tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68577888066680273322024-03-13T09:27:43.396+08:00Tongue-Tied Talks...when I finally decided to speak...<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-78080606665012962492019-10-25T03:08:00.001+08:002019-10-25T03:09:09.683+08:00Random Thoughts - 10.25.2019 - That Priceless FeelingThat very liberating feeling of being able to unfriend, unfollow, mute and ignore conversations, be indifferent, and simply discard certain people from your life, especially those that pretend to love you, be friends with you, and who think they have fooled you - that feeling is PRICELESS. Sorry guys, I may not react but I can definitely see through all your bullshit. << TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-15575326630992454172019-09-13T05:25:00.002+08:002019-09-13T05:26:04.223+08:00Random Thoughts 09.12.2019 - Win-Win SituationIf you think I will be distraught should I be taken out of this project, then you are terribly wrong. I would definitely view it as a very liberating opportunity and even a blessing in disguise. This can be a win-win situation for both of us. 😈<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-12150951680576993442019-07-13T01:56:00.000+08:002019-07-13T01:56:03.497+08:00Thinking of Reviving This BlogIt's been 5++ years since my last post on this blog. As I've been busy hustling and shuffling being a single mom, an IT slave, and maintaining my own sanity, I realized I should have an outlet for all these excess (and sometimes pent-up energies). I am now thinking of giving this blog (and my digital scrapbooking blog) a second breath. Just thinking of what I can write about - both from present and not-so-distant past, but definitely interesting, experiences. So let's all wait and see if I can now untie the tongued-tied me. 😁<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-28688318201536146322014-06-25T10:29:00.000+08:002014-06-25T10:29:14.556+08:00First Day of School Tips for First Time School Children<i>The article below is my contribution to our office newsletter ezine for the month of June. I am sharing it with the readers of this blog, especially those with first time school children. </i><br />
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The month of June in the Philippines signifies the end of summer, and the start of the school year. First day of school for first time school children can either make or break their general impression of school, and can possibly affect their future outlook towards going to school. A child’s anxiety and apprehensions can prevent them from having that good learning atmosphere at school. As parents, we can help ease their anxiety using the tips below:<br /><br /><b>1. Good night sleep.</b><br />On the night before the first day of school, parents should advise their kids to be fully rested by having a good night’s sleep. This would allow the child to be well-rested and not sleepy during his/her first day of classes. <br /><br /><b>2. Preparing A Day Before.</b><br />Since most first time school children are not yet that independent, parents usually still arrange their school stuff like school materials and uniforms. In order to prevent unnecessary rush and panic in the morning, parents should make sure that all the needed school stuff is ready the night before – from books and pens to shoes and uniforms. This will make the children more excited (than rattled) when they wake up in the morning. <br /><br /><b>3. Good breakfast. </b><br />Nutritionist all agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Before sending the kids to school, parents should make sure that children eat a heavy and nutritious breakfast. An empty stomach would cause hunger pangs later in school and may prevent the kids from focusing and enjoying school. <br /><br /><b>4. Come early. </b><br />Being early in school on the first day does not only leave a good impression on the teacher, but it also allows our kid to relax a little longer before the actual classes begin. They can get a feel of their classroom, their teacher, as well as their classmates. It also allows us parents to stay a bit longer and check on how our kids are adjusting. Being early also allows our kids to choose their seats (if they are not seated by the teacher based on a certain scheme like by class number). This would allow them to be seated in a spot wherein they feel comfortable and at ease. <br /><br /><b>5. Sending something from Home. </b><br />For those kids with separation anxiety, try to bring something that reminds them of home – a small family picture, a small toy car or toy that he/she can keep inside his/her bag or pocket. <br /><br /><b>6. Have a goodbye procedure. </b><br />When it’s time to leave our little children, try to set up a goodbye routine or procedure. Like a kiss on the check with a pat on the back. This will allow the kids to be more comfortable when it is bye-bye time for mom/dad. Once we leave, let us also try not to go back. Kids may be upset at the start, but it is a good time for them to adjust to their new environment, especially to their new teachers or nurse aid. <br /><br /><b>7. Be on time during dismissal time. </b><br />Nothing would be scarier for a little child than to be left alone when all of his/her classmates have been picked up by their parents/guardians during dismissal. It is important for us parents to be prompt when picking up our kids during dismissal time, even at least during the 1st few weeks. This will make the child more secured. <br /><br /><b>8. Check on the child’s feelings. </b><br />Upon reaching home, parents should talk to their kids about how school went. We can ask them what activities did they do, and how do they felt towards these activities. We can ask them if he/she have already met new friends, and if the teacher gave them enjoyable activities. This kind of activity not only serves as a bonding opportunity between parents and their small kids. It also allows our little children to be open about discussing the things that they liked or disliked about school. When the things they dislike about school seem serious (a classmate who suddenly pulled their hair or collar), then it could be a red flag of pending trouble, and as such should be reported early to the teacher. <br /><br />Whenever we think that our kids are just being clingy when they have their first-day-of-school anxiety, it is always nice to remember that we were once in their shoes. Our parents were just patient enough to handle our apprehensions. As such, as parents we should also make sure that our kids have a good start in school. :-)<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-27610570162857130482014-05-20T19:14:00.000+08:002014-05-20T19:14:40.785+08:00Surviving Single Parenthood<i>The article below is my contribution to our office newsletter/ezine for the month of May. I want to share it with the readers of this blog, especially in case I have single parent readers. </i><br />
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Parenthood
is not a simple stroll in the park. Similar to a farmer who nourishes a seed to
become a full tree or plant, the mother and father nurtures a child to become a
responsible adult someday. However, sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances
which push an individual to become a single parent. At this stage, the
individual takes on the role of both the mother and father in rearing a child.
The role is doubled, and so are the challenges.
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Below are a
few tips on how to live through single parenthood. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. Have a good support system:</b></div>
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Being a mom
or a dad per se is difficult. What more if you have to take up a double-role of
being both. Having a good support system of family and friends whom you can
trust does not only provide a single parent some moral support, but can also
serve as an extended pair of arms and legs whenever the single parent has so
much tasks in his/her hand. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Make and Find time for Yourself:</b></div>
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Too often
single parents are very much occupied with work and raising their kids, that
they have less time for themselves. Setting up some personal “me-time” allows
the single parent to rest and recharge – thus feeling less burnt out. A single
parent can also learn new skills aside from the work he/she has been used to.
This would allow him/her to not only have time for him/herself, but also to
improve him/herself.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. Always be Prepared:</b></div>
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A bottle of
water, some snacks, an extra pair of clothes, some tissue or napkin, hand
sanitizer or alcohol, a small toy or book to keep the little ones busy. With kids
around, being prepared is always a must for parents. But by being a single
parent, being prepared becomes a sole responsibility. It is important that
whenever you and your child leave home, the “essential stuff” (i.e. the items
listed in the first statement) is always within reach. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. Maintain a Positive Attitude:</b></div>
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Having the
task to juggle work, paying the bills, taking care of the home, and solely raising
a child can become overwhelming and can sometimes stress out any single parent.
