Curly Sue

I naturally have curly hair. In fact, the curly regrowth had been sticking out of my skull before I visited the salon last week.

Yes, I've always had curly hair -before rebonding came to being. :-) And maybe more than anybody else, I know the feeling of having bad hair days only too well. Didn't I just have to deal with that most of the time -especially in my teenage years? Oh how I struggled with it!

How I deal with it? I frequently condition my hair. I actually cannot wash my hair with just shampoo alone. Even shampoo plus conditioner doesn't always work for me. A good conditioner is definitely a must -for me. And then, using a non-greasy leave-on conditioner also helps a lot in managing the curls.

A good paddle brush is ideal for curly hair. As intensive treatment, olive oil may be applied on the hair weekly.

Let me add, however, that all these don't mean that I've always been successful in keeping my hair "issue-free". *wink*

BTW, looking for a truck driving school? Just click the link.

Sync Your Google Calendar

Do you know that syncing the Google Calendar is now possible with some mobile devices and computer applications?

Big YES to that. Ain't that cool?

According to the Gmail blog:

This way, you can choose whichever calendar you want to use and keep all of them up to date. Most of these options have been around for a while, and we're happy to announce that Google Calendar now supports the CalDAV protocol -- an evolving, open standard for calendar synchronization.

Not This Clinique

I saw a box of Clinique Antibacterial Facial Soap (Anti-Blemish Solutions) lying on top of our lavatory a couple of weeks ago.

It was my sister's.

Ever the curious cat, I examined the box and its notes. What it says on the box is pretty amazing. It says the soap is non-irritating, non-drying and hypoallergenic.

Very rarely can we find antibacterial soaps that will not dry the the skin, so I was naturally impressed. And all the more so because it also says that it gently cleanses the skin.

I was about to decide to switch soaps when I got to the the part where the ingredients are listed.

What I found out made me swear not to use it. Know what? It contains triclosan. Fear clutched my heart when I read that dreaded ingredient.

But had I not known about the hazards of triclosan, I'm sure I'd have decided to switch brands. *sigh*

Hair Length For Someone Like Me

Finally, I was able to drag my busy body to the salon. I've been planning to visit for so quite sometime already but something came up, and then another...and then before I knew it, I already looked like an old hag with all of my curly hair sticking out of my skull! So much so that I've been considering auditioning for a part in a horror movie.

Okay kidding aside, I'm glad my hair issue is taken cared of now.

And since I've been to the parlor, my tip for the day would be about hair. Specifically, hair lengths.

Generally speaking, shorter hair makes one look taller; and longer, its opposite. When the neck is visible, this somehow elongates a figure. Or creates an illusion of height.

But with anything blocking the view of the neck, this results to "dragging down of the height" and makes one look shorter (and in my case, maybe heavier that the weight police might want be forced donate cheap Phentermine for me..lol).

So for not-tall me, short hair it is. This also fits my wash-and-wear lifestyle and definitely works for me because for me, the shorter the hair the easier it is to care.

My Favorite Outfit Says I am...

What Your Brown Outfit Means

You're not too classic, not too funky - just up on the latest trends. You know what looks good on you, and you love to shop! You project a smart sense of style, which makes people see you as competent. Designer match: Rebecca Beeson Signature accessory: A slim leather belt

How Your Favorite Outfit Tells What Kind of Girl You Are

Pamper Your Crowning Glory

There's no reason to ruin your day with a bad hair day!

Pamper your hair. Treat your crowning glory with a hair mask. Add shine and moisture to it by giving it a weekly deep-conditioning treatment.

You could also opt for cheap alternatives like mayonnaise as mask, yogurt as fabulicious conditioner or this homemade hair conditioner.

Or you could choose a commercial brand that you love (there are numerous instant hot -oil treatments available in the market today!). But whatever treatment you finally decide on, make sure to patch test first (for allergies).

A Tip for ME

Here's a tip for vertically-challenged people- in short, for short people like me. *smile*

Create an illusion of height or of long legs by tucking in shirts or blouses (but hey for women, that depends if it's a tuck-able styled blouse ha! Else, you'll run the risk of looking like Mister Bean or his female counterpart! *lol*)

So maybe for men, it's a must!

