Vacation Rentals

Planning to go somewhere for the Christmas holidays? Instead of spending a fortune on hotel accommodations why not merely rent a place. Goin2travel.com is a website that lists vacation rentals worldwide. It is a comprehensive directory of a wide selection of beach villas, condos, cabins, homes, resorts and even islands in all of the great vacations spots on earth. They are posted by the owners of the properties themselves so you deal directly with them thus minimizing your expenses. Once you've chosen your type of accommodation, you are directed to its specific page where you can see thumbnail pictures of the actual place. The product description, its amenities as well as the different activities and attractions within the area. All the relevant information are well documented in just one click.

So why not book an oceanfront home from the Hawaii vacation home rentals . Or a private cottage overlooking the Pacific ocean from Maui vacation rentals. Or fall asleep on a hammock in a luxurious resort listed in Kauai vacation rentals section. Go for it, you have nothing to lose but a tan to gain!

Yesterday

At roughly this time, I was having lunch at Kaya Korean Restaurant with my parents at the Power Plant Mall. The table started to shake violently, our plates clattering. For a split second, I held my breath as my mind slowly registers what was occurring. Oh an earthquake! But the lunch time crowd at that posh mall didn't panic, they merely continued to munch on their chow.
I immediately texted my sister and D to ask them if they felt it.
My sister replied first: "Yes I felt it. I'm at Pan Pacific hotel for a function. It was rather strong but lasted for a few seconds lang."
D's reply: "Nope I didn't feel anything. I'm cleaning the ref. Where are you, are you ok?"


The whole point of this post is to let people know that my husband to be cleans the refrigerator. Teehee! =)

Mp3 players

Before I buy anything, I usually check the Internet for the specifications, the various available brands to compare prices. If you are in the market for a good mp3 player, Savebuckets.co.uk is the website to visit. It comes complete with pictures of the different brands of mp3 players, the product description and the online store which offers the best price for them. You are then directed to the store's website for your purchase. You can either choose to sort the audio devices by name or by best price. The mp3 players category lists 924 products! That is quite a long list and wide scope of items to view and compare prices. How convenient!

Enchantment

Last October, my sister gifted me with an E-See Club card. This 'ATM" card allows me to book movie tickets online or over the phone at the Shang Cineplex. I also earn rewards points each time I buy a movie ticket using my E-See Club card. The perfect gift for a movie buff like me. I got my card last October 27 and was issued 3 coupons. They entitled me to 1 free regular movie, 1 free 45 grams plain buttered popcorn and my choice of iced tea or lemonade. The coupons were valid for one month. Since then, things have been quite hectic both physically and emotionally for me (i.e my engagement and my impending wedding). I totally forgot about the coupons until I woke up this morning to check my wallet for coins. The coupons fell out and I was alarmed to find out today was the last day. I promptly checked the film schedules at the Shang Cineplex -"Enchanted", "Hitman", "Beowulf" and "One More Chance" were showing. Ah movies I won't watch even if you held a gun to my head. The only mildly interesting one or should I say tolerable one was "Enchanted" - a fairy tale with a twist with embedded animation bits along with some singing and dancing sequences. Yes, a Disney production. Much to my surprise I enjoyed it but mostly due to the swooning presence of Patrick Dempsey, Dr McDreamy himself! So I had an enchantingly free movie experience, after all!

Blinds

The first thing I noticed when I entered D's place was that he had curtains instead of blinds. So I added blinds on my items to buy list.

Terry's Fabrics is an online store that sells all sorts of blinds. I didn't know there were various styles of blinds. It was only when I check out their website that I learned they come in categories like Venetian, Roller, Roman, Roman Blinds kit, Vertical and Wooden Blinds.
Terry's Fabrics has a comprehensive website that explains each type/style of the blinds with sample pictures. It also familiarizes us with the accessories like head rail, fixing brackets and blind slats. They offer valuable tips so you know which type of blinds best suits the window(s) in each room of your house. The blinds come in different colors and fabrics so they can blend with the walls.
Once you have chosen a particular blinds, you can customize your order. Details like color, length, width as well as sample pictures are all neatly presented on the order form. So no matter the motif of your home, there are various blinds to match your windows. You can mix and match them or you can use just one type for your entire house. The possibilities are endless!

