Nah, I'm not talking about that yummy Mexican treat as much as I am starving right now. LOL! I'm actually referring to a website that pays you to like stuff on Facebook. Yes, you read it right. 

Loaded Nachos is a is a website where you can get paid just to become a fan of Facebook pages. Facebook page owners can get more fans for just pennies each. It's the web's only open market for Facebook fans! No tricks. No gimmicks. Just good old American commerce at its best.

It was Levy who shared the link to Loaded Nachos and since I wasn't doing anything, I decided to click check it out. With the site, you get to earn in 3 ways: by clicking the "LIKE" button or liking a page, referring friends or by winning a random prize that the side hides in one of their pages every week. It so much easier if you have a Facebook account because all you need to do is connect to it via Facebook. Oh, did I mention you get $1.00 just by sharing it on your Facebook page?☺

Payout threshold is $5.00 and you get paid through PayPal. Hope you guys can check it out.☺  

When my parents went to the USA in 2005, my brother and I moved to a smaller house, a townhouse more specifically. Since it was just the two of us who would be living there, we opted for a two-bedroom unit. He got the bigger of the two rooms because during that time, he already had plans of getting married. We still live in the same townhouse although we’re now 2 persons fuller (his wife and kid).

The house is just the right size for us, not too big and not too small. We have a garage but we don’t have a lawn out front, hence, we don’t have a garden. There is a space at the back, though, which can be converted into a pocket garden. However, it looks like we won’t be using that space for a pocket garden, but instead we will be extending the ground floor farther. That’s after my parents told us that they might be coming home in September.

Since there are only two bedrooms in the house, that space at the back might be converted into a bedroom for my parents. My brother and SIL are already looking for someone who can make the space “livable”. I, on the other hand, am already thinking of how to decorate my parents’ would-be bedroom. Since most of the furniture we have in our living room and kitchen are made of wood, I’m thinking of getting some rustic furniture to fill my parents’ room up. I’m sure they’ll love it. It’s actually the theme my SIL and I are trying to build on – a country theme. I’m already excited to hunt for rustic furniture because I know that that particular type of furniture can add a touch of warmth and give a tranquil feel to any room, exactly just what my parents need so they can relax to the max!

This was taken last week. I took it for posterity because for the 1st time ever, a Starbucks staff was able to spell my name correctly.☺

Ate is the term Filipinos use to address their older sister(s). I have an ate, Ate Joy, and well, she's my only sister. I call her my favorite sister and she calls me the same, too. LOL! We were born 6 years and 6 months apart. Growing up, we weren't really that close. She was closer to our brother while I, well, I was always the odd one out. LOL! I remember that the only time I opened up to her was when this guy friend of mine gave me a ring. I was a high school senior then. I didn't know what to do with the ring but I accepted it because the guy was my boyfriend (hahaha!). Since I didn't want to find out what my mom's reaction would be once she saw the ring, I had to tell my ate about it and asked her what I would do with the ring. Like a true ate, she took the ring from me and kept it for me until I had enough guts to tell my parents about it. That was the turning point of my relationship with my ate. We became closer.

That's her at the top and that's my latest picture on the bottom. I now officially love this latest picture of mine because my sister, mom and some of our cousins said I looked like my sister here.☺ That's a first.

When she left for the USA almost 7 years ago, my heart broke. It was like a part of me was being taken away out of my own volition. It was heart-shattering because it was the first time we'll be away from each other for God knows how long. I spent many nights crying myself to sleep after my ate left and my mom couldn't do anything about it. I was 27 then but I cried like a baby when she and her whole family left.

For right now my ate and I make do with phone calls, instant messaging and writing on each other's Facebook profile walls. I can't wait for the day when my ate and I can be together again. I'm hoping that day come sooner than soon.Oh by the way my dear sister, advanced happy 22nd wedding anniversary to you and your hubby!I love you both!☺

Saturday 9: The Sun Rising

1. When was the last time that you watched a sunrise? Who were you with? - About 2 years ago, with my then SO.

2. If President Obama promised he'd do one thing you asked, what would you ask him to do? - I don't live in the USA but if I could ask Pres. Obama one thing, I'd ask him to keep all the promises he uttered during his inauguration.