Anyway, leaving long shirts untucked shorten you by creating an illusion of short legs.

Blogger's Edge Over WP

Tip: When using Wordpress, never ever write a post directly on it. Use a notepad -or whatever and then copy it in Wordpress. This way you will not unnecessarily lose what you've written.

Trust me, I'll make sure I won't forget that. I will really have to keep that in mind or being so forgetful, I could put up a signage of any kind (could be a digital signage) to remind me about this lesson that I learned the hard way.

A couple of days ago, I was writing a post in my Wordpress blog. I was almost done writing the post when I hit the SAVE button. Suddenly the screen went blank.

Thinking that surely this post must have been saved (or autosaved already), I searched for it in the Drafts. Nada. I spent few minutes checking the list of all of my posts, but still I found nothing. So it really was not saved. I was super duper annoyed.


I love using WP but at that instant I was so disappointed that it doesn't have the autosave function like that of Blogger. If it has that function, I wouldn't have lost the post. IWith the Autosave function in Blogger, even without pressing the Save button, the post/draft is automatically saved (even while you're still working at it).

Favorite Blouse at the Moment

This is it. (Image Source) Well, this isn't exactly the blouse but except for the color (mine is in mocha), the baby doll blouse that I have surely looks like this one.

It's a birthday gift from one of my cousins and I totally love it.

You know why? It very discreetly hides my tummy fats. Oh I am not really fat (to the extent that I would want Leptovox). I'm petite and weigh about 90 pounds only (let's just say I'm blessed) but that doesn't say I don't have anything to hide. I still have a chunk of tummy fats (and not to mention the stretch marks) from my pregnancy -I honestly could use few jobs here and there -like a tummy tuck, but only if it's free! *chuckle*

So anyway, I was wearing my baby doll blouse that looks like this one in the image and then I was surprised because one of my male colleagues complimented me and told me I look leaner and slimmer on it. Of course, I'm too gullible not to believe him! *smile*

But really, I know blouses like this perfectly covers should-be-hidden stuffs on the abs.

Moisturizer of the Day

Tip of the day: Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize. (As if I haven't said this for a million or so times!)

I shouldn't need to say more, should I? :-) But really, be it internally or externally, it's good to feel well hydrated. For me, drinking lots of water will go along way in keeping our body and skin hydrated. Also, applying a good moisturizing lotion/cream on the skin can do the trick.

Now speaking about moisturizing lotions, I've got to admit that I'm a big fan. And the more natural, the better. Given that background, you can just imagine how thrilled I am to try the SkinMD Natural.

Yup, very recently, I received a bottle and few packets of it. I've read its label and I could hardly wait to try it out seeing that it is made up of some of ingredients that I especially love, namely Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Chamomile.

But SkinMD Natural is more than a regular moisturizing lotion. It is a shielding lotion, too. You may want to ask, so how can it make a difference then?

A Shielding Lotion enhances the skin's own natural protective abilities by turning the outer layer of skin into what could be described as a hydrating invisible shield. This makes Shielding Lotions many times more effective than mere "protective lotions and moisturizing creams".

And from the expert, let me quote this:

"Shielding lotion is a lotion that forms a protective barrier on the skin and keeps out irritants and chemicals. It also allows the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better. It is a big advantage that shielding lotions are light and go on without a greasy mess," says Dr. Brian Zogg, a dermatologist in Albert Lea, MN.

And I have to affirm. For 3 straight days that I've been applying a small amount of it on my hands and legs, I can see a difference. When I tried to draw a line on my skin with my fingernail, I couldn't make out any line today. It's very economical too since a pea-size is already enough to cover a wide area of the skin. It is very light and certainly not icky greasy or sticky. Most of all, it doesn't give off disturbing odor.

SkinMD Natural, a hypo-allergenic and paraben-free product, is definitely good for the skin.

Dry Hair?

To prevent yourself from having dry hair, wash your hair less frequently. Or you could wash your hair but opt not shampoo everyday. You could shampoo every other day. In between these days, only apply hair conditioner.

