Statistics....my research Waterloo

Today my friend and I were discussing why I still had not gotten my thesis done. Or research for that matter. One one hand, I really wanna get it done, but on the other, I really don't want to. Talk about ambivalence. I guess for one Statistics problems make me nervous and it makes me feel incompetent. Statistics questions my self-esteem and my general sense of well-being. That's really one thing that's holding me back. I know that I can get a lot of Statistics help from my friends and colleagues, but even that isn't enough to motivate me.

Seriously, however, getting a Statistics tutor may help me get over that fear. Finding free Statistics help is actually quite easy, especially now that we are living in a highly technological world. Through the internet, there are many sites to find Statistics answers. An added bonus, it's all available at my fingertips anytime of day. Plus there are all sorts of software to make computing and the like quick and almost painless.


Perhaps soon I will overcome my fear of research.Hopefully it come before it's too late. But then again....let's see what happens! To be fair, I do join in with group research projects and in the meantime, that's gotta suffice :-)

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Salt Arrives this July!

After such a long wait, I am so happy to know that Angelina Jolie's latest movie, SALT, will finally be in theaters this July! As far as I know, this has been in the works since 2009 and I have seen so many trailers promoting it but it isn't till now that we have final confirmation that it will be shown at the end of the month. I CAN'T WAIT!!! Woot!

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The Wonderful World of PDF

As a child, I loved spending countless hours in the bookstore. When I was living in the States, my playground of choice was the neighborhood library. However, now that I am grown up, I don't have the luxury of spending time in those places anymore. In fact, I barely have time to read :-( Right now, the only stuff I end up reading are journal articles and ebooks on my handy-dandy E63.It helps a lot that pdf files are readily available and easily downloaded into my phone so I can read them whenever I am in transit.

One thing, however, that frustrates me when I browse pdf files online, especially those that are for academic purposes, is that sometimes it is not specified if it is a full article or if it's just an abstract. It would help if there were thumbnails and previews that would allow me to check the files, such as the newagepdfsearch, without downloading first, that way I don't use up the precious little space left in my trusty lappy.

Also, as a teacher, I try to save my files in pdf so that I can be more confident in uploading and sharing notes and lectures with my students. This way I am assured, to some degree, that whatever I send is not as easily changed as compared to in a simple document file.

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Looking for nominees for the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs?

It's just about that time of the year where the blogosphere searches for the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of the year. I found out about this contest last year when I got into the whole blogging scene. Back then, my blog, The Accidental Teacher was nominated!

This year, two of my blogs have made appearances on the list again! Nominated are The Accidental Teacher and Fat Girl No More.I am so honored to actually be nominated, and I can only wish I can actually make the top 10 this year. Competition is tight though!!!

If you wanna join the writing contest and are looking for nominees, please do consider my blogs ;-) One more blog I'm advocating for is my friend Earth's blog, Surviving Autism and for foodie fans, Nomnomclub.

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What's in the Rainbow's End?

Sometimes I wish I could still believe in the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That will definitely solve a lot of my money woes and let me have the power to purchase whatever I want, whenever I want :-) I don't really need much, but I would love having the option of not having to be tied down to a job to earn a living. Imagine, if  I could spot gold at the end of a rainbow were real, given the price of gold in today's market, I could sure solve not just my problems, but even other people who matter to me.

What's also great about having a pot of gold at my disposal is the fact that gold prices continue to go up, no matter how bad a market can be. Even if gold price fluctuates now and then, it still is a worthwhile investment. This is why, I think, many people invest in gold buillon and bars.

So, do you wanna join me in finding a gold spot at the end of the rainbow??? Hahaha! If only these were real!!! For now, I will settle for investing in gold jewelry! Speaking of which, maybe this would be a great gift for my latest goddaughter, what do you think???

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Eclipse Opens Today!!!!

Though I am not a big Twilight Fan, I can't help but get into the whole Twilight Fever whenever it comes up. Last night I got to catch an advanced screening of the latest installment of the series, Eclipse. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it a lot :-) There were a lot of cheesy, funny, and kilig moments that any viewer would enjoy, particularly the female audiences :-)

Two of my favorite lines: (without spoiling anything!)
"You have to admit, I'm hotter than you!" Jacob to Edward
"Jacob....stay!" Bella to Jacob

cute huh? ;-)

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Back from hiatus

Gosh, I can't believe I've neglected this blog for quite some time....I hope to be able to be more consistent in updating this soon. I've just been very busy with my numerous jobs plus trying to successfully maintain to many blogs mwahahaha.

Anyway, I will try to be back here more often! This blog will undergo some changes, though, so watch out for that :-)

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AyosDito.ph taps into my inner bagaholic!

I swore I will never buy a branded bag in my lifetime. No matter how popular or beautiful these bags may be, whether it is a Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada or Hermés, I wasn't going to buy them. Now...if I were to be given one as a present, that's another story!!!

Anyway, when I was browsing through the AyosDito.ph website (I was looking if they had any of those good, sturdy laptop bags for sale  that's suitable for traveling. Last time I went out of town my laptop kinda got squeezed around because my bag was not airplane worthy!) I came across a whole bunch of these branded bags. I quickly dismissed them and wondered why people spent so much money on these bags until I came across something that caught my eye:

Pretty, right? Against my better judgment, I clicked it and fell in love with it even more! *sigh*

What I like about it is that it's a super simple and classic design without so much fanfare and yet can catch anyone's eye (it sure caught mine!) Plus, it reminds me of the bag in the television show Rubi which stars Angelica Panganiban. Being a big fan of that show I suppose is what attracted me to this bag. Hers was black though, but I prefer this gold version. However, the price tag broke my heart!!!

Yes, my inner bagaholic suddenly came back to life!

I guess it's back to the bag search for me since this is an impossibility for me! Luckily AyosDito.ph has a whole bunch of other beautiful bags, some preloved, some brand new. I'm sure something here will fit my budget. Let's just hope I don't get sidetracked by all the other products and  classified ads in the website or else I'd be needing more than just 217,000!!! This may be a tall order though: browsing through these ads is so easy and user-friendly, plus it makes doing online purchases so easy that it will take every ounce of effort to control myself. Although I have to admit, having online shopping so readily available in a local setting is a great thing. Perhaps I should think about selling some things there too, what do you think?

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Showbiz Politics

With the end of the elections, the people's mandate is clear: showbiz is not always a guarantee to Philippine politics. HOWEVER, a large percentage of showbiz personalities still won their various posts. Take for example Lucy Torres-Gomez and Manny Pacquaio. We also have the topnotcher senatorial bet Ramon Bong Revilla. I am not taking away anything from these actors-sports personalities-etcetera turned politician but one thing is clear with me: I hope they do a good job. Perhaps personally I wouldn't have voted for them, but who knows what the next six years will bring. Let's see and hope for the best. Just remember: unlike the movies, there isn't a take two here so please do it right :-)

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Webhosting, HTML and other online language

Two years ago, I knew nothing about CSS, HTML and all these foreign sounding codes. I figured, why'd I have to learn about it when I had my free blogging platform that worked like a charm. It had built in designs and templates, all I really needed to do was type in my text and click publish. However, after some time I got bored with the backgrounds, the colors and so on and so forth so I started exploring the lay-outs and codes. Soon enough I learned what java script meant and these previously unknown terms became understandable to me. At first, it was limited to just tweaking the html codes. My biggest accomplishment at that time was being able to install my own favicon, thanks to some online tutorials!!!

