can connect instantly with tutors online to seek Algebra help and be taught with various techniques on how to solve common and complex Math word problems. Check on the link to learn more. This is a sure win for parents who want to support their kids with their arithmetic skills.

Movie Tickets Giveaways for Stephenie Meyer's New Moon Movie

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:45:00 +0000

A few months had passed after I concluded my first Soloden Raffle Contest. Now, with the much anticipated New Moon movie, I once again want you to experience the movie for free! Yes, free, with SM Cinema movie passes! I am still thinking if sells movie passes for their cinemas but I have to check with them first. I also like their cinemas anyway.

Remember that this contest is only open for Philippine-based bloggers or social network users (Facebook, My Space, Multiply, Friendster, etc...) only since I don't have a way to send the movie tickets outside the Philippines :-p.

The qualifications are simple:

1. You must be residing in the Philippines during the raffle draw date.
2. You must own a blog or a member of any social networks (add me up though).
3. Leave a comment on this blog post with the following thoughts in mind (one entry per comment. Only one comment per day maximum):
Why would you like to watch the movie?
Who's your favorite character in New Moon?

Before the end of the month, I'll draw lots and pick three (3) lucky winners who will receive two (2) movie tickets each. I'll announce them on soloden.com and send the prizes via courier. Hope you guys will join the contest. Tell your friends to join as well. Stay tuned!

Where To Buy Hard-to-Find Ingredients Online

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:57:00 +0000

You'll love it when you cook the food that you've grown to eat especially when you're living in a foreign land. But the problem with cooking something local is that you won't find the ingredients originally used to make the food taste as local as it should be. If you're cooking native food, you'll need native ingredients.

I frequently shop and do the groceries at home so I know exactly where to buy. For hard-to-find grocery items, I buy them online. One of the stores I know that sell around 10,000 various ethnic food products coming from different continents such as Europe, Asia, South America, India, and the Middle East is eFoodDepot. You can buy groceries on the site and have it ship right on your doorstep for $4.99. Shipping fee is waived for those who bought groceries amounting to $75.

eFoodDepot also features various food recipes on the site. So if you find yourself running out of ideas to cook for the day, visit the site and read through the more than 4,000 available ethnic recipes on there. Plus, you'll get free items for specific products you buy on the site.

Aside from the recipes, the site also features how-to videos for various authentic dishes such as Pad Thai and delicious fried rice for your family. Hope you could check that out.

To-Die-For Kitchen Designs

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:27:00 +0000

My mom and I are die-hard advocates of a better kitchen at home. We've been campaigning to have it renovated and install the custom kitchen design at a local furniture store. Mom and I agreed that we have to invest on things that we think we love even if it means spending a great deal of our existing savings.

I have a few kitchen design ideas right here and I am still on the decision stage as to what design I think will fit my current kitchen room setup. The designs I have in mind is something like the ones below minus the luxurious furniture (since I can't afford it LOL).

Mom thinks that she likes this better because its not-so contemporary and gives the house a cozy look while the one above is more festive in appearance (but is preferred by people at home). I'll leave it all to my parents anyway since they usually make the final decision anyway. Whatever design they choose, I'll be happy (smile).

Business Opportunity for Italians with Herbalife

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:09:00 +0000

In the past, I've written about the health benefits of health supplements. I personally believe in the value of balanced diet and regular exercise although we cannot discount the usefulness and benefit people with special needs derive from food supplements.

Herbalife, a leader in weight management products encourages everybody to join their affiliate force in letting people know about their product can change life and help men and women achieve an ideal body weight and maintain an active lifestyle.

For those who wants to earn an extra bucks to support in the payment of utilities at home, you can take advantage of direct selling opportunities with the company. In Italy, its L'Opportunità Commerciale Herbalife. I encourage all Italian women to be part of this exciting business venture and have another source of income without leaving their jobs. Check it out for more information.

Income Tax for US Expats

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:01:00 +0000

Our city is home thousands of American expats. They're nice and friendly and they learned to live the Filipino way of life. But when most of them managed to live here, they still aren't safe from income tax.

