2 In 1

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Two big events happened last Sunday that made its way in the History of Sports. Two great and young sportsmen have proven that they are the best in their field. I only got to witness the events on TV and on the internet but watching them has given me that adrenaline rush and that anticipation of what is to come.

In the end, they emerged victorious. And it is not luck. They are both really good and talented.

I am talking about the Philippine-pride Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao who won his 8th consecutive Boxing Championship over Mexican Margarito,

and of German Formula 1 Racer Sebastian Vettel who is the youngest racer to have won the Formula 1 World Championship title.

It was a victory that many hoped for. Kudos to you both!

You Too Can Have One!

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The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 and Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 lens.

Hey, how would like to have in your possession these super Canon camera lenses? I know. I too would like to get my hands on these mouthwatering goodies! It is every photographer's dream, professional or hobbyists. But we all know that it would be too expensive to get even one of these. 

 

But wait, you can still get one that serves another purpose.

One of our friends on Facebook posted something really interesting, out of this world and fun in one of their photo albums. Here they are:

The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 coffee tumbler.

They do look like the real thing right? But these are not REAL camera lenses but coffee tumblers! And yes, they are very affordable too! Interested? Visit Davao Base on Facebook.

Charice Pempengco in Glee 2

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Charice Pempengco is indeed making it big in the international television scene. From singing at the Little Big Star competition back in 2007, she is now a BIG NAME in the music industry. This small young Filipina wowed the world with her powerful and big voice.

Last September 21st, the entire Filipino community were all eyes on the television for the second season premiere epidsode of Glee, a musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States. Why were they holding their breaths while watching Glee 2? Because they were anticipating the appearance of Charice Pempengco, who is cast on Glee 2 as Sunshine Corazon, an exchange student.

The episode entitled Audition, according to series creator Ryan Murphy, is about "the idea that everybody's daily life is an audition for something."[1] The episode also tackles many types of discrimination.

If you missed watching the Audition episode, like I did, you may watch it here or here.

Or better yet, check out the video below:

Meet The Top 10 July 2010 Nurses

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It's official! The PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) has released the results of the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam in the Philippines last August 27, 2010. The board exam took place in Manila, Baguio and other testing centers all over the Philippines last July 3 and 4. Out of the 91,008 examinees, only 37,679 passed, that's a 41.40% passing rate.

And for the first time after three times, a male graduate tops the Nursing Board Exam. Ryan Abogado Oliva is a graduate of the Ateneo de Naga University with a passing rate of 86.80.

If you want to know whether you or your friends passed the Nursing Board Exam, check out the PRC Board Exam Results Philippines website.

To all the new Philippine nurses, Congratulations for a job well done!

Cups and Lowercase Gets A Makeoever!

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Yes, my dears! This blog just had a makeover and what can I say? It's just plain FANTASTIC and WONDERFUL! Thanks a lot to the very able and creative Marce Kaye of WAHMaholic Blog Designs who practically finished everything in just one day! Okay, it's actually not just one day, if you consider everything but Kaye and I did finalize everything in just one sitting. She is so like a fairy with her magic skills at html scripts. I have a request to change this and that, after a few seconds, I get to see the preview of my requested changes. Ain't that super great!

I so loved the new layout. Even my blogger friends think so too!

• Clarissa Love the layout,Mommy Kikamz!Thumbs up to K!!
  
  

  Details 2010-08-25 3:02 PM

  
  


• bonz nice layout!
  
  

  Details 2010-08-25 1:18 PM

  
  


• Yami Nice layout marce. Good job Marce K!
  
  

  Details 2010-08-25 1:11 PM

  
  


• fedhz woot woot. congrats marce
  
  

  Details 2010-08-25 5:52 PM

It is just what I exactly had in mind... And I have Marce Kaye to thank for! Once again marce, thanks for being so good at what you are doing. May you continue to have more blogger customers! I love you Marce!

The Sony Cybershot W350

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I have always wanted to give my parents a compact digital camera for their 60th Birthday. My father just turned 60 last 12th August and my mother will turn 60 this coming 4th September. Why do I want to give them a digital camera? Because I wanted to see photos of them enjoying their trips, or just having a simple family gathering in vivid colors. I am the only one separated them and even though I cannot be there to celebrate birthdays and family gatherings with them, I could at least see them in photos. That is enough for me. For now.