Today I have progressed to knowing about bandwidth, cpanel and cheap hosting plans that offered the best package for your blogging needs. I am lucky I have a web host who helps me a lot with figuring out how things work and who gives me tips to improve the monetizing potential of my blogs. It's nice that even someone like me can redesign and tweak my blogs almost completely independently.

The next thing I have to master with this whole blogging thing is remembering how all these things work and more importantly: the passwords of all my different blog accounts!!!

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Bubba's Vacation!!!

I am looking forward to Thursday because at long last, I will be taking Bubba back to the beach!!! :-) The last time we were there was October two years ago and both he and I enjoyed it a lot. The only downside to our trip is the fact that my trusty old point and shoot camera broke down...just when I bought a new battery for it. For some reason, it started taking photos with all these random white lines on it. My online friends say it looks like a lens problem and that having it repaired may not be worth it. I'm gonna give it a shot though, but most likely they're right :-( Funny though, it can still take videos. Let's see what happens from here. I'm trying to stop myself from buying a new one because a.) I don't really need it and b.) I have my SLR camera anyway. But I still want a handy point and shoot!!! Gadget gods please send one my way!!!

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Schoolhouse Cleanup

One of the hardest things to do in terms of getting ready for an upcoming school year is updating the equipment and cleaning up the school grounds, especially when you have a limited budget to work with. In our school, one other problem we have to contend with is that since we are renting the building, we cannot just do structural repairs such as changing the roofing or taking down a wall without the permission of the owner.

If I could, I would really want to explore flooring solutions for our covered playground area because I truly detest the cemented area where the kids play

 Even though our playground looks nice, that particular area worries me because of it's accident potential. We also have an area near my classroom that has a pebble wash flooring which I want to do something about, such epoxy slip-proof flooring just like what I saw in the flooring solutions melbourne site. I think this may make our school even safer for our kids.

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Wanna win some $$$? :-)

One of my other blogs, www.yapatoots.com is celebrating it's FIRST BLOG ANNIVERSARY!!! :-) Thanks to a whole bunch of sponsors and supporters, I am hosting a thanksgiving contest and I am inviting you all to join. This is a great opportunity to take time out and give thanks and recognize what we are grateful for.

The prizes are as follows:

•  GRAND PRIZE
  
  • 
    
    • $30 USD via Paypal
    • INFO domain plus hosting for one year
    • 1  Pinoy Blogger Shirt from Lakwatsero
    • 1 Yummy Book
    • Sponsorship Link for 6 months
    • running ads link for 1 year
    • 2 125×125 banner ad for a month

• Other prizes: 
  
  
  • First Place
    
    • $15
    • 1,500 EC credits
    • A dress from the Fab Recessionista
    • 1 YummyBook
    • Sponsorship Link for 6 months
    • running ads link for 1 year
    • 1 month ad space
  • Second Place
    
    • $10
    • 1,000 EC credits
    • Starbucks Cap from NomnomClub.com
    • 1 Yummy Book
    • Sponsorship Link 6 months
    • 1 month ad space
  • Third Place
    
    • $5 via Pay Pal
    • 1,500 Ec credits
    • Starbucks Cap from NomnomClub.com
    • 1 Yummy Book
    • Sponsorship Link for 6 months
    • ad space for 1 month

• Special Awards
  
  • The Early Bird Prize goes to the first officially verified and completed entry (Based on the main contest requirements)
    
    • $5 via Pay Pal
    • Pinoy Blogger Shirt
    • Starbucks ID Lace
    • 2 ad spaces for 1 month
  • Top Commentator
    
    • $5 via Pay Pal
    • 1 Starbucks China Demitasse Cup
    • 1 Pinoy Blogger Shirt
    • 1 Yummy Book
    • Sponsorship Link 6 months
    • I year running ads at the blog site
    • 2 ad spaces for 1 month
  • High Score!
    
    • $5 via Pay Pal
    • 1 Pawnacea “Walk in the Park” Kit: a pot of Paw Balm and a bottle of Grooming Spray
    • 1 Globe Tattoo USB stick
    • 1 Starbucks ID lace from NomnomClub.com
    • 1 Dress from the Fab Recessionista
    • 1 GC  60 minute superskin or cosmeceutical facial from VX Facials
    • 2 ad spaces
    • AND MY FAVORITE PRIZE: A Starbucks Tumbler!

Please do drop by here and join!!!

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Never over-estimate a quarter-tank full of gas.

I should listen to my mother more.

She always tells me to NEVER let my gas tank go below the one-fourth line because she says that by doing so, I run the risk of letting the sediment in the gas tank circulate throughout the engine of the car, thus affecting the car's life span. She says that once these problems start up, it can trigger a chain reaction where the gaskets can blow, the timing belt and fan belts get loose and what not. In general, I try to listen. However, since I received a BDO Emerald Rewards card which earns me points if I gas up in a Petron station, I tend to be more careless about it because I keep delaying gassing up until I come across such a station.

Last Sunday, I got in my car and saw that the indicator read a wee bit before the 1/4 mark. I decided that it would be okay enough to drive to the mall where I was supposed to meet my friends and to gas up in the Petron station nearby. Little did I know that there was a massive traffic jam due to the Tears for Fears concert PLUS a campaign rally being held along EDSA. I got held up in traffic for over 3 hours and yes, that 1/4 tank of gas started to run out! I was panicking like all hell!!! I was imagining the worst already because I was stuck in the major thoroughfare with no end in sight! And yes: there were no nearby gas stations!!!

Lesson learned: listen to your mother!!! I guess she was right when she said be cautious about the maintenance of my car or else it could end up like my friends honda accord or her toyota corolla which have gotten old and dilapidated and....well....not even the Humpty Dumpty or car repair companies such as San Francisco auto repair could put them back together again!

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Win with this quick and easy contest!!!

I love joining contests even though I seem to not be Lady Luck's (or should I say Random.Org's)favorite person. I have only won 1 randomized contest ever but that doesn't stop me from trying :-) With that, here's another attempt at beating that curse!!!


I am joining Pinay Mommy Online's Follow Me Philippines Giveaway! Prizes include cash via Pay Pal, banner ads, a Blogging From Home book and one year's domain hosting and .info registration. Joining is so easy...it's the winning that's not! Here's hoping I beat the odds this time!

yapatoots

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Finding Options for Grocery Woes

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Today I went to the grocery to stock up on stuff for the house and was appalled by how much my total bill was. It was over P 5,000, which is roughly about $115. I didn't really get much that was different from usual, which made me think why my bill keeps getting higher. When I got home, I checked out my stash and I realized one thing: I tend to be too stuck on the same brand all the time, even when there are other brands, including store brands that are on sale or sold at much lower prices.I think this really just proves to me how I tend to be an unwise consumer. I do admit I get sold by advertisements and good packaging.

As I read through the information from the Recession, Recovery & Store Brands consumer report, I was made aware of how much I can actually save by looking more into store brands. In fact, the report showed that about 49% of consumers felt that store brand products compare quite favorably against branded products. About four out of ten consumers have also shifted to the less expensive store brands such as Parent's Choice instead of continuing patronage to national brands. While some may feel more confidence in the branded product, studies show that store brands also have as good a quality as these products, very much like generic medication and the like. It really just needs more scrutiny and wiser decision making.

Next time I go to the market, I will try to be a better consumer. After all, my money will only go as far as I let it, right?

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Summer Swimsuit Giveaway!!!