Taking care of income tax for a US citizen living in a foreign country involves a lot of work. But there are companies in the US who works for Income Tax for US Expats. The ExpatCFO is one of the companies that are equipped with tools and resources to help you organize and protect your financial information and aggregate them all in one secure place online. You can check with one of their consultants today for more information.

I Want My Camera!

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:50:00 +0000

One of the gadgets I wish to buy this coming holiday is camera. I'm looking for a more powerful one so I think I'll consider DSLR camera. I have no particular brand in mind but my friends are telling me that the Canon EOS 1000D is best in terms of budget and picture quality for beginners.

Canon's Powershot is also a good buy but its almost the same price as the EOS. I think I'll get the DSLR where I could add up more lens later on and increase its zooming capability.

Have you planned on buying one for yourself this Christmas?

Chris Madden Comforters

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:45:00 +0000

The holidays are just around the corner and most parts of the world are now starting to feel the winter breeze. This means that nights can become a bit colder and you'll be needing a more insulating bedding to keep you warm during sleep.

Just last week, I had the chance to decide as to what comforter to buy for my friend who just came in from London. She had a lot to attend to so I promised to buy her a comforter while she's ironing some of her personal affairs.

I had to go online to search for comforter designs and brands. The Chris Madden Comforters are pretty good candidate for her queen size bed. They are relatively affordable and stylish. These comforters can be bought from SHOP.COM and are shipped anywhere in the US and other areas covered by the shipping terms. You don't have to buy them directly from the site as you will be directed to other sites where the item is originally being sold. They accept paypal payments. Paypal is the most convenient and safest way to shop these days.

If you're looking for investing on quality comforters, shop.com has the best collections.

Reebok's Easytone Sneakers Makes Butt Look Great

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:38:00 +0000

Listen, ladies. Here's a pair of sneakers that promises to improve the tone of your butt - Reebok's Easytone sneakers. If you are in doubt, visit Reebok's site and read on the article attached to the Reebok's Easytone sneakers photos.

Reebok said that just by walking, the sneakers will help you sculpt your posterior and legs. The Smoothfit technology behind Easytone helps every women incredibly tone their butt after regular walking using the said sneakers. It defines your butt and legs because the instability created by the balance pads (Easytone) on the sole of the sneakers is enough to make your butt muscles work a little bit hard. This is what's written on the Reebok's site. How good is that?

I have a lot more to write about this sneakers but I'm on a hurry...I'll drop by the nearest Reebok store for a while! I think I'm gonna have to buy 7 shoes enough for everyday use! I swear I'll run with it (haha!)

Clearer TV Signal with DirectTV

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:14:00 +0000

Perhaps, if there's one thing I enjoy doing at home, Its watching TV. I can't live without it although I only do it during the weekends.

We used to have cable TV at home but had it disconnected because of unstable connection signal. We just recently found a satellite provider that's willing to give us a satellite dish and have it installed within the week as soon as I decided.

This is similar to Direct TV Deals in my cousin's place in Provo, Texas. She was made to choose a flexible pricing for her satellite service. This makes Direct TV Offers competitive above the rest. You can choose among the Direct TV Packages which fits your viewing needs. I checked on the site and they pretty have a lot in store for people wanting to have a clearer and more reliable TV service.

I Feel Christmas

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:50:00 +0000

This week is a battle between typhoons and dropping temperature. I can feel the Christmas breeze for the night is getting colder.

You won't believe it but mom setup the Christmas tree as early as September. The holidays always excite her. A little trivia, the Philippines celebrates the longest yuletide season. It usually starts from September to January. But due to the many calamities that hit the Philippines for the past months, it seems that it has delayed a bit.

I still yet to buy new decorations for our Christmas tree for the one we have are not appealing. Silver is the new motif I think I'll go for this year. The free Christmas tree patters online helped a lot as well.

