Finding the Perfect Gift

My Mom is a woman of discriminating taste. Eversince childhood, I always had the repetitive dilemma of looking for the perfect birthday, Mothers’ Day, Christmas and wedding anniversary gift fit for our queen.

Not that she demands an exquisite piece; I’ve just set a certain standard because I believe she simply deserves it.

Her 61st birthday is on January 3 next year, and the following day, January 4, she will be celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary with my Dad. On special occasions one after the other, who wouldn’t have a hard time searching for ideal gifts?

One thing that I know she would appreciate having right now is a new set of prescription glasses. She’s been complaining about not having enough time to squeeze in a trip to the mall to get herself a new pair, due to her busy schedule in Church work.

I have a busy schedule myself, but I could always order online! There are stylish Holiday frames currently available, that I’m sure she would love. I picked a particular design that I believe, fits her personality and taste to a T. The frame detail is perfect!

Should she need an extra pair, I wouldn’t mind getting her another one. The frames are made of good quality and yet surprisingly reasonably priced. I think it would be sweet to get my Dad a matching pair for their anniversary.

Christmas at the Mall

I took the Little Lady with me to the office, the day before Christmas Eve. Generous officemates gave her and one of her BFFs, Marianne, who was also there at the time, cash gifts and goodies.

Though tired after greeting everybody a merry Christmas that day, they both had a great time and a bag of gifts each to bring home!

After office, we went for some last minute shopping at the Powerplant Mall, where I took pictures of the little one (Surprise! Surprise!) with the mall’s Christmas animal display.

And yes, her green shirt says "I HEART MOM (more than Santa)" ^^,

I’ve also included below, other photos of her and another BFF from school, Mikaela, taken earlier at the same mall, after their school Christmas party last December 18.

Can you blame me for NOT missing out on photo opps like these? :)

Related Posts:

Christmas 2008
Birthday Fairy
What Have I Been Up To?

Christmas 2008

After all the stress and excitement, the much awaited day came at last.

This year, the true essence of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ seems to have been clouded again with more commercialism than the previous years. With the innovation of high end and more expensive toys, blings and other material things that we can't seem to get enough of, who will not be consumed with the 'holiday high'?

Yes, we're humans after all. But I still believe that after all the gifts have been given, received and unwrapped, the successful traditional binge on sumptuous food and wine, in our hearts lie the joy of being able to share in many ways this season, no matter how great or small it may be.

We spent our Christmas eve with a simple dinner. The gift giving had been scheduled the following day, when all family members and relatives are expected to be present. On Christmas morning, the Little Lady eagerly woke up early to do the traditional gift giving to kids in our neighborhood.


My Mom, who is one of the most generous and charitable persons I know, started this tradition many years ago. She never fails to remind us the true spirit of the season by giving back a part of what we have as a way of sharing to the Church and the community. This is something that I want to pass on to my little girl - the virtue of generosity.

Some of you may think this is already a late greeting. Well technically, it's still Christmas until the Feast of the Three Kings next year, so we can still greet each other, share and spread the love of this festive season. :)

From our family to yours, a blessed Christmas and a peaceful new year 2009!

Clipper Cutting Videos at its Best

Aside from being a fashion designer, my sister has the innate flair for cutting and styling hair. I, on the other hand could not even cut my Little Lady’s bangs with confidence. I guess some people are just born with it; or maybe I just need a little help to learn the craft.

For people like me who are interested in hairstyling techniques without the hassle of attending training and lessons in a school setting, it is good news that we can now learn straight from the professionals in the comfort of our own homes, through the Professional Clipper Cutting Techniques DVD series from Aesthetic VideoSource.

No less than veteran hairstylist Gary Rallison, will teach step-by-step instructions on how to do traditional and modern techniques through clipper cutting. Learn styles like the fade haircut, taper fade and female clipper cuts among others, plus a lot of tips on working with different kinds of hair, and more!

This great deal can now be yours when your order the Professional Clipper Cutting Techniques I & II DVD series by calling 1-800-414-2434 or visiting www.VideoShelf.com. What's more, get 20% off when you buy the complete set!

Below is a sneak preview of what can be seen in the video:

Hair Cutting Techniques

Fade Haircut | Buzz Cuts

Birthday Fairy

One of the Little Lady's BFF (Best Friends Forever!) turned 7 just recently. She had a Disney Fairies theme birthday at McDonald's and she asked her friends to don fairy costumes for the party.

We don't have a fairy costume, so I just put together Chestene's pixie look by combining the violet turtleneck knit blouse she wore on her 6th birthday party, the pink tutu from her ballet outfit last year, fuchsia pink wrap around organza skirt from her 4th birthday gown, pink leggings, pink metallic shoes from her 7th birthday, pink wings bought last year and butterfly hair clips from a discount store.

