Madonna Didn't Make It to the Finals

We watched again the last instalment of the show,"Britain's Got Talent" lastnight. It was the last semi-final round and oh, what an emotional, full of tension night. When all the 8 semi-finalists finished the performance, i knew already in my head and in my heart who will gonna make it to the finals. All my bet the last semi-final rounds had been true, but just lastnight was special. It was because...

There was this Filipina contestant named Madonna Decena. Clad in a classy outfit and dangling,glittering earrings, her rendition of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All" was not that super phenomenal as compared to the other performances of the night. Simon Cowell didn't like it and even said that "this is a show of Britain's got talent and not a show of whoever got the saddest story". Madonna had been dubbed as appealing to sympathy whenever she appeared on television crying that she participated in the show to give a good future to her family in the Philippines who are impoverished and can hardly survive.

As for me, she got good voice but she still needs lots of practice, practice and mastery. The performance level, for me, was not that excellent. You can see on the stage that she was nervous. But really, i am so proud of her for getting through to the semi-final rounds. She can again participate next year and be more prepared. It will give her lots of time to master her craft. Hopefully, the show gave her a chance to be spotted by any company who might be interested of her and provide her a great career. Twelve million people had been watching the show and wow, it makes me proud to be a Flipino by having people like Madonna Decena who got talent, courage
and "star quality".

It still amazes me that in many major, major variety contests,especially with regards to singing that there is always filipino/filipina participants. That goes on to show that if you, guys out there want to have a popular kid in the future, might as well get some Filipino blood because there will always be a chance to achieve that dream !hehehehe. Oh well, you never knew!

As for Madonna, you had been very honest of showcasing the situation in our country. That was very brave thing to do. I really like you for that. I like people who are not pretentious and Madonna just captured my heart and the hearts of many,many millions of British populace. Like most Filipinos who are here in UK, Madonna is searching for greener pastures by working hard here leaving two daughters back home in the Philippines. She said she had been missing her daughters a lot but she is here to provide good future for them. I think she is taking the right step to a very good future to her self and to her family.

Don't lose hope,Madonna! There is always another chance. By the way, here is the link to her performance lastnight. Check this video.

As for tonight, we'll gonna watch the final round. Let us see if my bet will win!

A Bit About Myself : A Friendship Tag

Got this friendship tag from Bruce. Thanks a lot, Daddy Bruce. You're the first daddy who tagged me. Kudos to you and let me be the first to greet you a HAPPY FATHER's DAY!

1. What do you want for your birthday?
- A full goodnight sleep (since i hadn't had one since i arrived here in Scotland!).

2. Who will be your next kiss?
- My husband and my kids.

3. When was the last time you went to the mall?
- Yesterday.

4. Are you wearing socks right now?
- I am wearing stockings right now.

5. How did you spend your summer?
- I will spend my summer in Canada. I am soo looking forward to it!

6. Have you been to the cinema in the last 5 days?
- Nope and hadn't been since the last 5 months... Ah, it's okay, i am happy to be just at home.

7. What was the last thing you had to drink?
- Water. But if you mean aside from water, i had Nesvita cereal drink this morning.

8. What are you wearing right now?
- I am wearing a new white dress. I just bought it yesterday. It's nothing special, just a very simple dress. And what else? My gray stockings which insulated me and the "others" of course.

9. What was your last purchase?
- My white dress and my eldest son's Indiana Jones' toy.

10. What was the last food you ate?
- Roast chicken(with the skin!), rice, and a dark chocolate!

11. Who would be the person you would call if you were up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep?
- My husband. And if he is offshore? My family back home.

12. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?
- Yes.

13. Do you have a pet?
- Nope.(Can't afford to have one. And if i can afford, i will never get one!)

14. What made you laugh in the last 5 days?
- Many things made me laugh! The latest one is my conversation with my son.
Me: Honey, will you please eat now?
My son: I am not honey, honey is for Winnie the Pooh!!! hehehehe. That made me laugh and giggle!

15. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
- It doesn't matter wherever as long as my husband and kids are with me. I had been to many worst places you cannot imagine!

16. What is the last thing you purchased online?
- I hadn't shopped online.

17. One thing you hate about yourself?
- Ah, what do i hate about myself? Physically? How i wish i am taller! Others: I don't like it when i am angry( it gives me wrinkles!)! But i am just human and i have to accept my imperfections!

18. Do you miss anyone?
- I miss my family in Philippines and Canada. Most especially, i miss my husband whenever he's not at my side and my sight!

19. What are your plans for the day?
- Ah, it's 5pm now but i still have things to do till i sleep like : tidying up(this is endless!!!!), watch my kids and feed them, cook for my hubby, watch the show - British Got Talent, hopefully bloghopping if i still got time!

20. Last person you msg’d?
- My husband.

21. Ever went to a camp?
- Yes and that was when i was in Grade 6 --- the Girl Scout Camping.(oh well, that was like ages ago? Guess i am really getting old!).

22. Are you a good student in school?
- Wow I feel old now also! Uhmm, i think i am average, but i am a teachers' pet so they keep on giving me good grades! hehehehe.

23. What do you know about the (your) future?
- This is a scary question. Honestly, who knows? Only God knows.

24. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
- Sometimes only. Some people are allergic to smell and i don't want to intimidate them. Even my husband is allergic to smell, so if ever i put perfume it should be the mildest as possible. But i do love wearing sometimes.

25. Where is/are your best friend/s right now?
- My husband and my kids are my bestfriends. They had seen the worst and the best in me. I have many great, loving friends back home in the Philippines that i am missing a lot though!

I am passing this tag to my wonderful friend online Wendy. I want to congratulate you and your hubby for your pregnancy! Take good care!

The Priest of Notre Dame

What made Notre Dame Basilica so famous? Mainly because of its unique architectural design. It is dubbed as the "Jewel of the Gothic architecture." But i don't want to talk about this very grand tourist attraction of Paris, nor its history, nor its relevance with Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of NotreDame" story.

I want to share my own reflective emotions while i went there(with my husband and Prisco and my two sisters Phoebe and Babylonia) between October to November 2006. At this moment of my life, i was so down. I had seen many, many beautiful things, yet deep inside, i felt so low. But i looked around and found out that the world is still turning around... it never froze even just a second because of my sadness. I just lose a wonderful, beautiful baby and my husband had thought that i might need a time for a break ... a time to reflect... a novel place...and he thought of PARIS.

Okay we climbed the Eiffel Tower, dined at the highest building of Paris called Montparnasse Tower, spent enjoyable time at EuroDisneyland, went for a River Seine Cruise and other many, many things, yet the most unforgettable for me is my conversation with the Parish Priest. I forgot his name and he don't know my name, but i remembered our conversations about life and about death, about rewards and about punishment.

I asked him if i am being punished by God and gave me this pain? He said no and he said i should not think about those things. All the things that happen has its reason. I know that, but isn't it that sometimes life is unfair?....

The best thing that happened was that the Parish Priest gave me great blessings and great prayers(Now, that really made my trip to Paris sooo memorable).
But he also made my eyes so red because i cried and cried and cried... Ah, you can see in my photos how tearful i am(but still i was happy because i had been filled with spiritual happiness and there's just this surge of energy emanating from a powerful source).

And the art of crying which i think i had mastered? Tell me, who hadn't cried? But really, sometimes we just need to cry and cry and cry ... or shout if we must! You will never know what is real happiness without feeling sadness. Life should always be a balance. In Taoism, they call this "Yin" and "Yang".

As for myself, i should say: there is no life in fear. If you are in fear right now, like fear to try again because you got a miscarriage or any other mishaps... don't ever lose hope...

After my trip to Paris, the following month, i was pregnant and each day, i would pray, "oh, please, God, give me a healthy baby...help me with this pregnancy..." God answered my prayers.

To the Parish Priest of Notre Dame Basilica de Paris, i want to thank you for your blessings to my family and for your ardent prayers. I believe that God chooses instruments on Earth whom people can rely and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God chose you as his faithful follower so you can bless the life of other people, especially those people who needs healing, physically and most of all, spiritually and emotionally.

Above all, i thank the Lord for healing my pain and for giving me a wonderful baby and a wonderful family and wonderful friends. God bless us, everyone! Enjoy your weekend!

Be Religiously Inspired...

I would admit that i am not a very religious person, but i am raised with Christian faith and devotion. I value that. But living now in a different country, in a fast-paced lifestyle, i admit i could not go to church every sunday, not even once a month. I am here for 7 weeks now and oh dear, i hadn't been to the church!

Good thing i found this website called PreacherTV.com.. This site was created to unite ministers and preachers with the online community to spread God's word and God's love. In this site you can upload sermons and of course, can watch sermons online, anytime you want. Check this out, my friends!

Me and My Kids

There are no other most precious resources in the world than our children. They will be the future parents, the future leaders, the future bearers of the world, the links to the future. Hence, no matter how naughty they are sometimes, they are ours and they deserve all of our love and our attention.

I had delivered three children, but only two thrive. The loss of our precious girl, Priyala showed me how fragile the world is. It showed me how bad luck can happen to good people. It showed me how precious life is and even the simplest of all the simplest things needs to be appreciated. But things happen for a reason ,i know. We have two wonderful boys --- Prisco Samuel who is now 4 years old and Cameron John who is 10 months old.

Anyway,so much of the drama, hehehehe , here goes my photos(and the corresponding story of each) of me and my two adorable boys....