I think if you've been reading my blogs for sometime now that you'll know how much I love the beach, right? There's just something about being in the beach that makes me so happy :-) Believe it or not, however, one of my most constant beach companions is my mom. Yup, my mom :-) We love just laying out in the sun and getting a tan. We try to make sure, however, that we are protected with sunblock.

One reason I am joining Pinay Mommy Online's latest contest, the Summer Swimsuit Giveaway is because I want to give my mom a new swimsuit for our next trip. She's the type of person kasi to wear the same swimsuit all the time until she wears it out. I want her to have this suit: 

this was my favorite suit from HameGame, a swimsuit online store in the Philippines

I definitely won't fit in to it, but I'm sure she would look good in it!

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Summer Math Programs

In the school I teach in, we have an overflow of students who come in for Reading and Math help during the summer. I think it's their way of trying to make sure their kids are ready for the next school year. However, with the stifling heat and terrible weather we are experiencing, I wish I can just become an Online Tutor! This way I can meet my students without having to leave home.

Given that Math is not my preferred subject, will limit my Free Online Tutoring to other subjects, if it does happen. I definitely wouldn't make much of a Math Tutor, given the fact that I am not a very good Math Problem Solver! However, there are many sites available that are currently offering Online Math Tutor services.

Some parents may have qualms about getting Math Tutors Online, however. Some may be apprehensive about the kind of interaction their kids will get without the face to face interaction of a teacher. Studies show, however, that interactions online are very much like interactions offline. The bonus about online tutoring, however, is that it may end up being more cost-effective and convenient. Hmmm....this is really making me contemplate the idea of taking my teaching online!

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See you at the iBlog Summit!

Time does really fly fast, doesn't it? In the last year, my blog has grown to become BLOGS, my motivations and purposes for blogging have changed, and my perception about online media have definitely broadened. Add to this the fact that because of my blogging activities, I have enriched myself in so many ways.

Just around this time last year, I attended my first ever iBlog convention/summit. I was a newbie blogger then and I didn't have much friends from the blogger community. This Friday, I am looking forward to attending the iBlog 6 which will be held again at the UP Malcolm Theater. This year, I feel more comfortable in my interaction with fellow bloggers and I now have more confidence in sharing my ideas and my blogs with them. I'm really looking forward to what this year's iBlog will bring. Hope to see you then!

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Bring the Munk Home!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alvin and the Chipmunks. All opinions are 100% mine.

When Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeakquel came out, most of my preschoolers started coming to school singing the song "Single Ladies". I remember how cute they looked attempting to dance like the Chipettes and how they would argue who would be the different characters from the show. I then shared to them about how Alvin and the Chipmunks used to be a cartoon and how I loved watching it on VHS. Many of them didn't believe me at first until I fished out an old copy of my Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album with a picture on the cover! I played the tape and let them listen to the songs Christmas Don't Be Late and the Hula Hoop song.

It's funny how one of my all time favorite cartoons has gone computer generated. On one hand, I love how the new generations are able to get to know these characters the way I did when I was a child, on the other, on the other, I wish they remained cartoons still. Nonetheless, the characters are still much loved and they have taken on a new dynamic. Not only do we get to see them on the big screen, we can even play Alvin and the Chipmunks games. I tried out the game called "Munk Yourself" where you create your own Chipmunk character. It's kind of playing paper dolls, only high tech! Being an online interactive game, you get to mix and match your Chipmunk!

 We can all re-live the Chipmunk experience at home! The Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download. A double DVD pack is also available which has a bonus disc entitled "The Squeak Along" which I'm sure kids will enjoy singing along to. Perhaps for my next preschool family day program I can even get my kids to do a song number like the Chipettes :-) Click here to buy it now and enjoy More Munk Mayhem!

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Yey I Won!!!!

Contest update: I just read via Google Alerts that I had won second place in the Earthlingorgeous contest! Woot! Thats $25.00 green buckaroos for me!!! It comes just in time as I have to renew my Flickr subscription which costs, you guessed it, $25.00 haha. Well, to be exact, $24.95.

More than winning the prize is the thrill of winning it actually :-) I love joining blog contests because of the thrill I get from it. I dunno why, it just thrills me to bits!!! fun fun fun!!! :-)

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Get some Gorgeousness from Earthlingorgeous :-)

Wanna win $100 and lots of fab prizes? I sure do! I'm glad I finally was able to sit down in front of my computer and work on my entry for Earth's 2nd Blogversary and Thanksgiving Treat!

I first met Earth in person last April 2009 after she had so graciously supported my Autism Awareness project which I had done for my birthday. I remember we met up in Jollibee in Farmer's Market so I could deliver to her the baller bands she pledged for. I met her daughter Tasha too for the first time then. It was because of my search for a project to support for my birthday that I came across her blog and became a regular visitor of it. Her post on being Angels for Autism has been one of the most influential posts for me, hence it's very close to my heart.

 Prior to that, she was just an online friend who I admired because of her fun and interesting posts and comments in Plurk, although at times she can be rather controversial! Little did I know that she'd end up as one of the blogger friends I always get to hang out with in various events and someone I can always rely on for support when it comes to blogging.

I always enjoy reading her rants and raves about everything that happens to her, as well as the events she attends. What I'd like to see more of, perhaps, is more of how she deals with, copes and manages life as a mom to Tasha, as well as her continued journey through parenting a child with autism.


The Earthlingorgeous Blogversary and Thanksgiving treat contest is sponsored and supported by the following:

1. Eastwood City
2. Geiser Maclang
3. Ogilvy
4. Avon Philippines
5. Neutrogena
6. 20th Century Fox
7. Strategic Edge Marketing

and also the blogging community, namely:

1. TheStrugglingBlogger.com
2. Jenaisleonline.com
3. Badudets.com
4. Christian Homeschooler.info
5. Pinayads.com
6. Brownpinay.com
7. Online Money Making Experience.com
8. Kevin Ray Chua.com
9. The Accidental Teacher.com
10. Mommy Journey.com
11. Pinaymom.org
12. Newsbreakonline.com
13. LivinglifetodFullest . blogspot.com
14. Fabrecessionista.com
15. Angelic-melody.net
16. Luvspot.net
17. Barbie-doll.co.cc
18. Eleanormordenoaguilar.blogspot.com
19. Morefoodadventures.blogspot.com
20. Darling Aguilar.com
21. MommyDharlz.info
22. Eleanoraguilar.com
23. Honeysweet Learning Center.info
24. Torquoisethespian.blogspot.com
25. Neonila-aperfectworld.blogspot.com
26. Matakaw-Ako.com
27. Travelwithmarie.blogspot.com
28. WordyLiz.com
29. Liezl-read-write.blogspot.com
30. Marriage and Beyond.com
31. KikayCorner.net
32. Fedhz.com
33. Heartrandom.com
34. Pinaymom.org
35. Jay-elx.blogspot.com
36. Mizhelle.blogspot.com
37. Upnowandwhatsnext.blogspot.com
38. Pinaysinglemommy.com
39. Melandriaromeroo.net
40. Bloggingfromhome.com
41. So-magical.co.cc
42. Projectlightning.com
43. 7107reasons.com
44. I Heart Contest.com
45. Oh So Random.info
46. HealthySingleMommy.com
47. Supladita.net
48. Kissmemwah.net
49. Maldita.us
50. SurvivingAutism.net
51. Yapatoots.com
52. Mike Mamaril.com
53. JoeyMd.com
54. Tsinay.com
55. Practicaltipsandmore.com
56. The-Working-Mom.blogspot.com
57. SexyPinayBody.com
58. MyCameraSexy.com
59. ReviewsPehpot.com
60. PinayHome.com
61. Chuchieshideaway
62. PlacesIHaveBeen21.blogspot.com
63. OnADietDaw.blogspot.com

Both the main and the side CONTEST DEADLINE is on MARCH 21, 2010, Sunday!

