Tuesday, May 31

Today is World No Tobacco Day


 Taken from Google


Today marks the World No Tobacco Day as people from all walks of life joined hand in hand in a fight to have a better place to live in without having to inhale the dangerous smoke coming from tobacco.


 Taken from Google


By looking at the picture on top, imagine the components you'll be puffing when you smoke a stick of cigarette. These are highly dangerous and could lead to death if taken in insane amounts. I'll make sure my daughter won't inhale these toxins and give her a better smoke-free life. 

To learn more about The World No Tobacco Day, you may check it here, here, here and here

Swabeng Chickens and Ribs in Town at Carol's Texan 5

I'm no foodie expert but I know good food when I have tried one. And chicken and ribs are definitely one of my favorite combos everytime me and my wife eat outside. As I was browsing through cyberspace, I got to chance upon tenminutestops.com and clubtravelnow.org about an upcoming event called Bloggers Buffet to be held on the 23rd of June 2011. This event would be exclusive to 30 bloggers as they would give out their best (me included) to be a part of this event. I want to be a part of this event because as an avid buffet eater myself, who would skip this event right? Given the opportunity, I won't say No to a feast of the palate. 

Taken from tenminutestops.com's website


I remembered after having snacks at one of the foodspots in Jose Abad Santos street a few weeks back, I noticed a foodie joint that serves the best chicken and ribs in town. Being new to Little Baguio in San Juan, I look forward to visit Carol's Texan 5 which offers the best chicken and ribs this side of Manila.


Taken from tenminutestops.com's website


Looking at the pictures make me wanna go there right now. Also, their menu is light on the pocket so nop need to shell out huge amount unless you'll be treating everyone. And how would you enjoy the best chicken and ribs this side of Manila? Here's how and be sure to enjoy them. ^_^

  • Dine-in (Enjoy your best chicken and ribs at Carol's Texan 5!)
  • Delivery (We deliver to San Juan, Mandaluyong, Ortigas and Pioneer only.)
  • Event Food Booths (Got an event? Carol's Texan 5 booths are available for hire.)
  • Party Trays (Order trays of your favorite Carol's Texan 5 dishes for special occasions.)
  • Functions (Hold events at Carol's Texan 5.)
  • Kiddie Meal Sets (Order meal sets for your office and kids parties.)

I'll make sure to save their contact details in case I come back here for more. I'll share the map so nobody gets lost in finding the best chicken and ribs this side of Manila.


Taken from tenminutestops.com's website


Address: Carol’s Texan 5, 2F 713 J. Abad Santos St., Little Baguio, San Juan
Delivery: (02) 727.3843 / 0922.485.0154

Since I go online everyday, I could check-out their website and their facebook fanpage so I won't miss out on any updates from them.


Monday, May 30

My June To-Do List

I forgot to set my May targets (busy at work and being a daddy XD). But before June starts, here are the things I'm looking forward to accomplish for the month of June

1. Buy all June issues of my men's magazine collection. 
2. Attend DPP's 5th Anniversary Party.
3. Take my wife and child to their respective doctors for their vaccine on the 20th. 
4. Control myself from buying those groupons XD. 
5. Try to renew my passport
6. Settle my SSS and Philhealth quarterly contributions. 
7. Settle our electric and internet bill. 
8. Control my spending habits when eating.

I'll be adding/updating them twice and I hope I would be able to complete all of them XD.

The week that was (May 22 - 28)

Sunday: I got up early to take Migmig out again. We stayed for quite a while outside before going back inside the house. Then I did the remaining laundry that was left from yesterday and I was able to finish them all. My wife told me to take the laptop with me to work so I could upload Migmig's pictures on her facebook account. After buying Sunday's paper and getting myself ready for work, I left home at 10:30am to pass by Robinson's Place Manila to attend the 5th Tagcom Event (I'll create a separate blog for this) and look for another pair of Sanuk. I got there in no time and I was able to take a quick snapshots of the event but I didn't stay long there because I need to report at 2:00pm. Then I went to Sanuk to buy myself another pair. Since they were on sale for selected pairs at 50% off, I got tempted to buy two pairs but I only ended up with one. I had my quick lunch at Mongolian Quickstop before trekking my way to the office. Since I am the only one for the shift, I wasted no time in transferring picture files. It took me a while before transferring all pictures. Then I looked for some baby pictures to upload to my wife's facebook account. For less than 10 pictures, it took me 2-3 hours to choose the best unedited pictures. After uploading Migmig's pictures to her mom's facebook account, it was my turn to edit some old pictures from 2010. I got to edit Migmig's day 1 pictures and upload them to my facebook account. Good thing my entire shift was quiet which means no calls as I got to listen to good music while working on my laptop. After my shift, I went home via taxi cab and got there in 30 minutes. I was able to have quality time with my wife and my daughter before calling it a day.

Monday: I got up early to take out Migmig for her daily dose of Vitamin D before I gave her back to her mom. I was able to watch WWE's over the limit on Jack TV before reporting to work. Going to work didn't take me that long and I got there at past 1:00pm. Then I went to Landmark to do some groceries and buy some apple juice for my wife to try. Work was quite slow as it was still Monday early morning in the US. I was able to go online but my mind was pre-occupied with something else. I felt really sleepy after my shift so I went home right away and took a taxi cab. I got home in 30 minutes to be with my wife and daughter. Migmig was fast asleep when I got home.