I. Chilling at Strathburn Park, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

We were having a chill-out time in the grass. Ah, it is not all the time that grasses become dry, so we grab the chance to enjoy its smoothness and dryness on a sunny day. We did enjoy it! I have just to be very careful with Baby Cam because he will eat just anything --- and he would even like to eat the grass!


II. Bedroom Silliness, Manila

We had been so tired from the trip and when we arrived in our hotel room right after getting little bit comfy, we went to the bed and dad took a pic of us still with our shoes! hehehehe! It is one of our silly photos(but we never slept with our shoes!hehehehe)!


III. Buying Baby Cam's High-Chair , Aberdeen

It is me and Baby Cam shopping at Mothercare World, Aberdeen. In this section of the store we bought his high-chair. I am sure he's happy with our choice!


IV. Mom and Prisco at Louvre Pyramid, France

It is me and Prisco with one of the celebrated architectural structures in artistic world --- the very famous Louvre Pyramid of the Louvre Museum, Paris. Baby Cam obviously was not been conceived yet and i am still on the stage of getting over my fears whether i'll be getting pregnant again or not after the loss of our baby girl. Prisco had been the one who always cheer me up. I cannot imagine how would i cope up this loss time without Prisco. Thanks,my son for the joy and comfort you gave to mommy!



I wanna thank my friend Jona for tagging me. Just wanted to let you know i appreciated your efforts of remembering me. And for those other tags of my blogging buddies that still hadn't been done, please excuse me. hehehehe. I can only do little tags everytime. I hope you understand! Cheers,my friends!

~Begin Copy~

Rules :

1. Start Copy from "Begin Copy" until "End Copy".
2. Choose the photo(s) of you and your child(ren) that you would like to share in your blog, with a small story/explanation about when and where the photo(s) was/were taken.
3. Add your blog name and url blog, then leave your url post in here. And I'll add you to the Master List.
4. Please help spread this tag by tagging your friends as much as you can.
5. Please come back again to copy the update of the master list, often. This process will help new participants to get the same gains as the first participants.

Masterlist:

1.) Juliana's Site 2.) Moms.....Check Nyo 3.) Pinay WAHM 4.) Residual Matters 5.) So Cute 6. Pinay Mama's Diary 7.) Beauty of Life 8.) Portia Speaks 9.) Capturing the Moments 10.) Your Spot

Now, i am tagging my blogging pals Lynn-Chic , Aidisan and Mylou. I really want to see your bonding moments with your child/ren captured in photos.

Baby Cam at 10 Months Old

Baby Cam is 10 months old today and he weighs probably 10 kilos. At 10 months, he is an official crawler, an official grabber of things, an official eater of solid foods, and he can stand with the use of support. He can mumble little bit, but that's just it. He can giggle really loud and will give you the smile that you really need at the end of a tiring day.

Babies are different with each other. I will not rush my little baby to grow up that fast! I will not rush him to read or write! I heard some gifted babies who can read or write at a very early age,but oh, dear, aren't they babies???? Good for them! Do we have to let them grow up soooo fast? As for myself, i want my kids to have really normal childhood. I cannot imagine my kids singing and having a concert at 9 or 10 years old like Michael Jackson, or acting job at 2 or 3 years old. I love my kids to be kids --- to make mess, to play around, to throw things, etc... etc...

Here is my 10 month old baby... He is just doing some hopping around, standing around, and flexing around! Better took picture of his baby-gro... It will be the last day today he will wear it. He's really grown up most of his baby clothes! It is amazing how they grow up sooo fast! Before i know it, they'll be taller than me... But before that happens, i'll gonna spoil them to bits first and give them all my loving, hugs and kisses!

HAPPY 10 MONTHS OLD, BABY CAMERON JOHN!

STD Testing Made Easy

All professsions in the world need STD testing. I know it sounded so abrupt but honestly, before me and my husband saw each other we made a deal to undergo sexually transmitted diseases testing. Of course, we believe in a monogamous relationship and there is really nothing to be afraid of, but i am always a woman who "just wanna make sure!" But how about those people who are afraid to take the test? But we know already that even though everybody knows the risks posed by STDs, it is not unusual for people to engage new sex partners without getting tested. Why? Because STD testing has been embarrassing, time-consuming, and unreliable. Check this
STD testing website that offers a private and confidential service.

MY DISCLOSURE POLICY

Hotel's Weirdest Lost Item

Okay first of all, i am a forgetful person. I would accept that wholeheartedly. Many, many times, i forgot something in the hotel room. I will only realized after sometime when i reached my destination or when we left the hotel after sometime, and yup, there's just no turning back. My husband will always tell me every now and then whenever we'll be checking out, "had you checked and rechecked if you left something?" I said, yes... hehehe... But i will share to you how i remembered leaving many things...

1. When we were in Brunei i left all of my Neutrogena products in one package --- lotion, shampoo, conditioner. I never bothered. What will i do? Although they were new and with full content, but it is just impractical and time-consuming to get them back. Lucky those who kept it!

2. When we were in Kuala Lumpur, i left my Victoria Secret perfume and lotion, still new i bought from KLCC. We called the hotel, they said they don't have it. Am sure i left it! (Location, Crowne Plaza -Mutiara Hotel-KL)

3. I left dress, swimming attire (Sheraton Hotel - Labuan)... but they gave it back to me!

4. The weirdest thing that i left that i really wanted to get back???? My underwear! We were in Cape Breton Island and we booked on the Keltic Lodge. We checked out, and an hour after we left the hotel, i remembered i left my Triumph new under wear!!!! I told Scott who was driving as we were heading back to Nova Scotia. He said, "what we can do? Call the hotel and tell them to mail the underwear?"hehehehehe. Of course, we did not do anything. There was no turning back. But i just miss those underwear. They were pretty!



Okay i may had left these things and any other minor, minor things, but not this one: a 4 year old boy! Can you believe that? No matter how tired i am or how stressed i am in traveling, my kids will always be my greatest and most precious cargoes.

Here is a story in Edinburgh, Scotland last January 3, 2008--- The boy was left at the Travelodge in Edinburgh in the midst of chaos caused by his parents' rush to attend a family party, the (Glasgow) Daily Record reported. They did collect him quickly but he is still counted as the strangest item of lost property in the hotel. Other Travelodge locations also reported their most bizarre lost items . One Scottish location reported a suitcase full of wigs and glasses was left behind by a guest while other European locations reported an urn of ashes and a living Persian cat, the Daily Record reported.

Oh well, i don't know what will i do if i will leave my kids. I will gonna be soooo panicky! I don't mind leaving a suitcase full of underwears!!!

What We Should Know About SugarCRM

I heard about Corratech before. It delivers integrated, scalable, enterprise-class open source software to organizations of all sizes. But what about SugarCRM? It is a product that is installed,maintained and managed by Corratech, which is an open-source software consultant. It offers offers different features sets in each of their three editions, Sugar Community Edition, Sugar Professional and Sugar Enterprise. These editions differ in features and functionality, as well as in license and cost. For more information, visit the website now!

Daddy's Corner

Today i wanna brag and blog about my husband. I know he is a very busy guy but at home he is a very simple, very cool daddy. I chose four photos of him and our kids which definitely brings out the affectionate daddy on him. He's a great disciplinarian to his kids. He's a very calm person who can definitely made me "shut-up" when all the others cannot. A great provider and a person who has lots of love to give. I thank God for giving me a lifetime partner who definitely complements me. He completes me. And our adorable kids complete us as a family. To my soulmate, you're my SUPERHERO! Thank you so much, my Sweetie Pie! You're definitely amazing!






I wanna thank my constant blogging buddies Juliana and Sheng for this tag.

{Start Copy Here}
Started by Michteryosa

Rules:

1) Copy from {Start Copy Here} to {End Copy Here}.
2) Blog 'Brag' about your husband - yes, the father of your child/ren. As I’ve said singles may also join by bragging about their own fathers, or even grandfathers. It doesn’t matter! Of course, Daddy bloggers themselves may also join, but you have to blog about your fathers and not about yourselves, deal? Okay. Good.
3) Add your blog in the master list below linking to the post that you just made. Or if you wish, do it as how I’ve done it in my other blog by adding a new page.
4.)Leave your comment here and don't forget to leave your link so you can be added on the masterlist. Yup. Here.Thanks.
5.) Let's not forget Peppermint Creative
for the corner border I used for the badge.

Masterlist
1. When Silence Speaks
2. Everything About Deye
3. Etc Atbp
4. Pinay Mommy Online
5. Coffee Cup Princess
6. Everything That Has Breathe Praise The Lord
7. A Mother of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
8. PinayMama's Diary
9. Kate Ashley
10. Top Form Secrets
11. Marilyn
12. Anything and Everything in Between
13. Can of Thoughts
14. No Place Like Home
15. Pinay WAHM
16. Sheng's Simple Thoughts
17. Portia Speaks
18. Capturing The Moments
19. Your Site

{End Copy Here}

Now, i am passing this tag to my blogging pals Amor, Lynn, and Tricia.