*This is a paid review*

Picture perfect

We only have 29 days to go before Christmas. A digital picture frame is a great gift item. You simply take pictures using your digital camera, then transfer the memory card to the digital frame. Simply plug your 9V adapter (comes with the frame) and you are all set. The digital frame displays your pictures in a slide show presentation. Use the infrared remote control to choose the settings for your pictures. Brilliant idea, isn't it?
The digital photo frames are available in different sizes from 7 to 15 inches LCD screen with black, clear acrylic or aluminum coated finish. Place your order from Digitalframez.com, an online electronic store so they can be shipped just in time for Christmas!

My first bridal fair experience

Saturday, I went to the bridal fair and survived but left with this deep sense of inadequacy or should I say poverty? Every booth had the wealthy, fancy wedding brides to be as their targeted market. Invitations required a minimum of 50 to 100 pieces; couture boutiques offered special price for gowns of the entire entourage with huge banners announcing P40,000 ONLY!; studios had video coverage, prenuptial, wedding and reception coverage at whooping prices; jewelry shops had the most exquisite wedding rings averaging from P22,000 to as high as P59,000; flower shops offered packages for both the church and the reception venue. Holy smokes!

And there I was asking what how much if I just ordered 20 misalettes (take note not invitations!)? Do they have more sedate designs of misalettes because pastel colored dainty flowers and butterflies are a tad too juvenile for my taste. How much for just a bridal gown? (huh? P15,000? but I don't want beads, sequins or a long train!). Do they have simpler wedding bands? How much if it is only the bride who gets her hair and makeup done? How much for just one bouquet to adorn the main altar? Everywhere I asked they implied with only 6 months to go I didn't have enough time to get my gown made! When I signed their log books I saw the others indicated their wedding dates as far as November 2008 and one even listed February 2009! What on earth?!

I texted D who was at work that we should just elope because I don't want to end up in debt spending a fortune for just one day! He just laughed it off and texted me that's what I get for attending a bridal fair. Grrr. A funny observation were the faces of the few guys who decided to tag along with their fiancees. Their ashen pale demeanor visibly revealed their discomfort, they were probably thinking 'bankruptcy alert' each time they saw the prices. He he he

Ceiling fans

As a toddler, I remember falling asleep watching the blades of our ceiling fan rotating round and round. That was eons ago in our bungalow in very humid and very hot New Delhi, India.
Since then, ceiling fans have evolved from those bland white blades to more exquisite styles and designs. It was a revelation to find the wide variety of ceiling fans available from Farreys.com. You can shop by ceiling fan brand or by ceiling fan style. Most of these ceiling fans include accessories like lamp kits, remote and/or wall control. Casablanca fans offer several style categories like traditional, contemporary and the cosmopolitan collections to choose from. Fan blades are no longer limited to rectangular shape. Check out the Fanimation ceiling fans, they offer palm leaf style blades made of different materials like wicker, rustic pine and wood. So exquisitely grand, these elegant ceiling fans will certainly air out your stuffy homes. The website comes with a ceiling fan search tool where you can key in your preferences or choose from the menu bar. No sweat really, it is quite a breeze.

Dulcinea

I had to do some banking transactions at Power Plant Mall, yesterday. By the time I was done it was lunch time so I made the rounds of the food establishments. In my mind, I was crossing out the restaurants I passed by: Kenny Rogers, ah not in the mood for some chicken. Banana Leaf - I didn't want my food to be served on a banana leaf. Kaya Restaurant - hmm Korean cuisine dak bolgogi, spicy beef stew but nah maybe next time.

Oh Dulcinea, ok this should do. I haven't eaten there in ages. I usually order their Chicken ala King, this little pastry stuffed with chicken tidbits covered with some creamy sauce. For merienda, I would order their churros dipped into thick hot chocolate. I ended up going for their Lengua Estofado which is served with diced veggies (carrots, peas and beans) and mashed potato (a favorite of mine). NO rice! As much as possible I try to minimize my carbohydrates intake. Before my main course arrived, the waiter served some creamy soup (not sure if it is chicken or mushroom because I'm clueless when it comes to identifying taste) which according to him is part of the order. Ok fine, thanks. My Lengua Estofado arrived 3 minutes later. The 4 pieces of tongue was thinly sliced and quite tender. It was covered with thick mushroom gravy/sauce (this time I could tell because there were sliced button mushroom on top of it, hehe). The meal was quite filling. But I kept thinking, hmm how come the last time I ordered this dish from the Dulcinea branch at Megamall or was it Glorietta, the tongue was served with onions scattered all over the plate. Not that I mind, I have this peculiar habit of taking out the onions from everything I eat from pizza, pancit to kaldereta and bulalo. Then it occurred to me, maybe the Lengua Estofado I ordered wasn't from Dulcinea but some other restaurant. It isn't possible for one branch to cook this dish without onions and another branch to serve it with onions. Either way, my stomach was full. I was glad to return to one of my favorite restaurants in town for some alone time and give my very weary brain some time off from thinking about my wedding preparations!. =)

