The fun in shopping

What makes shopping fun? Aside from being happy with finally finding an item or product that fits my needs, I am also having a great time with shopping especially when I get a big discount on a favorite item. It’s just like hitting two birds with one stone. One time, cutie sis and I shopped at a new mall, we found high quality blouses at low prices. We were smiling happily as we went home with our shopping finds.

The good thing is that you need not line up early for your favorite products since these items can be purchased online at Black-Friday.net with direct links to the merchants’ websites. The site also offers email alerts which informs their subscribers of new Black Friday ads.

What’s up with my SmartBro prepaid WiFi account?

Well, I am not as happy as I was then when I purchased my SmartBro prepaid WiFi kit. Why so? While the speed was OK when we tested it in the mall where I bought the kit, it was definitely a let-down when I accessed the internet here at home. Imagine having connection speed that averages at 1kbps?!! And I thought it should have been 384kbps at most. You bet I was one unhappy subscriber that time. Anyway, as I tried using this service while on the go, I found out that the connection speed really depends on your location.

When starting up your SmartBro connection, check out the signal strength indicator (the icon with the transmitter) with the vertical bars which tell you how strong is the signal reception. Beside the icon is displayed the available network where you are located – GSM (2G), GPRS (2.5G), and HSDPA (3G). On the bottom part of the window is displayed the transport rate which changes every second (from high to low data rates). On low signal days, I got a ‘Limited Service’ on my network availability. Ugh.

I have used the SmartBro prepaid kit within these areas:
Location: Talisay city, Negros Occidental – GSM (with average transport speed at 0kbps, forget about connecting to the Internet with this)
Location: Bacolod-Silay airport, Negros Occidental – GPRS (average transport speed at 2kbps, can connect to Yahoo! Messenger and can surf with very slow connection)
Location: Domestic airport, Manila – GPRS (average transport speed at 5kbps, still slow but I was able to access my Yahoo! Mail and send an attachment while chatting on Yahoo! Messenger and surfing on some sites)
Location: San Dionisio, Paranaque – 3G (average transport speed at 25kbps, fast connection to all sites, no complaints from me on this!)

24.77kbps transport rate within a 3G network (at the living room)

While the SmartBro prepaid WiFi service is not as fast as expected and advertised (thanks to  the media hype from big stars), it still helped me with connecting to the Internet via my laptop instead of going to an Internet café which meant risking my passwords and other personal information when going online in a public location. And since I am travelling more these days, it helped with accessing my online accounts at domestic airports where no WiFi hotspots are available.  

On being a wise credit card owner

The lure of spending more than what you earn is always a big challenge to the typical consumer when it comes to using their credit cards. While some people make it their goal to increase the balance in their savings accounts, others just keep on increasing their debts by buying more than what they need with credit cards.

Well, just imagine what this plastic thing can do when used to buy the things you want now and paying for them later. Add to that are the sweet talk you hear from credit card companies telling you that you need to pamper yourself with shopping for the things you love after working hard at your job, and so they provide clients with attractive packages matched with promises of a better future.

Thus, it pays to be wise when you apply for a credit card. Do your homework and spend time to compare and ask help from the experts. They will explain to you more information on the basics and details of different credit card types such as interest free credit cards or bad credit credit cards or 0% balance transfers. Any time of the year is a good time to evaluate your credit card status and try to be more responsible in your next purchases.

What’s up with our desktop monitor?

I really dunno why our desktop monitor is acting up these days. Our guest here at home is the one using our desktop PC and it’s embarrassing when at times she is so engrossed working at our desktop PC when suddenly the monitor goes blank, and a message flashes before it turns off: “monitor going to sleep”.

This crazy behavior happens at no definite time of the day. It just happens. What do you think??? Could it be some virus? Or could it be that the power management automatically turns off the monitor? Ugh… I am running out of answers. If it were some computer memory issues, I could just have easily solved it with replacing the chip. But an LCD monitor that goes blank on you is just difficult to troubleshoot.

Life-cycle discomforts

Despite being a procrastinator when it comes to having a good diet and maintaining a regular exercise routine, I am still thankful that I am generally healthy. Yup I can say this confidently since I had a general medical checkup early this year, and so far my health is OK according to the doc. The only thing that concerns me is my monthly period which causes me some discomfort and pain, sometimes it’s bearable but other times, I had to rest and refrain from work the whole day. Tsk, that’s part of being a woman, yeah? We will be going through phases like these such as having some bad PMS and other life-cycle changes.

Anyway, some say these conditions are just psychological. Even my mom said she didn’t go through any menopausal discomforts like what others described. Nope, she was not using any progesterone creams or any other medications. She said she went through the phase normally without any symptoms at all. Aside from the so-called psychological aspect as my mom said, being fit and healthy also lessens the possibility of life-cycle discomforts most women experience.