Manic Monday

Woke up at 6 am today, had a shower.Just right after my shower, my baby boy cried and he's wanting a feed. So, i gave him his milk. Prisco was still sleeping. He slept past 10 lastnight. I got dressed up and before i knew it, Baby Cam was already in my knees. Got to pick him up, brought him downstairs and prepared his breakfast. 7:30 am already and Prisco was going down. He wanted his breakfast. So, while Baby Cam was having a little bite, i went to the freezer and took Prisco's fishfingers out. Yup,fishfingers for breakfast. Preheat the oven and while doing it feeding Baby Cam. Later, time was right to put the fishfingers and waiting for 14minutes until it will be done. So, around that time, got to feed Baby Cam while cuddling Prisco. Timer stroke, fishfingers were now done and i got to serve to Prisco. After Baby Cam was done his breakfast and Prisco taking his, i had my breaky as well. Mine was a Cabdury dark light chocolate drink with croissants--- 4 pieces. (I know it was not very healthy but those were available this morning and i love it!). Before we knew it, the time was already 8:20 and got to prepare my son to school. Not only that, i also got to prepare Baby Cam also because he will meet his playgroup today at public hall also. Around 9am, we're rushing to leave the house and just got ontime for Prisco's school. So, i dropped him and oh, well, took a deep breath upon my way to the public hall which is 5 minutes from Prisco's school. And yup, spent 2 hours in the playgroup. Baby Cam played while i had chitchat with other moms and dads that were there. 11:15 strikes and got to rush again putting Baby Cam on his buggie and fetch Prisco from the Nursery. Picked him just ontime and at 11:45 we were already home. Upon arrival, i fed Baby Cam, Prisco ate his left-over fishfingers while i am cooking my lunch(mung beans with spinach). Hubby called around 12:30, just the right timing for lunch.hehehe. So, anyway, talked to him and told him everything this morning.
Now,it is 2 in the afternon, and i am still thinking --- there are some dishes in the sink, dirty clothes to be loaded in the washing machine, clean clothes to be ironed and arranged, dirty floors to be vacuumed, bed to be made, toilets to be cleaned, trash to be segregated and thrown on the bin, appointments to be made for Baby Cam for his health visitor and Prisco for his dentist, Enrollment/Registration for Prisco for Primary 1 this August, arranging some things, etc.. etc...

Thinking about these things made me sooo manic and panicky....What will i do first? Oh well, Prisco now is watching television, i am typing this entry and Baby Cam is on my toes...I think he needs to be changed now and probably i will put him to sleep...Hopefully, when he'll have a nap,i can do some blog hopping....

For the meantime, i am just humming this Bangles' / Madonna's Manic Monday song. I can't let it out in my head because i am having a manic monday today.....

Six o' clock already, I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late cause then I guess I just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday
Cause that's my fun day, *I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday

Have to catch an early train, got to be to work by nine
And if I had an aeroplane, I still couldn't make it on time
Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train, but the boss is already there

It's just another manic Monday, wish it was Sunday
Cause that's my fun day, *I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday

Out of my nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night to get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast when you're having fun

It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday
Cause that's my fun day, *I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday

One Million Pounds Wedding

I was astounded when i heared about this lavish wedding of a Scottish millionaire golfer Colin Montgomerie and furniture heiress Gaynor Knowles. The wedding venue was held last April 19 at the captivating Loch Lomond Golf Club here in Scotland. That wedding was a smashing 83 Million pesos or 2,075,000 US dollars! Both are millionaires on the making. Montgomerie's fortune is worth 25 million pounds while Gaynor, who is really extremely wealthy on her own right owns a £2 million Perthshire home, a villa in Majorca, a £1 million collection of classic cars and a £20 million fortune.

Montgomerie admitted that he wrecked his 14 year-marriage to childhood sweetheart, Eimiar due to his obssession to golf. Monty was captivated when he first met Gaynor in 2006 and his brief dalliances with a string of beauties, including Spanish model Ines Sastre and ex-Miss England Dr Helen Westlake, came to an abrupt halt. Indeed his golfing ambitions seem to have also waned as his ardour for Gaynor has grown.

Let us wish goodluck to this marriage considering the idea that Gaynor has not that slightest interest in the golf game. She wants Montgomerie to spend more time with family and with her. Let us see what will happen....

I was laughing when i learned that On the very morning of his wedding to Gaynor Knowles, the widow of a furniture tycoon, Montgomerie played a round with many of his 340 guests at the prestigious Loch Lomond golf course in Scotland. hehehehe. Funny! For more of the story, click here.

Month of May Awards

I wanna thank my blogging friends Shiela for the World's Greatest Mom Award and new blogging pals Vannie and Jenn for the Arte y Pico Award. You had made my month of May a motherly exciting month!




The month of May this year had been another memorable month for me. I am now blogging for three months and meet exciting, new people. I am now in my 6th week here in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and i had been making fantastic progress, socially. Yes, i recently joined in Moms' and Kids' Group in our Kintore Public Hall where we meet every Monday and Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. So, i am meeting new people in the real world as well. I met a Nigerian lady named Tamy who lived in the next road from us. I met a Scottish lady also whom i first befriended in the moms' and kids' session and she lived in same village as well. Her name is Caroline. Finally, i met our neighbor next door in the public hall today and her name is Kerry. So, here i am finally really settled in our friendly neighborhood. One thing that i am really looking forward this month is for our stuffs from the Philippines to arrive. How i wish it will arrive soon as it is already 9 weeks since it was being packed by the movers. I don't understand why it took so long. Supposedly at this time, it should be here already. Oh, well, i just wish it will arrive soon this month of May.

One more thing, before i will close this post, i want to greet Happy Birthday to my husband's Step Dad, Popsy Robbie last May 21. We wish you all the best. We love you very much.

To all my blogging friends, especially, the mommies out there, i will share to you the above awards as well. May the coming June will bring us lovely, lovely sunshine. They always say, the moon in June is a big balloon...hehehehe... we will see that in June. Have a great time, everyone!

Friendship Tag : Blood Type

Got this interesting tag from my constant "taggers" Mylou and cousin Lynn. Thank you, girls!

According to a Japanese institute that does research on blood types, there are certain personality traits that seem to match up with certain blood types.

TYPE O
You want to be a leader, and when you see something you want, you keep striving until you achieve your goal. You are a trend-setter, loyal, passionate, and self-confident. Your weaknesses include vanity and jealousy and a tendency to be too competitive.

TYPE A

You like harmony, peace and organization. You work well with others, and are sensitive, patient and affectionate. Among your weaknesses are stubbornness and an inability to relax.

TYPE B

You're a rugged individualist, who's straightforward and likes to do things your own way. Creative and flexible, you adapt easily to any situation. But your insistence on being independent can sometimes go too far and become a weakness.

TYPE AB

Cool and controlled, you're generally well liked and always put people at ease. You're a natural entertainer who's tactful and fair. But you're standoffish, blunt, and have difficulty making decisions.

How do i rate mine?

My blood type is "O" and some of the traits associated with my blood type are actually true. I am smiling at my weaknesses. hehehe. Vanity? Jealousy? Let me think about them. And the tendency to be competitive? I would agree more on Vanity! hehehehehe!!!!!

I wanna tag my blogging pals Shiela, Virgie , and Vannie.

Boys' Group Hug

I really love this photo of my three very precious boys hugging each other. Aren't they so sweet??? Guess what is baby Cam's most favorite toy? It is obvious: his dad's eyeglasses. He always take a hold of that one whenever he is near his dad. My two boys are missing their dad for so many days now. But we got to talk to him on the phone everyday and Prisco is always reporting to him what we are doing each day. Also, i am reporting to his dad his naughtiness. Yup, he can be very naughty and sometimes it is driving me nuts. But no matter how naughty he is, he is always my precious, precious, sweet prince. These three boys always determine my mood. i love them so much!

Leading Advocate of Open Solutions Alliance

Ladies and gentlemen, let us know this man who is a leading executive in the open source software industry. He is none other than Ronald Bongo . He is very famous guy in his own field. Presently, he is the CEO of Corra Technology, known in the industry as CorraTech. Ron Bongo brings two decades of diverse experience, to his position at CorraTech, during that time, he honed his expertise in technology, management consulting and finance. He manages CorraTech's corporate strategy, directs its management team and builds key business and strategic relationships for the company.

My 100th Post!

Wow, this is my 100th entry! I am thinking of writing a special post but really i cannot think of anything. What i can randomly think now is the number 100. I am just thinking if me and my husband would reach that age? What will happen to the world 100 years from now? What will happen 100 months from now? What will happen 100 hours from now? What will happen 100 minutes from now? What will happen 100 seconds from now?... No one would ever know.

The many calamities that happened --- the one in China, in Myanmar, or any other strange and horrible events that happened in different areas of the world --- are these events been forecasted? No one would ever know.

This is the essence of my blog - Capturing the Moments. I took photos whenever i got the chance. Tomorrow, all of us will gonna grow old and what would remain will be image of the past. Today is what really matters.

Today, as i am making this 100th post, me and my two boys are away from our families and we are missing them. My husband is away working hard to support us. Our one family is in the Philippines and our other family is in Canada. We both miss them so much. I feel nostalgic now making this post. How i wish they are here? How i wish we are there? But this is the expatriate life and this is the disadvantage --- being away from our dearest relatives.

For my 100th post, i wanna put this popular saying that me and my husband really love. This is really our favorite. Whether we will reach a 100 year old or not, it really doesn't matter as long as we are Capturing The Moments knowing that the memories of these moments will gonna last forever.

Dirty Rice, Anyone?

The best thing about buffet meal is you can find many assortment of dishes. For an adventurous eater, this is a real advantage. The disadvantage will be when you could not find anything that you like. In buffet, whatever is there, that's it. For a picky eater, it might be difficult!