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I care about eye care.

A former professor of mine used to play a game of forced choices with us. He'd ask us two equally difficult or improbable options to choose from and he'd say that we just had to pick one --- no explanations, no rationalizations, just choose. I used to hate that game, mainly because I don't like making quick choices, except of course when it comes to shopping.

Anyway, a few days ago I read an article about glaucoma which was written by a blogger friend of mine and it got me to thinking about forced choices. If you were to lose one of your five senses, what would it be? I guess up to now I can't really decide and I pray with all my heart I never have to know what that's like but it made me more aware of the importance of  eye care because as a blogger and a more visually oriented person, losing my sight is probably the worst thing ever. In her article, Doc Joanna talked about ways to avoid glaucoma and the importance of having yearly checks to be able to prevent or treat possible eye diseases. While I am still relatively young (okay, despite being in my 30's) I will start making sure I have the right eye wear especially since I love being under the sun. As per the article, sun exposure can be a factor in damaging the eyes too. Also, since I'm always in front of the computer, I will make it a point to rest my eyes every hour to avoid damaging them...like I said...I care about eye care!

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Summertime is here!!!

It's official: summer is here!!! Teacher is on break for the next few weeks (until summer classes start, that is) so hopefully I can catch up on blogging and update my too many sites hehe! Much as I love blogging and enjoy writing a lot, my offline work has to take precedence over blogging a lot of times :-( not complaining though. Hopefully in the next few weeks I can learn how to juggle it better so I can have a better work-life-blog balance.

In any case, let me invite you to check out my other blogs:

Teacher Ria's TheAccidentalTeacher.com
My food blog www.onadietdaw.blogspot.com
Ironically, my blog about dieting www.fatgirlnomore.com
and my mixed bag review blog www.yapatoots.com

did I forget anything else?

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Moving in New Directions

It's been almost a year since I explored the world of self-hosted blogging and creating niches for my sites. Since then, I have seen my life go in so many new directions, sometimes it's hard to keep up. I went from being a typical schoolteacher to a pseudo-media practitioner (I call it pseudo because I've only gotten my toes wet in this new direction, I haven't really fully submerged myself in to it), and for the most part, I've loved every minute of it. It goes way beyond the perks of attending events, but I love how by going in this new path, my world has really opened up.

I'd like to think my adventure has also influenced the people I work with in my offline life. Since I've shared about what I do online, my colleagues, for example, have started to recognize the potential of blogging and social media in our clinical practice. Currently, I am trying to figure out how to manage our company site, and being the newbie that I still am, I'm still having difficulty learning the ropes. One thing I am exploring now is a good business web hosting plan, especially since I think that our needs may exceed a personal blogger's needs, but these are all just ideas so far. I still have to orient myself with the terms and codes that still confuse me every now and then!

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Bubba's Visit to the Vet

Yesterday, I was alarmed when my brother called me and said "napilay ata si Bubba" (I think Bubba sprained his foot). I was so worried that I drove home as fast as I could. When I got home, he limped carefully towards the gate (although still as joyously as he usually does!). I saw he was holding up his left paw and couldn't bear much weight on it. He wouldn't let me touch it to check, so I believe it must have been hurting him a lot. I was so worried about him all night and to top it off, there was a brownout for over two and a half hours from 11 pm till about 1:30 am. I had to keep on fanning him because he was so uncomfortable and I could hear him breathing heavily the whole time.

Incidentally, he was really scheduled to go to the vet today for his annual anti-rabies shots. So not only did the vet check his paw, he also got his 7-in-1 vaccinations (against Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, etc.) and heartworm prevention shots updated. I spent P1,600 to get all of this done, and although it was a blow to the pocket, I think the protection it gives him (and people around him) is worth the expense.

Going back to his foot, however, the doctor really couldn't find anything wrong. There's no fracture or visible wounds, so his suspicion is either someone may have stepped on his foot, he could have had the dog door shut on his toe or he could have stepped on something hot while taking his morning walk. I was advised to just keep the area clean and to observe for the meantime.

Thanks so much to all my blogger and plurk friends who offered words of comfort and support to me last night as I worried myself sick over my little Bugoy :-)

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I got my Cats Ticket!!!

I got my ticket for the play Cats! I was really hoping to catch the world renowned Broadway play when it comes to Manila this year. However, tickets were kinda pricey. I had to settle for the cheaper seats but it definitely isn't the best seat in the house. Nonetheless I'm quite excited to see it come August 1. Another show I would really like to catch one day is Cirque de Soleil. It will actually be running from February to May this year at the Beacon Theatre and I know you can get affordable Beacon Theatre Tickets online.

There are also a lot of exciting concerts and events to watch out for. Here in Manila, Paramore will be performing soon at the (if I'm not mistaken) Araneta Coliseum. Tickets are available already and I know there are some promos for free tickets too. Prudential Center Tickets are also available for concerts by Taylor Swift, Daughtry and Alicia Keys.

For sports fans, there are also New York Rangers Tickets available online already. I am not a big sports fan but I'd sure love to see a hockey game or even a football game live. I've only seen the local basketball games and college soccer competitions live and the excitement of being in the actual venue is very different from watching on television.

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Fil-Am Finishes 10th in the Winter Olympics!

I was browsing the results of the Winter Olympics Pairs Figure Skating competition and found a pleasant surprise: one of the skaters in competition is Filipino-American. Amanda Evora has roots from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. Her father, Vicente "Boy" Evora was a native from there. Amanda was born in New York but had relocated to Bradenton, Florida to be able to pursue figure skating. Amanda and her skating partner, Mark Ladwig, finished tenth in today's pairs skating competition in Vancouver.

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Data Cards and Mobile Connections

Recently, my friend spruced up my HP IPAQ in the hopes that I can make use of the portable pocket PC once again. Ever since I got it a few years back, I never was really able to get how to make the internet connections work. All I'm usually used to is the automatic types that just connect instantly when it finds a signal. One of the tabs in the internet connections options said "data card", which I had no idea what was. So I checked it out on Google and found a blog about data cards and I realized that this is perhaps why I was not able to maximize the internet potentials of my pocket PC.

A data card is something that can be used with notebooks computers for mobile broadband access, like one of those Aircel data cards. I haven't seen any of these cards yet but I would sure like to give it a try, after all, I already have the device. It would be great to actually make it work. These data cards boast good browsing speeds which is better than a dial-up connection, although it's said not to be good enough for streaming media. Nonetheless, for a blogger like me, I think it would serve it's purpose enough.

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Valentine's Day Opens Tomorrow!

Fall in love with the star studded cast of Valentine's Day at a cinema near you starting tomorrow! Valentine's Day is a fun romantic comedy that will surely make you laugh and cry and love every moment of it. While I felt Julia Roberts' role was too small for someone like her, the culmination of her love story was the "awwwww...." moment for me. I enjoyed Anne Hathaway's rowdy love tale as well :-)

Catch all the love in Valentine's Day, brought to you by Warner Bros. Pictures. Opens in theaters February 12, 2010.