Online Furniture Store

Nowadays you can buy anything from books, clothes, movies and even Furniture Online. Furniture from home is an online furniture store that has been operational for 3 years. You can browse/shop by room (bedroom, kitchen, home office, dining room), by style such as wood, leather or contemporary or by color like neutral, dark, fabric. Whether it is a contemporary sofa for your living room or a side table for your bedroom, they have an extensive collection of Furniture sets to choose from. Oh be sure to check out their sale section where they offer discounts on several furniture sets. Their comprehensive website contains all the useful information you need to make a worthy purchase. Their full time customer service staff are ready to answer any questions and solve any issues you may have. You can contact them by email, phone or FAX 7 days a week.

Who would have thought?

My transformation from a sarcastic, cynical I.will.never.marry spoiled brat to an excited, happy bride to be is phenomenal. A year ago, I would be the first person to scoff and snicker whenever I saw long queues at bridal fairs. But yesterday, I registered online so I don't have to pay the admission fee to the Dream Weddings - Before I Do Year 2 at Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, this weekend. Surreal!

In other news (still wedding related), it seems that I would have to deal with my in laws after all. Last Sunday, I was able to talk to D's mother, his younger brother and his family in the US. It was an interesting phone conversation. I got some dirt on D's personality courtesy of his family - that was fun to hear! But I didn't expect the whole brood's definite plan to attend the wedding, next year. Eeeps. I understand they are excited about D finally getting married but it seems our guest list (and expenses) will have to be further stretched beyond our limited budget. D even joked "it is nice of them to come for the wedding. But instead of spending for their airfare, they can just remit the money so we can use it to renovate the house" Hey don't look at me, he was the one who said it, the idea never crossed my mind, really ... I just laughed.

These days there are only two things that occupy my scattered brain. Wedding preparations and making money by writing sponsored posts.

Bloggerwave is the latest company I've signed up with to increase my earnings. It is Europe's biggest advertising media on blogs. You get paid for blogging. There are three types of post you can select : Buzz, Review and Opinion. A bright well maintained interface on their website makes it easy for any blogger to join their growing network. After you have registered, you can add up to 5 blogs. You have a limitless amount of opportunities to choose from to be posted on any of your blogs. But a single blog cannot take a single opportunity more than once. Plus you have the option to write posts in different languages. A good way to practice your language skills. So come and join the wave, the Bloggerwave!

Let there be light

I have this particular quirk that restaurants need to be brightly lit or else I won't eat there. This attitude also extends to my home. My surroundings especially my work place needs to be well illuminated. One of the items I check out when I go to home stores are lamps. I can spend one whole day just admiring these house fixtures.

Farreys.com offers a wide variety of lamps. It is a one stop online lighting store. You can browse through categories from price range, by brand, style, finish to different types like table lamps and torchieres which are indoor portable lighting which you can move to any area. Take your pick, put it into your shopping cart, fill in your payment details and have it shipped right to your house. How very convenient! I had so much fun clicking away choosing from their wide range of lamps and lamp shades of different shapes and sizes, function and colors. There are thousands of lamps to choose from, it is mind boggling!

I intend to bring all my lamps to my new 'home' so it will be bright and cheerful. D just needs to brace himself once he sees our electricity bill. Teehee!

First Step!

I told myself I won't let this week past without making at least one booking for my wedding. I've been making phone calls to churches inquiring about the requirements, the cost and the procedure. All these pieces of information, I diligently write in a notebook.

Yesterday, I dragged D to accompany me for a look see at a couple of churches. Our plan was to meet at around 2:30pm so we would have enough time to check out 2 churches. It turns out his family called long distance and they had quite a lengthy phone call. After all, they are excited too with the news of our nuptials. So by the time he finally showed up at 3:45 pm, I gave myself an ulcer. My mind went into panic mode as per my calculations, we won't make it to either of the churches. The traffic situation being horrendous in our beloved nation.