Tuesday: I got up early again to take out Migmig but the sun wasn't that cooperative so we just walked around the neighborhood and took her to St Anthony before going back home to her mom. Then all three of us lay down as we watched our daughter's eyes wonder around. It is really energizing to see her every morning before I start my day and before I go to bed.We gave her a bath before getting ourselves some. I left home early to meet my mom at Harrison Plaza. I got there in an hour and had lunch at Tokyo-Tokyo before going to the office. Once I got there, I took a breather before going to Landmark again to buy milk for my wife and diapers for my daughter. I got back to set-up my PC and open my needed tools.Work was quite steady as all three of us in the mid-shift were present. After our shift, I took a cab going home and got home in 30 minutes. Then I took my time to relax as my wife and daughter were already asleep. 

Wednesday: I got up again early for my baby girl's daily sunshine before going back up to her mom. Then I got to watch the NBA play-offs on TV as I waited for 11:00am (my time to get ready for work). It didn't took me that long to get to the office as traffic was just fine. After logging-in, I rested for a while before going out to buy some Buffalo Wings for lunch at Buffalo Wings N' Things as heavy rains pour down while waiting for my food.But it didn't prevent me from going back to the office as I got wet (not that much) before getting back to work. By dinner (my lunch time) I was able to enjoy my wings though I wasn't ablt to get myself a soup at 50% off (they were only giving 20% discount that time). Good thing we didn't got much calls during my shift and I got to assist one user in the US with a software installation. I hailed a cab going home after my shift and I was able to get there in 30 minutes. Just in time to spend time with my two girls before going to bed.

Thursday: I got up early and did my morning rituals together with my lovely daughter. She was in her usually quiet but perky type as she keeps on staring at me as well as checking her surroundings. For a one-month old baby, I guess my traits are slowly showing at her XD. After our morning sun, we went back upstairs to the bedroom for me to get some more sleep and for her to get more milk from her mom. I got to watch game 5 of the NBA's WCF (Western Conference Finals) before reporting for work. I left at past 12:00pm but I got in the office quite early. I was able to do some work on our new ticketing system. It is web-based which can be opened on any web-browser. I used Mozilla Firefox 4 since I'm used to it since I've shifted from IE to FF. I got two calls and I was able to log them using the new tools. I felt a bit nervous at first as I might make a mistake in filling-out the details that I need but it turned out just fine. Our new tool would make our work much faster (I'm looking forward to it). I got to review the document on its ins and outs before ending my shift and took a cab going home for the fifth time for the week.

Friday: I got up early to take Migmig out for her Vitamin D. Then we went back up to her mom for her to giver her some milk. I went online for a few minutes before having myself ready to attend the 20th Transport Show at SMX Convention Center (I'll create as separate blog for this) I left home at around 10:30am and got there at almost noon. Since I'm hungry by the time I got there, I went to a new mongolian restaurant and tried their food there. Good thing they have this promo for 280 pesos (No Leftover, No Sharing) which was only available from Mondays to Fridays, 10:00am-3:00pm. The place wasn't full of people when I got in but eventually, the place got filled. I enjoyed 2 bowls of mongolian barbeque that really stuffed me for the day. I got to the carshow at past 2:00pm and started shooting as my wife texted me to go home early as the weather is cloudy and it will rain soon. By 6:00pm, I am already done, looking forward to go home. I got home at past 7:00pm as my wife and daughter were looking forward to see me. I went online for an hour or two before finally heading for bed. I told my wife that I'll be leaving early for the next day's photowalk with my photo buddies. She agreed provided that I'd go home early XD.

Saturday: I got up an hour earlier than my usual waking time (5:30am). I got myself ready, sipped a cup of coffee and carry Migmig in my arms for a few minutes before heading to Liwasang Bonifacio to attend HGTribe's Grand EB/Photowalk. I left home at past 7:00am even if the weather was unpredictable and I got to our meeting point a few minutes later. I thought no one would attend but I saw someone walking with a camera bag on his shoulder which means the shoot must go on. I got to meet again my fellow hobbyists and newbies as well but the weather wasn't cooperating at that time. We went to the Manila Post Office to have ourselves warm-up and took a few snapshots before the sun re-appears. That means we will go to Intramuros for the shoot. I haven't been to Intramuros for a shoot but it was fun and besides I got to eat at Manang;s Fried Chicken again. By noontime, my legs were cramping a bit and I decided to break from the group and head to Robinson's Place Manila to buy some things needed at home. I got my baby's milk and another feeding bottle while I bought my wife her apple juice. I took a cab going home and got there at almost 2:00pm. My baby was crying when I got there so I carried her to ease her pain. I rested for a while and edited some pictures of my baby before I decided to look for a study lamp that would serve as a dim light in our room. I left home again at 5:00pm and took the LRT going to Gateway. I was able to buy the lamp but I wasn't able to buy the magazines that I wanted to. In a snap, I took a cab and went to Robinson's Galeria to find out if the magazines were available. And all of them were available there and I made sure to buy them all. Then I had my dinner at a new restaurant at the ground floor called "Hainanese Delights". One good thing about the place is that its "hainanese rice all you can" there and I got 6 cups of hainanese rice before going home. I got back home at 8:00pm and soaked some laundry for the next day as well as set-up the lamp I bought. Though I slept at past midnight very tired, my day was really worth it.

"DPP On a High" The 5th Anniversary Event / Party

Taken from their foum in DPP. I remembered attending one last year and it was really fun together with my friends. Anyway, here are the details for this Saturday's event.