It is always important to have a positive attitude if you’re a single parent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When things get out of hand, a single parent
can maintain a journal just to have an outlet to vent out all the negative
feelings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children learn from their
parents. And we want our kids to grow up having an optimistic “can-do” mindset.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. Live Within Your Means:</b></div>
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Part of
being a single parent is handling financial matters on your own, whether it is paying
the bills at home or shouldering your child’s education. It is an important for
any single parent to learn the necessary budgeting skills, spending wisely, as
well as making sound financial decisions to save for the future. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. Spend Quality Time With Your Kid(s):</b></div>
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This is one,
if not the most, important part of this list. Spending quality time with your
son or daughter does not only meet the child’s need for attention, but it
allows the single parent to have some meaningful interaction. This meaningful
interaction would allow the single parent to learn more about his/her child and
sometimes, even about him/herself. Quality time need not always be expensive
and extravagant. A good chitchat over dinner, or some weekend at the movies or
arcade, or picnic at the park are good examples. </div>
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To
summarize, single parenthood is definitely not for the faint of heart or those
who fear responsibility. A single parent should be able to have the compassion
and tenderness of a mother, and combine it with the steadfastness and the
discipline skills of a father. But the rewards have always been great. Being
able to see your child grow up successfully and knowing in your heart that you
were able to do it on your own, is a reward any single parent can be truly proud
of. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Special
Note: </u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The author
of this article is a single parent to an 8-year old boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article includes the author’s personal insights and take on surviving
(and thriving) as a single parent. </div>
<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-6935276768558259502014-05-05T19:51:00.004+08:002014-05-05T19:52:05.083+08:00Inked and Loving It<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
After 3-4 years of planning, researching, and waiting for the proper timing,
I have finally crossed out another item from my bucket list. I finally got
inked.<br />
<br />
Last April 26, 2014, while my parents were enjoying their Marian pilgrimage
in Europe, I mustered enough courage to finally get my first tattoo. It was a
tattoo of my all-time favorite creature - the mythical phoenix. The tattoo was
a colored one. It was about 5-6 inches in length and was placed on my upper
back which spread a little along my spine. It was done by Ms. <a href="http://www.katzlorenzana.com/" target="_blank">Katz Lorenzana</a> at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/55TintaPilipinas" target="_blank">55Tinta Tattoo Shop</a>
along Maginhawa St. in Quezon City.<br />
<br />
Funny, but it really took me 3-4 years to plan for it. The first stage was
thinking about the design. This was an easy step as I've always wanted a
phoenix. Why? There are several reasons. A phoenix symbolizes resurrection -
"to rise up from one's own ashes". I can proudly say that I am a
survivor. I have been through several challenges in my life (personal and in my
career) and was fortunate to survive it (with God's help of course). Another
thing with the phoenix. This mythical creature is the highest form in my
astrological hierarchy (i.e. Scorpion - Eagle - Phoenix). At the back of the phoenix
was a Celtic sun. I have always been fascinated by Celtic designs, and just
as the phoenix rises from its ashes, the sun always shines everyday.<br />
<br />
Second stage in my planning was to research about the tattoo artist and
a reputable tattoo shop nearby that can execute the style that I want. I was
lucky enough to find a female tattoo artist – Katz Lorenzana - who's very good
with line works and outlines, and very good in colors as well. I must admit
that I was mesmerized when I first saw my tattoo design on the computer. I immediately loved
how the colors worked together. And I loved it more after Katz executed it on
my skin. There’s a difference between seeing it on screen, and seeing it on your
own skin. And I loved both. Katz Lorenzana also has that light touch (i.e. in
Filipino, we call it <i>"magaan ang kamay"</i>) that made my 1st tattoo
experience a non-traumatic one. I cannot say that it was totally painless. The
longer strokes which hit the more bony areas (near my shoulder blades) made me
cringe a little, but overall the 3-hour session was very bearable (bragging
aside, I even dozed off during those times when the tatt was being shaded). To
compare, my bikini/brazilian waxing sessions were more painful than my tattoo
session. For the tattoo shop, I initially chose 55Tinta because it was near my home.
I was a bit hesitant at first, because I had an initial impression that people
in tattoo shops were snooty, but I was proven wrong when I went into 55Tinta.
The staff was accommodating and friendly – from my initial email inquiry, to my
1<sup>st</sup> shop visit, and until the day of my tattoo schedule. I had several
revisions of my design but they were professional and attentive to my ideas. It
was like discussing my ideas with a friend. The vibe inside 55Tinta was also
super A-OK. The shop smelled like fresh soap. One would think he/she
entered a spa, instead of a tattoo parlor. The airconditioning was a bit cold,
but hey, I would rather have it that way than no aircon at all. They also had
this wide screen television and a wide array of video selections. My cousin and
my friend who accompanied me did not get bored as they enjoyed watching videos
during the 3-hour session. Pricing was also reasonable. The price they charged
was worth the design, the size and the colors scheme applied to my tattoo. I inquired
from another known tattoo shop, and the price they gave me was way higher than
55Tinta. <br />
<br />
Now you may have noticed that I have mentioned “waiting for the proper
timing” in my first paragraph. This is the toughest part. I have to wait for a
couple of things. I have to wait till I have saved enough for the tattoo, as
this is an additional cut to my already-constrained budget. And the biggest
timing issue – waiting for my parents to leave for their pilgrimage trip in
order for me to get inked. Yes I’m in my 30’s, have my own work, and even have a son. But in a conservative family
like mine, having my uber conservative Dad around while I’m getting inked will be an added stress
factor. I had to wait till they have finalized their travel pilgrimage plans
and scheduled my tattoo session on the 1<sup>st</sup> weekend they are away. There
is no other date but that date. Having my tattoo done last April 26 would allow
2.5 weeks for my tattoo to undergo healing, so that by the time my folks arrive
(2<sup>nd</sup> week of May) my tattoo has already passed the critical stage of
healing (i.e. 1<sup>st</sup> 2 weeks). Talk about “Patience is a virtue” and “Timing
is everything”. What would I do once they arrive and discovered my tattoo?
Perhaps, I’ll just smile. I’ve made more infamous decisions in the past so I
think the tattoo would just be a venial sin as compared to the more grave ones
I’ve done before. *evil grin*…>:-)<br />
<br />
Overall, I can say that my first tattoo experience was an awesome one. I am
also thankful to God (and St. Pio my favorite saint) as I also prayed to them to keep me safe
during the tattoo session, and to please give me a high threshold for pain on that day. I
have no regrets in getting inked. My design was meaningful to me, is
well-thought of, not blasphemous nor offensive. The location is decently and
discreetly located. And my intention for having one was more of a personal statement bound by commitment
than just being a fashion or beauty mark. :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3U2xWNwcoej3TPnw13SQdiCIZxBm1ApaS5DzpkPtX8e6wPxEzj4jn5Vi2VzPFOKFRjXImvQw9PMN8tTYyBVwiBvNvf44QTPjgD7W5943_rICAQTLqmd25JNSDsHFnPeOxJ1kwhTkYIpn/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(L) Stencil of the Tattoo (R) Finished product</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3U2xWNwcoej3TPnw13SQdiCIZxBm1ApaS5DzpkPtX8e6wPxEzj4jn5Vi2VzPFOKFRjXImvQw9PMN8tTYyBVwiBvNvf44QTPjgD7W5943_rICAQTLqmd25JNSDsHFnPeOxJ1kwhTkYIpn/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzroMIrqYEvHDpEmrDyTNv3dU-TkFbHLIyS-zOjtu_Q_cE41R5t6ab2SPZ-bRW-hbMWlafhpL2Qdr6Pa4t1TzE1t26sP9LESjYVBBKT62TxlZRJY6psXUUsfyxBB67WwyC8EpzV8AVVDN/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzroMIrqYEvHDpEmrDyTNv3dU-TkFbHLIyS-zOjtu_Q_cE41R5t6ab2SPZ-bRW-hbMWlafhpL2Qdr6Pa4t1TzE1t26sP9LESjYVBBKT62TxlZRJY6psXUUsfyxBB67WwyC8EpzV8AVVDN/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healing slowly but surely... the tattoo after 1 week.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-87617450079994802972014-03-13T10:03:00.000+08:002014-03-13T10:03:46.555+08:00Washified Kraft NotebooksI am a fan of handmade stuff. As much as I can, whenever I try to give something to my friends, I always make it a point to put my personal touch on it.<br />