Like for this dish called Dirty Rice Salad. I asked the chef, "are you sure i can eat this? This is dirty!" Of course, i am just joking! For a picky eater like my husband, this "dirty rice" is a big no no. He is not an adventurous eater. For me, i tried the other dishes first and might try this one if there is still some room on my belly.



I really needed to know why it is called dirty rice. Good thing Wikipedia is very helpful. It is said that Dirty rice is a traditional Cajun dish made from white rice cooked with small pieces of chicken liver or giblets, which give it a dark ("dirty") color. The cooked livers tend to be dry, but carry a very mild flavor. Similar to a pilaf, it also includes green bell pepper, celery and onion (the "holy trinity"). Parsley and/or chopped green onions are common garnishes. Dirty rice is most common in the Cajun regions of southern Louisiana and Mississippi; however, it can also be found in other areas of the American south. Of course, it is here is Scotland also.

According to WiseGeek"from its inception, dirty rice was a good way to make the most out of killing a chicken — or buying livers and gizzards cheap — feeding a family and doing it for pennies, all in the bargain. Rice was inexpensive and the chicken liver and gizzard, along with the “Holy Trinity” of Cajun cooking — onion, bell pepper and celery — extended the meal. Dirty rice, then, was often eaten as a main dish. Dirty rice gets its name from the color the liver and broth imparted to the white rice.In these more health-conscious days, liver and gizzards are not used as often. Instead, small amounts of ground pork or beef are used, but the trinity and spices remain the same. Some cooks also throw in a little bacon grease for extra flavoring. The meat is first browned, and then the vegetables, including fresh garlic and green onions are browned together until the onions are clear. All is drained and then the rice and spices such as salt, pepper, cayenne, pepper sauce and paprika go into the pot. The cook adds water, brings it to a boil, adds the vegetables and meat back into the saucepan, covers it, turns the heat to low and waits for the rice to cook. Beef broth or any other available broth may be substituted in place of part, or all, of the water. When the rice has cooked, it stands, covered, away from the heat for five to 10 minutes before serving. Dirty rice can be served with a salad as a main dish, depending on the amount of meat, or to accompany jambalaya or gumbo. Dirty rice is easy to make and a cook can alter the recipe to suit his or her tastes, and the family’s tastes. That, after all, is a Cajun tradition."

Another interesting rice recipe i found is called Jambalaya rice. Just like dirty rice, Jambalaya is a traditional delicious Louisiana Cajun or Creole dish. The main ingredients of Jambalaya includes meats, vegetables, seafoods and rice. These ingredients are prepared together in one pot adding one after another. Here's what it looks like...




What reminds me of Jambalaya Rice is the 1952 country song called Jambalaya(On the Bayou) by Hank Williams. On 1973, Carpenters made another cover version of the song. It is a very popular song and i can even memorize it! Of course, the song is named after this Creole and Cajun dish.

Good-bye, Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou.
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

(Chorus)
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

(Chorus)
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

Settle down far from town, get me a pirogue
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
Swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

(Chorus)Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.

I think i had tried the little of this Jambalaya Rice(probably because i love that country song!). As for the Dirty Rice salad, i got no more room for it! As for my picky husband, nope, he didn't even look at them!

I Signed Up for Social Spark!

I can't believe i have goodluck today! My blog in SocialSpark,a social Marketing Network that connects advertisers and bloggers through an online advertising marketplace was approved! I was delighted! Now, i would not keep on chasing and fishing some opportunities in many other sites. It was so time-consuming and not practical at all! But since i am approved in SocialSpark, this means more opportunities for me to grab, and means, more bucks would go to my savings!

But what is this new social marketing network? How does it work? This is how it works fundamentally, Advertisers are able to target blogs based on conversational topics and make cash sponsorship offers to the bloggers who publish them. Bloggers can make money by either placing display advertisements on their blog or by writing sponsored content. The sponsorships offered through the SocialSpark marketplace allow advertisers to build buzz, generate traffic and maximize social media exposure.

This would mean advertisers and bloggers are on the equal playing field. For the bloggers like me, the advantages would be : 1.) Standing out in the crowd - we create profiles and tag ourselves so advertisers can find and engage us. 2.)Shake Your Money Maker - we get paid to write sponsored blog content on a per post basis, or have advertisers pay per day to sponsor your blog. 3.) Engage the masses - promote ourselves, our blogs and the individual pieces of contents we create. And 4.) Create a Universe - make new friends, discover new blogs and interact with other users. If you are an advertisers, you can : 1.) Handpick Your Bloggers - create a profile and tag yourself so bloggers can find and engage you. 2.) Establish your Army - Create Street Teams of online advocates that can be activated at any time. 3.)
Sponsor Blogs - Have bloggers create sponsored blog posts or run display advertising about your company. and 4.) Assess Your Success - Track your social media spend unlike ever before.

This is really great news for both bloggers and advertisers. So, signed up now. I f you are a blogger, keep on trying to be approved and don't lose hope if you'll not be approved right away. I had been submitting and resubmitting my blog, until they got tired and finally approved my blog! hehehehe! So, guys, try SocialSpark. I am so sure we will gonna like it and be hooked to it!

The Red Rose

A rose is a flowering shrub of the genus Rosa. It’s the classic expression of love because a rose flower pours forth your innermost feelings to your beloved in the most beautiful way. So give a rose to your loved ones and friends and make anyone’s heart bloom with joy!

My lovely cousin Lynn gave me this lovely red rose. I am flattered and it made my day!!! Thanks, my sweet cuz and super supportive blogging buddy.

I am giving this rose to my newly-found blogging buddies namely:
Jenn, Mikaella, Kiscy. Nice meeting you online, girls and may we have good blogging friendship all through the years! Cheers!

Impact of Marrying Foreigners:A Personal Experience

Whenever i am blog hopping,80% of the blogs i will be spotting will be by a Filipina married to a foreigner. WOW!!! I have this great feeling of excitement that ,"hey there are sooo many of us!" There will be more and more since the impact of internet on interracial marriages is sooo dramatic, widespread and powerful.

When i was a little girl whenever i heared a Filipina married to a foreigner(Australian,European,North American,etc...) i got sooo excited. My mom originally is from Negros Oriental and my dad from the Cebu Province. Whenever we went to these places --- Cebu, Dumaguete, Tanjay, Bais, etc... etc... usually the bigger houses on the community are owned by Filipinas married to foreigners. For example, The La Hacienda Hotel in Tanjay, Negros Oriental is owned by a Filipina married to a British --- a Filipina who once was a very poor girl whose parents can't even afford a small lot now owns a huge hacienda. Whether we accept it or not, that was possible because of her marriage to a British.

Now, let us be honest here : why do we marry foreigners? Okay, of course, LOVE,LOVE,LOVE. What a sweetest thing in the world! But is it just it? I mean, come on, look at our country! Look at that old man in the airport who can hardly even walk who got a 20 year old wife and he's more than 80! Come on, let us be honest!

Of course, there are really lucky ones who married because of true love, but honestly, there are others who married because they saw it as the only way out in a country where extreme poverty is prevalent. Take for example: I'd known a native woman(a B'laan tribe) who can't even speak a word of English and married to an English. Now, okay, you tell me action speaks louder than words, but oh, dear, can you live in a country very much different from yours with a person whom you can't even understand the word he speaks???? Okay, of course, she had survived. Little by little she learnt. And isn't that amazing how strong our coping mechanism is? We need to because there is no real hope for our country! For her, better to marry a foreigner than being a domestic helper (sometimes the working agency will trick you and only get your placement fee!) or being a wife to a Filipino who loves cockfighting and treats his roosters as more valuable than his wife! (Ah, i know, i know, i am just being real here, i knew lots of Filipino husbands who love cockfighting! Asked Manny Paquiao if he loves his fighting cocks more than Jinky? Probably? Ah, Sorry i am out of the topic now!!!!).

There is big impact on marrying a foreigner. Personally, it is a great impact. Okay, i had finished my education and probably would land a good job and probably had married any of my former Filipino boyfriends. But i might not got the chance to go to Paris or any first class travel destinations. Okay, we might got the chance to go but not when we are 27 or 28 0r 30 years old? probably when we will be 50 or 60? or probably not at all? I don't know, i am just only guessing. And i am only speaking in general.

But anyway, I think God had answered my mother's prayer that i will marry a foreigner !(I knew she always looked happy whenever i broke up with my former Flipino boyfriends!). It was a long-time dream of my mom for me to marry a White Guy. I really understand why. The rate of unemployment in the Philippines is too high. With one available job there might be 2000 applicants, and don't apply if you got no back-up!!! And with a population that is surging so high every day, resources are not enough! My mom also knew that by me marrying a foreigner the chances of having a good, comfortable life is higher than being married to a fellow Filipino.(Now, Filipino guys don't get mad at me!!!! I am only telling the truth!). I always believe that MOTHERS KNOW BEST! So, as a good daughter, i heeded my mom's advice. But really, it was the best choice i made in my life!

I still believe this is FATE. I still believe that God has plans to each one of us. My personal experience had been truly amazing and the impact is quite impressive. For more of my personal experience, you can read my Cinderella Story.

Probably the greatest impact i can give in marrying my wonderful, white husband? The mixed kids that we have. The "mestizo" children are the greatest impacts of all! And if you ask me if i married my husband because of LOVE? Big YES. And did i marry him for me to have a good, secured future? BIG, BIG YES! But most of all, because of love!