Taken from DPP Forum


We held our 4th Anniversary last year in Fully Booked High Street. When I arrived at 8am, my jaw dropped from the amount of people waiting outside for the doors to open. It was a great day. We got a greater turnout than we expected and this response told us that we outgrew the venue. 

So what do we have to do accommodate the swelling membership of DPP? Naturally we need a larger venue. People were joking that we should hold our 5th in the SMX at MOA. Not a bad idea but we like the idea of Bonifacio High Street because its centralized. We also like the outdoors. So for this years 5th Anniversary Event, we have decided to stay in High Street, with a few changes. Rather than just hold our event at Fully Booked, 

We're taking over the entire High Street!

So thus our 5th Anniversary slogan "DPP on a High"

Details:

DPP On a High
Date: Saturday, June 4, 2011
Time: 10:00 am to MIDNIGHT / Registration begins at 7:30 am
Entrance: FREE with Anniversary Pass in future DPP Issue #38


What to Expect:
 
For the noobs here in DPP, our Anniversary Event is one of the most talked about photography events in country. We get the top photographers in the country to give workshops every hour on the hour from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. At 8:00 pm we have our infamous LIVE JUDGING show where our photography contest finalists get their images either praised or critiqued by the country's top photographers in front of a bunch of DPP participants. Think American Idol but for photography.

We have already received confirmation from the best of the best in the country to lecture at our event. We won't give names yet until everything is finalized 100% but I can assure you, we won't disappoint. 

Just like last year, workshops will be FREE with a DPP Anniversary Pass and will also be first-come-first-served. The problem last year was the limited space in Fully Booked High Street. Not this year. We'll have other lecture areas within High Street and should be able to accommodate almost everyone unless we get like 10,000 people showing up 

We had two LIVE SHOOTS last year during the event. We plan to do the same this year but maybe 3-4 shoots instead. 

Save the date! Saturday, June 4, 2011 / DPP On a High / Bonifacio High Street


The list of confirmed speakers for On a High: DPP 5th

Drum Roll please............Are you ready?

1. Pilar Tuason
2. Manny Librodo
3. Buboy Librodo
4. Raymund Isaac
5. Xander Angeles / Niko Villegas Edge of Light
6. Tom Epperson
7. Jay Tablante
8. Wesley Villarica
9. Jo Avila
10. Jay Jallorina
11. Edwin Martinez
12. Doc Marlon Pecjo
13. Jason Magbanua
14. Per-Andre Hoffman- confirmed May 27
15. Dino Lara

16. Lito Sy

We may be adding a few more still.


Here is a list of the subject lectures that will be given at the DPP 5th Anniversary. 

LECTURE TOPICS

Raymund Isaac: How to Shoot Celebrities and other Headaches
Here the king of celeb photography will talk to you about shooting techniques but also more importantly, how to handle VIP clients and what to do when things don't as planned

Xander Angeles / Niko Villegas: Edge of Light Deconstructed 2.0
If you attended DPP Anniversary last year you may have enjoyed how the Edge of Light team presented their latest images and took them apart. The guys plan to show their latest work and explain their latest lighting techniques.

Jason Magbanua: DSLR Film Making
The countries finest video maker will show interested photographers how to take advantage of their cameras video modes and start creating art through film making

Jay Tablante: Creativity and Concept Creation (title not yet final)
Jay Tablante and friend Raffy Tesoro will let you in their inner circle and explain how they create their unique photography concepts. Jay will also talk about his lighting techniques and how it adds to the total feel of the image. Raffy Tesoro on the other hand is a noted stage and production designer and he will share how he and Jay pull off all those shoots.

Manny Librodo: When Travel Meets Fashion
We all admire Manny Librodo and you wouldn't want to miss this lecture as Manny shares with you his techniques he developed through the years first from shooting travel and eventually blending fashion into his travel images when he goes on his many trips.

Boboy Librodo: The Eye on Photojournalism
Ask Manny who is his mentor and he will say his brother. Boboy will discuss photojournalism as an art form. Imagine going to the streets and coming up with award winning images. You might after attending this class.

Jay Jallorina and Edwin Martinez: Immersion: Working the Scene
Expect a Landscape Masterclass from the Chasing Light boys as they spill the beans on what they go through to get their inspiring images. I've been given a glimpse of their lecture and if you are a landscape enthusiast you should attend this because a lot of their stuff is eye opening. 

Tom Epperson: The Beauty of One Light

Tom is the author of Issue 38 main article and what more fitting for him to give a Master Class on using One Light. Tom is a top shelf fashion photographer in the country and is a technician. He'll break it down for everyone and show the different techniques to achieve certain looks using just one light.

Pilar Tuason: Let's Talk About Beauty
The countries sexiest photographer (she will kill me if I don't say it) will show photographers how to add a feminine touch to photographing beautiful women. Its different when a guy photographs a girl and when a girl photographs a girl. You'll see how Pilar does it from lighting to posing the model.

Per-Andre Hoffman: Professional Travel Photography
Per is a leading travel professional who has shot for prestigious magazines such as NAT GEO. He is a Canon Brand Ambassador for both cameras and print. He had a recent print show using Canon printers and his work was awesome. His style for travel photography is quite unique. During his lecture, Per will share his travel and photography secrets and show how he produced his excellent latest work.

Jo Avila: Strobist Techniques and Light Painting
Jo will teach the strobist and light painting techniques that he uses for his professional and commercial work. He will show shots that were all done either with a single flash gun or a single flashlight. Jo will also discuss how to modify the light quality of an artificial light source in order to produce a natural looking effect.