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As most of my high school girl friends enjoy writing on notebooks and journals, I decided to give them washi-fied kraft journals last Christmas. I had to ask each of them about their favorite colors, and from there, I had to select washi tape rolls whose designs complement each other, and at the same time, matched the favorite colors of my friends. It was pretty easy to create the washi-fied journals, and the experience of being able to come up with a gift that's a "labor of love" is something fulfilling. Luckily, my friends liked the journal. I had to remind them that I'm still a novice in the handmade movement so that they'll cut me some slack. I'm just glad that my friends were very appreciative. :)</div>
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For the details: the plain kraft journals/notebooks were ordered from <a href="http://www.papemelroti.com/" target="_blank">Papemelroti</a>; the washi tapes were purchased from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paperblushph" target="_blank">PaperblushPh</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvgjj4kM30QLm01prll1tPpqXmO-_SAy-bC29stvlsYTvlO-iPVZk1O5AB0wZUQHvwrEf0TZMiSSGtxXQKjZaXqAoYfxH2zSYCj9iEUS83M01xcfIOVBpOSnlIEtLOH3KL-glX-CdQOm_/s640/blogger-image-1934347931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvgjj4kM30QLm01prll1tPpqXmO-_SAy-bC29stvlsYTvlO-iPVZk1O5AB0wZUQHvwrEf0TZMiSSGtxXQKjZaXqAoYfxH2zSYCj9iEUS83M01xcfIOVBpOSnlIEtLOH3KL-glX-CdQOm_/s400/blogger-image-1934347931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-43746158835032465602014-03-12T22:30:00.001+08:002014-03-13T09:58:56.601+08:00The Frustrated Typography ArtistSince I was a kid, I've been resigned to the fact that drawing portraits, sceneries, and even still life was not my cup of tea. However, since my childhood days, I have always been fascinated with awesome typography.<br />
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Merriam-Webster defines typography as "the style, arrangement, and appearance of printed letters on a page". Typography is more commonly known as "lettering". </div>
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As I've said I have always been a frustrated typography artist. I like the way letters are styled and written on paper. And since I can't find any school which offers a crash course on typography, I just rely on checking sample typography works on the net, and try to practice on my spare time. Practicing typography has also been a good stress-relieving activity for me. I have posted below some of my attempts at typography. Hope I can find to pursue and enhance this interest. :)</div>
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<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-11232516779247624642014-03-05T09:24:00.000+08:002014-03-05T09:24:44.891+08:00Of Colored Fountains and Fire Prevention MonthLast Monday, I went with my Dad at the Quezon Memorial Circle to try my hand (or feet actually) at brisk walking. I was (finally) convinced by my Dad to get into some form of fitness regimen, for Zion's sake.<br />
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Once we got in the park, I noticed there were a lot of fire trucks, and a lot of guys from the Bureau of Fire Protection. From the booming PA system, I realized that they were launching Fire Prevention Month - <i>oo nga pala, March na </i>(i.e. Oh yeah.. It's the month of March). I was a disappointed and lost my interest to jog that day because there were a lot of people and most of them occupied the joggers' path/track. After one and a half rounds, and being disappointed, I stopped by the cemented pavement facing the central park monument and just listened and watched the festivities (i.e. If you can't beat them, just listen and join them).<br />
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It was nice watching the fire trucks parading. It was even nicer watching the colored water that came out from the firetrucks. They were like colored fountains that sparkled in the morning sun. I suddenly remembered my son, that he would surely enjoy the sight of parading fire trucks and the colored fountain water, had he been there with me. I suddenly admired the courage of the people doing fire-fighting work. Their job is a very dangerous one but they were brave enough to take on the risks in order for people to be safe. I do hope the people in the park was not only mesmerized with the parade of fire trucks and the colored fountains. I do hope they would remember what was the festivity for - the launch of the Fire Prevention Month - a brief reminder to everyone that as summer is approaching, extra care must be taken to stay away from fire-related accidents.<br />
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<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-67481779743240537132014-03-02T14:25:00.001+08:002014-03-13T10:07:50.330+08:00Mouth Melting Burger at The Burger ProjectMaginhawa St. in UP Village, Quezon City (Philippines) is a food tripper's paradise. From pasta, to burger, to coffee, and milk tea - one only needs to explore the loooong street to find what would satisfy one's palette.<br />
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One of the places my mom tried and liked was The Burger Project. She was particularly craving for burger that time when she remembered me mentioning about The Burger Project. If Wimpy (Popeye's burger-loving friend) were a real human being, I would say that The Burger Project could be his brainchild. Aptly named, this burger joint allows their customers to create their own burgers - from the bread, to the pattie, and down to garnishments and sauces. </div>
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As I was not with my mom when they visited the resto, my mom chose the Western Bacon Melt Burger for me (as a takeout). According to the staff, this is one of their bestselling, non-customized burger. When my mom handed me the takeout bag containing the burger, I noticed that it has some weight. It was not extremely heavy, but for a paperbag containing only a burger, it has some weight. When I opened the bag, I was delightfully surprised and almost drooled. The fully-loaded burger has a thick burger pattie, several bacon strips, mushrooms, cheese slices, tomato strips, and those huge onion rings inside the burger. It also has an accompanying bbq sauce in case the customer wants to pour in the sauce in small doses. It took some time before I was able to start eating. And it took me about an hour and a half before I could finish the entire burger. </div>
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In my opinion, it was one of the best burgers I tasted. The burger pattie was cooked just right (medium done) - still juicy and flavorful to think it was a takeout order. The burger toppings and garnishments complimented each other and complimented the burger itself. For its taste and its size, it was worth the price (PHP 235). :)</div>
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<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-754025412586999302014-02-28T19:57:00.001+08:002014-02-28T19:57:46.051+08:00Imma Mobile BloggerEarlier today, I was planning to email some pictures to myself (from my phone to the PC) so that I can post them together with a blog post. Honestly, I found it frustrating as I need to email about 4 or 5 pictures. <div><br></div><div>So I decided to check out the Apps store - just maybe Blogger has an app that would allow me to create or update a blog post directly from my phone. To my surprise (and delight), Blogger indeed has an app which would grant my wish. The next thing I checked was how much would the app cost. As a novice blogger, I am not earning anything from this blog - my sole motivation for maintaining this blog is my love for writing. As such, if the app would cost that much, I would rather stick to my old but reliable PC to update my blog. So, imagine the smile on my face upon discovering that the Blogger app is free. Yes it is F-R-E-E!! I am now trying this Blogger app. This post was actually created using the Blogger app. I am hoping that the Blogger app lives up to my expectations. :)<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA1E9hxCN8Fw6N7NUKStydRsXy6B5cG0a4eLSC3-DvqIReAslE2uj1TKG9c2-V4xrJFQMrdnYy7os4zxZTqqJiyIn3WhbskNKDRUfb-gPs9gLscIlXZo6XeqNbEf0Yt_4GEaLltnwtqw5/s640/blogger-image--2089431597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA1E9hxCN8Fw6N7NUKStydRsXy6B5cG0a4eLSC3-DvqIReAslE2uj1TKG9c2-V4xrJFQMrdnYy7os4zxZTqqJiyIn3WhbskNKDRUfb-gPs9gLscIlXZo6XeqNbEf0Yt_4GEaLltnwtqw5/s640/blogger-image--2089431597.