We get to Villa San Miguel (The Archbishop's Palace) just before 4:30pm. We had to wait a few minutes for the concerned person to attend to our inquiries. Actually, this visit was just to get an idea of the area. Frankly I wasn't too keen on it knowing that they don't provide a priest to officiate at the ceremony. It was already 5:20pm when we got to our second choice. We just took a chance to see if they were still open. And thankfully, they were. So it is all systems go for May 15, 2008 10 AM at the San Lorenzo Ruiz chapel, Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace. The date when the most eligible bachelor in Q.C weds the most eligible bachelorette in M.C! he he he (crazy joke D came up with!)

Woohooo!!!

I signed up for PPP

I've heard/read all the buzz about Payperpost from several bloggers. They were raving how easy it was and how much they have earned writing sponsored posts. You simply write reviews/opinions about different items and products on your blog, wait a few days for approval. Once it is confirmed, you get paid through Paypal. The payment scheme facility though kept me away. But once things eased up, I immediately signed up for PPP.

To distract my mind from the wedding arrangements, I have been spending a few minutes each day to familiarize myself with the mechanics involved in PayperPost. I have been reading and learning how to submit opportunities, checking out the different tools available that will help boost the traffic rankings of my blog. As well as browsing other bloggers site to see previews of sponsored posts. PPP's website is easy to navigate. It contains all the relevant information which new posties would find useful. Besides I'm a fast learner so I am confident I will be successful. I was delighted to learn this morning that my blog finally got approved. Yay. Now, I'm excited! I look forward to writing reviews and getting paid for it. I intend to save my earnings so I can buy household items for D's place. Ooops I meant our place.

Alert: major emotional roller coaster post ahead

In some previous post I mentioned my way of dealing with stressful situations is to cry. Well true to form, I had a nervous breakdown, the other night. Ok so it was more like the wee hours of the morning. After my nightly phone call to D, I sat on a small stool in my sister's office. We started discussing my wedding plans and my married life thereafter.

The thing is I have no problems at all with D. I have known since the very beginning what he could offer, what to expect or not to expect from him. I had my doubts if *I* could adapt to his lifestyle and kept changing the topic whenever he mentioned the M word. Yet as the months went by, I was willing to compromise and in the process I conditioned myself. Now I'm confident I am ready to face the task ahead. I credit it largely to D's laissez faire attitude, his optimistic outlook on life and his genuinely nurturing ways. Sa Tagalog, ang gaan gaan ng pakiramdam ko pag kasama ko si D.

But it has been very difficult for me to explain to my family my desire to settle down. The family who has raised me for 39 years. The family that has blessed me with material and emotional support unconditionally. The family who is now supporting me in full force. The family that overwhelms me in their need to make my transition into married life as comfortable as possible.

I know that it is all my fault. In my usual protectively guarded style about my romantic involvements, I don't tell them about D's lifestyle. I wanted to shield my family from the disappointment. I didn't want them to expect too much from D. I wanted D to feel welcome by my family. Of course they have welcomed him with open arms. For me to open up to my family was pretty daunting and vice versa. I understand my family's concerns considering the fact that I don't openly discuss any aspects of my relationship with D. So I was emotionally troubled yet kept up a brave front in view of all the arrangements I had (have) to deal with.

The tears started to roll down my cheeks when I told my sister, everything. I started sobbing uncontrollably. I let it all out. My sister who believe me has her plate totally full and overflowing with a million things bore the full brunt of my emotional meltdown. Really embarrassing yet very cathartic for me. A major stress reliever. I aired my concerns, my fears, my excitement, my happiness. So after that tearful episode, things have toned down quite a bit. I don't let the interrogation sessions bother me anymore. I feel much better. I sleep better. I've regained my appetite. I panic less. I smile more. I just need to take one baby step at a time and relax more. I should probably spend less time reading http://www.kasal.com and actually go out and make the darn bookings already! Teehee =)

Linky love chain

I got snared in this love chain by Girlie.The rules are simple - When you get tagged ... you have to add your name next to people who had done the tag and and let the list grow!