Dino Lara: Wedding and Photojournalism
A Canon Brand Ambassador, Dino Lara has been in the wedding industry for quite some time and has seen trends come and go. In this class, Dino will lecture on why photojournalism is still a popular style for weddings and will share the tips and techniques to make you a good wedding photojournalist.


Doc Marlon: Getting started in Fashion Photography
Ever wondered what it takes to become a fashion photographer in the country? Hear from one of the leading fashion photographers today as he shares his trials, tribulations, and success over the years. The Doc will share shooting techniques and give the pointers to help you get started in this genre.

Lito Sy: Modern Techniques for the Modern Day Wedding Photographer
In this lecture, master wedding photographer Lito Sy, will share with you the techniques every photographer should know if you want to make it in today's wedding industry. Not only will Lito discuss technical aspects but he will also discuss the modern styles and trends used around the world. You don't have to be an aspiring wedding photographer to appreciate this lecture.


Stay tuned for more.


 Schedule Taken from DPP





Map so you won't get lost taken from DPP



LIVE SHOOT

Pilar Tuason: Beauty
If you attended last year's event, you may have participated or seen a Live Shoot with Pilar and a beautiful model. Pilar has committed to another live shoot this year so if you wall want to see a professional in action, this is your chance as Pilar will shoot 6-7 different sets of the model. After the actual shoot, Pilar will review and deconstruct the shoot in a classroom. The shoot is sponsored by CANON PHILIPPINES.

Wesley Villarica: Lighting and Working on Location

Wesley will show you how to think on the spot, analyze your location, set up lights, and come up with images worthy of a fashion editorial for a magazine. The shoot will also be done around high noon so if the sun shines on Saturday, Wesley will show how to work with harsh light. If its overcast, Wesley will show how to work with that too. Its a lighting location primer that you all don't want to miss.


Jo Avila: Food Photography, a Primer
Jo will teach the basics on how to light and shoot food. He will also discuss the nuances of working with the food stylist and how to avoid the common problems beginning food shooters usually encounter. This shoot is sponsored by CANON PHILIPPINES


BOOTH ACTIVITIES

CANON: 
Free camera and lens cleaning for all Canon Shooters. Make sure you get in line early.
Free firmware upgrade for all Canon Shooters. Again, get there early.

NIKON:
Free lens cleaning for first 50 Nikon users who purchased from CDSC. You better get there early for this.




As for tomorrow's weather, I got this from Sir Edwin Martinez's post in DPP. 




I hope the sky is clear all day and all night.



I won't skipping this for any other event unless.... XD

Remembering Memorial Day 2011


 Taken from Google


I'm pretty sure most BPO's and KPO's look forward to this event since most of their clients in the US won't be working on that day. Hence guys here in the Philippines won't be doing much work that day (Petix Mode XD). 

Memorial Day 2011 is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 30 in 2011). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. It was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.


Memorial Day often marks the start of the summer vacation season, and Labor Day its end.


Begun as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the Civil War, by the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as ordinary people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not. It also became a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family get-togethers, fireworks, trips to the beach, and national media events such as the Indianapolis 500 auto race, held since 1911 on Memorial Day.

As our fellow Americans celebrate this three-day holiday there. We will be working overtime here as they will be getting the phones the next day XD.  

You may check more here.

Saturday, May 28

The Blogger's Manifesto

Whenever you blog, do you have any principles or guidelines that you follow? I guess its about time to learn a thing or two when it come to blogging.

The Blogger's Manifesto outlines the core values to implement for Best Blogging Practices. By following and applying these values in your own blog, you are helping us build a Nation of Bloggers committed to being the best and most honorable bloggers that they can be.

There are 7 items to consider when blogging a certain topic. Be it about food, travel, photography, home improvement, or any niche possible, you could simply follow these and you're all set. ^_^



Taken from their website.


I've shared the badge on my blog. I hope you do the same. ^_^

Thursday, May 26

8 Effective Work Life Strategies - Secrets Shared by Satisfied Employees

I got this from this website while taking myself away from work for a while. Reading this at this point in time made me think that we have to do some strategies to keep ourselves satisfied at work and at the same time more productive. Anyway, enjoy reading. 


8 Effective Work Life Strategies - Secrets Shared by Satisfied Employees


1. The first and probably the most effective of all the work-life strategies is remembering to actually plan out, schedule, and commit to making appointments with yourself. You have no problem scheduling meetings that run past dinner time so you should be able to just as easily remember to schedule appointments and write them in your day planner that are all about you. This is the time to get some pampering, meet with friends, or get some physical exercise in. Once you write it down, in pen, you are committed to showing up for yourself.

2. Scheduling physical exercise is just one of the ways to take care of yourself. Studies indicate that those who exercise regularly not only have more energy but are more productive at work.

3. Developing a tight work day is a simple work-life balance strategy but it's not always the easiest one to follow through on. Water cooler meetings, long lunches, and the usual muck that pulls your attention away from conducting your business can be the greatest time and productivity killer. Killing your time and productivity forces you to work later, work harder, and often work at home instead of spending quality time with family, friends, or even just the cat.

4. Keeping a tight work day will help you fulfill the next two work-life balance strategies. For starters, make sure that you commit to and follow through with your tight work day so that you can leave on time. Getting in the habit of working an appropriate amount of time and leaving at an appropriate time will foster the balance you need for the following strategy.