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL3jpbc_eXjMonKNzrgCA8fHtu35fZKUQp8oqTwkRbJRlGon61-Qo809fkKmzWHgXXKbY7sz0r_pIIExMgJ_QkxKg4V2VhgStgm7zwfTXNEiEITTx1CV2Kk2Qt4G40AlOGOCBIa-39JGp/s640/blogger-image-449209679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL3jpbc_eXjMonKNzrgCA8fHtu35fZKUQp8oqTwkRbJRlGon61-Qo809fkKmzWHgXXKbY7sz0r_pIIExMgJ_QkxKg4V2VhgStgm7zwfTXNEiEITTx1CV2Kk2Qt4G40AlOGOCBIa-39JGp/s640/blogger-image-449209679.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4RDdTOWwiUiwhOtr0jyCC4m03vhrWKGoPQrKvXifZKz3MMJS1I1-PdC-z2i90HrtebQm2UsInONEm79J2MKBGo8V90mdB6XZS1p1dtrQB1cj1X4Dw3N2KK-5cWcYJ1CYm1XJsJ4farUY/s640/blogger-image--1326776843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4RDdTOWwiUiwhOtr0jyCC4m03vhrWKGoPQrKvXifZKz3MMJS1I1-PdC-z2i90HrtebQm2UsInONEm79J2MKBGo8V90mdB6XZS1p1dtrQB1cj1X4Dw3N2KK-5cWcYJ1CYm1XJsJ4farUY/s640/blogger-image--1326776843.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div></div><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-58265078297375758612014-02-27T09:36:00.000+08:002014-02-27T09:39:47.527+08:00Papercut and Washified BookmarksThis is a post-Christmas post. I was just too busy that time with work and with my craft give-aways that I was not able to blog about it. Anyway last Christmas, my former officemates/girl friends and I had sort of a reunion get-together. After several months of not seeing each other (some of us - like me - moved on to another company), we decided to get together last Christmas for a reunion. It was nothing big. We had take-out food, some good old board games (we are an avid fan of these games), as well as reminiscing moments of the times we were still in that old office.<br />
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As I love those friends very much, I really had to make something for them for the holidays - it may not be that expensive, but at least something with my personal touch on it, and a simple reminder that I remembered them. So, I prepared the personalized papercut bookmarks decorated with washi tapes.<br />
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As I'm an avid fan of papercutting and washi tapes, I took the occasion to share this passion with my friends. I sketched their names on the bookmarks to make it personalized, carved their names and the design using papercutting techniques, and decorated the top part of the bookmarks with washi tapes. To make the bookmarks appear laminated, I bought some cold laminating film from Bee Happy Crafts and carefully pressed the bookmarks in between the laminating film. The washi tapes were bought from different sources (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/paperblushph" target="_blank">PaperBlushPh</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeeHappyCrafts" target="_blank">Bee Happy Crafts</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/washiworks" target="_blank">Washi Works</a>, and <a href="http://www.heykessy.com/" target="_blank">Hey Kessy</a>). The papercutting skills, I learned them by attending a Papercutting + Washi workshop also from Hey Kessy.<br />
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<br /><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-71350814488436965122014-02-25T11:30:00.000+08:002014-02-25T11:30:21.060+08:00Top 10 Relationship WreckersI wrote the article below for the February issue of our office newsletter. I was having second thoughts attending that huddle meeting for the February issue, as I already have an inclination that the February issue will be about love and relationships - two topics that I try to stay away from as much as possible. But the good employee side of me took over, and writing has been a good therapy for me, so I still attended the huddle meeting. And true enough, love and relationship was the theme of our February issue. I was again assigned the Top 10 topic - and this time, it was Top 10 relationship wreckers. I've checked and researched on several websites, and came up with the list and article below. I just realized that these are indeed eye-openers. How I wish I knew them before I got into those 3 failed relationships (one of which I consider as somehow the One who got away). Oh well.. useless crying over spilled milk. Perhaps, I'll keep these items in mind if ever I will still be fortunate enough to fall in love again..<br />
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February ushers in the spirit of love and relationships as Cupid paints the town red on Valentine’s Day. Indeed love and relationships are splendored things albeit the fact that they are fragile as glass or thin ice. In this top 10 issue, we look into some of the reasons why that fragile glass can get shattered. <br /><br /><b>1. The Cheating Hearts </b><br />This item should indeed be on the #1 slot. Trust is the foundation of any relationship. Cheating and dishonesty in the relationship breaks this basic foundation and makes the parties involved feel betrayed. And just like shattered glass, trust cannot be put back together to its original piece or appearance, as there will always be markings and reminders that it has been broken before. <br /><br /><b>2. My Way or the Highway </b><br />The second relationship breaker is when one or both parties become too controlling and or possessive. There is a difference between stating what you prefer, and imposing on your partner what you like to happen. The latter may lead to limiting and invading the rights, needs, and will of your partner. Consequently, this can lead to feelings of anger and annoyance, and may eventually cause the oppressed partner to either get out of the relationship or to stray.<br /><br /><b>3. Outside Interference </b><br />There is a movie catchphrase that goes “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. Same thing holds true for relationships. Any issue or problems encountered by the couple should be known and discussed within the relationship. It should not be broadcasted to friends and even family, without the knowledge of the other person. Instead of ranting to one’s friends and family, the problem or issue should be discussed with your partner. <br /><br /><b>4. Me, Myself and I </b><br />Being selfish in a relationship can be seen in the simplest things – like monopolizing the TV. This can be toxic to a relationship as the other person may feel deprived or unimportant or even resentful. Relationships involve two people. As such, when doing or deciding on something, one should take into consideration his/her partner. <br /><br /><b>5. The Doormat Complex</b><br />This is the opposite of number 4. In as much as you should give consideration to your partner, it is also equally important to factor in one’s own needs and desires to keep the relationship healthy. Relationship martyrs often feel unhappy and burned out. It is important to stand up for oneself, and effectively communicate one’s needs to one’s partner so that it can also be taken care of. <br /><br /><b>6. Attack and Abuse</b><br />
Attack and abuse can take many forms – it can be verbal, emotional, physical, and even sexual. But regardless of what form it takes, any kind of hostile behavior against one’s partner is simply unacceptable. If not managed properly, this can cause a permanent separation between the couple. Difficult as it may seem, especially when disagreements arise, it is important to keep calm and avoid aggressive behavior during talks. <br /><br /><b>7. Scapegoating:</b><br />All of us have gone through some irritating and frustrating moments in our lives. It is ok to share and discuss those moments with our partner, but it is not okay to vent out our anger and frustration on them. Instead of using one’s partner as a scapegoat, it would be better to meet and address the real cause of one’s anger and frustration. <br /><br /><b>8. Great(er) Expectations:</b><br />Relationships usually start great but things get sour if there are expectations that are not met. There are times when we expect or demand too much from our partner, even if we knew from the start of the relationship, that these expectations cannot and will not really happen. Expectations should be managed carefully. <br /><br /><b>9. Failing to Stop, Look, and Listen:</b><br />Having a relationship can be compared to raising a plant or a pet. It cannot survive if one or both partners neglect the needs of the other person. It cannot survive without the right amount of attention, affection, and TLC (tender-loving care). Oftentimes, we neglect people because of our busy schedules. Finding quality time with our partners helps nurture the relationship and keep it strong and vibrant. <br /><br /><b>10. Familiarity breeds contempt:</b><br />When a relationship has been ongoing for a span of time, the couple may feel too comfortable with each other, that the relationship and everything that happens within it becomes a routine. The original “spark” that ignited the relationship has died down, which leads to the relationship hitting a plateau and everything becomes predictable and monotonous. Couples should find ways to rekindle that spark and make an effort to somehow incorporate small changes