When choosing a shampoo, try those that contain humectants which help moisturize and reduce dryness. Examples of humectants are as follows: glycerine, propylene glycol and glyceryl triacetate. Others can be polyols like sorbitol, xylitol and maltitol, or polymeric polyols like polydextrose or natural extracts like quillaia or lactic acid. So the nest time you shop for a shampoo, read the label and find out if your favorite brand contains on of these.

I've Upgraded to Lightroom 2.1

When I read over at Matt Kloskowski' Killertips that Adobe labs already released the 2.1 update for Lightroom, I immediately downloaded the update. I had wanted to update my LR because I'd love to be able to set the Camera Profile Presets in my software.

So thankfully, I've updated my Lightroom without difficulty. Prior to this, mine was the beta version of 2.1.

Also I'm so happy that I have the Camera Presets installed, too. So far the going is good for me. :-) We'll see if I'll change that statement later *smile*

If you're using Lightroom and you want to update, check the updates here.

Also if you're searching for marketing jobs online, just click the link.

Reminder for Moi

Reminder to all boxing fans. As if others need reminding -for all I know, I am the ONLY ONE that needs reminding.

Anyway, I’ve got to put this in my mobile calendar, too so I won’t forget. But what am I talking about? It’s the Dela Hoya-Pacquiao boxing match on December 6, 2008 at MGM Grand Hotel Garden in Las Vegas. Haaayy, a big boxing fan myself, I dream of going to LAs vegas to watch Pacman fight (being booked in one of the las vegas suites would be a plus, plus... haaaay, dream on *shaking my head*).

Anyway back to reality.

I would remind myself to schedule an outside of the house activity i.e. shopping or a drive somewhere on that day, since the traffic is expected to be down at minimum everytime Manny Pacquiao fights. Oh well, at least this side of the globe.

How to Achieve Smoky Eyes Effect

Oh I love Keira Knightley. And I like here make-up in this pic, too. Love those smokin' eyes.

Anyway, if the occasion calls for smoky eyes - or if you just feel like it, here's a simple procedure on how to get those lovely smoky effect.

- Put on the darker shades nearest to your eyelashes.

- As you move out from the eyelashes, gradually lighten the shades. The farther from the eyelashes, the lighter the shade of the make-up should be. Be careful when blending the shades.

- Make sure that the lightest shade is the nearest to the creases.

For more about achieving smoky eyes, here's a video tutorial for you.




Lastly, here's another resource that gives us tips on putting make-up to get the desired smoky eyes.
Image Source

Before Going to the Drugstore, Think Again...

If you’ve read these posts here and here and thought that I am advocating for you to use diet pills, think again. I am not.

So today, to put things in an even keel, here’ something to think about.

Have you ever considered that most diet pill may be bad for you? Some may not be too harmful though. But over-the-counter weight loss remedies usually don’t work. If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is.

But if you're determined to buy diet pills, at least see a doctor before doing so.

See You in Gmail!

Good news for those who loves to chat, you can now use your Gmail for voice and video chatting. Try it now.

I haven't tested it yet, though I hope when my busy sked lets up, I could try it (I could barely open my mail these days!)... Anyway, I'm sure it's a great enhancement, because if it's from Gmail, then it must be good. (Oh well maybe except for this little ish I have with my mobile Gmail) :-)

About Asking Help

Just recently I had an upgrade done in one of my blogs which uses the Wordpress platform. The update had been long overdue but I kept on stalling it because I was not sure how the upgrade would turn out. It’s not that I don’t like to upgrade (because I wanted) but to be honest, I was not really confident if I could successfully do it all on my own.

You see, I have read about horror stories in the Blogland, about the bloggers’ experiences during their implementation of the Wordpress update. These stories had me hesitating, especially that I do not have plenty of time to do some troubleshooting of bugs or glitches if in case I encounter any over the course of the update. And I do not want to take the risk of putting my site offline.

