Congratulations to the Royal Couple

Photo credit: Reuters and Yahoo.com

Royal weddings like the one of Prince Charles and Duchess Catherine of Cambridge is like a fairy tale wedding come true. Most girls I know would like to trade places with Kate Middleton even for a day to experience that feeling of grandeur and how it is like to be a princess.

Well, as for me, I can only imagine it but will never really want it. I am just happy to be one of the millions of spectators worldwide of this momentous time in the lives of these two young royal couple - Prince William and Duchess Catherine.

Congratulations to the newly weds and may your union be blessed for eternity.

P.S. I love Kate's wedding gown :)

No Exercise Lately

I am such a big slacker! Seriously! I was really very good with my healthy eating last year due to my hypertension and lost some weight. I cannot believe I am heavier than I was last year prior to the onset of my hypertension.

I am getting very concerned and I am starting to think that I am just fooling myself. I have not committed to my goal to exercise regularly. I still run once a week but I will not lose weight even if I drink tons of lipozene if I do not get my act together in terms of eating much healthier food and exercising regularly.

I don't want to promise. I just want to do it. Everyone's starting to notice how pudgy I am becoming and I am getting a little conscious now. I cannot fit on my clothes!

It's now or never. My hypertension is in full throttle again and I have to do this for health's sake. Oh dear God, please give me strength to commit on a healthy lifestyle.

Retirement Plans

"I cannot work forever!" That's what I told my husband recently as we sat side by side and discussed our future plans. We have to admit, we're still at our prime but I want to strike while the iron is hot. I don't want to save when it's too late or when we're too old where most of the money we have will be used for medication and treatment. I definitely want a windfall that will help secure our future.

I don't have any lofty dreams. I just want to build a house on a reasonably sized lot with trees and foliages. I want to have one or two businesses on the side to help bring in income even after my 9-5 day job. I want to be able to still enjoy the luxury of travelling and see the world as what we are doing now. I want to have a simple vehicle to take me here and there. I want to have a comfortable life. But I definitely don't want to work as an employee again. That's all.

I know the time will come when I have to finally leave the corporate bondage. I feel the time is the distant future but not to far from now. I can still see myself working until I'm 45 but that's about it.

So, as early as now, my husband and I are trying our best to invest on properties so we can sell them off later on. So far, we have managed to acquire 3 properties over the course of 2 decades of enslaving ourselves to the corporate bondage. We sold the other property so we could purchase the 3rd one. Our last project will be the house of our dreams.

Another 5 years won't hurt to save more money. But we have to be wise now. Save now and enjoy later. That's our retirement motto!

The Royal Wedding

Most of the people I know have been bit by the "royal wedding bug" and we're quite lucky because Friday is our off day. We will have the chance to follow the wedding if ever it will be broadcast. 

The last time I witnessed a royal wedding via telecast was the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981. I was very young then and all I could remember was Lady Di's puffy wedding dress.

Tomorrow will be the big event for Prince William and Kate Middleton. The wedding dress is still a mystery and so are the other details pertaining to the wedding. Anyway, I pray for their union to last a lifetime. I also pray that their marriage will be filled with love and happiness. 

Congratulations and Best Wishes to the Royal Couple.

When It Rains...

The first quarter of my 2011 was great in terms of finances. Although my budget seem to be very tight, I had enough to go around until the next pay slip. Blogging assignments were left and right. I had direct advertisers contacting me for link-ups, posts and referrals. However, when April came just as the blossoming of spring, the deluge of paid opportunities and other income had suddenly stopped. As if the events of the first quarter never happened.

Makes me think about the adage that "when it rains, it pours." Well, it certainly does in my case.

Easter Greeting 2011

(Photo credit: 21cartoondrawings.com)

In the bonds of Death He lay

Who for our offence was slain;

But the Lord is risen to-day,

Christ hath brought us life again,

Wherefore let us all rejoice,

Singing loud, with cheerful voice,

Hallelujah!

~Martin Luther

Happy Easter everyone!

Decorating your Easter Eggs

Catholics all over the world observe the rising of our Lord on Easter Sunday after the solemn Holy Week. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and many enjoy this special religious occasion to gather around with families and friends, have Easter breakfast and enjoy the egg hunt.

If you are planning to throw out a wonderful Easter Sunday egg hunt for the little ones in your family (and even for the grown ups who enjoy doing this), check out the various styles and ideas you can come up with in egg decoration.

(Photo credit above: Their owners and babble.com)

(Photo credit above: The owner and creativefan.com)

(Photo credit above: The owners and celebrations.com)

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Modern Bluetooth Scanner

Dubai is a very cosmopolitan place and modern too. I am used to seeing even the smallest grocery or shops here with scanners in their check out counters. I have never seen a cordless nor bluetooth barcode scanner yet in my vicinity. However, the bigger shops and malls use the high-tech bluetooth scanner in their check out tills.

These modern check-out equipment like touch screen cash registers and barcode scanners really make paying easier and faster. Back in the 70's and 80's when cash registers used to be very big and noisy with every punch on the keypads. The technology these days have made shopping a virtually fast and easy experience.

Save Mother Earth

I’m running low in my creativity mileage but I don’t want to miss the opportunity to share my view about saving the only place we live in.

It’s not the perfect poem but let me share it anyway in time for Earth Day.

Save Mother Earth

by Ria C. Cervantes

The majestic world we live in

Is filled with wonders and riches.

For beyond the depths of the seas

And the summits of mountains,

Are teeming with life and natural resources.

We have taken all these for granted,

The responsibilities we have for nature

In protecting the only place we can live in

Mother Earth, as we call her.

It is not yet late.

Let us not procrastinate

To do our part

In saving Mother Earth.

Coin Collection

I have few friends who collect coins as a hobby. So, whenever I travel to other countries, I always make it a point to give them spare change from the currencies of the countries I have visited so far.

My last trip was in New York so I could only spare some dime, nickels and quarters. I have no plans for future travel yet but I have this coin collection in mind.

Some of my friends are in the advance stages of coin collecting. They collect valuable coins which can be sold in the market at very heft prices, for example, morgan silver dollars, golden coins, commemorative coins and limited edition coins.

I find that hobby very fascinating. I am glad that even if the coins I have are not as precious as some of the coins my friends have had collected over the years, they still consider my contributions worthy of a coin  pouch.

Throbbing Headache

I didn't have any bouts with migraine nor had headache spells for sometime now. I think I would akin this to taking my hypertension medication. However, my blood pressure is shooting up the gauge again albeit my work stress level is very minimum.

I haven't been sleeping really well lately. I am just excited over my upcoming vacation back home so my mind is preoccupied at most times. 

My headache today is really over-the-top painful! I cannot take any pain killers because I have an allergic reaction to most medication and analgesic and other form of pain killer tablets or capsules are one of my no-no to take.

I hope I am not coming down with a flu or something. I feel my joints a little achy my body a bit heavy (too much fats?!?).

Pretty Girls Clothing

I was very happy when I learned that my baby was going to be a girl. I have been dreaming to have a baby girl for my first born and how I was going to dress her up like a little princess. So, when I finally gave birth to a bouncing baby girl, I knew exactly the kind of girls clothing she would have in her wardrobe.

Dressing her up was such a bliss when she was younger. She loved flowing dresses and would even wear her favorite "princess costume" even if we would just go to the mall. She would walk around with her mini lady bag and prance on her beautiful pink tutus. She loved pink - only pink. She was our little princess then. Times change and so are her fancies.

My princess has grown up. She no longer wears dresses nor tutus. She wouldn't even wear any apparel in pink. She has morphed into a young adult sans the fancy frills of a young lady's clothing. She is into jeans and comfy shirts with vests which I find slightly boyish. But if she is comfortable with them, I have no choice but to let her wear her "statement grunge" look. Sometimes, I still take her on a shopping spree in some fancy young adults' clothing lines and suggest girly outfits only to be met with a frown. I even stopped buying her blouses and dresses because I am sure she would never wear them. Most of the girly outfits she had before turning into a teenager are now the precious properties of her younger cousins.

I know she will come around. She is just into this teen-angst phase where being an "emo" is in. I remember my own sister going through that phase but later on went back to her lady-like ways. I am not rushing her but if she ever wants to wear pretty girls clothes again, I'll buy her stuff in a heart beat! 

Peeps Show

Ok, before people start assuming things, this is not a bad post. On the contrary, this is a very cute post about the small marshmallow treats called Peeps which are not only cute but also edible!

Every year, Peeps management hosts a contest on the use of their product Peeps in very creative diorama form. The winner this year is the "Chilean CoPEEPapo Mine Rescue" based on the real-life rescue last year in Copiapo, Chile.

The winning entry is made by Mary Jo Ondrejka, Margaret Hartka, and Bryan Metzdorf. Their work is very meticulous and the attention to detail is superb.

Here is the video of the winning entry:

Summer Vacation 2011

It has been a while since I visited the Philippines. I miss home again. I just feel too tired being in Dubai and being at the same desk job for almost a decade. I need a new environment. I need to go home.

My vacation is coming soon. I am looking forward to relax for 2 weeks. Probably take my daughter and mom to Singapore or Hong Kong for a quick weekend-getaway just to unwind. I can't wait for summer!

Pay Up Please

It is not a secret that I accept paid posts in this blog. It is one way to augment my meager income. Besides, I do write with integrity and based on experience. I just feel a little bad about a direct advertiser (DA) who contacted me and asked me to write 3 paid posts which I gladly obliged and published. I have already sent the URLs for the 3 posts. The DA did not verify my paypal address and decided to just send it to the email address I use in this blog. I have received a notice from paypal about the payment but in my wrong email. So, I asked the DA to revert the payment to my paypal account which I provided in the same email.

It has been more than 2 weeks since I last heard from the DA, assuring me that the payment would be sent to the correct paypal account. Unfortunately, after repeated "gentle" reminders, I still have not received my payment. I even told the DA that the money is still in his/her account and that I would keep getting reminders about a payment I could not withdraw because it was the wrong paypal address. How hard is it to send a new payment since the one sent would be cancelled by paypal and returned to the payee eventually, if no one claims?

So, I did the right thing by pulling the posts down from my blog. I even left it there for sometime thinking and hoping I would get paid. Sigh, have I been scammed?!?

I feel sad about the whole thing. I have done my part but why can't the DA do his/her part? It's a mere few bucks to spare but enough to put food on our table. 

Anniversary After Shock in Japan

Exactly 1 month after the catastrophic 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami which rattled Japan, another 7.0 magnitude trembler was felt shortly after the ceremony to honor the victims of the event.

Sendai, the hardly hit northern town in Japan has issued evacuation alert citing health risk of living there in a long term basis.

Today's earthquake in Japan is about 100 miles North of Tokyo inland. 

Low Testosterone Problems?

I thought, only women have so many problems do deal with in terms of their appearance, overall health and reproductive system. Even men experience problems with their systems and one of that is having low testosterone.

What is low testosterone? This is a condition where a man does not produce the required testosterone hormone in his body. It is also called hypogonadism. This condition can be treated with the use of testosterone gels. However, this is a condition where the physician will conduct a series of medical examination to determine if one is suffering from low testosterone problems.

Who may have low testosterone? Studies show that people with diabetes, erectile dysfunction, those who consume certain medication for chronic pain and HIV may suffer from hypogonadism. As mentioned earlier, it can be treated with proper checking by the physician.

Health Nut - Food for the Heart

Photo credit: diet.lovetoknow.com

Eating green salad with a healthy drizzle of olive oil is a good lunch meal for the heart. Aside from the green salad, here are more food to consider adding in your palate for a healthy heart:

1. Fruits like strawberries, cranberries, red grapes, oranges and plums (among a few)

These fruits are rich in flavonoids which is are great antioxidants in helping minimize inflammation. Inflammation is one of the bad processes that can happen to your heart. To avoid that, have a hearty-full serving of colorful fruits.

2. Avocado

Although is also a fruit, it is rich in fats that are helpful in lessening the bad cholesterol. Have this though in moderation as you would taking fats.

3. Rye, Wheat, Multi-Grain breads

These breads are rich in fiber and magnesium. Fiber aids in lessening hypertension.

4. Salmon

This deep-sea fish is a good source of omega fatty acids which help lower bad cholesterol and keep blood pressure within range. It is also a healthy source of protein.

5. Nuts

Nuts such as almonds, pistachios and walnuts are loaded with heart-friendly fats. Substitute your chips with a palm-sized serving of these nuts instead.

I Love Cheese!

I just had a cheese plate for snack today courtesy of my hubby. Somebody gave him first class cheese with grapes, celery and carrot sticks to go with them.

I love the distinctive tastes of the various cheese. There is the strong and sharp flavored cheese like Gruyere and Emmetal which are Swiss cheese. They are hard and have holes.

There is also the milder ones like Monterey Jack. It is also not as stiff as the Swiss cheese. My favorite are the fresh cheese like chevre and cottage cheese. They have a distinctive smell and taste that makes me savor every bite.

Yummy! I wonder when I'll have my next plate of fine cheese again?

Money Down The Drain

It is amazing how fast our salaries get depleted here. We regularly receive our salaries via bank credit every end of the month. Unlike in the Philippines, the salary there is split in two, one during the 2nd week and the other on the last week of the month. It is quite a feat to budget one's salary here because we get it in lump sum and the bills to pay are the first to get a piece of the pie.

That is the reason why a lot of expatriates here are swimming, if not drowning, in debts. They have difficulty budgeting and keeping the finances in a tight loop. It is like being an instant millionaire only to squander what you have earnestly worked hard for in a single day.

A lot of expatriates are always seeking for cash advance payday loan from their companies or independent financial institutions to meet due dates on credit card bills and other expenditures which are mostly unnecessary. It is so easy to let money down the drain in this place.

Too Old for Karate?

It's like a sign from above! That's what I told my husband when we saw the "karate school soon to open" sign near our flat. It is a mere 5-min walk from my place to there so all I have to do is just wait for it to open. Then a thought hit me? Am I too old to learn karate? Are my bones fragile (I'll come to know this part when I do sparing!)? Do I have brittle bones that a slight jam on the shin will break them to smithereens? Am I fit to do that or too fat to even lift my legs? Well, maybe I can learn the rudiments but not join any sparing competition. If I do that, I'll be forever in the white-belt category. So many choices! The dilemma!

Anyway, I have been waiting for the right time to learn new things. Although I am not sure if I even qualify but I just want to try. No harm on that, right?

Cleaning Time Again

It's spring cleaning time again! The best way for me to achieve this is when everyone else at home is asleep.

Today is my prelude to my major spring cleaning. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. to clear the linen closet first and throw away unused stuff for ages. I would love to donate them but wear and tear has gotten the best of the items. I feel bad throwing them but I have to. It's the only way to sever the "attachment" we tend to establish with our material possessions.

I managed to clear the linen closet and some of the knick-knacks lying around the living area. I just don't know what to do now with my bookcases and the books in it.

Next will be the bedroom and the closets. I swear, there are more to dispose and probably ship back to Manila for my younger nieces and nephews to play around with. I have already sold my old clothes and bags and I could not believe I still have more! Although half of the clothes I kept were my fashionable outfits which my daughter is wearing these days. I can save them for her. The rest which will not fit me anymore (and I doubt if they ever will!) will definitely be sacked!

I'm just waiting for the summer to come so I can really clear away the unnecessary stuff. If my daughter sees me cleaning (that's the reason why I woke up at 3:00 a.m. so she wouldn't bug me) and throwing stuff, she'll later pick up some of them later on when I am not paying attention. Next thing I know it, some stuff are back in the house.

I hope there's a clear button to press so I don't have to do this tedious task. I know, down the line, other things will be bought again and will end up in the next year's junk!

Bent Objects by Terry Border

I was casually browsing the internet when I saw the beautiful art photos of Terry Border. He uses everyday objects and give them personality; making them more "human."

Some of his works are really funny and witty. The others are more geared for adult audience. Here are some of his funny and smart work of arts. All photos are from his blog at bentobjects.blogspot.com.