and surprises to their usual routine to make it more interesting and appealing to each other. <br /><br />To sum it up, in any relationship (be it a romantic one or not), it is always nice to remember the Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Love and treat people the same way you want to be loved and treated. Have a love-filled month everyone! :)<br /><br /><br />---------------<br /><i><u><b>Sources:</b></u><br />http://wemagazineforwomen.com/relationship-wreckers-10-faults-lethal-to-your-love-life/<br />http://www.askmen.com/top_10/dating/top-10-relationship-killers_10.html<br />http://www.relationshiptalk.net/10-relationship-killers-to-avoid-at-all-costs-2341.html<br />http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/articles/top-10-relationship-wreckers/<br />http://omgtoptens.com/misc/relationships/top-10-relationship-wreckers/</i><br /><br /><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-61153822310562488622014-02-25T10:55:00.000+08:002014-02-25T10:55:09.288+08:00Late Post: Top 10 New Year's ResolutionsHere's a late post. I wrote this article for the January issue of our office newsletter. I would like to share this to you as I really find the ideas I've researched interesting and inspiring. Besides, it's almost the end of February and the start of March is almost at hand, and it's still the 1st quarter. Not too late yet to get those resolutions going. :)<br />
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As the fireworks and merry-making brought about by the New Year settled down, most of us find ourselves listing down things we wish to achieve in the coming year. Indeed, the New Year ushers in a clean slate to start fresh. Below is a list of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions:<br /><br /><b>1. Let’s Get Physical</b><br />Whether it be losing or gaining pounds, hitting the gym to lift weights, or deciding between a Yoga or Zumba class, one of the most common New Year’s resolution has to do with getting in shape and sticking to a fitness plan. A great new year’s resolution as it does not only enhance our physical looks, but also improve our health and can possibly prolong life.<br />
<br /><b>2. Break a Bad Habit</b><br />It can be as mundane as getting off the habit of nail biting or procrastinating. And it can be more serious like quit smoking and alcoholism. Going cold turkey on a bad habit may not be easy and may only result in a relapse. Instead of doing an abrupt stop, try doing small steps that slowly but surely leads to breaking the habit. <br />
<br /><b>3. Financial Wellness</b><br />Money does not grow on trees and only a lucky few win the lotto grand prize. As such, having a resolve to wisely manage one’s hard-earned moolah is good, not only during New Year. Financial wellness can involve increasing one’s savings, being debt-free, starting one’s business for extra income, and cutting down on unnecessary expenses. <br /><br />
<b>4. Sack Stress and Enjoy Life</b><br />Stress is something inevitable. But there are sure ways to lessen it. Different people have different ways to cope with stress. Activities like seeing a movie and pampering oneself in a spa are simple activities, but it allows the mind and body to relax and have some time away from the qualms of everyday living. It is important to find one’s haven to get away from stress, even temporarily. <br /><br />
<b>5. Spend quality time with Family </b><br />They have been with us in our brightest and darkest moments, have seen us in our best and worst fits, and have loved and accepted us for who we are, and yet they are the ones who we often put aside due to our busy schedules. Finding and spending quality time for our families is a very good resolution. Money comes and goes. But lost time and missed memories cannot be bought back even with gazillion amounts of money. <br /><br />
<b>6. Pay It Forward </b><br />No man is an island. At one point in our lives, we may have needed help and it was freely given to us. Helping other people is a good way of repaying that kindness that we received before. Paying it forward does not require huge acts of charity. It can be as simple as helping a senior citizen cross the street or assisting your nursery nephew/niece with his ABC’s. <br /><br />
<b>7. Cross something off the bucket list</b><br /> Whether it is learning a new skill like swimming or cooking, or the more emotional ones like falling in love again, or even the more extreme and daring ones like getting inked, bungee jumping, and skydiving – Go. The world is your oyster. Of course, having a sense of responsibility should always go hand-in-hand with whatever we desire and decide to do. <br /><br />
<b>8. Disconnect from the Internet and Connect More with Friends</b><br />There is nothing wrong with being tech-savvy. But there is surely something odd with a group of friends supposedly having dinner with all of them glued to the screens of their smartphones. This New Year it is nice to get in touch again – to physically talk to, laugh with, cry with, and share stories - with friends. The fancy emoticons are no match to your best friend’s sincere smile and tight hug. <br /><br />
<b>9. Give in to Wanderlust</b><br />The desire to travel has its perks. For some it serves as a respite from the daily grind of life. To others it serves as way to broaden one’s understanding of the world. Travelling does necessarily require one to board a plane and visit another country. It can be a simple trip to a nearby rural town or province where one can enjoy the scenery and learn and appreciate the local culture as well. <br /><br />
<b>10. De-Clutter and Get Organized</b><br />As the year progresses, the clutter increases. The New Year is a good time to de-clutter, sort things, and throw away those which are already outdated and no longer needed. Just like an empty glass ready to be filled, a de-cluttered space allows one to acquire stuff that are more valuable and useful that those that were already disposed. <br /><br />In the end, it does not matter whether you’ve come up with a thousand resolutions or just one. What matters is how well you stick to those resolutions. Strive to make these resolutions come to life. Have a good year everyone! <br /><br />-----------------------------------<br /><i><u><b>Sources:</b></u><br /><br />http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/01/01/14/10-new-years-resolutions-and-how-make-them-work<br />http://www.philippinetop10.com/2014/01/pinoy-new-years-resolution.html<br />http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-resolutions/<br />http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm<br />http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/10-New-Year-s-Resolutions/story-20332055-detail/story.html<br />http://elitedaily.com/life/25-new-years-resolutions-every-person-should-actually-make-for-2014/ </i><br />
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</xml><![endif]--><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-43779674995978494662014-02-25T10:22:00.002+08:002014-02-25T10:22:43.559+08:00The Nth RevivalFor the nth time, I'm reviving this blog. If I mentioned this to my friends and family, they might say "OWS?" or "Na Naman?" (i.e. Again) or "Pang-ilang revive na ba yan?" (i.e. How many revivals have you done to your blog?".<br />
<br />
I must admit, when work schedule creeps in, I tend to neglect my blog. My apologies. My regular work is still my bread and butter, and provides for something on the table. Nonetheless, this year, I'll try (again...) to keep this blog updated. Most especially now that I have joined my office's newsletter club. I think it would be a nice idea to share in my personal blog those articles I contribute to the office newsletter. I don't there will be violation of any proprietary information, as I'm still the author of those articles. And there will be no conflict of interest issues, as I do not earn anything from those articles. :D<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I hope this time, I'll be able to sustain this blog. Wish me luck. ;-)<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-14671361680988814562013-05-15T19:56:00.001+08:002013-05-15T19:56:30.055+08:00The BDJ2014 SurveyDespite the onslaught of technology and tech-savvy people, there are still those folks who stick to the traditional way of planning - with the use of a reliable paperback planner. I am one of those. Yes, I do have a smartphone, but the only use of my smartphone's calendar is to remind me of people's birthdays. :-D But when it comes to planning out my day (and my life), I still rely on the handy dandy old-fashioned planner. Perhaps, I am just one of those people who prefer to scribble down notes than pressing keypads and swiping touchscreens. And having a lot of things to plan for - deadlines at work, parent-teacher meetings and school activities of my son, and my personal "me" time (i.e. trips to spa, nail and waxing salon), I consider my planner an extension of my own memory.<br />
<br />