3. What is one experience that has strengthened your character the most so far? - Heartbreak after heartbreak. Failed relationships after failed relationships.

4. What is the first thing that you usually do after completing Saturday 9? - Leave a comment on Sam's blog.

5. Tell us about someone either in your life or in the blogosphere that you think is extremely funny. - That would have to be my brother. He's a born comic.

6. Where was the last bed that you slept in that was not your own? - It was a hotel bed. From my last vacation.

7. Have you ever been too drunk to remember anything? - Never.☺

8. Have you ever licked something to clean it? - Okay, this may sound weird but I think some people actually do this: I licked blood off my lips after it cracked (got too dry).

9. Who, outside of family or a S/O, has influenced your life the most? - No one. Really. Is that bad?

Divine ice cream pleasure is HEAVEN Ice Cream.

Give in to the richest, smoothest, and creamiest by NESTLÉ Ice Cream. Revel in the exquisite goodness of its four sophisticated flavors---Belgian Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry Dream, Vanilla Almond Secret and Butter Pecan Obsession. HEAVEN Ice Cream is made with only the finest ingredients and contains no artificial food colors. Available in 800mL(Php 175) & 450mL(Php 115) tubs across supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.

Yes, you're reading it correctly. A blogger friend, G, is putting The Twitterer up for adoption. It was a blog created in December of 2009 and within 3 months, it's rank skyrocketed to [PR] 3.

G's busy schedule, however, is making it hard for her to maintain 2 blogs that's why she's trying to look for the mos suitable foster parent for her PR3 blog.

I would want another PR3 blog after this one lost its PR when I changed domain names.☺ It's very important for us bloggers to have high ranking blogs especially if we're trying to earn from them, right? You, too, may be one of those whom G would consider a suitable foster parent for her blog.

Well, if you want to find out more about G's PR3 blog giveaway, please feel free to hop on to At Home with Georyl. It's where the mechanics can be found.☺

Yes, I feel guilty because I feel as though I've been neglecting my blogs.:( The last post I made here was last Monday and the last post I made on my other blog was last Sunday, I think. I haven't been able to Adgitize and drop ECs either. Apart from the articles I regularly write for her, my Italian client has decided to use my services for proofreading as well. I was cool with the idea and worked on 10 articles initially. But she sent me 30 articles again, for proofreading and editing, so that's what I have been working on the past couple of days. She didn't give me a deadline which, ironically, is putting much pressure on me. Aside from that, my other client has asked me to re-write some news articles for him so there.

Please forgive me if I haven't been able to blog hop, leave comments, etc. I'll just get these over and done with and once my schedule permits, I'll start visiting your blogs again. Or I might try to Adgitize using my phone later on after I'm done with chores. LOL!

I SO LOVE THIS SONG!

That's the hopeless romantic in me speaking.☺ The first time I heard this song, my initial take on it was that it was so depressing. Later on, when I listened to it again, I was able to understand where the singer "supposedly" was coming from. She sang it with much heart. I guess anybody who has gone through a heartbreaking loss can sing the song with heart.

Now, I no longer find the song depressing. In fact, in those times when I suffered from loss, I found comfort in listening to that song over and over again. It made me realize that no matter how painful or heart shattering a break-up could be, one can still manage to let go and start moving on. Yes, I do believe that letting go is an art that everyone would do well to master.☺

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part Two

Cheers to all of us thieves!

23. Do you rent movies often? - No but we buy DVDs regularly or download movies from the internet. LOL!

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? - Yep, my cellphones metal casing.