Pair's Paintball

This is definitely our first paintball experience. We both love it. I don't think we'll gonna be into it since we have kids with us. I am not really good at it but i tried though. My husband is really very good. I would love to see a challenging paintball. I am very sure it is a delight to watch. For the meantime, just watch these photos that we had ...




I know that this is pretty elementary to play paintball, but we enjoyed it!

Friendship Tag:To Do Things

My blogging friend Mylou tagged me about my To-Do-List. Honestly, my friends, i got many things to do, some of these are kinda routine and if i have to put it here one by one the list would be endless. So, i will concentrate on the most important ones:

1. Organize...organize...organize...
2. Gather the many receipts and sort them out.(We need this to be submitted to my hubby's company).
3. Blog hop...think of good entries... make reviews/ comments.
4. Chase some opportunities.
5. Answer/read mails
6. Call my old friends here in the UK.
7. Wanting to be prompt with the tagging!(sometimes i am real slow!).
8. Household chores --- endless(laundry,ironing,washing the dishes,vacuuming,recycling/throwing garbage,cooking,etc....etc...)
9. Parenting (feeding,bathing,playing, changing,etc...etc...
10. Time for myself!Time for my husband!
11. Time for others.

Sometimes number 9 comes first or number 10 or number 8. It just depends.
I am passing this tag to my pals Wendy, and Lynn, Portia and Lindsay.

Hiking on Land of the Viking

First of all, i wanna thank my son Prisco for suggesting to me that title. I originally want the title simply as "Land of the Vikings" but then he told me, Hiking and Viking goes well together!". So, i agreed!

I remembered when we went to Canada last December 2006, when my father-in-law fetched us at the Halifax International Airport with long whiskers. I told him, "Hi Dad, you look like a Viking!" And he said, " I am indeed!". And so he told us about this Viking movie in which he is one of the casts. It is James Caviezel that is the main character. I am very proud of my father-in-law to be a part of the movie and the main thing that i am most proud of, this movie is even filmed on his own land. No matter if this movie will be a blockbuster or not, it does not matter that much. What matter to us is the pride that wow, Nova Scotia will be famous again. And we are more proud for the fact that it is filmed in our own backyard. The feeling is just fantastic.

I will show you the photos on the morning hike that we had . My father-in-law was very keen in showing us around. There was no shoot on that day and of course, hiking will not be allowed during shooting. So we went on the right time...



When i am showing Prisco the photos as i am uploading, he thought that the rocks we were carrying are really very heavy. You'll be surprised how light they are as light as plastic cups! Hehehehe! Surely when we will see the real movie, with too much editing and with the addition of lots of cinematic effects, the real beauty of my dad's place will not be the same anymore. So, i am posting these photos exposing the natural, unexploited land of Our Father...



Goodluck to the movie OUTLANDER! Thanks a lot for choosing the village of Nine Mile River as the main shooting spot. The people there are really looking forward and very anxious waiting for this movie including me to come out this year... We will surely buy a DVD of this one as well. You would do the same if you are in our shoes!

Internet Hoax

While waiting for my chatmate in the receiving area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport last 2000, the airport security guard chatted with me and said, "who are you waiting for and what flight?..." I told him i am waiting for my online friend(who definitely is my boyfriend before we even physically met each other. The physical meeting was just a confirmation. I am referring to my husband now). The security guard told me, "are you sure he is coming?" I said of course! But really i was stunned why he asked me that. So i asked him,"why you asked that?" So, he told me there were lots of Filipina girls crying and endlessly waiting in the airport and that nobody arrived! In other words, they had been bluffed and fooled by their so-called chatmates.

I can't understand how those buggers feel that they had fooled somebody. Probably they were feasting and feeling like conquerors that they had fooled Asian ladies? Or had they also been fooled before because some Asian girls also asked them money? I can't really answer. In the internet world, i am very sure there are lots of imaginary things, there are lots of stories being made, and of course,mostly are not true. Things like their chatmates died, etc..etc... Oh well, just really bad.

Here is a case in California wherein a mom was indicted in deadly Myspace hoax. This Missouri woman was indicted Thursday for her alleged role in perpetrating a hoax on the online social network MySpace against a 13-year-old neighbor who committed suicide. Lori Drew, of suburban St. Louis, allegedly helped create a MySpace account in the name of someone who didn't exist to convince Megan Meier she was chatting with a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans. She was charged with conspiracy and fraudulently gaining access to someone else's computer.Megan hanged herself at home in October 2006, allegedly after receiving a dozen or more cruel messages, including one stating the world would be better off without her.

Salvador Hernandez, assistant agent in charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, called the case heart-rending."The Internet is a world unto itself. People must know how far they can go before they must stop. They exploited a young girl's weaknesses," Hernandez said. "Whether the defendant could have foreseen the results, she's responsible for her actions." Read full story here.


I can only agree what Hernandez had said.

Officially Three

You got it right, i had been officially blogging for 3 months now! Made some few paid posts which i considered as fillings (just like a sandwich!). Not too bad actually to earn a little bit. I still got no Page rank(PR)and still envious to some who have! But i am soo happy for them, especially for those gracious ones who still added me even if i still hadn't got a rank. But who knows? Someday?... And to those who are selfish enough to add the others who got no PRs? You will gonna lose yours one day! hehehehe. How wicked of me!!!!

The truth is: i am enjoying blogging. In a quiet place like Aberdeenshire where i hadn't even known even one neighbor for 5 weeks that i am here, blogging is a great outlet, or outbursts, whatever! I made really few great, interesting pals in blogging. These people are very special people who i might never got the chance to meet in the real world... but thanks to blogging and thanks that i am doing blog hopping!!!!

Somehow i hadn't still graduated from being a neophyte. There are just too many things to learn and everyday i am just bombarded with the avalanche of information and somehow i can't manage to understand some of them! Each day there is new style, new trend, new code, new widget, etc.. .etc...Hence, for an old-fashioned person like me who is not really technologically savvy, somehow, i am culturally shock! There are just too many things to do here that are deemed unimaginable!

By the way, before i will end this post i wanna thank my Scottish friend, Jennifer Giles for visiting me,uhmmm, 3 weeks ago at our house. She was my first house guest. I was delighted to have her even just for few hours. Jennifer was our closest neighbor in Kemaman, Terengganu,Malaysia and how small is the world, we see each other again here in Scotland!

She brought me some lovely,lovely tulips... and i love tulips... I even wanted to go to Netherlands, the so-called land of the tulips to see and have photos with thousands of blooming, gregarious, well-manicured tulips and to see lots of windmills and other amazing things.

Here are some photos of me and lovely flowers and my beautiful friend Jennifer with the kids--- BabyCam, Prisco and Gaby (Jennifer and Kevin's daughter. Gezzz, look at her, she was still a baby when i saw her in Malaysia. Wow! Now, she's so independent and very active really!)...

Hog Roast and Other Scottish Produce

This is the Scottish Hog Roast--- hot, crispy and succulent, much like a "lechon baboy" in our Philippine setting. The difference? We did ours in a very traditional way, in an open air with two people keep on tossing and tossing the big pig over the burning charcoal and another main difference? We didn't cut the head! In Scottish manner, not cutting the head looks unethical. And for them tossing and tossing is too much of a hassle and unpractical, a machine is better like that one in the photo! hehehehe! Oh well, culture is relative...
And other food? Barbequed Langoustine, Crawfish Chowder and Chunky Breads, Aberdeenshire Ribeye Steak and Sweet and Smokey Baby Back Ribs to name a few, plus various treats as well as refreshments, all made from local produce. Not to mention the all day wine and spirits. Me and my husband are not really fond of alcohol, we love wine , but that's not always!!!
I had been contented with Crawfish Chowder( something similar to Tomyam soup although the Thai's tomyam soup is stronger and spicy!) and some Jambalaya rice. My husband and Prisco devoured some steaks while Baby Cam was contented with sandwiches and bit some chunky breads.

For the desserts(icecream, cakes, tarts, pies), i will show you some. I really don't know how to call the others although i comforted myself with these! hehehehe....




I could not post all food photos here as i even failed to take all pics of all the foods! It had just been too much and there were lots of food stalls that we didn't even got the chance to go at all. Oh well, we had fun and the food was only secondary. For the meantime, i am really missing my seafood tomyam and other delicious Thai delicacies!!!! We definitely should go to a Thai restaurant here once my hubby will come back!!!!

DigiScrap From a Friend

I wanna thank my blogging friend Jana for exerting effort in making this beautiful digiscrap. I was stunned and surprised. I can't believe somebody would do that for me! Ah, she was sneaky as i don't know she'd been viewing my friendster photos and got this one and turned it into a beautiful digiframe! fantastic job!!!! Thanks a lot, sweet friend and goodluck to all your endeavors!!!

We Don't Wanna Miss The Crawfish Carnival

My husband was away again. He went around 5 this morning (sigh). Oh, well, what can we do? We need means to live and if that would mean few weeks that he's away, that is okay. I had been so used to his offshore jobs. If you had seen Ben Affleck on the movie Armageddon, the job is seem like it, but right now he is more like Bruce Willis as he had been training new engineers for sometime now( although his face is more that of Ben Affleck!hehehehehe! Ah, how i wish i can be as tall and pretty as Liv Tyler! But since i can't be, definitely it's okay and had accepted that this is me).