Finding a planner that suits one's lifestyle is definitely a good catch. I was able to do so when I was introduced to the Belle De Jour <a href="http://bdjcircle.com/" target="_blank">(BDJ)</a> PowerPlanner back in 2010. When a good friend gave me a BDJ Planner as a birthday gift, I fell in love with it instantly. And since then (2010), I have always been an avid fan and supporter of this planner. Now you might wonder why. Well.. Aside from the usual pages containing the days and the time table, the BDJ Planner also contains sections which are very useful to the busy ladies like me, such as, the 2013 Goals, 2013 Checklist, Bills Tracker, Cash Flow Tracker, Vacation Planner, and Menstrual Tracker (very useful!!). Aside from these sections, another thing which I love about this planner is the BDJ Lifestyle Card and the discount coupons that come with the planner. The lifestyle card can be used in several establishments, some of which offer special promotions and discounts (separate from the discount coupons inside the planner).<br />
<br />
About 2 weeks ago, I got an email from the BDJ Team informing me of the annual BDJ survey. This survey gauges the interest of existing BDJ subscribers - what they like about the planner, and what areas need improvement. The survey also accepts suggestions on what the subscribers wishes to see or find in the next year's planner. Being fond of answering surveys, I completed mine and sent the results. To my surprise today, I received an email from the BDJ team. According to the email, I was one of the first 500 survey respondents who will receive one (1) BDJ FMN Ideas Journal and one (1) BDJ FMN To-Do-List/Cash Tracker (see screen shot below).<br />
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I have always been an avid supporter and fan of the said planner, and being chosen as one of the winners for their survey is definitely touching on my end. It shows how the BDJ team appreciates our opinions and insights on the product. I hope more products would do the same. Thanks much and more power to the BDJ Team! :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9kwufSVqhjj1YEEPiMQo6baziw2Gg4Mrvj2qN_PQCPhNmo4L7aDK6EkQ1YOSdzjq7_rcXfNYQp_LWr8gQdU7J0fgbs7P-Rg8fQuBhULJ-cS8_lol9puhmycfF6ic3U3spiiaMxqpP4Gl/s1600/BDJ_email_051513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9kwufSVqhjj1YEEPiMQo6baziw2Gg4Mrvj2qN_PQCPhNmo4L7aDK6EkQ1YOSdzjq7_rcXfNYQp_LWr8gQdU7J0fgbs7P-Rg8fQuBhULJ-cS8_lol9puhmycfF6ic3U3spiiaMxqpP4Gl/s400/BDJ_email_051513.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Email received from the BDJ Team. Excited much for the BDJ FMN Ideas Journal and Cash Tracker. :)<br /></td></tr>
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<br /><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-67629624439382796622013-05-15T10:35:00.000+08:002013-05-15T10:35:03.257+08:00Washi-tized Phone Case and ChargerLast week, I ordered a couple more rolls of washi tape from <a href="http://www.heykessy.com/" target="_blank">Hey Kessy</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeeHappyCrafts" target="_blank">Bee Happy</a> craft shops. As the rolls of tape arrived, that feeling of excitement crept into me as I slowly gazed into each roll of tape - each having a unique design. I was initially planning to use them to cover my son's school books - or at least the spine and edges - as these are "fragile" parts of any school book.<br />
<br />
As I was preparing the books, the paper covers, and the rolls of tapes, I got a phone call from a friend on my mobile phone. As I picked up the phone, I noticed how plain-looking my phone case was. Though I like the blue green color of my phone case, its plain-colored appearance seems dull and boring. So immediately, after ending the call, I decided to use one of the rolls of washi tape to decorate my phone case. I chose a tape design that would complement my phone case's blue green color, and one that wouldn't look so girly and cutesy (heaven knows I am not really a fan of all pink, and flowers, and girly stuff like that).<br />
<br />
I decided to decorate my phone, but a sense of simplicity should still be present. As such, covering the entire phone case with washi tape was not really an option (besides, washi tapes in Manila are not readily available in local bookstores and the prices are not like the ordinary scotch and masking tapes). So I just spread the tapes across each other forming a cross on the back side of my phone case.<br />
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As I was still in an excited state after decorating my phone case, I also decided to apply some washi tape on the plain white portion of my phone charger. I decided to use the same roll of tape for the charger so that they (charger and phone case) would be match. Fortunately, my hands and my fingers did not fail this time. And even though it was just a simple one, I can say that this first washi craft of mine was something I should be happy about. Looking forward to more washi crafts in the near future. :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x7ERQnpkzDYivVOd5u8RIU8ZEeeQcHpcc_-eQSse9dkr-CWXuggblDq2BtUzI7TfWJbzUedlfUExMI5nuXaomlMUi8Bs1d2PTu0pM9XpSeh0tJoC8Avezk7of2oEDXJChCAEoVkFoeCi/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x7ERQnpkzDYivVOd5u8RIU8ZEeeQcHpcc_-eQSse9dkr-CWXuggblDq2BtUzI7TfWJbzUedlfUExMI5nuXaomlMUi8Bs1d2PTu0pM9XpSeh0tJoC8Avezk7of2oEDXJChCAEoVkFoeCi/s320/photo+(4).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "washi-tized" phone case and phone charger.</td></tr>
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<br /><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-40648594882518108232013-05-14T10:58:00.000+08:002013-05-14T10:58:42.115+08:00The 2013 Election and My VoteThis post should have been done and posted yesterday (May 13, 2013), the actual election day here in the Philippines. But due to the lack of internet connection in our other home, I will only be able to do so now. Oh well... Better late than never.<br />
<br />
My family and I went to the polls yesterday morning - around 8AM. As expected, as soon as our feet landed on the street where the local school was, hordes of supporters came rushing, most of them handing us flyers, leaflets, and sample ballots containing the name of the candidate. Some who were more well-off handed cardboard fans containing not only the name, but even the faces of the candidates. I received one of the flyers with a name of candidate who I do not know. The middle-aged lady who handed me the piece of paper said <i>"Iboto mo neng.. Magaling yan.. "</i> (i.e. Vote for him. He's great). I looked at the piece of paper and found nothing but the candidate's name - not even his political party, much more his public service record. I then looked back at the lady who gave me that sheet of paper and asked her, "<i>Paano nyo po nalaman na magaling, wala naman nakalagay dito</i> (in the sheet of paper) <i>na plataporma man lang nya?</i>" (i.e. How did you know he's great when there is not even a plan of action written on this (sheet of paper)?). The lady frowned at me as she turned away. Perhaps, she was irked by my questions. Oh well...<br />
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The elections in our precinct (in Novaliches, Quezon City) this year was definitely better than the one we had 3 years ago (2010) - the first time an automated election was held in the Philippines. There was a separate line for the senior citizens, pregnant women, and PWD (people with disability). There were also volunteers who managed the lines to ensure that order is maintained. The lines for the regular voters were really long, but since a holding area was present, everyone had the chance to sit down while waiting for their turn to vote. Most of the voters too were smarter this time (smarter in the sense that they do not seem lost, dazed, or confused) that they brought with them valid ID cards, and they knew their exact precinct and voter's number when they reached the election precinct chairman. That was really helpful and a great time-saver because there was no more need to search an entire folder of registered voters looking for a single name. Of course, there were those 1 or 2 or 3 individuals who pretended they do not know where the end of the line is, but the more vigilant voters were able to reprimand and direct them to the "correct" end of the line. Even the teachers who man the ballots and PCOS machines were more knowledgeable this time. The process of signing forms, handing the ballot, receiving the accomplished ballot, and feeding it to the PCOS machine seem to be smoother this time, than it was 3 years ago. Overall, as a regular voter, it took me about an hour and a half to complete the entire voting process (i.e. searching for the location of my precinct and voter's number, falling in line, and the actual voting itself). For my parents, who were both senior citizens, it only took them 30-45 minutes, as they have a separate line. The one and a half hour total was nothing compared to the 3-4 hours I've had when the first automated election happened in 2010.<br />
<br />