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Finding Math Solutions Online

Many of the kids I work with struggle with math. Heck, even I struggled with the same thing all through school. Just this morning, I got word that one of my former students who is a fourth grader now is looking for a tutor to help her with her math problems. Finding a good tutor, especially this late in the school year, is a little difficult because most teachers I know are fully booked already. Whether its for statistics help, Precalculus help or chemistry help, tutors are in big demand.

So I suggested checking out online tutoring services. Online math tutoring can be a good alternative for her problems, especially since she's pretty competent with her studies anyway. She just needs the extra support and someone to check on her math answers for her homework. Also, I think that having this kind of supervision is sufficient enough for this girl's needs.

Perhaps if I were a student of today with the conveniences of modern technology, I would not have struggled as much. Who knows, with enough of this help, I could have graduated with honors instead.

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Cinema Peeves

Watching movies are supposed to be pleasurable experiences, right? Not so long ago, however, as I watched a film in Robinsons Place, I got so frustrated because of two very uncouth and disrespectful girls. For a good part of the movie, one of them was on a cellphone. And take note: she was on loudspeaker. Genius right? If I weren't so far away, I would have told her off. When she wasn't on the phone, she and her companion laughed and talked loudly.

I remember before when I was younger, there were ushers in movie houses right? I was hoping one would show up today and shush those girls up, or better yet, ask them to leave. In general I let those who chit chat during a movie go. I understand that it's almost human nature to do so. But to completely disregard rules of etiquette and consideration? Oh please.

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Celebrating 50 Years of Art with the Lopez Museum and Library

The Philippines has been blessed not only with wonderful natural resources like beaches and tourist destinations but also with an abundance of talented individuals. For fifty years now, the Lopez Museum and Library has housed amazing artworks and Filipiniana treasures such as paintings from National Artists Fernando Amorsolo and Botong Fransisco. This year, the Lopez Museum celebrates 50th anniversary on February 18. In celebration, a series of events and launches are lined up, starting with the Unfolding book launch and opening of Threads exhibit which will be held at the Rockwell Tent.

"Unfolding Half a Century: The Lopez Memorial Museum" is a coffee table book that will surely of great interest to all art lovers out there. Alongside the book launch is the opening of the Threads: The Museum as Site for the Weaving of Tales. Threads is an exhibit that will feature the works of artists Jean Marie Syjuco, Ann Wizer,  Myra Beltran, Jef Carnay, Ann Pamintuan,  Leo Abaya and Kiri Dalena, each of whom were invited to craft a work or come up with a "cosplay" of a character found in the iconic works in the museum, essentially weaving their own tales based on the museum collection. These pieces will be exhibited at from February 19 to 25 at the Rockwell Power Plant Mall North Court.

Rounding out the Lopez Museum's 50th year celebration is it's anniversary exhibition at the museum premises which is located at the Ortigas Center in Pasig. Entitled After the Fact, the exhibition will feature the works of Gaston Damag, Antipas Delotavo, Imelda  Cajipe-Endaya and Keith Sicat, as well as key works from the museum collection.



Just last week I was talking to a friend and I remember saying one thing that is missing in the Philippines is a good venue for the appreciation for the arts. Apparently I was wrong. Sad to say, if not for the Lopez Museum and Library Facebook Page, I wouldn't have been aware of all of these! It's nice to know that our country has such an impressive musuem and library that actually now ranks as one of the finest in Asia. This is definitely something I have to check out soon!

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Happy Birthday Bubba!

 

Happy Birthday, Bubba

Happy Birthday, Bubba

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Bubba!

My little boy is 5 today :-) okay...he's not a little boy anymore. Its amazing how quickly time flies and he's grown so much. Just see the changes!

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Quick and Easy Photo Effects!

I am so jealous of my friend Janine's photoshopping skills. Try as I might, I can never get what she does! All I can manage to do is adjust lighting and brightness, but to do fun photoshop effects like making it seem that you are in another place or even better, in a drawing or big screen, is an impossibility for me. Much as I try, I can't seem to master the fine art of photo shop! Well, to be fair, I think if I really tried hard enough, I'd get it, but I don't really have the time or patience to do so.

Good thing I came across an online funny photo effects site which allows me to upload photos and in an instant, my photos are transformed! Take a look at these:

thanks Iris for the nice photo that I was able to transform!

I picked these effects because I always liked sketches but I'm too shy to pose for a portrait.Through this online program, I have what I wanted :-) There are lots of other funny pictures effects available, such as making your photo a tattoo, appear next to a white tiger, in a Rubik's cube and lots more. In fact, new effects are added daily.

Beat that Photoshop!  Granted that I am limited to the uploaded effects, the fact that there are so many effects to choose from definitely trumps that. Plus all the time I get to save from editing a photo over and over to get an effect that I want is a big bonus!

Here's another one I liked a lot! 

This is a nice treatment for one of my very favorite photos. I love how the sepia tones bring an old feeling to the photo. I used the same effect for other photos but this ended up being the best. Why don't you give it a try too? Take my word for it: trying out these effects can be addicting!

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Apple's Baaaack!!!!

After suffering through months of the wheel of death, I finally sent off Apple to a good friend who suggested that reformatting her would at least help with her spinning condition. True enough, Apple's back to normal. Even better I must say....she got a RAM upgrade too! Imagine, she was running at 512mb...no wonder! And I was ragging on those little Asus lappies  that only used to have 1gb. mwahahaha! Oops, my bad!!!

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Give Your Skin Some Flavor!

One of the things I noticed when I first lost weight (which unfortunately I've gained back since then!) is how I loose my skin had gotten, especially around the triceps area. Now that I'm getting older, I have also began to feel that my skin is not as firm and supple as it used to be. I've tried a myriad of firming lotions that promised results but I've always hated the feel of lotion especially in our hot weather so when I came across a toning soap that can help tone and tighten skin, I gave it a try.

I've been using this organic seaweed soap (seaweed and molasses with tea tree organic body bar to be exact) for about a week now. I like the somewhat minty smell the soap has and I was quite surprised at how easy it is to get the soap to lather. My previous experiences with organic soaps were quite different. Also, the bar remains firm up to now, unlike in the past where if I hold it too tight, the soap kind of gets squished. The first night I used it, I felt like my skin was a little bit too tight and itchy, especially in my legs, but upon looking at it, I saw that the old dead skin cells from my recent beach trip had started to fall out. Because the seaweed and molasses exfoliates the dead skin cells, I had started to (for lack of a better word!) shed off the dried and sunburnt skin. The next morning, I used the soap again and it felt nice. The minty smell, I guess coming from the tea tree oil and organic essences, made me feel refreshed. I also felt like my skin was scrubbed clean without the over-dried feeling I get from some harsher soaps. I have also read that tea tree oil acts as a cleanser and astringent. Perhaps this can also be a good anti-pimple soap because of that. I've been having break-outs recently due to hormones that are acting up so I guess I can see if this will be effective.

Body Flavors Enterprises is the brainchild of founder and CEO Azenith C. Badana who is, like me, a beach lover. She also is an advocate for Mother Nature, thus her desire to come up with products that are eco-friendly. Her soaps are purely organic, 100% natural  and safe on the skin. It is based on VCO or Virgin Coconut Oil which has a lot of very good anti-aging qualities, plus it is truly very Pinoy. The soaps come in different variants so you can definitely give your skin the flavor it deserves.

Body Flavors Seaweed and Molasses Organic Body Bar retails for Php 100.00. See more Body Flavors here: http://bodyflavors.smilds.com. Body Flavors is also available at the Health Buff Wellness Shop, Unit 212 (2nd level) Doña Anita Building, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City (across St. Luke's Medical Center/ Burger King).