25. How many countries have you visited? - Just 2: USA and Hong Kong.

26. Have you made a prank phone call? - Yes! >:)

27. Ever been on a train? - Yes.☺

28. Brown or white eggs? - White.

29. Do you have a cell-phone? - Yes. Can't live without one.

30. Do you use Chap Stick? - Sometimes. My lips don't really get too dry.

31. Do you own a gun? - No.

32. Can you use chop sticks? - Yes but I'm no expert.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight? - My family.☺

34. Are you too forgiving? - No.

35. Ever been in love? - Oh yes.

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow (or the next soonest week day)? - I have no idea. Working I guess.

37. Ever have cream puffs? - Of course! In fact, I have a bunch beside me right now. Mini cream puffs.

38. Last time you cried? - A few minutes ago over a TV show. Couldn't help it, it was touching.

39. What was the last question you asked? - Are you hungry? (To my 3 year old nephew)

40. Favorite time of the year? - Rainy season (here in the Philippines) because of the cool weather.

41. Do you have any tattoos? - No.☺

42. Are you sarcastic? - I could be when I want to.

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? - That's with Ashton Kutcher, right? Yes.

44. Ever walked into a wall? - Oh yes! Dang!

Saturday 9: Love Hurts

1. Tell us about the last time that you got hurt in the arena of love. - That's fresh. Just last March. Found out my "then" guy fathered a baby who was already 3 months old that time. Argh! Where was I? Why didn't I see the signs?

2. Have you ever been part of the wedding party, other than your own? - Yup. I was a bridesmaid during my guy cousin's wedding and I was the maid of honor during my brother's wedding.

3. Let's say you find yourself in Hell after you die. Think about everyone you've known in your life. Who would be the one person that would least likely to surprise you by being in Hell with you? - My ex. The same guy I mentioned in #1.

4. What brings you good luck? - I honestly don't know. I've never believed in pure luck.

5. Do you have a photo blog? If so, feel free to share the link with us! - None. I want to start one but I don't really take good pictures.

6. What is your biggest source of news? (Internet? Newspaper? Television? Radio? The Daily Show? Other?) - Internet, TV.

7. What's the hottest you've ever been in your life? - Hot in what sense? LOL!  

8. If you had to choose a theme song for your blog, which would would you choose and why? - Whitney Houston's Try It On My Own. There's a line there that goes, "I live my life the way I feel, no matter what I'll keep it real." That's me and that's what I want to show others...I am me, no pretentions.

9. Who was the last person you had an online conversation with that you've never met or talked to on your phone? - A fellow blogger, Pehpot, through Yahoo messenger.

Because of typhoon Basyang (international name Coscon), I wasn't able to update my blogs for 2 straight days. The electricity was cut off in our area late Tuesday evening and it was only last night when the electric company was able to restore it. I have no idea what time it was restored because for the past two days, I spent my days at our shop. The mall where the shop is located ran their generator so I was able to work. Yes, work was mostly what I did during those 2 days. There was internet connection but I couldn't risk going online lest I fail to finish the articles my clients were expecting from me.

I hope everybody's fine after the typhoon. I'm just thankful that it didn't do much damage in our place, except for the 2-day brownout and some fallen trees. I have to say, though, that it was the first time strong winds scared the wits out of me! I could hear the wind howling especially last Tuesday when the typhoon was at its most furious stage. I could hear stuff falling from the house behind my room, the sounds of breaking glasses (windows probably) and a lot more scary sounds.

I guess there would be more within the coming months since typhoon season has officially started here in the Philippines. Be safe everyone, especially my fellow Filipino bloggers. Always be alert and of sound mind when the inevitable comes.

Most of you know that my world revolves around writing, blogging and my 3-year old nephew Keoni. I've been taking care of him since he was born and I just can't picture my life without him.☺

Anyway, we were watching an episode of Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney Channel the other day. I guess it was a rerun or something. In the episode, the wizards diner suddenly found itself with competing with a diner that's run by vampires.