And so the search is on for THE digital camera and I ended up choosing the Sony Cybershot W350. It has got the following features:

14.1 Mega Pixel W Series 4x Optical Zoom Cyber-shot (Silver)
Sophisticated 14.1 megapixels camera with metal finish and lustrous spiral hairline design. Bundled with Sweep Panorama functionality and BIONZ Image Processor that captures amazing panoramic pictures effortlessly.

• Carl Zeiss® Vario Tessar lens
• BIONZ Image Processor
• 14.1 Mega Pixels
• 26mm Wide angle lens
• 4x Optical Zoom
• Sweep Panorama

They are planning to go on a trip to Bohol on my mom's birthday. I am excited to see their photos on Facebook. I am conspiring with my sister to purchase this camera and to keep this a secret from my mom. Thanks to my online earnings, I am finally able to buy this one for them. I hope they will receive the camera soon.

Friday Fill Ins #1

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It's my first time to join Friday Fill Ins. I hope I get this right and be able to join on a regular basis.

1. Music is food for the soul.

2. Feeling the warmth of my sleeping Hubby and little girl is what I like first thing in the morning.

3. The first thing I said this morning was: Morgen schatz. It means "good morning sweetheart".

4. Nothing:  it's what's for dinner tonight. I didn't cook because we had dinner at a friend's house. :D

5. It's all been three years, one month and five days (?) since Hubby and I went on a movie date.

6. Cuddling is what I feel like doing right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing friends, tomorrow my plans include working on my pending online work and Sunday, I want to treat Hubby to a foot scrub courtesy of me!

More fun, witty, smart, great fill ins when you click on the badge below! Join us every Friday.

Fortify Your Mind and Body

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We learned at school the importance of vitamins in our body. Perhaps you may still remember what they are, perhaps not. Although I try to eat nutritious food every single day, my daily intake of vitamins just isn't enough. The solution: I take multivitamin supplements to get my daily dose of vitamins. As a mom and wife, I cannot afford to get sick.

Anyway, do you know that there are 13 vitamins that your body absolutely needs? Yes, the dreaded number 13 is not unlucky after all. These 13 vitamins are: vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate).

While these vitamins are essential, one must also remember that our body only needs a certain amount. Too much of something is bad enough, as the song goes... How to detect if you you've had too much of a certain vitamin? Below are some side-effects that are sometimes associated with taking too much of a vitamin:

Fat-soluble Vitamins

• A (retinol, retinal, retinoic acid): Nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, clumsiness, birth defects, liver problems, possible risk of osteoporosis. You may be at greater risk of these effects if you drink high amounts of alcohol or you have liver problems, high cholesterol levels or don't get enough protein.
• D (calciferol): Nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, weight loss, confusion, heart rhythm problems, deposits of calcium and phosphate in soft tissues.

If you take blood thinners, talk to your doctor before taking vitamin E or vitamin K pills.

Water-soluble Vitamins

• B-3 (niacin): flushing, redness of the skin, upset stomach.
• B-6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine): Nerve damage to the limbs, which may cause numbness, trouble walking, and pain.
• C (ascorbic acid): Upset stomach, kidney stones, increased iron absorption.
• Folic Acid (folate): High levels may, especially in older adults, hide signs of B-12 deficiency, a condition that can cause nerve damage.

Taking too much of a vitamin can also cause problems with some medical tests or interfere with how some drugs work.


Source: USFDA

I wish you all good health. Take care!

Cebu Pacific Flights As Low As Php499

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Cebu Pacific Philippines has just announced its latest seat sale for their AirBUS planes. Beginning today until August 11, 2010 or until seats last, BUS passengers can avail of 'Go Lite' seats for as low as Php499 to select destinations from Manila for travels from October 1 to November 30, 2010.

 Here's more of the seat sale announcement:

For only P499 'Go Lite', guests can now enjoy the convenience of plane travel from Manila to Bacolod, Catarman, Calbayog, Cauayan (Isabela), Cebu, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legaspi, Naga, San Jose (Mindoro), Tuguegarao and vice versa. This P499 'Go Lite' fare is also available for Davao to Cagayan de Oro guests.
 