Guilty!

huhuhu… I feel guilty about my diet these days. I have totally ignored my health journal rules and violated some such as the amount of rice I consume for every meal and my water therapy log. Even my hip hop abs dance exercise routine is currently on hold. Yup, my dance partner (cutie sis) is not here anymore so I guess the motivation to go on has waned. With some of the unhealthy food I’ve consumed lately, I could qualify as one of those who need a colon cleanse too. Now I can hear Stephen Covey scolding me for not being proactive about the whole thing.

Trying something new

I may be cautious at times when new things come up. On the other hand, there’s this daring spirit within that wants to explore the many possibilities that life brings. But when it comes to the Internet, I am always game for taking chances on new ventures such as Bloggerwave which offers opportunities for bloggers to make money. My blog and I would like to thank my cutie sis for introducing me to another blogsy way of being compensated for writing about interesting things.

Are you insured?

What do you think about life insurance? Is it a necessity for you or are you apprehensive about it? According to financial and business gurus, being insured is one of the steps in becoming wealthy. I know how some people are hesitant to get one for themselves especially life insurance since they think it meant courting accidents to happen.

After talking to my Mom, she explained that it’s a practical way of preparing for the future so that whatever happens, your loved ones will be left with enough finances. We really don’t know what life has in store for us, insurance is one way of preparing for whatever happens in our life’s journey.

On buying a car

Recently I talked to a friend about driving and he asked why I am not using our family van for my trips to the city. How I wish I know how to drive! Actually I’ve been planning to learn how but my Dad doesn’t want me to drive our van, he said I would find it difficult to handle. He suggested instead that I buy a car. Toinks. As if I have the budget for that!

Oh well, I know some wealthy car enthusiasts who can very well afford to buy the latest luxury vehicles and accessories such as stylish Chevy grills or BMW dash kits. These days my finances are mostly focused on my upcoming Europe trip so… priorities, priorities… ugh, with the rise in prices of most basic commodities, I just have to say no to some extra spending.

Island getaway

Families planning to go on vacation this summer have many options about their holiday environment and activities. For those wanting to have an island life for their vacation, the Hilton Head Island is one destination to consider where vacation homes and villas are available for a Hilton Head rental.

The island is very much organized and it was developed to emphasize on its natural attractions such as the beaches and lush greens of the forests and marshes. Buildings are situated away from the roads to give more attention to the pine and oak trees giving that overall refreshing look of a lush green environment. A great place for an island getaway indeed!

Fashion city

While waiting for my turn at the Czech Embassy, I chatted with a lady in her 50s and we were exchanging our views and ideas about some places in Europe. When she learned that I’ve been to Milan, she asked how the place was. Well, I just realized now that the reply I gave her didn’t describe the place but the people instead. I told her that the ladies there are fashionable with their fur coats and looking smart with their high-heeled shoes, leather bags and sporting some luxurious timepieces such as gold Rolex or Parmigiani watches. That’s understandable since Milan is one of Europe’s fashion capital and is home to some of the world’s famous fashion designers.

GPS tracking for kids and teens

I was chatting with my big sis who’s based in Finland recently and suddenly she told me she’ll be out for a while since her 7-year old girl just called her up and was waiting for her somewhere. The poor girl went with her classmate after school and got disoriented on her way home. Good thing she got a mobile phone with her.

Nowadays, parents give their kids mobile phones to track their whereabouts and feel secure about being away from them. Some parents can use hi-tech gadgets such as gps tracking devices to track their kids or teens without calling them on the phone. With the advent of new and better techie stuff coming out in the market, it’s just understandable that we make the best use of what technology has to offer as we apply it in our daily lives.

I want a dozen computers!

Yesterday something weird happened. I dunno if it has something to do with the weather or what, but the computers here at home just went on strike! Ugh. First, it was our desktop computer in the living room. My friend (who’s staying with us these days) was busy surfing the net when suddenly the LCD monitor just turned off. We tried to check the connection, restart the computer and all but the monitor just won’t start. So we tried to use my ECS Desknote and guess what… after few minutes of use, the screen just went blank. I booted it up and was surprised to see a WHITE screen screaming at me. Arrgghhh… two computers misbehaving in a day! That left my friend with no computer to work on, so she decided to call it a day since it was late in the evening anyway. Tsk.
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Gift for him?

Choosing a gift for guys can be challenging sometimes. They have their own preferences and they’re more concerned with comfort than style. Whether you’re buying shoes, shirt or any accessory for them, sometimes it’s better to bring them with you while shopping. If you’re still wondering what to give that special guy in your life, how about something useful such as a comfy footwear? Whether it’s a Birkenstock, Clarks, Naot or Ecco sandals or outdoor shoes, they’re really a guy thing and would make any man smile especially if he’s the kind who’s always on the go or fond of going on adventure trips.  

Acne problems?

My friend’s cousin used to suffer from acne and she really didn’t know what to do. Oh boy, too bad for it didn’t look good on her and it should be treated right away. One time while watching television she saw an advertisement about acne treatment. It gave her hope, she finally found a solution for it bothered her a lot. And to make the story short, she bought that medicine and applied it right away to the affected area. Now her face is looking better now. That goes to show that with many acne treatments available nowadays in the market, a clearer and cleaner face is very much possible.

