Spring is Here... and I'm going Outdoors!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Yey! Spring is finally here. There are lots of reasons to celebrate. The weather is getting warmer and it means that I can spend more time outdoors. The flowers are  blooming and I can start working in my garden. And the day is longer and I can entertain friends and family outdoors again.

So, spring is here and it’s time for my outdoor furniture to claim its rightful spot in the backyard. But since some of them are already no good it’s time to go to Pier 1 and check out their new outdoor furniture “must haves” that just arrived in time for spring.

Oh, I just love Pier 1 because I can update my patio with new "outdoor swingasan chair" or our inside living space with new "colorful milk glass vases and lamps" without hurting my budget because I can always get a great deal on their products. And it is always fun to decorate and redecorate with Pier 1 pieces because they always come up with new pieces like "spring candles in tins and decorated glasses to gorgeous candle holders and center pieces". You can get lots of special items at special values from "multi-colored napkin rings" which originally cost $29.5 a piece, now $2.36 to "rack with baskets" which was originally $149.95 now, it's only $129.99. It saves me 20% on a lot of hot items . The iconic "papasan" for example has evolved and I can just imagine that it will surely pop out in my newly brick-paved patio and “wow” my friends.

Well, spring is officially here so what are you waiting for? Check out Pier 1 and sign up for their special in-store offer for the weekend of March 18-20 to receive Pier 1 Outdoor newsletter and get yourself a great deal for your new outdoor/indoor papasan that will surely wow your friends whom you just love and can’t wait to entertain.

And oh, by the way, watch out for the upcoming Pier 1 Tweetups coming at your city:

Dallas: March 22nd

Atlanta: April 5th

NYC: April 20^th

C’mon, it’s springtime and it’s time to enjoy the weather and your new favorite space made possible by Pier 1. Wink**

Polished

Open the door of your heart and let love come in to live and thrive.

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A Walk to Remember... Mary

It was a little warm [41 degrees - that's warm here in Maine] and a cloudy morning. I left the house a little past 8 and reached Saco [an 18 miles drive from where I live] at around 9. I saw the sign "Mary's Walk Parking" and turned right to find an empty parking lot. "Am I lost? or just too early?"... I asked myself.

I was early. Good thing. I had time to take photos. What's the occasion? It's the 13th Annual Mary's Walk and Kerrymen Pub 5k, a fundraising event for Maine based cancer research. And yes, I joined it. I was actually planning to join the 5k Run but I chickened out.

I thought I wasn't ready so I opted for the "walk" just to experience it and have the feel of it. Eventually, when people stated coming and seeing those runners, I started to get jealous. Well... there is always a next time, right?

And so I walked with the rest of the hundred supporters and had fun walking. 

It was only a 2.5 miles walk along Saco Main St. I joined the RSU #57 school district under Team Orr, which is dedicated to Sandy Orr, a former Waterboro Elementary School [the Y Kids' Out Program Site where I work] secretary who lost her battle to cancer early this year.

Apparently, Team Orr is the biggest team that joined this year's fundraising event with over 120 supporters who signed up and raised over $4,000.

It was cloudy, a little chilly and with a little shower every now and then, but the walk was fun especially that I met a lot of people and walked with people who care.

I walked with dogs...

I walked with kids

and babies in strollers...

 And I walked with faith... that next time I will not just walk... but run!

For more Weekend Memoirs... Visit OWM Here.

Californication Day 4: The TSS Mini Reunion in SD and New Year's Eve in LA

The feeling is universal! The TSS Sistahs finally met in person. And we were transported to San Diego right away where we had our Italian Dinner and mini-reunion with another Filipina Blogger and her Family.

The travel time from Universal Studio to San Diego was awesome. It was awesome because it felt so much home. Two hours of getting stuck in a traffic wasn't fun but it certainly flooded me with good memories of home. As soon as we reached Betchai's abode we just freshened up and went straight to an Italian Restaurant in Coronado Island where we met Rose and her family. It was a delicious reunion of sort.

After dinner we headed home and the TSS Sistahs finally bonded. We chatted and laughed till 5 in the morning over Chay's chocolate cake [especially made for the TSS Reunion] and endless cups of tea. We went to bed only to get up after an hour to get ready to go to La Jolla and Torey Pines.

My 4th day in California started with Binagooang Baboy for breakfast.

From there we went straight to explore Torey Pines Gliderport...

and went bird watching...

and enjoyed taking pictures of seals and at La Jolla.

It was indeed a whole day of fun with my TSS family and before the day ends I was on a train on my way back to LA. From the Union Station, my cousin Joey and Javier picked me up and in no time we were preparing food for our Noche Buena with Carmen.

After cooking pancit and had my first taste of "turon" after 4 long years... I passed out and dreamed about the Rose Parade.

[Photo Credits: Doods and Tess, Betchai]

This is one of 'MERICA Posts Series. A regular post dedicated to my HOME away from home.

Read more about my 'merica HERE as I share my experiences in this land of amazing People, Culture and Traditions.

Ethereal

You don't have to believe but faith is necessary to live in hope.

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