Those traveling from Manila to Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Roxas may avail of the P599 'Go Lite' fare, while those hitting the beaches of Boracay (Caticlan) from Manila and Cebu may get the P899 'Go Lite' fare.  For Manila to Dumaguete guests, you may also enjoy the P899 'Go Lite' fare.
International 'Go Lite' seats included in this sale are P999 'Go Lite' seats from Manila to Kota Kinabalu, P1,499 'Go Lite' seats from Manila to Brunei and Ho Chi Minh and P1,999 'Go Lite' seats from Manila to Kuala Lumpur.

So if you are planning to relax and go sightseeing in one of the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, check out the Cebu Pacific website at www.cebupacificair.com.

A Macro Lens, I Wish!

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I love to take photos. I am not a professional photographer though and I only do it as a hobby. No formal trainings either.... I just read about photography on the internet when I feel up to it and just take lots of photos. I also take inspiration from friends who are also into photography as a hobby. I admit, this photography thing can be an expensive hobby. Purchasing a DSLR camera is no joke but if you really love to take photos and want to capture those precious memories, it's all worth it.

If we are connected in Facebook, you will find that my photos' subjects vary: from buildings and monuments, to flowers and insects, to people and human activity, and so on. I love to take photographs of flowers and insects more though. I especially love to capture the interaction between them. However, my camera's lens can only do so much. That's why I sometimes wish that I have a macro lens. I can do so much more with a macro lens. But I know it is expensive so I will just have to wait for the right time to come.

Join Us for BC Bloggers 4!

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I have been waiting for this! I admit that it is difficult to ask for link exchange individually. It eats up a lot of time and so when Paula announced that BC Bloggers 4 is now up, I am so happy!

Are you new to blogging and is finding it hard to gain links to your blog?
Are you tired of exchanging links one blog at a time?
Are you looking for friends in the blogosphere?

If you said yes to all of the above then you have come to the right place. BC Bloggers will help your blog gain those precious inbound links in an easy and systematic way. It is also a cool way to meet friends in the blogosphere.

So come join us for BC Bloggers. Joining is very easy.

1. Make a blog post about BC Bloggers 4 to help spread the word. Invite your blogger friends too!

2. Put the BC Bloggers badge in your sidebar. You may copy and paste the code here.

3. Make a page dedicated to BC Bloggers where you intend to post the links. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the navigation bar or at the sidebar as long as it is linked in the homepage

4. Once done with 1,2, and 3, fill up the application form.

So what are you waiting for? Join us for BC Bloggers 4 now!

Creating a Sticky Post on Blogger

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Have you ever noticed those "sticky posts" on numerous blogs to announce a certain event or a contest or to promote a site or a shop? I have always wondered how bloggers did them: those things called "sticky post". They must be quite easy to make because I find them on the blogs of those who proclaimed that they do not know a thing about the technical side of blogging. Also, I always forget to ask my blogger friends about it each time the opportunity to chat with them arises. So I am reminded today to find out how it's done as I am trying to promote this blog. So "googling" for some answers, I was directed to eHow.com and the instructions are as easy as one, two, three, four.

Instructions

Step 1

Connect to your Blogger account and click "Layout" in the "Dashboard."

Step 2

Select "Add a Page Element" and choose the function you want to use as your "sticky post." For example, if you would like to announce an ongoing contest, you can choose "Text" and enter the details. "Text" allows you to add and edit HTML. By selecting "HTML/JavaScript," you also can choose to link to a previously written, archived post that gives the written details of the contest.

Step 3

Complete the "Add a Page Element" template, click and drag the item to the "Blog Posts" section.

Step 4
Click "Preview" to make sure the sticky post appears at the top of the page. Then click "Save."

See? It's just very easy... Now let me give it a try. I sure would like to make a sticky post! Hehe!

Found!

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This was my birthday gift to Hubby last year: an Apple iPod 8GB. He wasn't using it much last year and I have been borrowing it from time to time, being the "music lover" that I am. Then we started going to the gym a few months ago and he realized that he needed to use it. To keep his mind off the time, he wanted to watch a full length movie that runs from an hour or so.