But anyway, to make the long story short, I had my blog updated already. I did not do the actual hardwork though – my webhost provider did. And boy, ain’t I so glad for the assistance! I am truly so blessed to have found such a wonderful web hosting provider. I'm glad I asked for help, too. :-)

So to wrap things up today, I just wanted to say this simple rule I learned from my English teacher in College. She used to tell our class this: If you're not sure, don't. But to add to that, I have to say: Ask for help. We all need help sometimes and it is not really a bad idea to admit that. And there will always be good people around who are willing to lend a hand with just a word.

By the way, if you need to check reviews about webhosting providers, the webhostinggeeks.com is the right place for you. You'll find helpful reviews there.

No-brainer Mantra

I know what I'm going to say next is a no-brainer. Nothing new- we all know these things. But I want to make this as my mantra, so here goes:

Treat your body right by eating healthy foods. *but temptation comes everyday, you know... :-) *

Do not skip meals. *I do not but sometimes, sleep comes before everything else*

Get a regular exercise. *I exercise my fingers and my hands when I blog.*

Loving A Melamine Product

While everyone I know gets real scared when they hear of melamine-tainted milk products, I think it's about time we move on. I'm saying this with the hope that all melamine-tainted products in the market are recalled by now.

Anyway, maybe some don't know it. But there is a melamine by-product that is definitely great! Infact, I truly love it. Wanna know what it is? It's called the Melamine Foam, or maybe a patented product is much more familiar - the Mr Clean Magic Eraser (I use a similar product of a different brand though). So have you tried it?

It's a very useful in removing soap scums, scuff marks, grime, grease and hard to remove stains on countertops, appliances, floors, furniture etc... What I love about the melamine Foam is it can easily remove crayon marks off our walls.

All I need to do is wet it with water and then wipe it on the site that needs cleaning. Simple as that.

Just a word of caution: This may dull glossy surfaces. Observe care when using on modern furniture with glossy finish or when cleaning metallic/plastic surfaces.

A Suggestion

In this post, someone was asking about a drop-down menu.

The Bumbles said...

I have a question - do you have any idea how to solve the problem I have on my blog with minimizing extremely long link lists? I cannot find a gadget that allows for a drop down menu or scroll bar. What I am looking for is basically a gadget like the Blogger Archive one - but for things in a list. If you go to our blog you will see that we have a very long Travelogue. I would love for it to be able to display 5 or 10 items and then you could select a drop down to view the rest of the list. Or if we wanted to create a list for music concerts we could have just the categories showing and if you clicked on the category it would bring you to a separate page with the list of links. Do you have any Tips or Tricks for that kind of thing?

First of all, thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.

Next, I apologize for taking so long in responding. Life's been buzzy *smile* at my end. Okay, as for the trick (for a drop down menu for your Travelogue -btw, I've seen your blog and I'm so impressed with the many places you've been to...Greece, Jamaica, France, Kenya - I would to go to these places)...okay back to the trick. As I don't usually write codes, unless it's a matter of life and death for me *chuckles*, I've gotta hand you over to a post that gives everyone the code for a drop-down menu. I have tried the code, and it surely works. The code is here -of course, granting that the menu you want is similar to what was the topic of this post I'm referring to. Either way, I appreciate if you can drop me a line so I'll how how's it going for you.

You Might Just Be the Lucky One...

Have you planned your Christmas shopping list already? Or better yet, have you started your holiday shopping?

I know, I know, thinking about holiday shopping can sometimes be stressful. Imagine the traffic, and then pressing your way against bodies of people in the mall just to pick up few gifts...not to mention the expenses! If like me, you hate the traffic during holidays and queueing, then you could always do some online shopping. *smile* Anyway, I hope the few tips I posted the other day can be of help though, to get through the holiday shopping stress. :-)

Anyway, if you're looking for ways to earn a little before doing more shopping, you might want to consider joining the contest at ShopAndConfess. Mothly prizes at stake are as follows: Text Submission -$500; Video Submission- $1000. It's so easy to join. Just create a 30 to 600-second video OR submit a story of your shopping confession. Video submissions should be uploaded it to YouTube. For more the contest rules, please check the contest page. So sign up at at http://www.shopandconfess.com/index.php/contest/member/register/. You never know you might just be the lucky one to win the Grand Prize of $15,000.