So Keoni sees the vampires in their costumes and he tells me he wants to wear a costume too. I told him he already has a Spider Man costume but he answered that it's not a costume but rather a sleepwear. I tried to reason that it only became a sleepwear because he wants to wear it to sleep. But this little boy won't simply rest. He insisted I should buy him a costume. When I asked him what kind he liked, he told me, without batting his eyelashes, that he wants an Incredible Hulk costume!

Oh my! Now I'm trying to scour the net for Incredible Hulk Costumes. I've seen some already in one website I chanced upon but they only have big sizes. So aside from writing an article that's due tomorrow, I'm also trying to look for an Icredible Hulk costume for my dear Keoni. Oh the joys and sorrows of being an aunt!

 

I've always loved the song One Last Cry by Brian McKnight. Not only is the song beautiful, but Brian as a singer is awesome as well. I think Brian is one of the best RNB singers of all time. When I heard this live cover of One Last Cry, I literally had tears in my eyes. He sang it with emotions and, well, since I'm super sensitive, I was touched by it. Haha!

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part One

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. First thing you wash in the shower? - I wash my hair first. Although I wet my armpits and the back of my knees first.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie? - Purple!

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? - Definitely!

4. Do you plan outfits? - Sometimes.☺

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? - Hungry!

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red? - My nephew's Ferrari toy car.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? - It's actually a recurring dream about a guy from the not-so-distant past. In my dream, we were a couple. I find this odd because we never became one in real life although we did like each other.

8. Did you meet anybody new today? - No.

9. What are you craving right now? - Seafood pasta and pepperoni pizza.

10. Do you floss? - Yes!

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? - My favorite toy as a kid, a Cabbage Patch Kids doll.

12. Are you emotional? - Very emotional.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? - Never had a reason to do that.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? - I lick the ice cream and bite the cone.

15. Do you like your hair? - Love it but there's always room for improvement.

16. Do you like yourself? - No. I LOVE MYSELF!

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? - No.

18. What are you listening to right now? - My whining nephew.

19. Are your parents strict? - Sort of.

20. Would you go sky diving? - Not in this lifetime.

21. Do you like cottage cheese? - Love it!

22. Have you ever met a celebrity? - Was friends with one. He still is a friend. Sadly though, his celebrity status lasted for a few years only.

I know that most of the readers of this blog earn sufficiently from their online gigs that's why I deemed it wise to post about "Blog Review for a Cause" here. A fund raising event for bloggers, Blog Review for a Cause was launched by Pehpot to help the young daughter of Mommy Rubz.

This pretty little baby, Bella, needs to undergo a surgery for hernia. Yes, contrary to more popular notions, hernia is a condition that affects not only the male species but females as well. 

Hernia is the protrusion of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. When a hernia is not repaired, it may become strangulated. When strangulation occurs, there is a danger that part of the intestine be caught in the hernia cutting off blood supply to the tissue. Also, when a bowel obstruction occurs, it leads to severe pain, vomiting, nausea and inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas. Although Hernia happen to boys mostly, girls can also experience it.

We can all help Bella's parents raise the funds needed for her surgery. What can we do to help? We can purchase a blog review from her mom's PR3 blog. The review will consist of 150 words (all positive) with 2 links (home page link) and an image of the header or screen shot of the blog to be reviewed. One link with the blog title as the anchor text and the other link is on the image.

Please help us with this unselfish endeavor. All it takes is $10.00 (or more, if you want!) and I'm sure the amount won't do much damage to your wallets. If you want to share your blessings, you may send an e-mail to Pehpot. Her e-mail address is pehcats@gmail.com. Just send her the URL of the blog that you want Mommy Rubz to review and she in turn will send back to you the post URL and the PayPal ID where you may send the payment. 

