Clear Black Night Bloggers Party

I just got my invite to the Clear Black Night Bloggers Halloween Party via JRS Express, and I'm around 99% sure I wouldn't be able to attend this event with watery eyes, a runny nose, an aching throat (which is a cross between tonsillitis and pharyngitis) and a big chance to have a fever comeback. Although I'm still leaving a 1% hope (hey, I'm an optimist!) in case some kind of last minute miracle happens. Yeah, right. ^J^

This could have been my first Halloween adult party, but I guess getting sick knows no consideration and right timing. Arrgh.

I still feel sick and sluggish right now. But this is the least I could do to thank our friends over at Unilever who sent the invite plus a bottle of Clear shampoo sample in a pretty box, if I won't be able to join the event tomorrow. I'm a satisfied user of this product, by the way. :)

Anyways, here are the party details and what's in store for those who could make it:

What: Clear Black Night, a Halloween Dance Event
When: October 31, 2008, Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Taste Asia (beside SM Hypermarket, Mall of Asia)
Attire: Come in Sexy Black (no need for costumes!)
What to expect: Just be in party mode and get a chance to win instant prizes! Everything’s going to be Fun! Fun! Fun!

*chance to have a photo opp with Piolo crumbles* * sniff...*

The Childhood Crush and the Billboard Model

Before I went back to work last week, I scheduled myself for a follow-up check up on my eyes. I originally called to meet our EENT doctor-friend, but the secretary suggested that I see the Ophthalmologist instead, which was reasonable, as he is obviously the expert when it comes to eye problems and diseases.

I already spoke with that eye doctor on the phone the day before, but I insisted on seeing a different one because judging by the surname, I had a hunch that he's my long lost childhood crush when I was in Grade 5! Yes, it's been a long time ago, but the thought of speaking to him face to face made me elementary nervous.

Not that we're close or had a thing in the past; we were from different sections. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't remember me at all. I was never a popular girl in school. For 2 years, I was contented to see him at school gatherings like the flag ceremony every morning, P.E. (Physical Education) days, the rosary month where we all pray the rosary all mornings of October, and other school activities. We never even danced at the prom; and I still wonder if dancing with him then would have made a difference.

Well, after all the apprehensions I struggled with on not showing up for that appointment, it turned out that it wasn't 'him', but his brother. At least now I know, that they are both doctors.

I forgot that the last time I heard his name was in our church, during the wedding banns announcement. What was I thinking? That guy is sure to be married by now.

Oh, maybe I was just curious. Deep inside, I just want to see him again to compare how much he's changed over the years. To see if his eyes still disappear when he smiles, or if he still looks like the shorter version of Benicio del Toro.

Then I saw an old souvenir program from my mom's shelf where his family had a half-page ad. I saw my eye doctor there and 'him', still with the Benicio del Toro smiling eyes, yet  pounds and pounds heavier.

Didn't you ever wish you could bump into your childhood crush again?

Fast forward

On my way home that same check-up day, I saw the new giant billboard of Dingdong Dantes along Edsa. He's wearing boxers this time, which I think is better that the previous ad where he came out in briefs.

Don't get me wrong, he looked really good in all his naked glory then, but the public was torn between looking at his muscular body and the briefs that seem to have some more extra space in them to be filled. ^J^

What surprises me is that I wasn't attracted to the guy at all. Sure, he looks like a dream boy. Had I seen this 15 years ago, I would have developed an instant infatuation in a matter of minutes.

Ahh, I must be getting old.

Times have indeed changed. And I realized that as one grows older, preferences also change and mature. Most women my age (I can't speak for men, for they mature in a different pace and dimension) no longer fall for what's trendy or superficial, but what we look for now is resiliency and quality - a person's substance, character and principles.

The thing is, the kind of men who fall in my age bracket are mostly taken, if not, 'suspiciously' single, a bunch of forever bachelors or commitment phobes.

Where have the rest of the good men gone?


Related Posts:

The Red Eye
Red Eye: The Return

Who Wants to Fly?