Weight loss pills

Nowadays most women want to use weight loss pills. For me it is understandable… we all want to look good and sexy despite most of us consuming unhealthy food (especially junk chips and fast food). Yup, it’s not good to look at overweight people or those with beer bellies. Even teenagers nowadays are weight-conscious, they want to look sexy all the time so it’s easy for them to move around. I myself really want to go on a diet so I’ll look fit and healthy for my age. Health is wealth and it’s best to be at ease with every clothes you wear. Now, is the right time to start, what are you waiting for? Remember life is too short; we must live life to the fullest!

Stepping into the world of beauty, style and fashion

I know being a model is no easy job (as if I was one, LOL). Yup, posing for hours in front of the camera, changing clothes, being made up… Arrghhh… but then if you’re a famous model, the rewards are worth it. So you think you’re young and beautiful and got what it takes to be a famous model, you might want to join the Look of the Year beauty contest.

Head over to the official website at http://www.lookoftheyear.com. It’s a chance for aspiring models to be the world’s next star in the fashion industry.

An impromptu shopping spree

After a brief trip to Iloilo to claim our renewed passports, cutie sis and I decided to drop by the nearby new mall on our way home. It’s just to satisfy our curiosity since we haven’t been there yet and we’ve heard that the shops offer discounted items at much lower prices than the other malls. Since both of us are always on the lookout for the best buy on clothing and accessories, we thought a few minutes of strolling inside would do. Guess what? We left the mall after more than 2 hours of shopping (yes, we were happy with our purchases which we bought at surprisingly low prices) and we even returned that evening to buy some more. Uh-oh…

New stylish iGoogle theme for me

Yey! I have a new look for my iGoogle these days. It’s the Oscar de la Renta theme from the artist’s themes, a new category for iGoogle. After that cutesy ‘Seasonal Scape’ frog and ladybug theme which I have been using for a long time now, I decided to give my browser a new look. As you know Oscar de la Renta is a famous fashion designer and I like how the colored prints are splashed in my iGoogle page. There’s one phase of the day where instead of colored prints, you can see slim and pretty models in sleek dresses in my iGoogle browser. With my new iGoogle theme, it’s like stepping into the world of beauty, fashion and style.

Missing our dance-exercise sessions

With our busy schedule these days, cutie sis and I have totally ignored our dance-exercise routine. Tsk… with 10 more days to go before our trip, we couldn’t afford to spend time for a 45-minute exercise session. So, maybe some diet pills would do for now? hehehe… doing it the natural way is still what I prefer though. I hope we can do it again regularly when we’ll be in Prague… or maybe we can have big sis join us when we visit them in Finland. What do you say big sis? The more the merrier! *wink*

Caring for your teeth

Early this year, I had a visit with the dentist and I learned something valuable about caring for the teeth particularly with brushing. The lady dentist demonstrated (using a complete model of the gums and teeth) to me how to brush lightly – in up, down and circular motion - using a soft toothbrush. Since my upper right gum was in pain that time, she also recommended using a special toothpaste for gums. After two teeth fillings and prophylaxis, I was shocked when I was handed the bill. hehehe…  And since I didn’t have any dental benefits, I had to pay the whole amount.
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Gonnabe

We all know how moms and dads find their kids doing their amazing antics and spotting those hidden talents at home. I know my sis would love taking videos of her baby’s surprising ways of entertaining us, such as jumping and moving a lot when she hears her favorite song or babbling in a cutesy voice. Well, I joked to her mom that her baby could be a star someday. Come to think of it, most child stars were encouraged by their parents to try out a singing contest or enroll in an acting workshop.
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Two weeks more

Two weeks to go before our trip! So far, some of the travel requirements are done such as our travel insurance and invitation letter. I still have to go to my bank to request for a bank statement, then this weekend cutie sis and I will be going to Iloilo again to get our passports at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and I still have to go to the Czech Embassy for my visa.

What about my clothes and accessories and other things to bring? Ugh, I still need to make a To-Do list so I won’t forget anything. By the way, Mom and Dad are in Manila now… they will be going to the Czech Embassy on Monday. I hope their visa application will be just fine.

Who can it be now?

This morning while I was concentrating in front of my computer, I heard somebody at the gate. It came as a surprise since we weren’t expecting any visitor. I went out to check who it was. There were two ladies, about 60-something, who asked if they could talk to me for a while. I was catching up on a lot of tasks so I honestly told them I was busy and can’t entertain them. They were not selling some food products or medical insurance but promoting their religion and left me with a booklet. Tsk.
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Choosing the right moving company

Moving to another place - sorting out all your belongings, packing them up and preparing for a smooth trip - can be stressful. I remember when we left our apartment in Cebu where we stayed for almost 20 years. It was quite tough going through all the stuff accumulated through the years and deciding which to keep and which to discard or sell. We had to find immediate buyers for our computers since part of our apartment was an internet café. Good thing we were able to hire a friend’s relative who owns a big truck which we used to transport our things to Negros.
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