But his plans of watching movies via his iPod while training at the studio were put on hold and the iPod suddenly went missing. Yes, it was suddenly gone with the wind. Hubby suspected that our little girl was the one responsible. We searched every nook and cranny and found no sign of the iPod. What a waste, I thought to myself... to think that it was a gift. I felt bad but never really told hubby about it.

Then a couple weeks ago, before we left for our one-week trip, I found it. It was safely nestled in our little girl's stroller. I removed the winter seat pads because it was already too warm for her, and there it was! We were so happy, or at least I was. It wasn't lost after all. My little girl is just very good at hiding things.

Thank You PayU!

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My main blog Just About Anything got approved for the much talked about paid blog advertising service among bloggers: PayU2blog, thanks to my very good blogging friends who encouraged me and gave me tips on what to do with my blog before signing up for the service.

 It has been a little over a month since I received my first assignment from them and tasks have been coming in steadily except for the last two weeks.

First payment received 18 June 2010.

2nd payment received 2 July 2010.

3rd payment received 16 July 2010.

Not bad for a start right? And that is only for one blog. I am still building up another blog and hopefully, it will also get approved and I will also be able to monetize it.

If you still aren't on PayU2, give it a try. Just make sure your blog has it's own domain, it has got a high PR, loads easily, and has a personalized favicon. Good luck to my fellow bloggers who are also looking to earn some moolah through blog advertising.

The Vittorio Emanuele Gallery II

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This is the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery II, a glass domed cruciform that is now a vast Belle Epoque shopping arcade. It links the Piazza del Duomo to the Piazza della Scala and soon became Milan's conservatory. It's main facade is adjacent to the Duomo, Milan's landmark. All season, from winter, spring, summer and fall, Milanese can be seen here, escaping the heat and the rain, browsing through the exclusive shops and sipping Campari (an Italian drink famous for its red color and made by steeping a secret mix of herbs in alcohol) and soda in the bars.

There goes my two loves... off to the Savini Restaurant to buy some gelato.

The LV shop here is never empty. I just got the chance to photograph the eye-catching window decor for a brief moment when everyone else was busy watching the live football game of Germany against Australia.

Anywhere in the world, there will always be a McDonald's. At a prime location at that!

Feeling locals... We were trying to blend in with the crowd and found ourselves sitting on the mosaic-patterned floor of the arcade.

Can't think anymore of a subject to photograph so there goes my happy wanderlust feet!

A COACH Bag For Free!

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Visiting two fashion capitals, Milan & Paris, last week made me drool over designer bags. I even dreamed of going on a shopping spree, taking all the gucci, prada, lv, ferragamo and coach that I could get my hands on and maxing out on our credit cards. But all of that is a dream and I know that spending on these luxury items is not my thing. So instead of wasting my time dreaming, I might as well join the $300 Worth Brand New COACH Satchel Bag Contest hosted by my dear online pal Umma of Mom Conversations and take my chance. Who knows? I might get lucky and get the bag for free.

Main Sponsors:

College Grants for Women : Fun Family Vacations : Pontoon Boat Cover : Baby Shower Theme Idea

Level 1 Sponsors:

Beauty Tips and Tricks : Get Smart Blog : Practical Beauty Tips : Spices of Life : Review My Opinions : New Haircuts and Hairstyles : Fabulously Frugal : Weight Loss the Healthy Way

So here's keeping my fingers crossed. Why don't you join too? You might be the lucky winner. And if you heard about the contest from me, please mention in your blog post that KIKAMZ referred you. Pretty please? Thanks!

What Shade of Lipstick Are You?

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I was browsing through Marce Kaye's kikay blog: Beauty Queen Gene, which is to become the new home of the Thursday meme Girls Talk! beginning July when I chance upon this online quiz called, "What shade of lipstick are you?" from Quiztronix. And the answer is PEACH. I know that peach doesn't suit my skin color so I don't know. The result however says a little bit something... okay, a LOT about me.

PEACH

You aren't a very loud person. You are calm and quiet and like to make everbody happy, even if it means giving up on your own needs. You can always say "no", you know. Just remember, YOU are important! 

What do you know? I just can't help but agree with what the results are saying BUT not the shade of lipstick. I am more inclined to neutral or rich shades. As if I wear lipstick! LOL!