Upon reaching home, my 7-year old son came to meet me. Upon seeing the indelible ink mark on my right index finger, he asked me if I have already voted and what was the purple ink for. I answered on the affirmative and told him that the purple ink is placed on the right index finger to mark that a particular person had already cast his voted. He then asked me what was my criteria in selecting who to vote and why it was important to vote. Kids can ask the darnest questions... I had to search both my mind and my heart in answering these.<br />
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To the first question (what was my selection criteria) I answered..<br />
<br />
<i>"Nung una akong bumoto, pinipili ko yung mga candidate na sa palagay ko mananalo, kahit na yung paniniwala at paninindigan nila eh hindi kaparehas sa akin. Sayang naman kasi kung boboto ako sa hindi naman mananalo. Sa pagboto ko kanina, pumili ako ng mga candidates na gusto parehas ng puso at isip ko - kahit na alam kong malabo silang manalo dahil hindi sila kilala at sikat - mga candidates na naaayon ang paninindigan sa sarili kong prinisipyo at paniniwala."... </i><br />
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To the second question (why it was important to vote), I answered,<br />
<br />
<i>"Tungkulin ng bawat Filipino ang bumoto... Sa pagboto, binibigyan mo ng kapangyarihan or power ang sarili mo na iparating sa mga lider ng Pilipinas kung ano ang gusto o ayaw mong mangyari sa bansa... Sa pagboto, sinusulit mo ang buwis or ang tax na binabayad mo bilang isang manggagawang Filipino... Sa pagboto, pinapakita mo na mahal mo ang bayan natin kasi pumipili ka ng mga taong sa palagay mo ay magpapaayos at magpapaunlad sa Pilipinas... Sa pagboto rin, pinapakita ko na mahal kita anak, kasi pumipili ako ng mga taong kayang magbigay sa yo ng isang maayos at magandang kinabukasan.. "....</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPQAB5jzz9a7Qnzgh9c6J4HTuHMVd5xWX3wVrQRcbVDzLo-qgbPFLp_PHTv-RJ_JoGuYNrdYKOzNivibsImYwSTcQ1BS15-GDBeguMptilv4XO0Pk_hf2XxD7a8e3TWOcJU7GANTvY3Ri/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPQAB5jzz9a7Qnzgh9c6J4HTuHMVd5xWX3wVrQRcbVDzLo-qgbPFLp_PHTv-RJ_JoGuYNrdYKOzNivibsImYwSTcQ1BS15-GDBeguMptilv4XO0Pk_hf2XxD7a8e3TWOcJU7GANTvY3Ri/s320/photo+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My right index finger marked with purple indelible ink - <br />a proof that I have exercised my right as a Filipino. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-54753769207837816312013-05-10T19:36:00.000+08:002013-05-10T19:36:41.237+08:003 Lessons From my MamaIt's a few more days before Mother's Day (May 12). As I watch my mom go through her daily routine, I realized how fast time flies. So fast, that I also realized I am now a mother myself. In my 30++ years of being with my mom, and the 7 years of being a mom myself, there are 3 character-defining lessons which I learned from my own mother:<br />
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<b>Fight fair.</b> My mom and I has always been the feisty-in-the-right-sense type. As an old local saying would go,<i> "kapag may katwiran, ipaglaban mo..."</i> (i.e. If the reason is valid, fight for it). Our school had raised us that way. We would not usually take things sitting down, especially if the fault was obvious. But despite her being feisty, my mom would always remind us not to take advantage of the situation, even if we had the upper hand. Fight fair and be fair. Listen to both sides of the story before passing judgment. Think of what the other person will feel if you were in his/her shoes.<br />
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<b>Respect the differences among people. </b>People have different views and opinions on different things. If a person's opinions are different from the mainstream, it does not necessarily mean he/she is wrong. Perhaps, he/she is just dancing to a different beat. There were instances at home wherein the family is divided over a certain topic. Being the conventional thinker and the head of the family, my father usually speaks his mind and his views are usually the traditional conservative response. My mother, on the other hand, is the non-conventional thinker, the "challenger" to my father's POV, saying that there could be other circumstances that led to the particular situation or issue to happen. The admirable thing about this is, she is able to do so in a manner in which mutual respect and open-mindedness is still maintained.<br />
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<b>Live without any regrets.</b> At the end of the day, it all boils down to what makes you genuinely happy. That kind of "genuinely happy" wherein you don't mind what people think of you, or what the norms or the standards are, as long as you find happiness in it, and that you did not step on other people's feet just to reach that happiness. When I decided to take a shift in my career, I knew my family and some of my friends would think different of it. My mom simply asked me 2 questions, <i>"Magiging masaya ka ba sa gagawin mo?"</i> (i.e. Will you be happy with your decision?) and <i>"May matatapakan ka ba sa magiging desisyon mo?" </i>(i.e. Will you be stepping on someone's foot with your decision?). I answered the first question on the affirmative, while the second on the negative. I explained what my priorities are which made me decide on the career shift. After she heard my answers and my explanation, she just nodded, as if saying that I have her blessing. No more further questions asked.<br />
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To my everdearest Mama (a.k.a. Mudra, Mudrakels, Mamuuu), I now understand how difficult yet fulfilling a mother's role is. For all it's worth, I would like to thank you for all your sacrifices and for the wisdom that you've imparted to us your kids, most especially to me, your daughter who's now a mom myself. I hope that when my own son grows up, I too, can raise him the way you raised us. Nobody's perfect, but I guess you did an awesome job as a mom. Whatever values I possess now, I definitely learned it from you. I will always cherish all these and will always love you. Advance Happy Mother's Day! :)<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-35834819537477511312013-05-06T14:46:00.000+08:002013-05-14T09:51:54.035+08:00My Initiation to Deco and Washi TapesAs school opening draws near, I am looking for ways to cover and decorate my son's books (their school does not allow the usual plastic cover) so that it would last till March 2014 and at the same time will make it more interesting for my son to read. As I was searching the internet for craft materials and craft projects for my son's books, I stumbled upon the decorative and washi tape products.<br />
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Decorative tape is like your typical scotch tape, except that it has designs. A usual roll is about 5mm in width and the entire roll is about 6-10 meters long. I was able to buy my 3 rolls from a local bookstore (National Bookstore). Each roll costs about P60-P70 pesos, and there are a wide array of designs to choose from.<br />
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On the other hand, washi tape is said to be Japanese masking tape (i.e. from washi paper). It is like your usual masking tape, but the texture is a bit softer, and there a LOOOOOT of designs to choose from. There are a lot of sizes for washi tape - i.e. 15mm (the normal width), the slim 5mm, and the wider ones that measure from 18mm, 20mm, 25mm, and there are even the 30mm width. The length of an entire roll is usually 10m. Unlike the decorative tape, the washi tape is not readily available in the local bookstore. I had to search some online stores, in order to buy my first 3 rolls (got my first 3 rolls from <a href="http://www.heykessy.com/" target="_blank">Hey Kessy</a>). Depending on the tape's width, the shop's pricing and shipping fees, the price range of washi tape is about PHP75 to PHP120 per roll. As there are a lot of online stores that offer washi tape, it is important to check which designs are being offered by which store, at a much lower price. I also suggest to check the shipping fees charged by each online store, as there are those whose shipping fees are much higher, so it might be wiser to place all your orders under one package.<br />
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Incidentally, my first 3 orders from Hey Kessy came with a freebie postcard. I really found the postcard cute and adorable. Being a sun worshipper - i.e. I prefer the sunny summer weather than chilling rainy days - the Mr. Sun and the Cloudy Men design of the post card is always a great reminder of the fun-filled days of summer.<br />