Limadang.com

RamblingMoo.com

blogginginmypyjamas

StylewithPassion

Chinneeq

Dora-zooropazoo

Babyshern

HiPnCooLMoMMa

Daphne Laura

Let’s keep the list growing, so more and more people will discover our blogs. I'm tagging:

Wil

Kayni

Denden

Vanessa

Em Dy

Formality's sake

D and I have been talking about marriage on and off the past few months. But I haven't had the chance to officially tell my parents about our plans. They aren't the type of parents who would question me openly about the state of my relationships. I guess they trust me enough to do the right thing so I've never discussed any of my romantic relationships with them. Well yesterday, we finally had the courage to formally announce our engagement/plans to settle down.

The night before, D and I rehearsed a number of scenarios on how to introduce the topic over lunch. Some were downright funny, others were silly, most were serious. I stressed myself out, kept tossing and turning in bed which prevented me from getting a good night sleep. I woke up early (for me anyway) barely ate my breakfast, took a quick shower then went to hear the 11 AM Sunday mass at the Edsa Shrine with my parents and D. I couldn't concentrate and broke out in a cold sweat (yes I know the church is air conditioned but still you know what I mean), several times.

My brilliant idea was to tell my parents during lunch at Teriyaki Boy. You know during that lull when we wait for our orders to arrive. But we couldn't do it. Blah. Ha ha ha! We ordered, the food came in rapid succession. We ate, glanced at each other sheepishly, ate some more (well I barely touched my food, preferring instead to drown myself with iced tea) talked about everything under the sun except the main issue at hand! My hands were literally shaking and my stomach was in knots. I was a nervous wreak. Occasionally, D and I would look at each other, smile and secretly hoped the other one would finally blurt it out to end our misery.

After the waiter cleared our table of our plates, I took a big gulp of my iced tea, took a very deep breath, looked my mother straight in the eyes and finally just blurted it out. "Ah Ma, Dad we have something to announce. We are planning to get married na next year!" *Big smile* My parents had this blank look on their face like my statement didn't register. D quickly said something to support my announcement. To say they were surprised is an understatement but they welcomed the good news with glee. My father gave the thumbs up sign. My mother was in shock and tried desperately not to cry as we were in a public place. Later that night, my parents kept saying that the announcement was slowly sinking in like some sort of delayed reaction. But the feedback has been mostly positive. I guess it has to do with the fact they like D immensely for he has always accorded them the respect they deserve.

After that announcement, I felt tremendous relief like a huge burden was taken off my chest. The interrogation part though started in the car and went on high alert when we got home. It was further compounded when I went online to read websites on the numerous requirements even for a simple Church wedding. D keeps telling me to relax and not stress myself out he will help me with everything but I can't really help it, I'm a worry wart, remember?

But overall, my parents are very enthusiastic, quite excited and have given me their full support. My beloved sister is the only one who dares to ask the hard nosed questions. She raises the issues I've been desperately trying to sweep under the rug, so to speak. She does have very valid concerns. I truly understand where she is coming from. I like to believe she merely means well and in due time I hope she would eventually ease up on me and D. But don't get me wrong, she is also very supportive. She serves as my shock absorber, my anchor and my rock. I know I can depend on her for anything, anytime, anywhere, forever!

I am currently a ball filled with mixed emotions. I'm ready, happy, confident, panic stricken, apprehensive and fearful yet I've never been more sure about finally finding the person I will grow old with. D has been such a wonderful supportive presence in my life and I couldn't ask for more! He was the one who pointed out that yesterday, November 11 was our 5th month anniversary. I was so stressed and freaked out I totally forgot about it.

Now excuse me as I finally have some private alone time so I can have a good cry over this whole thing. You know just to let it all sink in, cry away my worries, my fears and of course some happy tears as well.

Travel Recollections

The last time I was in France was about 10 years ago. Yes it has been that long! My sister was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her friend somewhere in the south of France. We managed to arrange our schedule to meet up in Paris after the wedding so we could have a grand vacation. We stayed at the apartment of another friend of my sister in Paris which was located in the Bastille district of the French capital. But if you don't know anyone in Paris, this website listing the different Paris hotels will surely come in handy.





We visited all the famous tourist spots like The Eiffel Tower, The Sacre Coeur Basilica, The Notre Dame Cathedral. We even patiently waited in line to enter the Louvre Museum. This was way before the book by Dan Brown "The Da Vinci Code" and the movie for that matter was released. My favorite tourist activity in Paris is to take the scenic Seine River cruise and simply soak in the lovely ambiance of Parisian life. Just like the boat which Celine and Jesse took in the movie "Before Sunset".