Hmm... where should I go next year? Oh, This promo is so tempting!

Just recently they had a P200 domestic seat sale (all-in), and I missed it! Go and book your seats now before they run out. :-)

Cebu Pacific offers P500 system-wide seat sale for 2009
More than 500,000 domestic and international seats available

Get ahead and book your 2009 holidays now! Fly to any domestic or international destination for only P500! We're putting more than 500,000 'Go Lite' seats on sale.

Travel light and fly to any of our domestic destinations for only P500 all-in! Choose from any of our 27 domestic destinations.

You can also choose to fly to any of our 13 international destinations for only 500 pesos! Our P500 one-way international ‘Go Lite’ seat sale fare is exclusive of applicable taxes and surcharges. Fuel and insurance surcharge range from USD 25 to 110 per way.

If you choose to bring bags , you only have to add P200 and you’re off to a wonderful holiday with pocket money to spare!

In fact, if you’ve started Christmas shopping already, why not book vacations for friends and family and surprise them on Christmas day! Celebrate the holidays with more holidays!

The sale period STARTS NOW until October 27, 2008 and is valid for travel from January 5 to March 18, 2009. This promo fare is non-refundable.

Start flying monthly and travel beyond your wildest dream for only 500 pesos! Visit www.cebupacificair.com; or your favorite travel agent; or call the customer hotline at (632) 70-20-888 for your bookings.

Online Shopping with an Edge

Christmas is fast approaching, and as far as I'm concerned, I’m already running late in doing some window shopping for potential gifts that I’d be stashing under the Christmas tree for family and friends.

Aside from checking out products at the mall, I always go online for a wider range of choices. The internet, being the ultimate source of virtually anything imaginable today, offers consumers a lot of options. But of course, one has to be prudent in discerning which products are hyped up and which ones are the real deals.

This year, I’d like something really nice for my parents. They love watching movies at home; and what else would make it a more entertaining experience, than through a good home theater system. Sounds expensive, huh? Well, I’m nowhere near a ‘techie’, so I really need to read unbiased reviews on which products offer the best features at the best price.

As I am still lost about the different brands and specifications of Hi Def Televisions, a comprehensive buying guide would surely spare me from both confusion and headache.

Good that I've already found a good resource for that at ShopWiki.com. Now, I'm sure I won't be far from choosing the best that suits my budget and preference in buying the perfect gift, come Christmas time.

Remember this...

This photo was taken around two years ago. At that time, I was already given a glimpse of what my Little Lady would look like when she grows up to be a full-fledged teenager.

It actually gave me the creeps!

Not the photo, but the thought of her being a teenager! I don't know how I would handle that stage in a few years time. *sighs*

Don't grow up too fast, sweety...

Join us! Click here to be a member of Scrapbook Saturday!

Graphic Elements by: Scrapbookflair.com and Ronna Penner


Related Posts:

My Sweety
Sbarro Baby
Art on My Mind
My Art, Revisited
Framed
Smile Baby, Smile!
Chestene is Hannah Montana
Good Girl in Glitters
One Summer in Subic
My Favorite Babies
Flower Power

The Principle of Emptiness

I originally got this in PowerPoint format and thought I'd share it with you.

A friend once said that prosperity easily comes to those with open hands. You need to have space for it to come into your life. So let go of useless things or feelings you've been holding on to that is keeping you from receiving those blessings.

Think about it, if you have your hands full, how else can you hold more?



Have you got the habit of hoarding useless objects, thinking that one day, who knows when, you may need them?

Have you got the habit of accumulating money, and not spending it because you think that in the future you may be in want of it?

Have you got the habit of storing clothes, shoes, furniture, utensils and other home supplies that you haven’t used already for some time?

And inside yourself... Have you got the habit to keep reproaches, resentment, sadness, fears and more?

Don’t do it! You are going against your prosperity!

It is necessary to make room, to leave an empty space in order to allow new things to arrive to your life.

It is necessary that you get rid of all the useless things that are in you and in your life, in order to prosperity to arrive.