Below is the finished look when she fluttered to McDonald's that day. I think she resembles more a modern Bratz fairy. Not bad, huh? :)

Pixie by the tree

Birthday Fairies with Grimace

Related Posts:

Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 1
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 2
Back From My Unannounced Blog Leave - Part 3
Before You Call Me a Tease… (BFMUBL Part 4)
Chestene is Hannah Montana

Family Movie Night Pick: All Roads Lead Home

If only I have the luxury of time I had back then, one thing that I will surely do on a regular basis, is movie night with my family.

My parents are avid home movie watchers. Although both of them are already senior citizens, a status that entitles them to enjoy absolutely free movies in any theater of their choice within our city, still, Mom always makes sure to stock up on DVDs of the latest movies. They love to watch in the comfort of our home, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

When my sister and I were younger, we’d buy chips and popcorn before a scheduled family movie night. Mom, on the other hand, would take out her stock of pistachios and other mixed nuts from the mini grocery shelf in their room. We would gather in the family room and watch the group pick of the night and share our reviews of the movie afterward.

Yes, I miss those times. Now that I have my own Little Lady with me, I try to let her experience tradition by spending time with her in watching wholesome and family-oriented movies that instill the importance of family values.

One movie that I look forward to watching with her is a heartwarming movie inspired by a true story - All Roads Lead Home The Movie. This one is sure to be a family hit as can be seen in the movie trailer. Hit play and see for yourself!

Two Awards from Ria

I know I'm a delinquent 'tagee' and have a long list of pending tags from my blogger friends, but the problem is I lost it! I always try to jot it down as soon as I receive one, but now I can't remember where I placed the list. :( I should have made a soft copy instead, huh?

I'll try to trace your tags and memes through Technorati, but it would be nice if you could leave your links to this post. *wink*

Anyways, Ria gave me 2 beautiful awards that I would like to share with you:

BEAUTIFUL MOM AWARD

MOTHER

This is a truly BEAUTIFUL piece.
Please read this at a slow pace,
digesting every word and in leisure...
Do not hurry....this is a treasure...

For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom,
this is beautiful.
For those of us who aren't,
this is even more beautiful.
For those who are moms,
you'll love this.

The young mother set her foot
on the path of life.
'Is this the long way?' she asked.
And the guide said: 'Yes,
and the way is hard
And you will be old before
you reach the end of it..
But the end will be better
than the beginning.'

But the young mother was happy,
and she would not believe
that anything could be better
than these years.
So she played with her children,
and gathered flowers for them along the way,
and bathed them in the clear streams;
and the sun shone on them,
and the young Mother cried,
'Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.'

Then the night came,
and the storm, and the path was dark,

and the children shook with fear and cold,
and the mother drew them close
and covered them with her mantle,
and the children said,
'Mother, we are not afraid,
for you are near, and no harm can come.'

And the morning came,
and there was a hill ahead,
and the children climbed and grew weary,
and the mother was weary.
But at all times she said to the children,
'A little patience and we are there.'
So the children climbed,
and when they reached the top they said,
'Mother, we would not have done it without you.'

And the mother, when she lay down at night
looked up at the stars and said,
'This is a better day than the last,
for my children have learned fortitude
in the face of hardness.
Yesterday I gave them courage.
Today, I've given them strength.'

And the next day came strange clouds
which darkened the earth,
clouds of war and hate and evil,
and the children groped and stumbled,
and the mother said: '
Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.'
And the children looked and saw
above the clouds an everlasting glory,
and it guided them beyond the darkness.
And that night the Mother said,
'This is the best day of all,
for I have shown my children God.'

And the days went on,
and the weeks and the months and the years,
and the mother grew old
and she was little and bent.
But her children were tall and strong,
and walked with courage.
And when the way was rough,
they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather;
and at last they came to a hill,
and beyond they could see a shining road
and golden gates flung wide.
And mother said,
'I have reached the end of my journey.
And now I know the end
is better than the beginning,
for my children can walk alone,
and their children after them.'

And the children said,
'You will always walk with us, Mother,
even when you have gone through the gates.'
And they stood and watched her
as she went on alone,
and the gates closed after her.
And they said:
'We cannot see her but she is with us still.
A Mother like ours is more than a memory.
She is a living presence.......'

Your Mother is always with you....
She's the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street;
she's the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered socks;
she's the cool hand on your brow
when you're not well.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter.
And she's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place you came from,
your first home;
and she's the map you follow
with every step you take.
She's your first love and your first heartbreak,
and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, not space... not even death!

Beautiful Mom Award started by Posh Post.

MARIE ANTOINETTE AWARD

This second award came from Ria's Fashop. Thanks a lot for the awards, girl! :)

Here are the rules for the award:

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

I would like to pass both awards to my beautiful mommy friends: Girlie, Wena, Cielo, Manilenya, Gizelle, Ruby and Yums.

Web Hosting, Anyone?