5. Deciding in advance that you will get in your car and drive home at the appropriate time on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays makes it much more difficult for a superior or a coworker to talk you into staying just a bit longer to help finish one more responsibility that most likely isn't even yours. This leaves two weekdays that you are available to work late if necessary and three work days devoted to being highly productive so you can leave on time.

6. Keeping your tasks organized, reducing your need or attendance at meetings that do not concern you or your department, and streamlining your actual responsibilities is next.

7. Learn to shake your head from left to right repeatedly. Saying no is an invaluable work-life strategy because most of us take on additional responsibilities without determining whether it's really in our best interest.

8. Finally, remember why you work hard. You work hard to provide a good life for you and your family. It's much more enjoyable for everyone if you are actually participating in that good life you are providing. The last of the work-life strategies is knowing how to play as hard as you work. You just revamped your entire work life to devote more time to being at home and being well balanced. The harder you play and have fun during your time off the easier it will be to return to the office Monday morning for another round.


Tuesday, May 24

Swabeng 10 Ways to Get Your Marriage Back on Track

I just saw this on the internet and I wanted to share it with you folks especially to those who are married already (or felling married XD). 


10 Ways to Get Your Marriage Back on Track

1. Nurture yourself.
Marriage is about giving, but don’t make the mistake of giving too much. “To have a good marriage, you need to be a good you,” says Bowman. “Learn how to prioritize and put boundaries around activities that keep you healthy and whole—activities like rest, relaxation, fitness and time with friends.” In other words, remember that scheduling “me” time into your day is not selfish, it’s a necessity. It will strengthen your relationship because you’ll have a saner version of “you” to bring to the “us” equation.

2. Define your problems.
Spend some time looking at your relationship and figure out which parts work and which parts don’t. Bowman suggests that you take a moment to imagine a perfect day in your perfect relationship. What would this look like? How would you and your partner interact? Then create a plan of how you might get from point A (your current reality) to point B (that perfect day). Write it down if you need to, then start breaking the issues into bite-size pieces and tackling them one at a time. Before you know it, there will only be a few bite-size problems left.

3. Make a financial plan together.
Money is one of the biggest stressors in a marriage. Couples worry and argue about it constantly. If you find you and your spouse are starting to badger each other over the bottom line, it’s time to have a penny-pinching powwow. “We are all guilty of something economists call ‘passive decision-making,’ which just means defaulting to the easy option,” says Jenny Anderson, coauthor of Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage, and Dirty Dishes. “Couples need to make an active plan about how they will manage their money: Combine it? Separate it? Create a joint account and keep some separate? Whatever the decision, both people have to be part of the decision to do it and then figure out what needs to be done to keep the system humming.”

4. Use the three-sentence rule.
When you need to ask your partner for something that could be misconstrued as nagging, keep the request at three sentences—max. “The art of being assertive without coming off as aggressive lies in being succinct and using a warm tone of voice and body language,” says Bowman. “When you keep your requests to three sentences or fewer, it’s almost impossible to blame, use sarcasm or use put-downs.” It’s also a lot more likely that you’ll get your point across without losing your spouse’s attention. Make your request with a smile. Be sincere and encouraging. You might even rest your hand on his thigh as you say, “Honey, the house is a mess and I am exhausted. Could you help me clean this place up? I could really use your help.”

5. Take your fighting gloves off.
Don’t duke it out. Instead, consider taking a time-out. “There's a concept called 'loss aversion' in economics, which simply means we really hate to lose. And when we think we are losing, we fight like there is no tomorrow to try to win,” says Anderson. “It happens when couples talk about hot-button issues like sex, housework, money or the kids. If either person thinks he or she is losing, he or she will ratchet up the stakes and escalate the issue.” The next time you see a spousal spat going to a not-so-happy place, take a break and revisit the subject when neither one of you feels overwhelmed by the topic.

6. Just do it.
Yes, by “do it” we mean have sex. Intimacy is an important part of a vital relationship, and one of the first areas to suffer if feelings are floundering. But sexual encounters can also be one of the quickest ways to reconnect and rekindle with your partner. “Of the many forms of couple intimacy—a smile across a room, a kiss, a touch—sex has the potential to be the most powerful positive physical experience most of us enjoy,” says Joel D. Block, PhD, coauthor of Sex Comes First: 15 Ways to Save Your Relationship…Without Leaving Your Bedroom. “This is especially true if sex results in emotional fulfillment, better communication, security and reassurance."

7. Burn your grudges.
It’s time to set some bad memories on fire. Literally. Sometimes hanging on to those “Do you remember the time you did such and such?” moments are the things that lead to relationship sabotage. Instead of carrying grudges around forever, torch them. “Write them all down on a piece of paper. Then set a timer for a certain amount of time. It might be 10 minutes. It might be 30. It might be the whole day. The point is: Give yourself as long as you need to really wallow in the misery of these grudges. Savor them. Get angry about them. Mutter about them. Do whatever you need to do to get sick and tired of them,” says Bowman. “Once you are done, say, ‘I will not think about these anymore. These grudges have lost their usefulness.’” Then take a match and burn them.

8. Don’t be overly confident.
Overconfidence can lead to complacency, which is not good for any relationship. According to Anderson, in a survey published in August 1993 in the journal Law and Human Behavior, couples who had recently applied for a marriage license were asked to estimate the average rate of divorce. Almost uniformly, they accurately predicted about 50 percent. Then they were asked to estimate the chances that they would get divorced. They answered zero percent. The problem with this statistic is that, if there is no perceived risk of failure, no “work” is put into maintaining the relationship—until it’s suddenly faltering. Don’t let yourself gloss over the little things. Don’t forget to make an effort to keep your romance alive. Don’t find yourself in a situation where you realize that you could have done more…when it’s already too late.