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Watch out for future posts showing how I will put to good use all these (and probably more) deco and washi tapes! :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTa_NE-7fzkFKkY-eeG9VoDiJwRvJ3grNydRnaeemyPRT2lxfngYNz_OEs3qE7V3xgSQ7AN4kpRTHbeWsquIhcnbozsr2DPQPPU_vb7jFQpvl6ABvQeR7Ptdfzqc8tsR3nWV-_ciJ32MY/s1600/phonto+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTa_NE-7fzkFKkY-eeG9VoDiJwRvJ3grNydRnaeemyPRT2lxfngYNz_OEs3qE7V3xgSQ7AN4kpRTHbeWsquIhcnbozsr2DPQPPU_vb7jFQpvl6ABvQeR7Ptdfzqc8tsR3nWV-_ciJ32MY/s320/phonto+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Deco and Washi Tapes from National Bookstore and HeyKessy.com</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvN8ovc-eDUd88NhoUNxcizfAlYnw6j4s4H9thsckwJBIchNNXRKNp_utFRfRvmjrr5OxHsetTBof1GeKRnmYQX9xkN_jF6T5aamepQu1rVOc3Es3rjx6oPMtr1-ekH5dKb4fI2vD5XCH/s1600/phonto+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvN8ovc-eDUd88NhoUNxcizfAlYnw6j4s4H9thsckwJBIchNNXRKNp_utFRfRvmjrr5OxHsetTBof1GeKRnmYQX9xkN_jF6T5aamepQu1rVOc3Es3rjx6oPMtr1-ekH5dKb4fI2vD5XCH/s320/phonto+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freebie postcard (for April) from HeyKessy.com</td></tr>
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<br /><< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-7964875301436080912013-05-02T11:13:00.000+08:002013-05-02T11:14:01.676+08:00Thumbs Up for Facebook TeamWhile browsing through my Facebook account's News Feed yesterday evening, I chanced upon 2 obscene pictures from one of my FB friends. I am not sure if his account has been hacked or tampered, but surely those pictures were waaaayyyy overboard indecent, and should have not been posted to Facebook or any other social networking site - to be honest, I think he should not have taken those pictures in the first place.<br />
<br />
Despite the fact that I am a modern-minded individual, I still found the pictures offensive. I am pretty sure that the person who posted those pictures, have other friends who are only in their early teens or near adolescence, and whose parents will definitely go berserk once they found out that their kids are able to see those indecent pictures. As such, I decided to unfriend this person, as I am concerned that he already has the tendency and potential to post such obscene materials. I also decided to report these pictures to the Facebook team, so that the necessary action can be taken so as to remove those indecent pictures. Fortunately, when I checked on my Facebook account today, I received an email from the Facebook team that the said pictures were taken down. It was stated that those pictures violated their Community Standards. They (FB team) also informed my used-to-friend that those pictures were removed, but they did not divulge who reported the incident. Two thumbs up for Facebook for doing this! :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7dmTa1Sn5q8hFW9lV-UTHl-mgEkTbWToKDoAEOu71bNfex7l1l_rwYQ2mULb9knb5BhFbPKKp_AVWaR3G2KHcdvoKznpwr5kF27KhYmSVwWjfwy2huKtwczQBLJQEhHeY_nwdLPZcIJp/s1600/FB_response_050113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7dmTa1Sn5q8hFW9lV-UTHl-mgEkTbWToKDoAEOu71bNfex7l1l_rwYQ2mULb9knb5BhFbPKKp_AVWaR3G2KHcdvoKznpwr5kF27KhYmSVwWjfwy2huKtwczQBLJQEhHeY_nwdLPZcIJp/s400/FB_response_050113.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook's response to the complaint I filed regarding the obscene picture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In this time and age where people of all walks of life are very much into technology and social media, it is still important to note that decency and respect are values that should still be present anytime and anywhere. In as much there is freedom of speech (and posting of pictures), we should still be responsible for our actions and for the things we do. In as much as there is freedom to say and do whatever we wish on our social networking pages, we must still take into account the values and the rights of the people who will see those posts. Responsible posting should be everybody's duty.<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-81042594778713604812013-05-01T17:51:00.000+08:002013-05-01T17:51:11.089+08:002013 Blog RevivalOkay... here I go again... For the nth time, I will try revive this blog. Well, I tried to revive it back in 2011, and tried to use in my Project 365 (one photo a day). Unfortunately, due to my hectic schedule at work back then, I was not able to complete the entire project. Project 365 turned out to be Project 60-or-70-something, as I was only able to maintain the project for about 2.5 months.<br />
<br />This time, I will try to make this my personal blog - wherein I can share my reviews on things and products which I happen to interact with. I will try work on and revive my other two blogs (hell yeah! I have 3 blogs... all of which seem to appear neglected because of work... oh my.. ) - one is a travel blog wherein I feature my first hand experience on the places I've visited, and the other is a digital scrapbooking blog. The latter seems more difficult to maintain, because it would mean that I need to brush up on my digital scrapbooking skills, which means downloading digital scrapbooking kits and new fonts again. :)<br />
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Oh well.. I hope I can do all these this year... Wish me luck!!! :)<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-12638100586274415122011-02-22T10:41:00.003+08:002011-02-22T11:21:37.053+08:00Project 365: Feb. 21, 2011 (day052): Dad's Senti Side<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1sugxJdTJZYc75fEENu41uxbHTKldmSOOGYrseTpgc6ltJ-23Fi-VKLQxvj8XLSVO9fgJaI43yvwFey6hz7zunSE65WFJhrAYQLFupRcGU0t0aXh42JtzOleDyDeInU_pgyty_uXLblt/s1600/Feb2111_002_watermrkd.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1sugxJdTJZYc75fEENu41uxbHTKldmSOOGYrseTpgc6ltJ-23Fi-VKLQxvj8XLSVO9fgJaI43yvwFey6hz7zunSE65WFJhrAYQLFupRcGU0t0aXh42JtzOleDyDeInU_pgyty_uXLblt/s320/Feb2111_002_watermrkd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576348538737268018" border="0" /></a><br />Today was a continuation of yesterday's digging into old stuff, pictures, greeting cards, and the like. Today I was able to see that a man (like my Dad) can have a sentimental side. I dug into the box of memorabilia, and found that my Dad had kept most, if not all, of the greeting cards we gave him. Knowing that my Dad has a stone-cold exterior, the sight of those greeting cards kept in his memorabilia box was really touching. :D<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-51676078567118422722011-02-22T10:21:00.002+08:002011-02-22T10:40:00.639+08:00Project 365: Feb. 20, 2011 (day051): Sakura Color<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCwdU3OveDyrgndWUDyl5B-ZFsXTnvmqUKbW_lr-Hc5wYrVeKcAKcQQ-HKUeeRS6Iu-AX4C8QFHGiY2ZHy5iPJjJH_ANqBI5DuG5oXTbMvOpdUMcYhMVwMU8CX1I08DX3DCp5aAbB0qcD/s1600/Feb2011_004_watermrkd.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCwdU3OveDyrgndWUDyl5B-ZFsXTnvmqUKbW_lr-Hc5wYrVeKcAKcQQ-HKUeeRS6Iu-AX4C8QFHGiY2ZHy5iPJjJH_ANqBI5DuG5oXTbMvOpdUMcYhMVwMU8CX1I08DX3DCp5aAbB0qcD/s320/Feb2011_004_watermrkd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576337945523308226" border="0" /></a>My Mom had been busy these days as we are preparing for the surprise birthday party for my Dad's 60th birthday (side note: I am hoping that my Dad doesn't discover this blog so as not to discover the surprise party... :D). I was busy going over some old photos, cards, and memorabilia when I noticed this "album" with the Sakura Color cover. If my memory serves me right, this was a brand of film being used when I was still in my preschool years. In today's age of high-tech and multiple-feature cameras, DSLR's, and everything digital, it is nice to remember the good old days where film was the medium for most, if not all cameras. Nice to remember those days where my mom would remind me not to open the camera's film compartment so as not to "expose" the film inside. Oh well.. how fast time flies...<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857788806668027332.post-67156769931872830462011-02-22T10:10:00.002+08:002011-02-22T10:21:01.791+08:00Project 365: Feb. 19, 2011 (day050): Girly Red Toes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAc_3258VM7r_vH4cDQkWFIJqAzzPPszGHcfi8RxXJ_SuROVyoq3aQqjxLSodH7gL_01Jy9nwCbRdkGyHqBd54m3ZoNUWFovYoVkEwbz0bVB5wNcK2NcVUjOkTF3t0A_x53p5UttBAyiP/s1600/Feb1911_003_watermrkd.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAc_3258VM7r_vH4cDQkWFIJqAzzPPszGHcfi8RxXJ_SuROVyoq3aQqjxLSodH7gL_01Jy9nwCbRdkGyHqBd54m3ZoNUWFovYoVkEwbz0bVB5wNcK2NcVUjOkTF3t0A_x53p5UttBAyiP/s320/Feb1911_003_watermrkd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576333099801453474" border="0" /></a>After a great afternoon bonding with my high school girl friends, I went home and noticed that the nearby nail spa had a promo for foot spa and pedicure. Being the usual foot-spa addict that I am, I availed of the promo. When I was being asked what's my preferred color for the nail polish, I just blurted out "Red.. Bright Red!". I don't know what got into me and I chose that color. I am not usually the type of girl who goes for red for my nail polish. Usually, I go for the more subtle pearl pink or pearl white or beige. I only choose red for special occassions like Christmas and my birthday. Oh well.. perhaps, sometimes, it's okay to break the monotony of things. Besides, looking at my toes, it doesn't look that bad. Good luck to me come Friday next week - the day I usually wear sandals in the office! :D<< TongueTiedTalks >>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088604535234601102noreply@blogger.com0