For newbies like me in the blogging world, one of the issues I had to deal with is getting my own blog domain and webhosting. I never really realized this until after a couple of months of blogging using a free platform.

I learned along the way and have lately succumbed to the need, yearning and pressure of having my own domain. I feel it was a timely shift to give my blog a sense of independence in the blogosphere, yet I remain tied to free hosting. I know eventually I will have to get stable hosting in my journey to ultimate blogging freedom.

Personally, just like shopping for gifts this Christmas, I always look for the best price, value, reliability and great customer support. They say it’s a ‘jungle out there’, and with the bulk of information online, we oftentimes get confused as to which site offers the real deals.

One of the sites I find useful in search for the best web hosts is Web Hosting Geeks. They feature the best web hosting providers in the market today and have reviews, ratings and even awards that will surely help every web hosting shopper to choose the best service provider. It's great that I can select with confidence from a comprehensive list and decide which one best fits my needs.

Shopping is a breeze if you know exactly where to find it, right?

What Have I Been Up To?

Not much.

Some of you may have noticed that I haven’t been doing my Entrecard rounds lately, as I religiously did in the past. Things have gotten busy in the real world, and the search for Christmas gifts has taken over one of the top spots in my priority list. Forgive me if I missed commenting on your new posts, but I try to read as much whenever I can.

After switching to my own domain, my Alexa and Technorati rankings both suffered. I know it’s a phase everyone has to go through when shifting URLs. But I’m glad the former is catching up with the original figures.

I also had a little trouble with my SocialSpark account’s Real Rank due to the URL change, but had no problems with the rest. Until lately, when I had difficulty posting in PayPerPost and keep getting a "404-we-blame-Dan" page, that I realized it's not yet over. So I lost a lot of opportunities along the way, but I’m looking forward to a brand new year where hopefully, things will be better for my blogging endeavors.

This has fairly been a good blogging year. Barefooted Me started in early March with no blogging background whatsoever, grappling in the dark, and before I know it she has already turned 9 months old!

To my wonderful Entrecard supporters and advertisers from Project Wonderful who trust their ad placement in this blog, thank you. Please visit them, they are all truly talented and have great blogs and product offerings.

I’d like to thank everybody who keeps on dropping by here and showing my blog some love. Promise, I’ll catch up with you guys later! :)

Go Personalized this Christmas

Stretching and maximizing our money’s worth nowadays have become a common practice to those who would like to save more while surviving the growing economic crunch.

This season, it’s hard to look for holiday gifts especially if you’re thinking of something really special for more than one person without breaking your piggy bank. It’s great to have gift guides and suggestions to help you choose a unique gift that will surely be appreciated by the receiver.

Moreover, as we get tired of generic gifts that become useless in the long run, we now look for items that will last for a long time. Pexagon will help us do just that, this year. Give personalized holiday gifts that are very useful at 20% off until the end of 2008! Well that’s a good amount of savings!

Choose from a wide range of products like personalized thumb drives, pens, business card flash drives, and wooden USB flash drives that come in different designs, exciting colors and custom laser engraving; plus enjoy fast turnaround times, no setup costs, with no minimum order quantity.

So if your brain is already numb thinking of a not-so-ordinary gift this Christmas, dare to be different and go personalized!

Caffeine Please

Breakfast for me then is having some chocolate drink and buttered toast, or plainly chocolate drink and no solids (I don't eat heavy breakfast; my stomach just can't tolerate too much food in the morning) until I started drinking coffee again.

This beverage has taken a part of my everyday routine and is pretty much becoming an indispensable companion come breakfast time.

Am I becoming addicted? Or is this just a passing thing like my erstwhile craving over Jjampoong spicy noodles for months and then getting tired of it all of a sudden?

Forgive the pettiness of this post. I think I've had too much red wine to drink at Dad's thanksgiving birthday dinner. :)

Ah, I need some coffee.

A Vacuum for Christmas

The Little Lady and I both have allergic rhinitis; we sneeze in the presence of dust, powder, smoke or strong perfume. That’s why it’s always important to keep our room dust-free to prevent undesirable allergic attacks.

Given our condition, I find solace in the company of one of my favorite dust busters - the mighty vacuum cleaner. Ours is already generations old, and it already fails to render optimum performance when needed. The choice is now for me to decide if I will just purchase new parts to have it up and running smoothly again or be worry-free and buy a brand new model.

Either way, I’m glad that over at EZ VACUUM, they have a wide range of selections on affordable vacuum cleaner parts, accessories and brand new units as well. Currently, they are offering 10% Off Coupon EZVAC10 on vacuum cleaners bags belts filters brushrolls machines and on all orders over $20. What’s more, they charge very low shipping charges and even free shipping to US orders over $50!

I checked their Clearance Rack and found a couple of discounted units in cool designs. Now, the dilemma goes back to buying parts or getting the whole thing. Well, maybe I might just end up tossing this to the “gifts for myself” list for Christmas. :)