The great thing about traveling in Europe is that everything is connected by a very efficient rail transportation system . So you can basically just avail of an Eurail pass, hop on a train to visit the different cities within France. For your accommodations, simply book online on this website which offers a wide variety of hotels located anywhere in France.







For example you can head to Nice (pronounced "Niece" not "nice") the capital of the French Riviera. The last time I visited this coastal city was in the early 80s when we were on our way to Monte Carlo, Monaco. Beautiful sun drenched beaches, charming cobblestone streets lined with cafes and historical museums are the main attractions of this southeastern French city. A vibrant nightlife also awaits your presence. At the end of the day, you can retire to one of the numerous hotels which you booked through this extensive website. Then you can truly say you had a nice time in Nice!

Shopping Cart Software

A few years ago, I took a short term course in web design in a computer school located in the Shaw Boulevard area. Our final 'thesis' was to design an interactive e-commerce web page from scratch. I remember spending sleepless nights and getting very frustrated trying to get my website to work.

I know that if I had this e-commerce software available to me back then, it would have been a big help in finalizing my project. Ashop Commerce provides a very vital tool in any online store, the shopping cart. Their website is well designed with comprehensive information about the mechanics in setting up an e-commerce store. Their tech support and customer service are always ready to answer all your enquiries. You can also use a trial version of their shopping cart software for 10 days to familiarize yourself with their product. They make it all seem so easy! It is a one stop solution for all your e-commerce needs.

By the way, I am ashamed to admit that I simply gave up and failed to submit my final project for that course. Another one of those tasks I've left pending because I lost interest. It's the story of my life, really.

Pasa Load

Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are D's off days for this semester. The rest of the week he works from 7:30 AM to 6 PM. Great! And we got a wedding to plan!

OK maybe not.

No don't get me wrong, we are still getting married next year! I meant we don't really need to plan for it or so I keep telling myself. So far, we have decided to just find a priest who will be willing to marry us in some chapel or church without the frills of having bridesmaids, sponsors and whatever it is you need at these ceremonies. Only my parents and sister would be present. His parents (they are already too old to travel) and his siblings are all in the US of A. He hates the idea that he has to invite the whole university where he teaches to the wedding. Our 'reception' kuno would be at Teriyaki Boy. Then we check into the Linden Suites for our honeymoon.

I know people would say hmmm it is just one day why don't you splurge a little? Or worse, he must be poor he cannot afford an elaborate wedding. The thing is the less stress the better it is for me. I don't function well in stressful situations. I cry my eyes out. A bride with puffy eyes on her wedding day is not a good sign, I tell you! When I emailed my friend to consult her about the preparations, I read her reply twice, went on a brief panic mode then I forwarded the email to D so *he* would do everything. In other words, I 'pasa load' - I passed the load of planning the wedding to him. Teehee!

It is more important for me to plan for the marriage instead of the wedding. I rather spend on improving the little apartment we would call our conjugal home. And believe me, the place does need a LOT of improvement. The minute I stepped into D's place I was already thinking on how to renovate the whole apartment. After all, I would be working from home so it is imperative I make it as comfortable as possible. Since D works such long hours, the thought that I would be all alone for hours on end is already stressing me out, this early. D has been teasing me constantly that I might start to cry out of loneliness being stuck in that tiny place the whole day. Well, I just need to prove him wrong, won't I? Either that or I have an hour and a half to dry my tears the minute he texts me he is on his way home. Ehem!

Dangling Earrings (Batch 2)

I took pictures of the remaining set of my earrings at Linden Suites. I hanged them on the lamp located on the side table by the bed. Now if you want to contribute to my collection, you are very much welcome to do so! After all, Christmas is just around the corner and it is the season to give gifts! Ho ho ho =)

Advantage Term Life

Every year my sister receives a letter reminding her to register her car as well as renew her car insurance policy. We also had both our condo unit and our parents house insured in case of damages due to natural calamities and accidents. But we have never thought of buying life insurance.

Advantage Term Life is a company that sells a wide range of comprehensive life insurance. These include term insurance, whole life and employee benefit package. They offer a reliable insurance quoting service where you can compare the different policies and the coverage it offers to make it easier to decide the best option. Everything you ever needed to know about life insurance policies is conveniently located on their website. Click away and get insured!

Smorty

To get the ball rolling (special thanks to Girlie!), the first site I signed up with is Smorty. Its name sounds like a delightful candy, oh wait ok so that's Smartie! But I digress!