Whenever we go to the mall, my nephew Keoni would always drag me to the toy store. I guess he knows I can never say no to him. Once inside, he would immediately go to the section where Thomas the Tank Engine toys are displayed. He knows all the characters so he knows which ones he already has and which ones we have yet to buy for him. After choosing his TTE toy, he would then go to the section where he can play with educational toys on display. He particularly loves those educational toys because they’re basically interactive and I know he learns a lot from them. He actually has an interactive toy laptop which his doting grandma gave him and it just amazes me how that simple toy taught him the correct usage of a computer mouse, as well as his upper and lower case letters. At 3, Keoni already knows how to navigate through a real laptop and it doesn’t take much for us to teach him the alphabet because he already received early training from his toy laptop. Indeed, educational toys are a must for young kids like Keoni because they learn a lot from them.

If there was one other thing which surprised me when I held my blogversary contest (apart from the fantastic turnout), it was a sponsorship pledge from Clarissa or Clang (as people in the blogosphere fondly call her) of Kizuna. It came as a surprise because throughout the entire time that I’ve been actively blogging, we never really got the chance to engage in serious conversations although we’ve gone past the usual exchange of pleasantries. That goes without saying, though, that I am a regular visitor of her blog. I may not make my presence felt when I visit, but I do. 

Clang is a Filipina living in Japan with her husband and kids. I love the story behind her blog title which she proudly shares in the Get to Know Kizuna page. She shares that Kizuna is her favorite Japanese word because of its meaning: TIES and BONDING.

The title choice for her blog is apt because it is where she shares snippets of her bonding time with her family whom she considers her passion. It does seem that her world revolves around her family because she makes sure that she’s involved with her kids’ everyday lives. So much so that she has volunteered to be a crossing guard for kids (hers included) who walk from their homes to their school. What better way to contribute to the community, right?☺

Like me, she also joins the weekly Girls Talk meme. Reading her entries, you can see that Clang is someone who knows how to take care of herself. I drooled over the stuff in her vanity kit because I personally have a meager supply in mine. I guess she loves shopping for cosmetics because that’s what she gave to my contest winner.

She joins other memes like Couple’s Corner, Food Trip Friday, Nostalgia and Mommy Moments. These memes are just clear indications of how much she values her family.

Get to know Clang more by visiting here blog.

(So sorry for the late review Clang. I'm barely able to manage my time because of work.♥)

*This review of Kizuna is part of the many SPONSOR REVIEWS I will be doing for the next couple of days, weeks and months. The reviews will be done in random order.*

Someone told me that she just had to add my blog to her list of blogs she recommends because my blog was, in her words, "Wayyyyyyy too pretty." I agree. Call me a narcissist but I love my blog especially after it was given a major makeover by THE BLOG DESIGNER PAR EXCELLECE Kaye.

Don't get me wrong. Of course I love my blog. But I fell even more in love with it after Kaye shared her stroke of genius to it. Kaye surely has what people call Midas Touch. She was also the one I turned to when I needed a banner and badge for the blog contest I held last March.☺

So who is Kaye? Aside from being loving wife to her hubby she fondly calls Paulie and mom to her lovely "piglet" Svet, Kaye is a savvy blog designer, for lack of a better word. Have you seen her designs? If you haven't, you're missing one half of your life. Her online portfolio boasts of the many blogs that were fortunate enough to get a makeover courtesy of Kaye. Just look at the waiting list to see how many bloggers want a Kaye makeover. If that list doesn't convince you of just how good Kaye is, I don't know what else will.

Apart from being a blog designer extraordinaire, she also have a generous spirit and that is evidenced by the blog makeover giveaway she hosted for two consecutive months. She plans to do it a monthly thing so keep your eyes peeled for her July giveaway.☺

Is that all about Kaye? Not likely. She also shares the same fascination about vampires, particularly one named Edward Cullen, as with other women won over by Edward's charms (me included). She's also the spanking new host of the super famous Thursday meme Girls Talk, of which I am a proud "member" and her baptism of fire was supported and witnessed by many girl talkers. Proof that Kaye can take on anything thrown her way.