Oh by the way, should you sign up, I’d be happy if you can put the URL of my blog as the referring URL. Thanks in advance and happy shopping -and confessing!

How to Efficiently Do Your Holiday Shopping

Christmas is just around the bend and sooner than we think, everyone will be mad rushing for holiday shopping. Because of this, I have drafted simple tips and tricks on how to go about it.

Decide on a budget. Decide how much should be spent on food, gifts, clothes, etc… and then make sure to stick with this budget.

Make up your shopping list with the budget on your mind. Making the actual shopping list always helps me stay “on track” with my expenses. Listing what to buy can also help you save time when shopping –at least you already know where to go or look for the items that you want.

Alternate expensive brands with cheaper. If you can help it, and if a similar product serves the same purpose but at a much cheaper cost, then why opt for the expensive brand? And besides, in gift-giving, it's always the thought that counts most. If you can make homemade gifts, (I actually prefer these only that I don't have much time for some crafts) that would be absolutely wonderful.

Compare prices. This is where advance planning comes into use. Say, you’ll be shopping this weekend or the next. You can always take note of store prices before actually buying the goods. If you’re fond of doing online shopping, I bet you already know that it’s much easier to compare prices online.

A- is for Affordable

Times are hard. The gasoline price here has almost doubled its cost from last year’s. A little tightening of the belt won’t hurt us any. For me, if we can cut down our household expenses every week, that would be better. Saving some cash, so they say, will help us get through tough time, through rainy days. It’s really good to save.

One way to cut down expenses is to alternate costly brands to much affordable ones. Yes, I am definitely an advocate of this. I’m not really too particular with brand names. If its functional and it serves its purpose, then that’s fine, I’ll get that.

In fashion, that can be true too. You can still be fashionable without paying a lot. Take for example these cool eyeglasses from ZenniOptical.



Lovely, right? And what do you know, they are so affordable. The frames are made of high quality materials so you’ll never have to worry. Their glasses also have anti-scratch coating and full UV protection. Plus, they are offering a full gurantee for every purchase. Also included in every purchase are the eyeglass case and cleaning cloth. So if you are in need of eyeglasses, remember ZenniOptical. Check it out.

Checking Cosmetics

If you want to check how safe the make-ups and other toilettries you are using, check it at the CosmeticDatabase.

It's a very informative site and I've found great articles about some components in the cosmetic products we are using from there.

I Smell Christmas Already!

I was viewing one of these vids on Youtube early this morning. It's a cool reminder about Christmas shopping. And so I am reminded that Christmas is fast approaching. Wow! It's as if the days of the year have gone by with a blink of an eye. That fast.

What have I achieved this year? What have I done to make life more meaningful? Although I am tempted to evaluate the days and weeks and months that passed by, I will not do so now. I don't have the time- yet! And I'm sure it would be somewhat melodramatic. :-) I don't have time for melodramas now. I can't even have a decent time for myself these days but as I've said in my other blog, I will not complain. No, I WILL NOT!

So melodramas about the year ending aside, I wanted to say that I truly love Christmas and the festivities that comes with it. I love the annual get-togethers in December. And okay, let's not forget big sale in the malls, too! Haha. Shopping! Wooot! And I so love shopping gifts for my family.

The Coins Are All Ready!

The coins are ready. Woohoo! All I need to do now is go to the mall and have them exchanged.

Exchanged?

Okay okay...what am I talking about, you may ask.


Months ago, I mentioned about gathering coins -loose coins of different denomination, from 5 cents to 1 peso- and planning to have them exchanged into bills. If most people I know, neglect their coins and forget about them, we don't. My family stash coins in a plastic container, and when it is already full, we count them and have them replaced in the mall (it's easier and faster in the mall stores than in the banks and so I found out).


So last week, I made time to segregate them and count them. They're all in a plastic now and all ready to be taken to the mall. The total that we collected and saved didn't amount to a million (haha- I wish!) but still, it can help take care of few items in our grocery list.

take it from my sister

I actually wanted to make a no-nonsense tip about traveling light, about how to travel light. But instead, let me tell you about a discovery I made recently that is somewhat related to the initial subject of this post.