Clinique, I Want One

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"Anyone can wear any colour. It's simply a matter of intensity."

I recently saw this step by step video on how to apply rich shades on your face on the official Clinique website and said to myself: "Hmmm... That looks quite easy!" The kikay side of me have always wanted to wear make up especially on those special ocassions that require me to dress up a little bit more than the usual. And because I lack the skills, finding this how-to video has somehow gave me the impression that anyone can put their make up on! They show you how easy it is to put on make-up that even an unskilled wannabe kikay like me could do it.


And so now I am thinking of getting my own Clinique make-up starter kit. Why Clinique? Because they are 100% fragrance-free and allergy tested. And I think their color tones pretty much gives you the natural look that you are aiming for.


What I love about the Clinique website is that they have a Foundation Finder that will recommend to you what kind of foundation to get after you have answered a few simple questions.

The question now is, will I really be able to pull it through? Hehehe!

Blog Review For A Cause

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Buy a blog review for $10 and help 
Baby Bella for her Hernia operation

A hernia is the protrusion of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. When a hernia is not repaired, it may become strangulated. When strangulation occurs, there is a danger that part of the intestine be caught in the hernia cutting off blood supply to the tissue. Also, when a bowel obstruction occurs, it leads to severe pain, vomiting, nausea and inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas. Although Hernia happen to boys mostly, girls can also experience it.

We can help raise the expenses needed for Bella's operation by purchasing a blog review from her Mom, Mommy Rubz. A blog review from her PR3 blog. The review is consist of 150 words (all positive) with 2 links (home page link) and an image of the header or screen shot of the blog to be reviewed. One link with the blog title as the anchor text and the other link is on the image.

Please send Pehpot an email (pehcats@gmail.com) with the url of the blog you want Ruby to review.. and she will reply with the url of the post and the paypal id where you can send the payment and if you are generous enough, you can even add more to the $10 price... she will be waiting for your email! 

Let us all help a fellow Mommy blogger raise the funds she needs for her little one's operation. Here's hoping that Baby Bella will have her operation soon before it is too late.

Scam Mails

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It amazes me how people still have the nerve to send scam mails. It's just plain shameless and malicious. The world is having enough problems as it is and these scam mails are just filling up our mailbox spaces. It's a good thing that most free email services have filters and can recognize SPAM as it is but there are still scam mails that can get through to inboxes.

I had the unfortunate chance of reading one scam mail and the objective to deceive people, steal their contact information and to drain money out of their pockets is plainly written in between the lines. Most of these scam mails are written by so-called bank employees and tell of a very rich person who suddenly died and left a great fortune in the amount of so and so. And then it would speak of that rich person having no next of kin and then "requesting" that you send them your contact information so that they can release the money to you.

I just find these scam mails disgusting and funny. Which rich person wouldn't leave their fortune to an heir or draw a will of testament even long before they die? So be warned. Do not be a victim. Take extra care with what to believe and what not.

Calorie Counting

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Trying to lose weight? I sure am! But it sure does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of will power, self-discipline and proper diet. I read that in order for your weight loss program to be effective, you must be aware of your calorie intake. That is where calorie counters come in handy. Using calorie charts allows us to track our food intake. It helps to systematize the process of dieting.

One must keep in mind that you have consume less than you burn. Did you know that you have to burn an extra 3500 calories in order to lose 1 pound? For me, that means a lots of hard work and discipline.

I found this basic tips from Barry Danser's Wake Up and Breathe! blog and thought it worth sharing here.

1. Don’t supersize your meals. Okay, McDonalds has technically removed the Super Size designation, but now they want you to order large portions. One of the biggest advantages to calorie counter charts is that you must record just how many calories that large fry has. Perhaps that will make you decide to choose the small size, or go without.

2. Rather than having 3 big meals, eat several small portions each day. Having an egg and an orange when you wake up, an apple and a slice of cheese at 10 or 11 a.m., three ounces of tuna with a green salad at 1, a snack of yogurt at 4 and a small dinner of a steamed chicken breast and broccoli will keep you full all day with fewer calories than a more traditional food plan. You can keep track of all of this on your chart to make sure that you don’t go over.

3. