Reach Destination Safe and Unharmed

My Friend Linda is adventurous. She is the most adventurous among our peers. Just recently, she called me and asked me if I want to go with her [again] for a long drive to Arizona to meet up with our other friend Marissa. I really wanted to go and see Marissa but I was not too crazy about the long drive since we will be cruising in her 2001 ford escort that once got us stranded in the middle of nowhere due to water pump failure. Good thing a Good Samaritan passed by and helped us get Phoenix auto repair fixed our car quickly and easily. Whew!

Until now, I was still traumatized by that incident. But that is beside the point. I have work and taking a week off from work is not possible even if it is spring break. I have responsibilities and I cannot turn my back on the kids under my care so I pass on this would-be-a-happy-get-together-with-crazy-friends whole week vacation.

So my friend Linda and her colleague pushed through with the planned vacation. And as a good friend, I reminded them to contact Phoenix auto repair just in case something happen on the road. Well, it’s the most reliable auto repair shop online and around Arizona… so she knows that what ever happens she will reach her destination safe and unharmed.

Spring Cleaning

No, I am not into it. hahahaha Well, I have many alibis to think of when we talk about that thing... spring cleaning.

Well, one thing I learned from this country is that, every season change... we need to clean up. It is a transition to season change.

I need to clean up the entire house... inside out. Change decorations and wardrobe and themes and moods... including my very own.

So I will be very busy in the new weeks re-organizing things and stuff and maybe have a yard sale[?]. The only thing I am worried about is that I may not have time for my hobbies.

Oh well... you got to do what you got to.

I speak French!

I can speak French! Sort of. Well, check out my previous post to read the proof. hahahaha.

Cool huh? No, it was an aided post. I mean, I composed the post first in the English Language then, I used an automatic translator program that I found in the internet [more specifically called Yahoo Babel Fish]... and viola! It was really cool.

The only problem is that... I'm not sure if it translates in the correct French Grammar too since I am not even sure if my English grammar is correct. hahahaha

SUR DES QUESTIONS DE SÛRETÉ

Les issues de sûreté sont un souci important de nos jours. Nous le lisons en journal… que nous l'observons à la TV… nous l'apprenons parfois des personnes nous connaissons… combien peu sûr notre société est maintenant. Nous ne pouvons pas feindre que le crime ne se produit pas qui est pourquoi nous devons nous maintenir sûrs et protégés.

Ainsi si vous évaluez votre sûreté pourquoi ne pas avoir un videosurveillance? Après que tous que nous devons protéger des nos aimés.

My New Passion

I guess I cannot really help it. I am powerless over my passion. I am overcome with my personal obsession with arts. And I am unstoppable when I do something new.

Yes, I have a new hobby and Hubby is a fan. I am into photography now.

Well, thanks to my Salitype Sistahs because they provided me with good influence on that aspect. But compared to them... they are more professional... and they have the most powerful... most efficient... and more reliable tool... to pursue their hobby.

But with their encouragement and a little tutorial on photo-editing... I was able to do just well. And yes, I came up with another blog just for my collections of photos.

I call it... Ruthi's LensCraft. Check it out.

A Date with Hubby

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hubby and I religiously watched movies on Saturday nights before we got so caught up with our jobs. Saturday night is a Date Night Movie for us since we got married. It was a tradition as sacred as our “Friday Night is Chinese Night” [which we still practice religiously]. But when we got really busy with our jobs and housework [on my part] going to the movies became a rare occasion now. The last time we watched a movie as I recall was last summer. We watched Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs… in 3D. How cool was that? LOL

Well, I am not really too crazy to watch movies. I just like the idea of me and Hubby having a special time to bond. And it is the only time that we don’t fall asleep while watching a movie. But this weekend, we will surely go out and watch a movie because Date Night… a new movie starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey will be shown on April 9th.

Oh, Hubby loves Tina Fey. He will never wait for the DVD release of this movie because he has a big crush with Tina Fey ever since she portrayed Sarah Palin during the Presidential Election. I know he wants to watch her in the big screen. Well, as for me, I love the humor of both Steve Carell and Tina Fey so I am so excited to watch too. I have seen the trailer and it is indeed funny.

Trust me it is so funny. Check out the video trailer here and see for yourself:

Not satisfied yet? Then let’s see the movie opening weekend and let us enjoy Date Night with our beloved “Dates” wink*

Here are some additional Info about Date Night:

In “Date Night,” which opens Friday, a bored suburban couple played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey go on their weekly dinner date and find themselves thrown into a night of intrigue: there’s breaking and entering, a car chase, a shootout and a showdown with an underworld boss at a strip club. Husband and wife come out of the adventure with some scratches and also with their ardor renewed.

And for the full New York Times article please visit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/movies/04date.html?ref=movies

Romantic Getaway

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of St Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, Florida. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ah… spring! No, I think it is already summer. Yup, with temperature up to the 60s and even 70s… it is summer, isn’t it?

But yes, it is still spring and summer is still a couple of months away. Well, I am glad that it is still spring though because it means that I still have enough time to lose weight so that I can achieve that bikini body I see in health magazine before our planned romantic [wink] vacation in St. Augustine Ponte Vedra and the Beaches in Florida on our 3rd Year Wedding Anniversary in July.

I am so excited now because it will be our first trip to Florida. We are thinking of staying at St. Augustine Bead and Breakfast, a 126-year old Victorian Home because we want to feel the traditional, Victorian lifestyle and stroll down the narrow streets in the oldest city in the US. As for our itinerary… of course, shopping is top on my list. Shhhhhhhhhhh…. I haven’t discussed this with Hubby yet. Wink* I am planning to do it while he is playing golf and after I pamper myself in the spa. And of course, we won’t leave St. Augustine without taking a romantic carriage ride and a historical visit of the museums.

So if you are thinking of a romantic vacation… check out http://www.romanceliveshere.com/ and start planning for your next dream getaways.

Off to the monkey bar again

So the kid who had an accident last Friday went to school yesterday. He was up and running again after Mom dropped him off together with his younger brother in school. He was active again as if nothing happened. How did he do it? I was jealous of the kid's energy. I wished that I had his so I can do more when I get home.

And so we had to go out again in the playground that morning because it was indeed a lovely day. It was only a quarter before eight but the temperature is already in the 60s. There was no way I would keep my kids in the cafeteria playing board games or building puzzles and legos. What they need is to build up their muscles.

When we were there in the playground the incident of last Friday came back as soon as I saw the same kid running towards the monkey bar again. As soon as I saw that I ran as fast as I can and holler at him... you don't think you want to smash your head again on that pole! And he turned around and just laughed at me and went on.

Hmmmm... kids!

The Bottom Line

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

My sister-in-law in the Philippines gave birth to a cute baby girl last year who happens to be my… little look-alike. Yup, she is my “mini-me”. She is my exact replica when I was a baby based on the old photo that we have in our living room. So given that premise, she is as adorable and as pretty as I used to be. LOL

Since I don’t have a kid of my own, I just shared my brother and my SIL’s excitement and anticipation of their fourth child. And as excited as I am, I started buying baby stuff as soon as we found out that my SIL will have another baby girl. So when she was still pregnant with her, I sent her some baby products and baby clothes in preparation for the baby’s most-awaited arrival.

I bought a lot of pink baby clothes and booties and cute hats. I bought a lot of baby blankets and little toys. And I bought a lot of baby products from body wash to body lotion… from thermometer to little spoons… from wipes to diaper rash ointment. And with regards to diaper rash ointment I specifically looked for Boudreaux’s Butt Paste because my friend who has a 3-month old baby recommended it to me. She said that it is the best product that she tried so far. Well, it turned out that it is true because the other day, my SIL asked me if I can send her more Boudreaux’s butt paste because she already ran out of it and she cannot find it in any of our local stores in the Philippines. Apparently, she bought whatever was available there and she was not happy with the result. So, I am sending her more tubes for her stock.

Here are some of the additional Information on Boudreaux’s Butt Paste:

Diaper rash ointment, skin protectant, helps to prevent diaper rash, protects chafed skin, and seals out wetness. Boudreaux's Butt Paste® spreads on easily, cleans off quickly, and has a pleasant scent. It is available in drug, discount or grocery store chains nationwide in convenient foil pack, 1oz, 2oz, 3oz, 4 oz tubes and 16oz jar. And it is featured on:

• Oprah Show

• Tonight Show

• Today Show

• People Magazine

• ESPN

• While You Were Out TLC

And if you want to get your very own free sample of Boudreaux’ Butt Paste… click http://www.blairex.com/BLButtPaste.php.

is it all about the eggs?

It's Easter and as a tradition... I need to give something... egg [in shape but not necessarily in taste]... something colorful [but not necessarily a crayon]... something religious [but not necessarily about God]... something bunny [but not necessarily a live rabbit].

Is Easter here in the US all about the gifts? Is it all about the chocolates? And is it all about the eggs? Well, maybe not. Maybe for some it is all about the giving and not the receiving. Maybe it is all about the generosity of the person giving and the grateful hearts of the ones receiving. And maybe it is all about the meekness of the rabbit or it's symbolism. And on the religious aspect of it. I still believe it is all about the anticipation of the power of love.

So here are my Easter thingies for Brandon and the girls.

Really… you gotta see this!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was a kid I was jealous of those people wearing eyeglasses because I thought it was cool. So I asked mom to buy me a cool pair of non-prescription eyeglasses and wore them as an accessory to match my outfit.

Now that I am no longer a kid, I do wear eyeglasses but no longer as an accessory but a tool to help me read and become productive with whatever I am doing. I now wear glasses but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I love them. I am wearing them because I have to.

At my ripe age, it is indeed inevitable not to wear one because I am always reading and working in front of the computer. And at my age, I hate wearing them because it is too delimitating. It’s a burden. It’s a pain in-you-know-where because I always lose them. And getting a new pair each time I lost or break them is too expensive. But I am not too worried about it now because I know that there is hope out there. I am contemplating of having an iLasik surgery so that I can get rid of my eyeglasses and have an improved vision.

What made me consider that option? Well, I was once browsing online and I stumbled upon this cool iLASIK Video Contest. It was awesome and I love how those amateur singer wannabes made an almost professional vision about iLasik. No wonder they won the contest. Too bad they already picked the winner, had I known about this earlier, I might have joined but then, I don’t know if I can sing that well much less compose my own song for the contest.

Anyway, here is the detail of the said contest.

“Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (AMO), a global leader in laser vision correction, has announced the winners of the “You Gotta See This” Video Contest. Entrants made videos showing the impact of improved vision on their lives for a chance to win cash and prizes — including the $5,000 Grand Prize.”

And if you want to know more about it… you can view the winners — and all the other entries — at www.GottaSeeThisNow.com. You can also register to receive valuable eye care products.

Trust me, iLASIK Video Contest is one of the coolest video I ever watched because those people in the videos are ordinary people whom I can relate to.

If you wanna see more of the videos… here are the winners, by category:

The Prizes

$5,000 Grand Prize

“You Gotta See This Music Video” by Alex [link to http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/86875]

Category 1: My Contacts Are Getting In The Way Of My Good Time

First Prize: “You Gotta Be Kidding Me! A True Story” by Robbo (HDTV package — a $2,500 value) [link to http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/124414]

Second Prize: “Contacts Stink” by windysail (Flip UltraHD™ camcorder — a $199.99 value) [link to http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/94403]

Category 2: My Favorite Sport Or Activity Would Be So Much Cooler With Better Vision

First Prize: “iLASIK Would Make Surfing More Enjoyable” by jhbmw007 (HDTV package) [link to http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/124399]

Second Prize: “Foggy Riding” by Snowman (Flip UltraHD camcorder) [link to http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/87936]

Category 3: You Should See Life After The iLASIK® Procedure

First Prize: “Orbs Of Perfection” by Danny V (HDTV package) [link to http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/86870]

Second Prize: “Army LASIK” by ahowalton (Flip UltraHD camcorder) [link to http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/123970]

There you go my friends. And by the way, just to keep me out of trouble, AMO sponsored the content of this post. [2009.12.01-IL1512].

Happy Viewing my friends.

on keeping safe

I had a not so good day today despite the balmy weather. It was in the high 60s. The clear blue sky was an indication of a warmer day compared to the past few days. The warm breeze was soothing to the soul. And the cheerful laughters of the kids that filled the playground seemed like music to my ear. It was almost a perfect day until one of the kids under my care hit his head hard on the monkey bar pole and passed out on the ground for few seconds.

I was freaking out but I need to contain myself because emergency calls for it. I am trained and certified in First Aid and CPR but whatever I learned from the training seemed to go down the drain. I thought I was going to pass out myself. But no... I need to be strong because the kid had an accident under my watch. Good thing that I was able to remember the first few basic things to do when faced with such incident. I was able to contained myself and kept the kid conscious until the 911 call was placed... the school nurse arrived and the ambulance responded. In less than 30 minutes me and my staff were tailgating the ambulance on Route 202 on our way to the hospital.

Of all places... we thought that the playground is the safest place for the kids to play. But no... a lot of accidents happen in the playground. And yes... when there are kids involved... accidents do happen not only in the playground. That is why I never go anywhere without my first aid kit when with kids at work. And good think I never go anywhere without my presence of mind. It saves me from worse case scenario.

An Achievement at your Fingertips

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been out-of-school for almost 3 years now. As a teacher I miss the classroom. But education per se has evolved dramatically over the years. Today, education is no longer confined in the 4 corners of the classroom. The standard and more traditional school set-up is already a “thing” of the past. Today, online schooling is getting more popular among students. Why not? Getting a degree online is more practical than going to a regular school because your classroom is in your fingertips… quite literally and figuratively. So if you are thinking of earning your Master’s Degree in Teaching, check out some of the program information of USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC and find out about their accelerated program which you can complete in as little as 12 months and where you can gain field-based experiences in your own local area.

USC is a highly renowned educational institution in the US. They ranked 22nd among the best School of Education in the US and the 9th among all private universities according to the US News and World Report. USC offers Masters of Arts in Teaching degree – an innovative and highly interactive online degree that provides the convenience and flexibility of studying online. That is why they were also awarded by AACTE for innovative use of video technology in their program.

So educators and aspiring teachers what are you waiting for? –Take this rare opportunity to learn from distinguished USC faculty who are well-recognized for their contributions to this field of modern education. Work that fingertips up now and explore the possibility of getting a unique opportunity to be a part of the elite USC Trojan Family. Check out MAT@USC Student Blog, and be inspired from their students’ actual insight of the program especially their pioneering tuition reimbursement and their scholarship programs designed exclusively for MAT@USC graduates. And learn also about their full USC student status and benefits, participation in commencement ceremonies and free lifetime Alumni Association memberships. After all, education is not only an achievement but the only treasure that cannot be stolen from you.