The force of this emptiness is one that will absorb and attract all that you wish.
As long as you are, materially or emotionally, holding old and useless feelings, you won’t have room for new opportunities.

Goods must circulate...
Clean your drawers, the wardrobes, the workshop, the garage...
Give away what you don’t use any longer...
The attitude of keeping a heap of useless stuff ties your life down.
It’s not the objects you keep that stagnate your life...
but rather the attitude of keeping...

When we keep in store, we consider the possibility of wanting, of penury...
We believe that tomorrow it may lack, and that we won’t be able to fulfill those necessities...

With that idea, you are sending two messages to your brain and to your life:
That you don’t trust tomorrow... and you think that the new and the better are not for you.

For this reason you cheer yourself up by storing old and useless stuff.
Get rid of what lost its color and brightness...
Let the new enter your home... and yourself.
May prosperity and peace reach you soon

Amen.

Acknowledgment: Excerpt from Joseph Newton's Principle of Emptiness; inspirational images by Gregory Colbert and music "Where Dreams are Born" by John Williams.

My Sweety

Click here to join Scrapbook Saturday!

Graphic Elements by: Shabby Princess


Related Posts:

Sbarro Baby
Art on My Mind
My Art, Revisited
Framed
Smile Baby, Smile!
Chestene is Hannah Montana
Good Girl in Glitters
One Summer in Subic
My Favorite Babies
Flower Power

A New Address and A New Home

I was busy.

Actually, sick and busy. Oh, make that sick and busy with writer’s block. So there.

If you haven’t noticed yet, I’ve finally let go of the beloved ‘blogspot’ extension in my URL. It took me months rationalizing with myself about getting my own domain, and I always end up putting it off.

It was not until a BIG (really big, that I have to type it in all caps) opportunity passed me by recently because I didn’t have my own domain, that I realized I should have done it earlier.

Oh, well...

The Move

After getting a series of errors from Entrecard one night, I got bored and decided to buy a domain without much thinking.

I’ve been reading posts on how easy it is to move from Blogspot to a custom domain, so I went ahead with it. Indeed, they were right because moving was a breeze. In fact, it felt like I did not move at all!

There was no major transfer whatsoever; all I did was to add the CNAME record ‘www’ which points to ghs.google.com in my Total DNS Control Panel, sign in to my Blogger account and go to Settings – Publishing – Advanced Settings to input the new address and tick the redirect option:

After a few minutes, when I tried to type my new URL, it already points to the old address and vice versa. I told you it was easy! You have to remember though, that it’s best to buy your domain from Blogger itself or recommended partners GoDaddy and eNom, so you won’t have to struggle with the configuration.

What Now?

So there goes my Alexa and Technorati ranks *sobs*. Although they are still attached to my old blogspot URL which redirects itself here, still, I need to rebuild them again for this new domain.

Since I’m a member of PayPerPost, Sponsored Reviews, Social Spark, etc., I don’t know how this will affect my current ratings and statistics. This may mean fewer opportunities in the meantime, but I’m positive that the shift will mean greater avenues for income resources.

What else should I look out for? Based on your experience, aside from the decreased rankings, what other effects does a domain change entail? Do share your thoughts.

A Tiny Favor

Given the above, I would like to ask you guys to kindly update my link in your blogrolls to www.barefootedme.com –AND, please add my new baby, 'In My Red Heels'. Yes! After going barefooted for months, I’d like to try blogging three to four inches higher from the ground this time, in red heels no less! ;-P

Please visit my second home and tell me what you think. ^^,

Stylish Prescription Glasses from Zenni

The ‘red eye’ hit me again for the third time this year. Well, I’m not even sure of that because it happens so often that I already lost count.

I noticed that my eyes are becoming increasingly sensitive lately that even an exposure of a couple of hours in front of the computer monitor makes them easily exhausted. I have seriously taken this is a sign that I need to change my eyeglasses.

Given that I’m aware of how expensive it is to have custom made eyeglasses at local optical shops, I turn to online shopping in search for one that has good quality at an affordable price.