9. Write your spouse’s eulogy.
This one isn’t as macabre as it sounds. It’s more of an exercise in appreciation. Bowman suggests that you work on it a little at a time as a way to notice what your spouse does right (since these are the things you’d likely eulogize him with, not the negatives). “Think back over the years you’ve known this man. When did he make you laugh? When did he make you cry tears of joy? When did he surprise you? When did he feed the cat because the smell of cat food makes you want to hurl? Put it in the eulogy,” says Bowman. “The funeral fantasy will help you remember to appreciate your spouse.”

10. Remind yourself you have a choice to stay married.
Many people stay in troubled marriages because they believe they have no other choice. “They think that they are stuck, and they blame this sensation of being stuck on their spouse. But if you are stuck, it’s your fault and not your spouse’s,” says Bowman. That fact is, “you are not stuck; you have choices. Three of them: Do nothing and remain miserable; face your fears and try to save your marriage; ask for a divorce.” Choose to either be married or not. Make a choice. And wake up every morning and make that choice again. The surest path to happiness is knowing that you are not a helpless damsel in distress, but rather a woman who can make her own decisions. You have the choice to live happily ever after.

I believe that it takes two to tango.

Monday, May 23

My Free Comic Book Day Experience

I felt bad when I missed attending the first Free Comic Book Day since some of the blogs that I've read got more than 10 free comic books per person who attended aside from the big discounts and the opportunity to meet some of the well-known graphic artists and illustrators of our time.

When I got to Fully Booked at BHS, I got excited and hoping I could get atleast 5-10 free comics. But when I fall in line to get mine, the person manning the comic told me to pock ONLY ONE. My level of excitement was up down to almost zero as I just took some time to pick a comic and I got Spiderman plus some mini-comic books. 

When I got home, I felt like its ok, you can't be greedy since its just for free. Maybe from this,  my love for comic books will get back to life. Well, maybe.

My one-shot of the comics that I got to be posted soon XD.

First Feat at Yummy Eats

Last Saturday, I went on an event-hopping within the BGC area. My second stop was at NBC Tent to attend YummyEats: A cooking and eating fair. This would be my second (?) time to attend a foodie event for the year (this excludes my trips to Mercato Centrale XD).

When I got inside, one of the staff asked me where would I go. Of course inside right? She asked me if I already have the tickets and I told her I had to look for Ms. Minette Aquino. The lady told me to go to the registration table. When I got there, they told me to go to the other table. Same thing goes to the second table until I went back to the table where I started. Its a bit frustration telling you to go to this and that but doesn't yield any results. I got to meet Ms Minette Aquino and she handed me the tickets =).




Then I went inside the event proper. Based on the layout I downloaded previously, It was really organized and the grouped the concessionaires accordingly. I didn't know where to start first since I couldn't think straight when I'm hungry XD.




One by one, I slowly tasted the best of the best. I started from  Starbucks Coffee (just the same) to the unique dishes that I tried for the first time. As far as I can recall, the samples from Sabroso, Pino were an instant favorite of mine as well as the time and tested Merry Moo and Mochiko for desserts.



Though it was a challenge for me to try everything especially their cold desserts is because my tooth ached on me again, somehow I got to try all but 2 or 3 samples. I stayed there for probably 2-3 hours as I got really full with all of the delicious samples that I tried and I'm looking forward to attend another Yummy Eats sometime soon. 

Anyway, here are some decent shots that I made during the event. XD



















The week that was (May 15 - 21)

Sunday: I got up a bit early to take Migmig out in the sun. Both of us bathe in the sun for 15-20 minutes before we went back home. I bought Sunday's paper before getting my things ready for work. I borrowed my wife's laptopso I could edit some pictures in the office. I bought my camera with me just in case I decide to go to fashion week making my bag really heavy XD. I got in the office in no time and started setting-up my things. Then, I checked my email and my friend who happens to be one of the organizers to the Fashion Week won't be able to attend due to personal matters. Hence, I skipped FW as well even if it took me forever to get a chance to attend. Moving on, I edited some pictures in the laptop as well as upload some of the Migmig's pictures on my wife's facebook account. My shift was quite a boring one but my attention was divided between photo-editing and going online. Getting dinner took me almost forever as I roamed the entire Greenbelt 1 and ended up ordering at Jollibee down in our building XD. I got to edit more pictures before going home at exactly 11:00pm. I took a cab going home so I could arrive early. My daughter was already sleeping while my wife was still up waiting for me. I probably slept at past 1:00am as my daughter got up and wanted to play with me.

Monday: I got up early again to have our morning sun with my daughter. I went also to the bank to pay for the coupon that I bought at 50% off. Great deal isn't it? Since, its my leave that day, it was all systems for us to go to the hospital for Migmig's first vaccine. Thank God it didn't took us a long time to hail a cab going to the hospital. Once we got to the hospital, my baby was 28th on the list while her doctor was only on his 10th patient. We went down to have lunch at Max's Fried Chicken on the hospital's second floor. We just had their combo meals since we don't have much money to order the more expensive ones. Then we went back up to my daughter's pedia to check if how long do we have to wait. We went to my wife's doctor for her vaccine shots. While waiting, we tried to take pictures and even a family picture which our little girl doesn't want to look at the camera XD. My wife was able to have her vaccine shot in no time while I took care of Migmig. All of a sudden, she cried like no tomorrow and I had a hard time pacifying her but I was able to pacify her after 10-15 minutes probably. Then it was my daughter's turn for her check-up. So far her signs were good. She was also vaccinated with BCG and in the middle of the session, she cried very loud that I never heard from her before for the past few weeks. That was also the first time I saw tears from her eyes. I know she felt pain from the needle but I know she'll get used to it. After their check-ups, we went to Ristras somewhere in Little Baguio, San Juan (I'll create a separate blog for this). After our meal there, we head for home but I promised to go back there to familiarize myself with the place's ins and outs. We got home early and relaxed for the rest of the day before going to bed.