Oh,well, speaking about Armageddon and the beautiful soundtrack by Aerosmith on that blockbuster movie, whenever my husband is onshore, we need to see to it that we don't miss great, quality, family time together. Hence, last Mom's Day, together with the Castle Walk, was another surprise --- A Castle Extravaganza or more particularly, The Crawfish Carnival that is just right within the grounds of the Castle itself. This Carnival is exclusive for my husband's company employees and their families. There were just many things to do and see and Prisco had so much fun. Some of the oldtime favorites for everyone to enjoy were Archery, Quads, Bucking Bronco, Climbing Wall, Paintball and Trampolines plus new activities; Golf Simulator, Adrenaline Maze and craft making in a traditional Native American Tipi. There was also "Show Time" in which a professional drama group worked with the children. There were lots of singing, dancing and acting. We were just content watching them! Prisco was more interested with slides and trampolines. He must had went a hundred times! And what about the food? Oh, it was too much and just all buffet style. I better make an exclusive entry of the food.

For the meantime,here are some of the fun photos....

Real Property Maintenance

Do you wonder how much it cost to maintain a very big property? I mean, you pay real estate taxes annually, the electricity and gas bills ( or air conditioner if it's in warm countries), the ground maintenance (cutting of the grass, maintaining the gardens, etc... etc...). No wonder very rich people in the Philippines who have vast tracts of land and big, palatial mansions can have more than 40 servants (it is a lot but it is true,i.e. the Madrigals, etc..). Really, money is nothing for them and to have 40 or 50 servants are nothing for they made a really vast income unimaginable!

When i took a look at castles, like this one recently --- the Castle Fraser in Inverurie, Scotland,(you know how silly i think sometimes) i am thinking how many servants had they got before? How many gardeners maintaining the over 300 hectares of farmland and open woodland, including a walled garden and two forest trails. And the castle itself, realizing that there is no elevator or lift to bring the servants to and fro the high stairs, it is a tough job(but i am sure it was enjoyable. No wonder the governess of the castle was really so thin in her photograph!).

But anyway, take a look at the huge estate. I just love the big, big, green lawn and the tall, multicolored trees that abound the area. The place is really a great scenery. Castle Fraser has recently been used as a backdrop for some of the scenes shot in the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award winning film "The Queen", starring Helen Mirren.

I took these photos at the very top of the tower. What a very breathtaking view out there. I can still feel my "conquering spirit" after the climb!

A Baronial Castle: Its Legend

Recently, i had been reading about this grand castle. I found out that there is a legend and it is somehow scary. How i wish they allowed us to take photos inside the castle, but sadly, nope, not allowed. I only got this one dining room photo online, but really no other photos of the room available. There is this Green Room, Pink Room, Red Room, etc, etc,...
Anyway, the legend goes this way...
Legend has it that a young princess was once staying at the castle when she was brutually murdered while asleep in the 'Green Room'. Her body was dragged down the stone stairs, leaving a trail of blood stains. As hard as they tried, the occupants of the castle could not scrub out the stains, and so were forced to cover the steps in wood panelling, which remains today. It is said she still stalks the halls of the castle during the night. Numerous sightings were reported by former Property Manager, Eric Wilkinson, and piano music was said to be frequently heard in the empty castle by its former owner, Lavinia Smiley.
I probably would not go to this castle on the night! hehehehe!

Mom's Day Castle Walk

My husband knows exactly my weakness --- that i love walking along scenic routes! So, he brought me to a lovely, lush, green, charming Castle Fraser this Mom's Day. Ah, my boots that are made for walking is perfect for this day of walking.hehehehe!

This grand Renaissance castle , the foundations of which date back from the 1300's is the largest and most elaborate of the Scottish castles. It is not very far from where we live, probably 20 minutes drive. Wow, such a fairylike view!


Our family picture with the castle at the background. We'll be climbing out there, right to the very top! We had been to few castles before so i expect there will be lots of stairs and secret passageways. But this will be Baby Cam's first castle adventure. It might not be sooo exciting for him, but for Prisco, it is...










This is the little knight in a shining armor! hehehehe! Prisco is very excited to wear his battle paraphernalia, ah, just in case there'll be a medieval battle!hehehehe! But since there will be not, he'll just pretend there will be....hehehehe!









These are our preliminary photos. The next entry i will show the greenery around the castle. Isn't it that life sometimes is a fairytale? Ah, i believe it is so, especially in moments like these.

Sneaky Surprise

We are having our breakfast, me and my buddies -- Prisco and Cameron(Baby Cam is feeling so much better)when suddenly, out of nowhere a figure came out --- my HUSBAND!!!!! Right in the middle of our kitchen door!!!! He is so sneaky i hadn't even hear any sound at all!!!!!! What a lovely suprise and the best gift for Mother's Day.

My husband loves to suprise me and he loves the surprise expressions on my face. He's a very spontaneous person, just like me and the fact is : we just don't realize when that spontaneity will occur. Ah, he is just sooo sneaky. Who would ever expect??? He had been offshore for over a week and that chopper schedule is just not guaranteed, plus, there are lots of priority passengers before him...Ah, i don't know what he did just to come back home just perfectly....

He is not usually with me on Mother's Day. His presence on this year's Mother's Day is a great gift. The past years that he was not with me, he'll do many suprising acts, like this one.... There'll be knock on our door and when i opened there'll be entourage of flowers....I can only cry and i will asked the guy who'll deliver, "Are you sure these flowers are for me???? And yes,it was for me as i will sign the delivery receipt and it was my name writen on it!...Or, if we are together on some Mother's Day, he'll ask me, "when do you usually go when i am not around"? On that time, he heared from my sister that i usually go to this jewelry shop. So, i said, i do some window shopping on this shop. And then, he'll say, "okay, show me!" So, off we went and then he'll do chichat to some salesgirls and then, one salegirl will say to him, "yes, sir, she told me she likes this one!" And then, he'll say, "i'll get this for her!!!!"....Then, here i am saying, "oh,no dear, we don't need this one... i just love the design, etc..etc.... Anyway, he'll get it for me! All i can do is give him a very big hug and he don't want that i'll say thank you....He wants me to say "I love you!".... That's my husband!

But this Mother's Day, he'll have a great family surprise to us.... He said i can have a goodnight sleep as he'll be the one taking care of the baby...Uhmmm, that's more than enough...But he said, we'll gotta get ready soon as we are going to see a Castle....

That's where we are heading for this Mother's Day....and anyway, here's the sweetness photo again before the castle extravaganza...

Thanks to Mom's Day Friendship Tags

I got this friendship tag from my friend C.A aka t'que. I highly appreciated your efforts of including me in your tag. There are few mother's day friendship tags that i really wanna do but time will not allow me to do it. I want to let you know, my friends that i greatly acknowledged your efforts on putting my link in your tags. If i didn't do your tags, it doesn't mean that i am not interested to do your tags, it's just that there are so many tags being lined up and the theme of those tags are just the same.
Hence, i wanna thank the following for including me in their tags for Mother's Day:
1. Lynn
2. Juliana
3. Kerslyn
4. Marites
5. Earth
6. Portia
7. Aidisan

As for the other tags that are still pending, i'll be doing them in the future...I'll gonna make time for them. Again, thank you,my beloved friends!

May Malady for my Baby

We know that one of mom's maladies is when our kids got sick. We even hope it's us that are sick and not them...

I got panicked last Friday when i found out that Baby Cam got some red rashes all over his body. I knew he got fever but rashes? This is not right! I noticed these little rashes last Thursday but not a lot. Now, it's very visible even on his faces and on his head!

So i immediately phoned the medical center and they said they'll call me back. What a fantastic quality service they have here in Scotland with regards to many things especially health care. I went down to the kitchen to have a little bite when suddenly the phone rang, it's the doctor. He asked me about Baby Cam and everything. Oh well, i told him the same story that i went to the clinic the other day and baby got fever and now he got red rashes, blah blah blah...! Anyway, the doctor told me my baby got viral infection, a kind that is very common for the kids under 2 years old. So, i asked him if i can go to the medical center right away and if he can take a look on it. He said i can get an appointment around 11:30 am . I called around 9:00 am). I asked him if there is a need for me to bring my baby to the hospital? He said nope. I asked him if he encountered lots of cases like this? He said yes,many times.

So, i calmed down and got something to eat. My poor little fella was crying on the phone while i am talking to the doctor. No matter if it's only a fever, colds, cough, we,moms, normally got worried. We just don't know why our babies have those. And rashes? Oh well, i am pretty sure i am very up to date with regards to my sons' vaccination. I am still thinking where did he get this virus? Since this is airborne, i am just thinking if from the plane?from school? from the shops ... Ah, it doesn't matter...It is very hard to traced and nothing i can do about it!

But anyway, we got the appoinment doctor told me the same thing what we talked on the phone. This viral infection is very common. First there is fever and colds and then after few days rashes will come out. But he assured me, rashes will be gone gradually...I will just have to give my baby, lots of fluids and???Again, babies' bestfriends --- Calpol or paracetamol infant drops!

Lastnight, oh, thank God, Baby Cam's fever diminished. Doctor is right! Rashes are not so visible...and he slept pretty good compensating his lack of sleep and discomforts for the past nights.

Getting sick is a tough business for little fellas. When i see children that are not well, i always feel sad because wouldn't it be nice just to see their happy faces??? But the reality is, they, too got to have lots of health issues to be coped up. Different kids, just like any individual had various coping mechanisms and we,moms are the same. Think of my situation here : i just arrived in a community that i hardly know anyone (okay i know some but they live like 30 minutes drive away and that these people are also busy and it is my attitude not to disturb the privacy of people, except if there is really a need to!), baby got sick, husband is away, my family is away, i am struggling with 2 boys... It is tough, i know, but thank God, i handled it unbelievably well. Being worried is normal, but at the end of the day, worries never help and most of the things we worry are not even within our control. So, well, i gotta stay as cool as i am. I am just thankful now, my baby is sleeping soooo well...I hope he will be completely fine tomorrow... I can only hope and pray.

My Japanese Name

Got this tag from my cousin Lynn and can't wait to find out what's my Japanese name. I hope it is not soooo funny??? We'll find out now....

For the instructions: add your name on the list and simply spell out your name using the given Japanese letter- translations below. Tag six of your friends and inform them of the tag (Please excuse me as i tagged more than 6.hehehehe!). Have fun!

TRANSLATION:
A ---> ka N ---> to
B ---> tu O ---> mo
C ---> mi P ---> no
D ---> te Q ---> ke
E ---> ku R ---> shi
F ---> lu S ---> ari
G ---> ji T ---> chi
H ---> ri U ---> do
I ---> ki V ---> ru
J ---> zu W ---> mei
K ---> me X ---> na
L ---> ta Y ---> fu
M ---> rin Z ---> zi

1. OSWALD - moarimeikatate (sounds like american and states har....har...har...)
2. JUNELLE - zudotokutataku (Thank God I’m a Filipino! sounds like sadako. nyay! hehehe)
3. JACQUELINE - zukamikedokutakitoku (Ayay!! Unsaman ni perti mang taasa..wa ko kasabot nyahahaha)
4. LERMA - takushirinka (I’ll use this name if I’m in Japan!)
5. BREGIE -tushikujikiku (Wah....ang sagwa hehehehe)
6. SHENG - AriRiKuToJi (forget it! LOL!!!)
7. LYNN - TaFuToTo (Hahaha! It sounds like... Are we thinking the same thing? Hahaha!)
8. PRILY- Noshikitafu(hehehehee....ah, not bad! it's probably like saying "are you inlove with me????...hehehehehe!)

I am passing this tag to my friends Jana, Lucille, Mira, Portia, Kate, Amor, Wendy, Bernadeth and Mylou. Have fun doing this tag, girls!

Five Star Blogs

Maintaining one very good quality blog entails lots of passion, lots of workmanship, lots of creativity, lots of perseverance and lots of hardwork. How much more for maintaining four very goood quality blogs?

David got four fabulous blogs that are all must-see by fellow bloggers. I fell inlove with his photographs, the way he made the title for each post, the way how his photographs can be a story on each own, and the way he puts his words. They are just enthralling. I am still amazed how he did those!!!! In simple sense, just very pretty!

Take a look at these blogs....(Ah, how i wish they are mine!)....

1. Virginia Breeze

2. A Photo Link With Love


3. Shoot The Virginia Breeze


4. Newslink Briefs



The pictures alone will take your breath away. I was in awe when i visited these sites. It's like i am brought in a heavenly place. His news blog is just tempting with a tinge of humor and delight. I had really an enjoyable time during my visit! Thanks a lot, David for sharing your treasured photographs to the world. Thanks for sharing your talent to us. Your places in the blogosphere are just fabulous and are all with Five Star Ratings. More power to you! What a very good job!!!!

To you my beloved friends, try to see these blogs yourself. As i said, how i wish, they were mine!!!

Toughness of Teething

For the past days my baby had been having fever and little of diarrhea. I had been panicky but there's no use to it. I went to the doctor two days ago and doc told me that i will just keep giving Baby Cam the legendary Calpol. Oh well, he said everything is fine. Since, Baby cam got colds , fever will likely occur as well. The past nights had just been tough. If the baby got no sleep, so is the mom. Baby Cam is really feeling the discomforts of teething. I know that the feeling of pain in teething usually comes and goes but really this time his pain is tremendous. All i can do is the thought that this pain will soon be done...
Right now he is having a nap but i also know that soon he'll wake up and cry again. He's also being fussy now and refuse food. Oh,dear,dear, i hope his teeth malady will soon be over. Oh, well, my baby, be strong... Ah, i am still worried actually. This teething business is not easy!!!

First Swingperience

We are always proud of our kids' milestones because we feel that we are sole part of it. Their milestones are our milestones and each first experience is always a thrill to us.

A day in the Strathburn park of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire last April 27 is the official day Baby Cam had his first swing experience. At first, he cried, you can see the little tears on his solo pic...but then with that tears accompanied the smiles, being so thrilled with the new and exciting thing.

Here's the little fella...


Mommy is putting baby Cam in her lap after that first swing trial. You can see on his face that he is still eyeing the swing...


So definitely he,ll go back to the swing again and Daddy is with him...


It was a nice day and a nice experience for a nine month old baby!

Article Writers Wanted!

Here is the good news : Get Paid For Writing.

Encyclocentral is currently seeking article writers. Requirements for submission are as follows:

1. All articles must be original work. Submission of any article content with even any content plagiarized will result in that author being banned from this program and full payment withheld. This is a zero tolerance policy, no warning will be given.

2. We will provide you with common "key phrases", but you need to developed those phrases into titles. All articles must have a clear and descriptive title. The title should contain a minimum of 5 words, preferably more. The first letter of each word in the title should be should be capitalized. Only letters A-Z should be used in the title, no other characters.

3. All article content (including title) should be spell checked according to the English language. This includes a grammar check. Basically stated, you are posting into a live database, your submission will most likely be reviewed by us after it has posted live onto the site. (the site is cached, it may take 24 hours or more for your article to post live) Any mistakes that you make will be permanent. Therefore, it is very important that you post correctly. Use of foreign characters such as "á or è" is not allowed. All articles should be 350-500 words. Proper use of paragraphs is required. All articles should end with a link to an informative site on the topic, such as to the topic article on Wikipedia. All articles need to be informative and make correct sense. No article should contain meaningless "filler" contain or article "spinning".

4. Articles submission is done through our online platform. The submission process contains three text boxes; The Title, A snippet and the main article text. The snippet should consist of the first 2-3 sentences of the article. The remainder of the article should be posted in the main article text. There is also a check box for the article category. The key phrases that we assign to are already labeled according to category, however, from time to time they might be better suited for a different category. If you happen to see that a key phrase is better suit to a different category, please use your best judgment and put it in the correct category.

5. Payment is $5.00 USD per article. Payment is made via PayPal on the 5th of the month for all article submit the previous calendar month. If the 5th of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal USA holiday, the payment will be made the first business day after the 5th.

A Day in the Strathburn Park

The weather here is really getting nicer and my Scottish friend even sent me an email saying..."you must have been bringing the sunshine with you!"... i was laughing because i know that it is just timely that we arrived in a better season of the year and i know also that weather is so unpredictable. So, while the iron is hot... i mean while the weather is warm, we have to visit some parks and be kids again...
Before my husband went offshore, we went to Strathburn Park in Inverurie. Our boys were delighted as you can see with our photos. Not only our kids but us as well. Look at how we become kids again with our kids!
Welcome to the Strathburn Park --- free for everyone--- to all the young ones and the young once!


Our first family photo since we arrived here! (Ah,it is very difficult to ask somebody sometimes, but this time, thanks to the dad who took our pic!).


My boys had fun on this tanker...


Prisco and Scott on the seesaw...


Look at the monkey in here...Hehehehehe!


That's all folks! Tata for now!

Ron Bongo - Leading Open Source Executive

Ron Bongo is a leading executive in the open source software industry. He is presently the CEO of Corra Technology, known in the industry as CorraTech. Ron Bongo brings two decades of diverse experience, to his position at CorraTech, during that time, he honed his expertise in technology, management consulting and finance. He manages CorraTech's corporate strategy, directs its management team and builds key business and strategic relationships for the company. He is active in numerous Open Sources standards and industry associations.

Brioche Rolls --- love it!

I always buy brioche rolls here in Scotland and i just love this. I can eat this everyday. It is buttery, milky, ah, just yummy! Just one of life's great pleasures! Although imported from France, i am happy this is readily available now here in Aberdeen. I remembered my husband brought me brioche from one of his Paris' client meetings. That was like 5 years ago and now, yes, many Scottish like this as well, and so, fantastic i can buy it here now everywhere!
BRIOCHE is a highly enriched French bread, whose high egg and butter content give it a rich and tender crumb. It has a dark, golden, and flaky crust from an egg wash applied before and after proofing. Ah, i just love it!

Look at how the French served their Brioche during special occasions...

Typical core ingredients for brioche dough are: Bread flour, eggs, butter, sugar, milk, yeast and salt.

SocialSpark Sparkling as a Sun!

Everyone is excited upon hearing that a new site is offering new and exciting opportunities to bloggers like me. Yes,SocialSpark is shining, sparkling as a radiant sun beckoning a new day to many bloggers in the blogosphere. This is another offering from Izea and everyone are invited to join.
If you love to blog, if you love to write and get paid doing it SocialSpark is your place to be. You can write about websites, products, services, and/or companies and earn cash for providing your honest opinion and valuable feedback to the advertisers. And because this is a social website as well, you can actually make friends while earning money. Very cool, actually!

I joined myself under the profile name as Priscocam although i would admit that i have lots of exploring to be done in this new site. I am so thrilled upon learning that it is becoming so popular now. What an impact! I picked up Priscocam because that is me and that i enjoyed blogging and that SocialSpark i believe will offer me unique and distinct opportunities i had not found in other sites. Oh well, i know my profile is somehow new and i had not put my photo yet, but slowly, slowly, dear friends. I will soon sort it out. How about you? Had you made your profile already? If you haven't already done so, go ahead and create a profile. Join me now!