Moving Companies in Los Angeles

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:34:00 +0000

When mom and I finally decided to rent an apartment near the city, she was a bit hesitant. She was hesitant because we have to leave the house that my siblings and I grew up with along with some neighbors whom she became friends. While I acknowledge that what she feels are valid, I think that for the most part, I worry about how I will be able to move the furniture I have from our house to the new apartment.

Moving can be very tough. I had to move from one apartment to another two times last year because the house is either flooded or teeming with termites. I must admit that I spend twice the amount that I usually pay my old apartment just to have the comfort I am experiencing today. I think it pays well than having an apartment that's cheap but will give you so much headache.

For first timers, let me enumerate some of the most important things you need to take note when you move:

Prepare a checklist for all the items you'll be moving to a new location.
Store your jewelries on safety deposit box instead of putting them on your cabinets's drawers. Its always not advisable to have them transported by the movers because they usually are not covered in insurance terms and agreement between you and the moving company.
Request to have your phone disconnected after the moving is complete.
Provide a list of items that the movers will need to unload first when moving. This way, you'll be able to prepare stuff to use immediately while the work is on going.
Clear the parking space for the truck before it arrives at the new house or apartment.
Take extra care for furniture or items 50 pounds or less. Let the movers know to exercise care for items you consider fragile or breakable.

For people who lives in Los Angeles, there are a lot of Los Angeles Local Movers that offer affordable and reliable services. Take a look at directories online for Moving Companies Los Angeles area if you would like to get a free quote their service. You may also try Melrosemoving for that.

Why Do Apple iPhones Have To Be Expensive

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Imagine not being able to fall sleep just because you can't really decide if you'll buy an Apple iPhone 3GS or not. I was in heck of a decision dilemma if I'll go for buying the Apple iPhone 3GS risking a big portion of my savings just for this highly magnified product that have ever existed in the planet.

I'm just curious as why iPhone got this very expensive these days. Imagine spending USD$750 just for a 35GB iPhone. I think that's too much. This monopoly is not beautiful. Although I admire Apple about its lead on innovation not to mention its employment of an effective marketing strategy I still think that they should consider lowering down their prices for the sake of poor people like me who can't afford to shell out USD$700 just for this gadget! =D

BUT I STILL WANT AN IPHONE! Somebody get me a contraband iPhone please. Just kidding.

Why Swimwear is Important When Traveling

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:45:00 +0000

I had a couple of beach visits early this year so I somehow learned a bit from each of my travel experiences. One thing I learned is that one should never go out with a swimsuit! This is always true for women.

I think that women should always consider bringing in one or two swimwears whenever they travel. There are unexpected scenarios where women have to really wear it. women's swimwear are practical and are always affordable.

There are online boutique that sells inexpensive but stylish swimwear. It doesn't have to be very expensive for it to become functional. As long as it fits and a touch of style, it will definitely serve its purpose.

Happy Halloween, Happy All Saints' Day!

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:00 +0000

The weekend was very tiring but fun and rewarding. Every year, the Filipinos flock to cemeteries to pay respect to their departed loved ones. Since Filipinos are known for valuing close family ties, All Saints' Day (Araw ng mga Patay, Undas, or Day of the Dead serves) as a reunion for most families. People bring food, some play card games, some even drink (most cemeteries now prohibits this already), and tents to camp for a day or two in cemeteries while remembering and praying for families or friends who have gone before us.

My departed relatives are in the Southern Philippines (Bicol and Quezon). I'm thinking of letting my mom visit them next year when our finances are finally OK. She had to travel hundreds of kilometers to get there. Its a day's bus ride from Angeles City to Bicol.

I stayed at home and lit some candles in front of our house. Lighting candles in front of houses is a tradition in the Philippines; probably to invite the spirit of the dead relatives (which I think it is). Scary but there is truth to it. Despite of this old tradition Halloween is also becoming very very popular in the Philippines and has become a wide-spread celebration in schools and offices. We just had ours last October 31.

Tried White Tea Yet?

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Every weekend, I always make sure that I get to have at least one relaxing activity or treatment that is why you may have noticed that I frequent spa and write about them on my blog.