I’m lucky to stumble upon ZenniOptical.com; they have an extensive array of stylish prescription eyeglasses online that are unbelievably low priced. They manage to sell them for as low as $8 a pair, because unlike others, they don’t use middlemen. They sell their own manufactured frames directly to the customers, giving them quality products at a price everyone could afford.

Furthermore, Zenni Optical has been getting positive raves from all over. In fact, they were featured over the radio, on Fox News TV, and even garnered a recommendation from the popular U.S. talk radio host of The Clark Howard Show.

Currently, they have new arrivals in various colors and designs with single vision lens, sunsensor (potochromic) lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lens.

With online offerings like this, it won’t be hard to beat the economic crunch!

Red Eye: The Return

A month ago, I posted about my red eye -- on September 8, to be exact.

Well, it hit me again. :-(

I noticed it yesterday night and thought it was just temporary eye stress. I thought wrong; for just like the previous one, the bloody red pigment covered almost half of my left eye.

Currently, I'm taking Grape Seed supplement and Vitamin C to strengthen my blood vessels and Eye-Mo drops to take out the redness (so far, it hasn't succeeded yet).

When Dad finds out, I'm sure he would lecture me about NOT following his recommendation religiously for this condition. Oh, I could almost hear it.

So I guess I'll be sporting the 'Vampire eye look' again for the whole week, huh. It's tempting to post a photo, but I thought it's still too early for Halloween to scare you now.

Have a great week, everyone! :)


Related Post:

The Red Eye

Gadgets and Useful Consumer Advice

If you’re a non-techie like me, I’m sure you’ve had your moments of confusion and difficulty over having to keep up with the rapidly evolving world of technology today.

Just recently, I needed to search for sensible reviews on which brand of universal remote control would last for many years. After throwing a couple of units in a span of one year, I spent a lot on poor-performing brands due to lack of knowledge on the products that I bought.

In times like this, I find ease and comfort turning to the internet for information, especially on technology news and updates that may not have reached my side of the world just yet.

A technology site like Gadget Advisor is a good resource for computer hardware, software, gadgets and tech news. It presents in-depth reviews on not just any kind of gadget, but rather focuses on the useful and noteworthy products found in the market today; like network media player and online backup services, to name a few. No need to search through a bulk of mediocre news and products; only significant ones are presented.

So before making any kind of purchase, it’s always wise to consider a little bit of research first before parting with your cash. It will surely spare you from both headache and money going down the drain.

Well, I must say I already learned that lesson earlier. :)

Sbarro Baby

My Sbarro Baby

Sbarro is Chestene's favorite pizza restaurant. I remember getting frustrated when I was pregnant with her, because the store runs out of White Pizza I so crave for every single time I'm there.

During the whole pregnancy I didn't get to eat even a single slice of that! No wonder she's making up for it now, BIG TIME. :)

Click here to join Scrapbook Saturday!

Graphic Elements by: Ronna Penner


Related Posts:

Art on My Mind
My Art, Revisited
Framed
Smile Baby, Smile!
Chestene is Hannah Montana
Good Girl in Glitters
One Summer in Subic
My Favorite Babies
Flower Power

A Surprise in the Mail!

Guess what just came in for me today?

A shirt from Paraiso Philippines Forum! Thanks Admin and Mitch for this early Christmas treat! This will fit my Dad well. :)

Want to become a PPFnian? Visit and register at Paraiso Philippines Forum now!

Stranger

You hide in a perennial veil;
a veil I try so hard to lift,
for me to touch and discover
the beauty underneath.

Yet all that I see
is the light of your darkness.
Darkness.
Or is it, your true likeness?

I long to unravel the mystery
behind your innocence…
thoughts…
feelings…
dreams…
you…

But you create a distance
that leaves my heart
in doubt.

All that I have
is the sound of your presence,
the warmth that you send
from afar
reaching me cold.

Tell me
just when,
just when can we touch?

~September 1992~