Smorty is a service that links advertisers with bloggers. Advertisers pay bloggers to write their opinions about products, services and websites. It only takes a few minutes to compose an entry with a link back to the advertiser prominently displayed in your post. After all, don't we always have an opinion about something?

Its features include the opportunity to earn more money by writing your opinions in multiple blogs, the choice to select only products that interest you and you get paid to blog, weekly through Paypal. For advertisers it is a chance to increase your search-engine rankings and targeted traffic by blog advertising.

Their brightly designed website is comprehensive and very easy to navigate. Take a few minutes to read all the relevant information and tools at your disposal. Sign up as either an advertiser or a blogger, wait a few days for your blog to be approved then voila, you are all set to get paid for blogging.

Quick Update

Last month was pretty hectic. I came back from Bohol and Cebu. We celebrated my sister's birthday. The very next day I developed severe abdominal cramps which got me bedridden for a week. Then I was off to watch foreign films at the Spanish Film Festival. My computer broke down permanently and this 'event' had me frantic in deciding what to do next. Until I finally bought a new PC and couldn't be happier with my purchase. I celebrated my 39th birthday on the day the Glorietta explosion occurred. Then my sister and I checked into the Linden Suites for an overnight stay. I managed to watch only 1 movie at Cine Europa. I still have movie reviews to write, emails to reply to and tons of bills to pay.

D had 2 weeks off work due to the semester break so it was bonding time. A time well spent since we have made several concrete plans about our future. Exciting plans which I admit give me butterflies in my stomach and has my head spinning with numerous thoughts and ideas. Yet at the same time, I am freaking out if I am up to the daunting task ahead. I make it sound like doomsday but just imagine after spending 39 years of my life in the lap of independence and luxury, I am going to embark on a journey where I alter my last name, adjust to new surroundings, adapt to a completely different lifestyle and make decisions which would affect the rest of my life. But how hard can it be, right? After all since I was 3 years old I have been on this nomadic path of always adjusting to everything from locale, culture, climate, cuisine, residences and even friends, I guess it is time to dig in and grow roots!

The main point of this entry is to announce my intention to write sponsored posts on this blog because I need to build a nest egg. And yes I am getting married next year! Wish me luck, for both! =)

Meme Time

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night?
D, as usual!

2. What were you doing at 0800?
I'm not a morning person so I was still asleep

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Washing the dishes

4. What happened to you in 2006?
Ah I turned 38

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
"ok you can pull the USB thumb drive out na"

6. How many beverages did you have today?
2 - coffee and water

7. What color is your hairbrush?
I use a light blue comb

8. What was the last thing you paid for?
the car wash for my sister's car at the parking lot of the Shangri-la Plaza

9. Where were you last night?
Home

10. What color is your front door?
Brown

11. Where do you keep your change?
Coin purse which I have to search for deep within my bag everytime I pay for anything

12. What’s the weather like today?
Pleasant enough, no sun, not too humid.

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Mint chocolate which I haven't had in ages!

14. What excites you?
film festivals, out of town trips, special occasions and my dates with D

15. Do you want to cut your hair?
Yes, my hair needs a trim but the thing is my stylist has been assigned to another branch (all the way in SM North of all places) so I've been hesitant to try someone else

16. Are you over the age of 25?
Definitely

17. Do you talk a lot?
It depends on the company but not really.

18. Do you watch the O.C.?
Nope

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
A friend of my sister but I don't really know him

20. Do you make up your own words?
Sometimes, yes

21. Are you a jealous person?
No

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.
Ash

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’.
Karl but he was just some guy I went out with just once

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?
My sister

25. What does the last text message you received say?
"Ok hon c u l8r ingats ha, i love you!"

26. Do you chew on your straw?
No

27. Do you have curly hair?
More like wavy hair

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?
Baguio but nothing definite yet

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?
No one

30. What was the last thing you ate?
Lunch - rice, kaldereta with clear veggie soup

31. Will you get married in the future?
Yes, next year. Gosh!!!

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
"The Lives of Others" a German film and the only film I caught at the recently concluded Cine Europa at the Shang Cineplex

33. Is there anyone you like right now?
D

34. When was the last time you did the dishes?
I did it before I answered this meme

35. Are you currently depressed?
Not at all

36. Did you cry today?
No, do I have to??

37. Why did you answer and post this?
I decided to post this meme to prove I am not neglecting this blog, gone missing or abducted by aliens. Things have been hectic, period!