The A Thai Spa I usually visit serves white tea after every soothing massage. I find it very better-tasting than the green or red tea although green is more aromatic. But the white one is neutral and does not hurt my stomach that much. Some claimed that the white tea contains more anti-oxidant than the other variants.

How about you? What is your preferred tea?

Samgeopsal Meal at Lohas Hotel Resto (Clark)

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Here's a very sumptuous Korean meal we ate at Lohas Hotel Resto at Clark yesterday after a relaxing sauna bath and Swedish massage. Most of the food items are quite spicy so if you're not into spicy food you won't be able to appreciate Samgeopsal.

This is not strictly a vegetarian meal because it has strips of pork meat and bacon. Its so healthy. I don't eat a lot but since it's all veggies, we were able to eat everything served on the table without feeling full like when we eat heavy meal with rice. It was fun seeing myself eating a lot because I'm used to eating few spoonful of rice and viand and I am done.

I blogged about the stealing cases before and we're glad we didn't experience that during our stay there. We didn't check in anyway but just took advantage of the swimming pool, sauna bath, and the Swedish massage offered there.

Let me share some of the pictures I took during our stay at New Well Being Spa Lohas Hotel.

Search for Best Acne Treatment

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Having an acne problem myself, I strictly follow a diet and lifestyle that would inhibit its eruption on my skin. I haven't tried much product but the one that works for me are products containing a little of benzoyl peroxide. But nothing beats balanced diet with special emphasis on limiting intake of food that encourages the production of acne. Just recently I read on an article that talks about the dangers of benzoyl peroxide so I stopped the use of products containing such.

Acne is irritating and I think that people understands just what acne breakouts can affect your social life. Acne can make you unattractive so its a good idea to consult a doctor to have it examined so that he can tailor the Best Acne Treatment program for you.

Starbucks' Very Berry Cheesecake

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Have you tasted Starbucks' Very Berry Cheesecake just yet? It might not be the best I've tasted but I think its worth the money I paid for which is PhP105 (approx USD$2.10). Eating this with a caramel machiato coffee is heaven. Go try it in your next visit at Starbucks.

Improve Vision, Improve Lives: The iLasik Procedure Video Making Contest

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:31:00 +0000

The famous iLasik Procedure, a technologically advanced procedure on correcting vision, is running a video contest where you could get yourself either of the following prizes:

Grand Prize: $5,000
First Prize (one in each video category): HDTV package — a $2,500 value
Second Prize (one in each video category): The Flip UltraHD™ camcorder — a $199.99 value

"You Gotta See This", iLASIK Video Contest, allows you to win any of the above prizes by simply submitting a video that talks about any of the following categories:

My contacts are getting in the way of my good time.
My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision.
You should see life after the iLASIK® Procedure.

You need to be able to create a video and submit it on the contest site to become eligible. There are already hundreds of videos on site but they're waiting for more entries. Make your video entry as cool as possible stating just how improved vision can improve your life.

For someone who used to have a poor eyesight, I know how important it is to have a clear vision. iLasik is one full treatment procedure that can help you improve or even restore that vision.

Technological advancement is starting to revolutionize the field of eye treatment. So join this contest and watch other videos of the same theme. Who knows, you might be the next winner of this cool video contest's $5,000 grand prize!

Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan Bad Scheduling

juliusbio@gmail.com (Jules) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan (loosely translated: Music Jamming, Dancing on the Street or simply Street Jam) is a yearly street party celebration here in Angeles City, Pampanga in the Philippines. Its similar to that of Germany's Oktoberfest. Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan is a party-all-night-long celebration well attended by celebrities and normal folks in the area.

However, as good as it may seem, it looks like it was scheduled on the wrong date since the rain started pouring in at 8:30 PM today. Unfortunately, Typhoon Santi (International Name, Mirinae) continued to head North and is expected ravage southern and Northern Luzon. I think its fury is starting to manifest already.

I'm a huge fan of Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan and never failed to attend the yearly celebration in the past. But I'll pass this time due to the bad weather.