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by SocialSpark.
Disclosure Policy

My Hot Men?...

Got this tag from hot-mama, Sheng. Probably, my husband would agree with these hot men i listed here. hehehe! Don't worry, sweetie, you're the hottest for me!!!!
Here is my list...tralalalala....

1. Immortal Mortensen

I know he is no George Clooney or Johnny Deep.... He is no Georgie Porgie or Jack with Jill...hehehe...but he is not only the "king of Lord of the Rings Trilogy", but more so the king of hotness. My husband once told me, " If i have to have my wish granted who i will be, i wanna be the Victorious Viggo..." Oh well, i can only agree! hehehehe. There's no harm in dreaming and it is free! he is not only a versatile actor but also a poet and a painter. What a great package!

2. Diamond in Damon

This hot guy is very down-to-earth. I like him a lot when he told his bestfriend Ben Affleck to cancel his engagement to the bitchy Jennifer Lopez! What can Ben Affleck do? Of course, follow Matt. He knows he is the best and that he just gave the best advice for his good. Awarded as the Sexiest Man on the Face of the Earth last year, the humble Matt would even hide his face and would say he didn't deserve to be as such. But even George Clooney( who once became the Sexiest Man himself) acclaimed that no other men is more deserving than him. You're just priceless as a diamond, Matt and you are never a fake. That's why you're just as hot as ever!

3. Gosh...Josh????

When Josh had been filming a movie in Davao City last year, i said to my husband, "Can't you believe that Josh is here at Davao?" My husband could not believe either. He is filming "Coming Out In The Rain" in the goldmine place of Diwalwal. Ah, how i wish i saw him in person(but of course, i cannot, i am sooo pregnant and it is very dangerous in Diwalwal. hehehehe! Just like the goldmine, Josh is just a jewel. What a sweet guy, so down-to-earth and he is just so plain and simple when interviewed in the local television. What a charmer! Look at his smiles....those eyes... all ladies' hearts will be melted. Seen him the first time in Pearl Harbor, and just like pearls, Josh has been one of women's desires!

4. Blooming Bloom

He is just hot as in hot and hot.hehehehe. Handsome, very good actor, very versatile. Just like Viggo, he is immortal as well. His career is always so blooming and it is always reflected on his surname... He got charms, talent, intelligence and everything!

I only wanna elaborate four although i do like the Titanic guy, Leonardo di Caprio as well. What a really, really, really good actor. But, i think four is enough.

I am passing this tag to my hot cousins Lynn and Portia.

Are you a Frequent Caller?

How many of us live far from our families? How many of us are working abroad seeking for greener pastures? How many of us are missing lots of important milestones of our family life just for the sake of being international and for saving for good future of our family members whom we left in our mother country? There are many of us. But no worries, our families are just a phone call away and phone cards that are cheap and reliable are now available online.

We know phone calls can be very expensive. I tried so many phone cards and really some of these phone cards when we got connected, sometimes we can't even communicate very well because the signal is just horrendous. Some phonecards could not even get connection at all and always send busy signals. Yes, i know this is really tough and frustrating. But here's the answer for this problem. I found this cheap phone cards provider and really we can save a lot of money allowing their customers save as much as 80% or more over regular long distance providers. I am so glad i found out about this. Now, i can talk to my family longer with the best voice quality and of course, the best value ever. What a great bargain! Try it yourself! Imagine only 4.9 cents per minute to Philippines? 2.5 cents per minute to India? 1.4 cents per minute to Nigeria? 0.8 cents per minute to Mexico? etc..etc...Ah, they have the prepaid phone cards suited for any country. And yes, cheap...cheap..cheap...but the quality is not!

So why do we choose Phone Cards Avenue - Prepaid Phone Cards? Here are the ultimate reasons: 1.) lowest rate calling cards plans ; 2.) best variety of phone cards ; 3.) secure online purchase ; 4.) instant delivery, no waiting ; and 5.) online account management. Undoubtedly, Phone Cards Avenue provides the best international calling cards online! All our phone cards are delivered online instantly so you can make the call right away. Buying phone cards online has never been this easy! Go ahead and start saving on long distance now!

May Day in UK

There's not a budding boy, or girl, this day,
But is got up, and gone to bring in May.
-Herrick,17th century English poet



Whilst first day of May is a recognized International Holiday(Labor Day) in many countries, here in UK, they are never bothered about it. They have their own first day of May which is the fifth of May this year. They call this day May Day. This is for the convenience of the general public, making this Monday a bank holiday, a day off from school and work ( not for my husband who is off to work offshore!*sigh*). But,well, Prisco has no school today and we are just here in the house doing the daily routine ( and Prisco will be watching his "Lazy Town", "Bob the Builder", etc.. today. We had finished reading our storybooks last weekend which we had borrowed from the library!).

What is May Day anyway? Historically, May Day originated from a Pagan Fertility Ritual filled with periods of sexual licence. People were known to go off into the woods in search of a tree for the Maypole, and whilst there indulge in various temporary sexual encounters. That is not very tamed way of celebrating May Day! hehehehe! Because of such unacceptable behaviour of sexual frivolity or unacceptable, untamed sexual practices towards May Day, the society drastically changed it and made a celebration that is more acceptable to the public. Hence the practice of MayPole Dancing ( ah, this is more acceptable form of celebration!). I hadn't personally witnessed a MayPole dancing but i researched and it is something like this ....
In Maypole dancing, the dancers dance in a circle each holding a coloured ribbon attached to a central pole. This is good, not very difficult dance! I might probably participate in the future!heheheh. It's as easy as "Going around the Mulberry Bush on a cold and frosty morning!)...

There are lots of celebrations on the month of May. Eventhough most of the celebrations are pagan in origin, May is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.

Hopefully, the month of May in Scotland will be merry and warm. I am really looking forward to it!!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Queen at 23 years

April 20,2008. The 23rd Wedding Anniversary of a lovely couple that we had been very close in Scotland --- Derek and Aniceta Queen. They are Prisco's primary godparents. We are so blessed to be with them during their wedding anniversary this year. They are very good people and we love them. They are always a call a way when we need them. They are a family to us. A day after i arrived in Scotland i went to the place where Ate Annie works, and upon seeing me, she got very excited that she actually stumbled a little bit in that little step in her workplace !hehehe! All because of her excitement that i am here in Scotland.
To you, lovely couple --- Cheers to that undying love and wishing your family circle good health, good friends and good fortune!
And, by the way, i love your Butterfly cake with flower muffins surrounding it. Great choice! Butterflies are real goodluck and we are wishing you the same.

Niagara Region Chopper Ride

I remember this chopper ride we had when Prisco was three years old in Canada. We hired this chopper and took a ride along the Niagara Region down to the border of New York. That was so nice and so damn unforgettable!!!!

Handy Device for Healthy Lifestyle

I love to eat and i bet so many of you are like me--- we don't keep track of what we put in our mouths. We wonder how many calories i ate already? Ah,oftentimes, we got confused and just don't care! With busy lifestyle and complicated way of bringing notebook and pen and writing anything, anywhere what we eat which is very impractical anyway,i am so glad upon hearing about this calorie counter. This handheld device is called CalorieSmart. It is a calorie calculator that helps people keep track and tailor their weight loss plan. This is a very ideal way to be fit for life. You can bring it anywhere and this handheld unit provides nutrition information for 35,000 foods including popular restaurant menus, especially the popular food chain stores. What a wonderful food calorie counter indeed! It can even keep a food and exercise diary. Very advantageous for people who value their health. Come on guys,check this out yourself and you'll be loving it!

My Travel Personality

Got this tag from my cousin Lynn
. Thanks,my dear! I am loving it!

Your Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer

For you, travel is how you learn about the world. And you like to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks. You truly have wanderlust. When you're not traveling, you're dreaming about where you'll go next. And your travels are truly legendary - they leave you with stories you'll be telling for the rest of your life!

What's Your Travel Personality?

I am tagging my friends Wendy, Jana, Portia, and Amor. Have a great month of May to everyone!

Our Home, Our Neighborhood : Scotland

Okay, here are our photos taken few days after our arrival, during our walk to my son's school. This is the place where we live now. It is actually very peaceful and we are here for over two weeks already and i don't know anyone from this neighborhood! hehehehehe! I am so sure people here are always busy working around. In a country like this, people just value privacy. I am pretty sure people are friendly but they just have their own life, as much as we have our own. Anyway, my boys are my constant buddies here. Take a look...

This is our house. It is two-storey and it has three bedrooms(one master's bedroom and two other not-so-big-ones,yet, comfortable enough. One family room, one living room, one kitchen , one dainty dining room which i really love, a narrow hallway, a laundry room which i really adore, 3 toilets and baths and spacious backyard that my kids could play during summmer. Ah, i almost forget, our computer room. hahaha! Oh well, you can't see the photos of what's inside our house yet. hehehehe. First, the structure itself...


And here's our quiet, peaceful neighborhood.... As i said, i hadn't known anyone yet for almost three weeks that i am here!


My two wonderful boys and our community....


My poser Prisco...


And this is me photographed by Prisco. Ah, it's amazing what kids can do this time. Hehehehe.....


They say, "HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS" and i am feeling inlove with my home here in Scotland. My heart is really with my family. House is just a structure really and home? It is sweeter word for a house!