My sister who's been working in Japan has arrived. I already mentioned this in one of my Thursday Thirteen posts and yes, she's finally here. Actually, she came home about five days ago with her fiance. My family met them in the airport -every single one of us did meet them in the airport! But sans the drums and trumpets though. *grin*

Now if you're already wondering about this discovery, I have to warn you that it's nothing profound. Really. It's not about a new planet found in the Universe. And it's definitely not about finding a cure of some dreaded disease either. But first, let me finish that bit about my sister's homecoming.


So there we were in the airport and after the initial excited pleasantries, we loaded the baggages -consisting of 3 suitcases and 3 carry-ons- and then headed home. When we got home, I helped unload the baggages. Expecting that two of the suitcase were my sister's, off I carried them in the direction of our room.

Then my sister interrupted me and told me to leave the other suitcase behind as this is not hers. She pointed out that she only brought ONE with her while the other two were her fiance's. How unusual is that!

I would have expected the male species of this world to carry less baggage when traveling than us females. But I was wrong. And that my dearies, is the discovery I was talking about. My plain discovery of the month! So like me, my sister likes to travel light too.

And did you know how my sister manage to fit all her things in that one medium-sized suitcase? Raiding her suitcase few hours later, I made a shocking discovery. Everything was stuffed in there.in.a.horribly.disorganized.yet.space-saving way. Everything. And I mean everything- clothes, belts, accessories, few boxes of perfumes and jewelries... and do you what else I found in there? A pair of leather walking boots (image of the boots edited) which was mercilessly sandwiched in between other small boxes!

So now you can just imagine the trade-off of traveling light. :-) I will not however spill the beans if like my sister, that's the way I organize my stuffs. But am pretty sure, you can make a good guess. *chuckle*

Mobile Gmail Ish, atbp...

I don't know if someone's been reading this blog but a couple of weeks ago, I updated my mobile Gmail to version 2.0.

I believe I said it's faster and much convenient to me because with the new version, I can easily switch accounts. And the fact that I can hook up to my mail even if I am in an area with marginal signal (offline) is just wonderful news to me.

But, but...

Fast forward. I noticed a bug- actually I'm not sure if it is but when I log in to Gmail with my phone, I keep getting a prompt to log in again. It's pretty annoying as I can only view the list of mails and when I try to click on one, I get the notification again. I could barely read my mail for 20 seconds before I get the notification again. It used to be not like that and I don't know what's wrong - is it my phone or is it the software? So lost here.

And so I'm rarely using it now actually. I guess I gotta give the Gmail peeps a buzz about this observation and we'll see. If they can do something to improve its performance, I might send them Christmas cookies in December. *wink*

Anyway, here's a latest tip about toolbars from the Gmail blog.

Cutting Travel Expenses

So I mentioned that we will be traveling soon. Reservations are already arranged; the tickets also booked and purchased.

Now I only have to worry about my shopping money. Lol. But really in this trip, I am able to cut down the travel expenses- that is, in terms of plane ticket cost - to as far down as possible.

Here's how I did it:

1) Booking and paying in advance for the tickets. We all know that tickets cost less when we book and pay ahead of time. I actually booked and paid more than a month before the scheduled travel dates.

2) Traveling light. I did mention before that I like to handcarry my baggages as it always saves me time from queueing when claiming upon arrival (to the destination). So consequently, I also like to travel light. And good news for me because lately, a carrier in our country offers the option to Go Lite. This means that if the passenger has no checked-in baggages (and for only 7 kilos of handcarried baggage), the airline will deduct PhP200 on the cost of the ticket (per trip). *smile*

So there I go. And so now, I'm looking for ways to cut down daily expenses to save more and so I can have more money to spend on shoping in HK (what irony!). *grin*

Test Your Internet Connection

Wanna see how fast your internet connection is? Here's a highly recommended online testing site for this purpose. The site is Speedtest.net.

And without much ado, here's my ISP's stat:

BTW, you can select a server of your choice for the test.