Not to mention that Kaye is also an excellent writer. If you want to know just how, visit her blogs and indulge your eyes in fine reading. Writer, wife, mother, blog designer...those are just some of the things this talent-laden lady has in her JD. Who knows what she's going to add there next? I can only imagine.☺

(Kaye dearest, I'm sorry for this very late blog review. This should've been done months ago but it's only now that I was able to squeeze it in to my schedule.)

*This review of Wahmaholic is the first of the many SPONSOR REVIEWS I will be doing for the next couple of days, weeks and months. The reviews will be done in random order.*

I was finally able to watch Eclipse last night. My brother downloaded it and we were able to enjoy the movie from the comfort of our home. To tell you honestly, I haven't read the book yet. But I do have the feeling that the book is way better than the movie adaptation. I'm not saying I didn't like Eclipse. I did. I loved it. But I am positive that there were some elements in the novel that weren't used in the film. So as soon as I'm able to leave my silent sanctuary, a.k.a. my house, I'm hitting the nearest bookstore to buy the book.

Suffice it to say that I went to bed with images of Edward in my mind. Before the start of the movie, I was having mixed feelings. I didn't know if I would lean towards Team Jacob or Team Edward. But as the movie progressed, I had my mind set. This decision was all the more affirmed when Edward told Bella, "Will you do me the extraordinary honor of marrying me?" I almost fell down from my seat. I mean who wouldn't swoon over a guy who considers you his reason for existing, right?

So when the movie ended, I arrived at the official conclusion: it's Team Edward for me.☺

  

The weekend, that is. I spent Saturday trying to recharge from the past week. I had a June 30 and July 2 deadline which I was able to meet, thank God, but both projects left me drained so I took Saturday off even if I still have several articles I need to submit by the 7th. However, it seemed as if 24 hours wasn't enough for Saturday. =( I wasn't able to do everything I planned. I couldn't afford to give myself another day-off so even if it's Sunday, I'm trying to work an a few drafts which, hopefully, I'd be able to finalize tomorrow.

I can't believe that the weekend just flew by. I also can't believe that it's already the 4th of July! We're more than halfway into the new year and December is lurking around the corner. Gosh! Time really does fly when. This is just a quick post. I just needed to gather my wits for a while since I could feel my creative juices freezing a while back. Now I have to get back to work before they call me for dinner.☺

The project brief I was waiting for came to my inbox late last Wednesday. It contained 3 spreadsheets (July to September), all of which are filled with products that I have to write descriptions (more or less 200 words each) for. What type of products? Bikinis. LOL! Seriously, it's for an Italian website which sells Brazilian bikinis. The deadline was set for 7th July, except for the July spreadsheet which I worked on last Thursday until Friday afternoon. It was the most toxic since I had to work on about 17 bikini descriptions which required 2 more versions. So I'm guessing that was more than 50 descriptions I slaved on.

I just have to recharge after that so I took this day off. It's a Saturday anyway. Only problem is, I got bored. So I decided to visit Blogthings while doing my usual rounds of bloghopping. I took 2 quizzes entitled "What Color is Your Birthday?" and "How Rare is Your Personality?" and although I disagree with the color result for my birthday (was hoping it was purple!), I have to agree with the explanation it provided.

 

Your Birthday is Pink

You are the dreamy type. You can't help but be an idealist, even if your dreams get crushed from time to time. You have a vision of how the world should be. You work hard to make life easier and better for people. You are generous. In fact, you give until it hurts and expect nothing in return. You are sometimes disappointed. It's discouraging to have such high hopes when things don't work out.

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

Whew! I just finished Adgitizing using my cellphone and I have to admit that it wasn't easy. In fact, I'm actually blogging from my phone too. I wasn't able to bloghop earlier because I had to finish something for my client. I had to write 17 short articles and make 2 more versions of it so I wasn't able to work and have fun at the same time. LOL! I'm glad tomorrow's not as hectic. Well, goodnight guys!