Tuesday: Got up at past 6:30am again to take Migmig out for her sunshine.Then when we got back in, I felt sleepy that I took another 2 hours of sleep before getting ready for work. It didn't took me that long to travel to work. Work was quite smooth as I got to do some stuff online. It took me a while again to decide where to eat until I passed by Kenny Rogers for their Solo B meal. I kinda missed it though but I'd rather not visit their store often. I took a cab going home since I felt very tired and very sleepy. I got home in no time and rested for a while before calling it a day.

Wednesday: Got up a few minutes before 6:00am as my wife bugged me to get up since the sun was already up. I took out my baby girl for her daily dose of sunshine but there were certain locations where it kinda stinks so I just bathe her under the sun near our door. I went online for an hour to check on my pending transactions before going to BPI Bank in Legards to pay for 6 coupons for future use. I know my wife would kill me if she finds out but its alright. She'll thank me once its done XD. I left home at past 12:00pm and got in the office 30 minutes early. Since I have enough time, I went to SM Makati to buy some diapers for Migmig. I'm surprised that she almost consumed 48 pcs of diaper in a week compared with the previous weeks (she used all 48 in 2 weeks). I was also surprised that the cost of her diaper increased by almost 50 pesos.I got back in the office and started working on some tickets and monitored most of the servers. Since I didn't have money to spare, I simply had oats for dinner. Probably I'll try to tighten my belt and save more after getting a bit addicted to those groupons that I've been buying. At 11:00pm, I went home right away so I could get some much needed rest for the next day.

Thursday: Got up early again at 6:00am to take Migmig out for her sunshine. Even if I am getting 3-5 hours of sleep, being with my daughter makes me feel better always. She's getting bigger and bigger as days go by. Then we went back up and I went online for a few hours before getting ready for work. Once I got in the office, I went out again to buy some chicken wings from Buffalo Wings N' Things at Solaris Bldg., just a few blocks away from our building. I got back right away as I am the only one in the shift for the second straight day. Before 7:00pm, I went out again to get some soups at The Soup Kitchen which I got a good deal at 50% off. I was really stuffed after a very heavy dinner. At 9:00pm, I was quite busy installing a printer to one of the users in the US. Its my first time doing it so I got to learn a lot from it. After my shift, I went home right away to get some sleep that I need. But it turns out that my little girl is still up but when I was about to take a picture of her, she pretends to be asleep XD.

Friday: I got up early to take Migmig out for her daily sun. Good thing both the sun and my daughter cooperated which made me happy XD. After our morning sun, I went back to sleep and got up again after two hours. Today is my daughter's first month and I surprised my mom bay taking her and my wife to Harrison Plaza to meet her since I need to give the big bag to my mom. But going to hp was like traveling through the desert as the weather was really hot and humid. Our baby wasn't even spared. Good thing she was able to sleep all the way to hp as we took a jeepney ride going there. Once we got there, we went to Shakey's to have our lunch there. My mom arrived a few minutes after and was really surprised to see her granddaughter again. She almost forgot how to carry a baby since its been more than 25 years for her since she carried one. The food I ordered was a bit too many as my mom did not touch her plate (she ate already before meeting us). Then we went to Red Ribbon to buy a small cake for our baby before going back home via taxi cab. Traveling back home took a while as it was traffic almost everywhere plus the driver wasn't sure how to get there using the best route. When we got home, we loosened up a bit and put Migmig to sleep for an hour or two. When she got up, I took pictures of her and my wife as well as my wife's folks to celebrate my baby's first month. We had cake, left-over spaghetti and ice cream to share with. I went online for an hour or two to update my online stuff. Then we went up to bed but we didn't sleep early since our little girl wanted to spend time with mommy and daddy XD.

Saturday: I got up early to take Migmig out in the sun. While were outside, she cried like there's something wrong with her. It happens to be she's hungry so we went back to bed and have her mommy feed her. I did some laundry to lessen my load for the next day. I was about to leave home early to attend 4 events, my wife asked me to stay for a little longer since Migmig will be taking her bath. While waiting for her water to warm up. she peed on my shirt (yikes XD) so I had to change again XD. I left home at 9:30am and got to BHS at past 11:00am. I went to Fully Booked to attend the Free Comic Book Day first (I'll write a separate blog about it). I stayed at Fully Booked for a while reading a lot of interesting book particularly in photography and self-improvement. I only got one free comic book from the event (boo-hoo) before leaving BHS and went to NBC Tent to attend another event there called YummyEats (I'll write another blog about it). I got there at past 12:00pm and got my way in. I got really stuffed inside trying almost every free sample each concessionaire provides. The problem is I couldn't enjoy eating sweets and cold foods as my tooth hurts (the rotting one XD). I was supposed to attend the remaining two events but I felt tired already so I went home via FX at Market-Market going to SM Megamall and FX to Sampaloc from SM Megamall. I got home in an hour just in time for the Santa Cruzan here in our neighborhood. But I got disappointed on its outcome so I didn't bother to take pictures and went online for an hour outside (my wife is using the laptop) instead. Even if we went up to bed at 11:00pm, I think I slept at past 1:00am.