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Only in the Philippines.

Every day as I drive home, I see countless campaign streamers from those promising change to those that claim they have a solution to the ills of our nation. However, every time I see these ads, I think to myself, only in the Philippines.

It still baffles me how our political system works. Okay, granted I am not one who really gets deeply ingrained in the system, but I still find it amazing how people in power can stay in power almost forever. It's interesting to see how even those convicted of crimes are able to still be part of the political system. What's sad about our political system, I think, is that despite the fact that many want to make a difference, the deeply rooted problems of graft and corruption are still overpowering.

At the end of the day, I guess the one thing I can do in hopefully making a change is by empowering myself and arming myself with information, especially now that the elections are coming up. I haven't really made a solid decision as to who to support and why I would support them, but for now, I will explore the options and make sure I don't make my vote go to waste.

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Homeowner Dreams and No More Rental Wishes.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

If there is one dream that is true to most people, it's the dream of owning your own home. It goes beyond just the quintessential American dream. When you own place of your own, it gives you more than just a house to live in, but for all intents and purposes, a HOME. For many Filipinos, whether here or abroad, owning a home can be an elusive dream. While we may have loans available such as that with Pag-ibig, or the government run housing loan system, the costs can be way beyond what a typical family makes. Unlike in the US, especially nowadays, there are a lot of incentives to purchasing a home now. In fact, applying for the 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits  has been extended until April 30, 2010. This would be valid so long as the closing date of the contract is on or before June 30, 2010.

This gives potential homeowners, even first time buyers, an opportunity to receive up to $8,000 in tax credits. Learn more by browsing through the Coldwell Banker website. As an added bonus, looking for a home is made even more accessible as you can start looking for your dream home right. Through this tax credit deal, more people can not only make the most of their hard earned buck, but they can  make their homeowner dreams and no more rental wishes come true!

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The Benefits of a Foreign Education.

I never really gave studying abroad much thought before. To be honest, even my application for graduate school was not given much thought in the beginning. I actually enrolled on a whim. At the end of the day, I realize it was a great spur of the moment decision. It has made a big difference in my life and how things have fallen into place for me. If I were to do it over, I probably would have thought more about my decision and considered the many options out there for those who want further education. Perhaps, I would have considered going abroad to study.

Last night, I was invited to an event hosted by the British Council that highlighted many education opportunities for Filipinos in the UK. During the dinner, we heard from two Filipinos, both of whom were granted scholarships by the British Council to schools in the UK, such as the London School of Economics. Both students stressed one thing about their British education: more than just being "taught", they learned. They learned to ask the right questions, they learned to think and they learned to live life more fully. From their perspectives, I got to see how getting a foreign education can really broaden one's way of thinking and open one's eyes to a world beyond just imagination.

Getting an education in the UK is easier than one would think. As part of the British Council's GO: Know More, Do More, Live More campaign, a series of Education UK events will be held across the metro where anyone can come by and find out how they can pursue higher education in the fields of Technology, Beauty and Fashion, and Business and Entrepreneurship. Interesting courses include a masters degree in F1 Engineering, clay pottery, and Women's Wear. If I'm not mistaken, even the kapamilya star Angel Locsin enrolled in a short course in one of UK's prestigious schools.

Admission to all the Education UK events are free.

Education UK events will be held on the following dates at the following venues:
Alumni Counselling Session, January 29, 2010 at the Makati Shangri-la
Funding Options Seminar, February 19, 2010 at the Top Shelf of Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street
Education UK Exhibition, March 5-6, 2010 at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel

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It's A Boy...and a Girl!

I got the most exciting news from one of  my best friend Kai.....she and her hubby are finally expecting! And yes...they're having twins!!! I am so happy for her, the only downside to her whole pregnancy and upcoming motherhood is the fact that she is doing it all the way in Florida. Hopefully I get to see more than just pictures of the babies when they come. Unlike most best friends, Kai and I can't go shopping for baby stuff together because of the fact that we live so far apart. However, we get to browse online and check out stuff she would need for their arrival. I definitely would not be around for her baby shower, but if I were, I would probably get her the strollers she would need for the babies as a baby shower gift. I like the fact that this would be a gift that grows along with the kids as they could use this for at least the first year of their lives right?

But again, given our limitations, we just exchange links and communicate online as much as we can.  In as much as I can, I try to help her out with researching about products, techniques, and the like that would really help make welcoming the twins easier for her. Since she and her hubby are quite active people, I suggested to her she check out those double strollers that are designed for jogging or running. I honestly would never have thought of that on my own, but as I browsed a websites of strollers I came across how these strollers are designed for the fitness conscious parent. Not only is the stroller streamlined and designed to accommodate the parents, it also has a suspension system that acts like a shock absorber so that the babies are snug and comfy. Cool huh? And all this time all I really thought of was the importance of choosing good umbrella strollers, especially since we all know the importance of protecting our skin from the sun's harmful rays. While she may not need the stroller right away, I guess it wouldn't hurt to canvass for the best option as early as now right?

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I ♥ Studio 23 FUSE!

Random, I know, but it has to be said: I LOVE STUDIO 23's Fresh US Episodes!!! I particularly love the fact that I don't have to wait so long to be able to watch Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice episodes. It's a few weeks delayed from the US airdate (approximately two weeks give or take) but compared to before where it would be MONTHS before I could catch an episode, this is fabulous! Wala lang, yun lang!

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Needing a Good Nights Sleep.

It's been a long time since I've really had a good nights sleep. I do get rested at night, but getting that fully charged feeling after a deep slumber has been quite elusive. My suspicion is that I am unconsciously unable to rest because of the state of my room....it's too crowded. To be fair, I have a big room. In fact, some studio apartments may even be smaller than my room but I have a problem with keeping things neat, and I think this affects the quality of my rest. I do think there is a strong mind-body connection so perhaps, the negative energy in the room because of the clutter is crowding my psyche.

Before the year ended, I started cleaning up and letting go of old things. I now am at the point of contemplating renovating the room and perhaps replacing the furniture to something that is more sleek and chic. One thing I really would love to get is one of those contemporary bedroom sets because since my sister left and I fell in love with my Bubba, I have moved my bed to the floor so I could sleep beside him. I'd like a set that comes in a fabulously amazing color scheme complete with side tables, bed ruffles, a comforter...the whole shebang! I think I have not given my bed enough importance, as seen by the ordinary sheets I throw on it, perhaps that's also that contributes to the unrest. Add to that the fact that I have gained a lot of weight and I'm not getting any younger either, so getting down to the floor has been quite a strain on my back. I hope I get to attend to this soon as I really, desperately need a good nights sleep. SOON!

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When Does Parenting Go Wrong?

On the way home from work today, I heard a comment on the radio that irked me. It said something in reference to why Jason Ivler, the wanted fugitive who was arrested this morning, became the way he is today. The comment went on to say that he became the criminal he is because he came from a dysfunctional family and he grew up with a step-dad. No doubt coming from a family filled with tension, conflict and was dysfunctional does have an impact on one's mental health, but that comment made me angry. Why? Because there are so many of us who come from dysfunctional and broken families but we are not criminals.

I feel that sometimes, parents are unfairly blamed for the way their kids turn out. But then, I am not a parent, so what would I know, right? I just feel that poor parenting is only one component of who we become. In my studies in Psychology I have grown to understand theories of child and personality development and I do not discount the gravity of a parents role in child rearing. The question begs to be asked, though, when does parenting go wrong?

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Virally Spreading the Silver Lining.

It took me quite some time to decide whether or not I would pursue a Project 365 this year because after attempting it and failing miserably last year, I thought to myself why set myself up for the hassle. However, after some time, I came up with an inspiring idea (well, I find it inspiring, hopefully someone out there will agree!) that made me decide to finally take the plunge and do my 2010 Project 365.

The next question I grappled with was where would I put this project this time? And then I remembered Yahoo! Meme.

Sometime ago a group of my friends were talking and microblogging about this but I didn't pay much attention to it because I had no idea what it was about but during the Blog4Reviews Christmas party, Yahoo! country community manager for the Philippines Jonas De Los Reyes gave a presentation about Yahoo! Meme.  He talked about how the site can be a quick and easy way to share ideas, photos, videos, audio clips, music and the like. As he defined it during the presentation, it is a postulated unit or element of cultural ideas, symbols and practices and is transmitted from one mind to another through speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena. Through the Meme, these are all easily re-blogged thus making for quick viral sharing.Prononuced as "mim", it is in many ways, a reflection of what is going on in the community.

photo credit: Az of azraelcoladilla.com

With that, my Project 365 found a home. I like the fact that not only am I adding content to a site, but that in my own small way, I can hopefully help others become more optimistic and hopeful this 2010. As my Yahoo! Meme title goes: 365 of 2010.....finding the silver lining in every day, one photo at a time. While this may be a Project 365, I have already accepted the fact that I cannot manage to upload photos daily, no matter how easy it is to do it via the Yahoo! Meme. Nonetheless, I take the photos daily and upload it when able. Granted that that is not the "right" way the project should be done, I will do it that way! This is what my meme looks like as of now:

 Through my meme's content, I can remind people that in whatever situation, there always is a silver lining that we can hold on to, no matter how bad things can get. Do follow me at Yahoo! Meme. As always, just look for yapatoots!

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Take Me to the Movies.

In the last year, I rediscovered my love for movies. For a long time, I was more into television series' rather than movies because I liked the continuity of a storyline and the attachment I built with the characters of the show, such as Meredith Grey of Grey's Anatomy, Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City, Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl and Addison Montgomery of Private Practice to name a few. However, thanks to the movie bloggers and media outfits like Warner Bros. Pictures, I rediscovered the cinema. It started surreptitiously...an invitation as a blogger friends' guest to the screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. From then on, I was hooked! So much so that I set a goal to watch at least 30 movies in any cinema for 2009. However, I failed to meet that! I only was able to watch a total of 24! Not only was I too busy, there were a few movies that didn't really peak my interest too much. However, after watching The Spy Next Door last week, I realized I shouldn't be too stuck on a particular genre because I may just be surprised. That film was indeed an unexpected and pleasant surprise because I initially had dismissed it as corny, but I was dead wrong!

This 2010, I am looking forward to more movies. Hopefully I get to hit the mark of 30 this year. I am optimistic about this because the line up of upcoming films is simply amazing but also because of last years' experience that has widened my appreciation for the big screen a lot. So far for 2010 I have seen 3 movies: the local hit I Love You, Goodbye, the eye-catching and action packed Sherlock Holmes, and the hilarious The Spy Next Door. Other films I am surely looking forward to are the following:

Sex and The City 2!!!! As the teaser goes (I saw the trailer during the screening of Sherlock Holmes), this 2010, "Get Carried Away". I loved the series, I loved the first movie and I am sure I will love this too!!!

 
The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock. If I'm not mistaken, Sandra Bullock was nominated for this film. As far as I know, too, the movie has gotten rave reviews.

Where the Wild Things Are. Based on the classic children's book of the same title, I am curious as to see how this translates to film. Honestly, though, I never got the story hehehe.

Being a big Morgan Freeman fan, Invictus is something I am looking forward too. There's something about him that really captivates me and I have yet to find a Morgan Freeman film that I have not found one I did not enjoy.

and lest I forget, the romantic comedy Valentines Day for the non-Valentine girl in me!!!

There's also Harry Potter 7, Clash of the Titans, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs....so many movies to see! So...take me to the movies?

photos all courtesy and copyright of Warner Bros. Pictures. 

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Dreaming a Little Dream For Me

Sometimes I wish I had a more flexible work schedule, one that would allow me to go on extended vacations. Don't get me wrong: I do love my teaching jobs immensely but every now and then, I wish I could be like some of those people who get to spend long periods of time in various places. Take for example Elizabeth Gilbert, the renowned author of the New York Times Bestseller Eat, Pay, Love. I would love to have the opportunity to take a year off from the everyday routine of work to take some "me" time while working on a novel (yes, my not-so-secret dream is to write a book someday!) and yet not have to worry about where money is going to come from or how I can live a normal life while away from my homeland. I wouldn't like to live as a tourist for extended periods of time after all. If I could do what she did in that year of traveling and discovery to the three lands of "I" (Indonesia, Italy and India), I'd try to find a place to live and move around the city without having to rely on hotels and the like for long. As long as the funding is around, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a short-term lease for an apartment or a room somewhere, as well as finding transportation around the city. I'd like to think that the internet would be a great tool in managing these. Car Rental Comparison, apartment hunting and other short-term leases can be explored and planned out before booking a flight to wherever you go right? Maybe someday this dream can be more than just a dream for me.

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Great Laughs with The Spy Next Door

To be honest, I was not all hell-bent on watching the flick The Spy Next Door starring Jackie Chan in the beginning. Why? I never liked Jackie Chan movies!!! I always felt that his movies were on the brink of corny. However, after being invited to catch a special screening of the film last Thursday, January 14 at SM Megamall, all my perceptions about Jackie Chan changed! He was HILARIOUS! I loved this movie. It had a good mix of comedy, family drama and action all rolled into one.

The story revolves around secret agent Bob Ho as he contemplates giving up his high-action spy life to settle down with his girlfriend Gillian (played by Amber Valletta). This decision apparently brings Bob's biggest challenge: getting Gillian's three kids to welcome him into the fold. However, chaos ensues when Russian terrorists discover that one of the kids inadvertently downloads a formula for their newest weapon.

What I liked best about the film is the impeccable timing of comedy, not just on the part of Jackie Chan, but also that of the characters of the three kids. It was a great way to end the work week for sure!

Directed by Brian Levant and released here in Manila by Viva International Pictures. Catch The Spy Next Door in theaters nationwide starting January 15, 2009.

Much thanks to Viva International Pictures through the coordination of Az Colladilla for the Bloggers invitation to the special screening!

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Calcu-what?!?

Being a teacher, I often get requests for various tutorial services, especially from parents of my former preschool students. When they were younger and still in grade school, I gladly helped them out with their homeworks and reviewing for examinations. Math homework, however, was always a challenge. I remember how one time I really drew a blank when working with one of my middleschoolers' math assignments. And yes, we were just dealing with fractions. So now that one of my first ever students is almost graduating from high school, I had to finally admit that I can no longer help her with her studies. Solve calculus, advanced algebra and geometry? Me? Hah!

While the family is trying to find a suitable Calculus tutor and a replacement for me, I suggested she try finding free math tutoring online so she can cope up with her lessons, especially since we are late into the school year already. Finding Calculus help and free math tutoring is now just a click away after all. As I was telling my student, she's lucky she lives in a highly technological day and age where finding free math homework help is so much easier.

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Happy Birthday Mariel!

One of my really good friends Mariel celebrates her birthday to day and I want to wish her all the best this year. I am thankful to have her as a friend and a kumare as I am her eldest daughter Denise's ninang or godmother. She has taught me a lot of things about life...about how to be grateful and to not sweat the small stuff. We may not see each other often and we don't get together as much as I'd like to, but our friendship I believe goes beyond that.

I am especially thankful this year for her support in my new venture...baking. Well, to be honest it isn't really a new venture as I have been baking for the holidays with my cousin for more than six years now but this year, I am hoping to widen my product base. This is our first order!

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Workless Wednesdays.

Starting this week, I am officially jobless on Wednesdays. Well, to be fair, I do not consider my preschool class as "work" because it's definitely more of my passion compared to something I do for a living. Sure it helps augment my income, but it's all relative to me. So since I need to find a way to finance my luho's or extravagances. So I decided to check the Classified Ads. Initially I thought about going to the news stand and getting a copy of the Manila Bulletin or one of those papers that list not only corporate jobs but even more service oriented type of jobs. Then it hit me: why not go online?

As I browsed the site, I noticed a lot of ads by teachers and private tutors. I think that could be something I can explore. Lessons are definitely up my sleeve, after all, I do teach preschool and college, right? Other than tutorials, I can even teach cooking, arts and crafts or creative writing for kids. However, as I scrolled down futher, something caught my eye: How to Start and Operate a Bakery.

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 As many of my blogger friends know, I've have a home-based baking business. Perhaps since I am workless on Wednesdays, I can do this on the side. What do you think? Unfortunately, the seminar is scheduled for Saturday, January 16 and I am not available to attend this. Maybe some other time!

While I initially aimed to browse only job opportunities on the OLX Classified Ads, I couldn't help but unleash the inner shopaholic in me. Ooooohhhh.....Games, gadgets and toys galore! The upside to shopping online is that I think twice before purchasing something, as compared to in reality where I find myself in the checkout counter before I know it. To be fair, shopping online is also very easy because most sellers allow for PayPal, Bank Deposit and similar payment methods.

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It's in the Small Details: A Sherlock Holmes Movie Review

It's the small details that tell the whole story, says Sherlock Holmes.

Okay, admittedly, I am not one for the small details. In fact, much as I try to recall, I can't remember what it is exactly Sherlock Holmes (played by Robert Downey , Jr.) but in essence, he tells Mary Morstan (played by Kelly Reilly), the love interest of his long-time partner and sidekick Dr. John Watson (played by Jude Law) that the small details are the most telling.

As a child, I loved reading Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins stories. However, I never was quick enough to pick up on the clues of these stories. Suffice it to say, I never really ventured into reading the Sherlock Holmes novels or short stories created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Being the lazy reader I am, I was so glad to have gotten the chance to reknowned character brought to life in a film by Guy Richie.

The story takes the viewer to old-town London as Holmes and Watson try to solve the mystery of Lord Blackwood (played by Mark Strong) and his devious plot to destroy England. The duo take on the streets of London  looking for clues to stop this from happening. Add to the mix "the woman", the only woman to impress Holmes in his stories, Irene Adler (played by Rachel McAdams). Her presence, as well as Watson's pending engagement, brings Holmes into a quandry emotionally.

I loved how the cinematography and scenery really took me back to what that era must really be like. From the costumes to the cobblestones of London's streets, the carriages and the tunnels and canals, I really felt like I was taken back to that time period. However, it seemed to me that there was still so much of the story left out, mainly because I am not a big Holmes/Doyle fan (as I said, I never really sat down to read the stories!), thus I really had no background about the characters and the prevalent storyline. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the film a lot, especially as I saw how all the little details and a bit of chemistry tied the story up well in the end.

Watching the Sherlock Holmes press screening last night with many of my blogger friends was indeed a great way to kick off 2010! I hope this year I really get to meet my goal of seeing 30 movies. I missed it by 6 last year!

Many thanks to our friends at Warner Bros. Pictures for the invitation :-)

Sherlock Holmes opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 8, 2010.

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Living on A Budget

If there's one thing I suck at, it's math. Ergo, because I'm bad at math, my plans of living on a budget always fail. Okay, okay, I know I'm making excuses here!!! Seriously though, this 2010 I have to work on this aspect of my life better, after all, I'm not getting any younger!

One thing I always make sure I have planned out in my budget though are the insurance premiums I have to pay every quarter or year. Besides my auto insurance, I am also on the final leg of my life insurance policy payments. This year I'm contemplating upping my car insurance to include the "acts of God" clause, especially after the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. I have a couple of weeks to decide, as my present plan expires mid-February. In the meantime, I'm doing some research and reading about what the benefits of each company or plan may be. It's kind of difficult to decide because each has it's own pros and cons. I even read about Temporary Insurance and short-term plans that are available. I guess what I should do first is to list down my needs and use this to determine what plan works out best for me.

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My Grown Up Christmas List

One of my favorite Christmas songs is My Grown Up Christmas List. From it's haunting melody to it's beautiful words, this song serves as an inspiration for me. Over the past holidays, I have had a lot to time to reflect on the year that was and the road that lies ahead. It got me to thinking about what it is I would wish for if I made my own grown up Christmas List.

When I first started thinking of wish lists, it was because of a giveaway I read about at NomNomClub.com, but the more I thought of it, the song kept playing in my head so I knew this was what my wish list would be all about

Borrowing the melody and part of the lyrics, here is what I would wish for:

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more CHILD LEFT BEHIND
That ALL WOULD HAVE A CHANCE
TO MAKE A BRAND NEW START
And everyone would PLAY IT FAIR
And JUSTICE WOULD PREVAIL 
And LOVE FOR THE EARTH WILL NOT END,
This is my grown up Christmas list

I know the things on my wish list may be impossible to meet, but I still believe that if we all cared enough, SOMETHING CAN BE DONE.

While I was in Boracay over the holidays, it kind of saddened me when I saw rows of Aklanon natives begging for food and money as we tourists enjoyed ourselves in the island paradise. Two of the kids even begged my mom for some of the food on her plate while in the buffet line. These children are left behind by society: they will be uneducated, unfed and uncared for unless we try to do something. On the upside, I think some companies in the island are helping them by providing opportunities for these families to make a brand new start, which is my second wish. For example, the Greek Taverna Cyma in Boracay is holding a special dinner on January 24 when part of the proceeds will benefit the natives of the island. Another shoe company is doing the same thing. For my part, I will make it a point to get more involved in advocacies this 2010 which will benefit the underserved populations in our country.

One of the biggest problems in our country is that people just don't play fair. On the road, for example, people try to get ahead by cutting in front of others, all for a few measly minutes. If we all played fair, traffic would be so much less. In the same way, if we just play fair, things would be so much nicer!

In the same breath, I wish that justice would really become a reality. Take for example the Ampatuan case and the Maguindanao massacre. If we don't become vigilant and do something about it, it could just be that justice will yet be another elusive dream.

Lastly, and perhaps the most attainable of all of my wishes, is that we all will not stop loving our earth. We have seen the onslaught of Mother Nature last 2009. Her fury was felt by millions and unless we start making changes, we will continue down the destructive path till the world as we know it would be so different. We can make little changes in our own ways everyday...be it by bringing your own baon to work or school to becoming a more responsible steward by refusing plastic and recycling.

So these are my wishes...truly very different from the childhood dreams I had whispered under my breath and written to Santa about. This is my own grown up Christmas list.

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