Sunday, May 22

5th Tagcom Toys and Hobbies Convention



Taken from Google


Before going to work on a Sunday afternoon, I sneaked into this event to check-out if there are something new here.





Not bad, but not that good either. Well, since I stayed there for less than an hour, all I could do is take some snaps and hope for the best XD.







Thursday, May 19

Where to go this coming Saturday

Believe it or not, there are four events that I could try attending to. Impossible? Probably if you don't know how to manage tour time and skills. I can go to two events in a single day. But four? This would be a challenge for me XD. 

Anyway, you may want to stop by to these events if you have time. 

1. Free Comic Book Day at participating Fully Booked Outlets

I missed the last Free Comic Book Day so I have to attend this one XD.


2. The Thousand Crane Project

This event seems to be interesting.


3. Yummy Eats: A cooking and eating fair

This would be the second foodie event I'll be attending for free. Lovely isn't it? XD


4. Bimmerfest 2011

I would make this my last stop before calling it a day.


I hope my wife and daughter would approve of my time-off. And if they approve, I'll definitely write about my experience there.

Tuesday, May 17

The IFEX Experience

Last Saturday, I went to SMX Convention Center to Attend the 8th International Food Exhibition. Its a food exhibit which prior to attending, I have no idea how would I enjoy the event. But one thing I did right was to go there on an empty stomach XD.




I got there around 11:00am and they got the entire hall on the ground floor for this event. When I got inside, I was a bit clueless on where to begin but my instincts tell me to look for something to eat. But before that, let me tell you something about the event first.




IFEX (or International Food Exhibition) showcase products from various regions not just here locally but also other retailers outside the country. It is a good venue to introduce new food products and food concepts to investors both here and abroad as they try to convince then (investors) to invest on their products. It also provides not just business opportunities to small and medium entrepreneurs but also an opportunity to have their products known globally as well. The event celebrates the flavors of the world and unlock an exciting array of food that caters to your palate. 





I noticed that most of the food exhibitors (among the 450) locally and from abroad were selling tuna or bangus products in the form of hotdogs, siomai, embotido, among others. They almost taste the same but for me, the ones who uses the freshest products appeal to me the most. Also, I got to sample other products like wine, nuts and chips, and sweets.




I also couldn't help it but to pass by one of Korea's booth almost during my entire stay, giving out samples of sliced ice cream sandwiches and ice cream bars that was really refreshing and at the same time kept me full.




Probably, I stayed there for almost 4 hours satisfying my hunger for food and for knowledge on food products among other things. Plus I only pay the entrance fee so go figure XD.




Humongous Burrito at Ristras

After taking my wife and daughter to the hospital yesterday, we took a cab going to an unknown place within Wilson Street in Greenhills. I just relied on the map that I got from Deal Grocer's website on where Ristras is located.This would also be the first time I'll do a purchase that I bought from a Groupon Website.

We got there after probably 10-15 minutes from the hospital and there were no people yet when we got in. We looked for a couch so we could put Migmig there while my wife and I have our hearty snack. Then I went towards the counter to hand-off my voucher for a 675-peso meal for two that I paid for only 450 pesos. That would be inclusive of (aside from VAT and SC):



  • Choice of one (1) Burrito, Taco OR Tostadas (I chose Burrito)
  • Choice of one (1) Ball Park Nachos OR Nine-Layer Dip Nachos (I chose Nine-Layer Dip Nachos)
  • Choice of two (2) Canned Sodas (No choice here but 2 cans of Coke XD)

The staff over the counter gave me a lot of choices on how I would like my Burrito to be done. Knowing my wife (who is not much fond of Mexican food), she let me decide what to get for us. I know she doesn't like her food too spicy and I know what to order from here.


This is how they do the Wet Burrito. XD


The Burrito that I ordered includes Cilantro-lime Rice on one-half and Chorizo Brown Rice on the other. For the beans, I had a combination of Pinto and Vegetarian Black Beans. For the meat, I got a combination of Barbacoa (shredded beef, slow-braised with chipotle adobo, cumin, cloves, garlic, and oregano) and Carnitas (naturally raised pork, seasoned with thyme, bay leaves, orange juice and freshly cracked black pepper, seared then braised for hours), something that is new to my taste. For the other ingredients (Corn Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese, Sour Cream and Romaine Lettuce), I told them to mix everything up but make it less spicy. I think our salsa was the mildest one (Pico de Gallo) to make my wife eat more. I added 90 pesos to make my burrito a wet one but I felt that the additional cheese on my burrito wasn't enough.


This Burrito is good for 2-3 people XD.


By looking at it, it is indeed good for 2-3 person. If I would it it by myself, I should be starving first for me to take it all down.


A closer look at the big burrito. XD


While taking down our burrito, We also had Nine-Layer Dip and Nachos since the Ball Park Nachos were not available at this time. To be honest, both me and my wife were full from the burrito so we had to take-out the nachos so our folks from home could try as well.


Nine-Layer Dip and Nachos


Both tasted good and really filling as its really meant for sharing between two or more hungry people. I'm looking forward to go back to try other Mexican favorites here and I might attempt to finish a 2.5kg Buritto (aka join the Godzilla Challenge).

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...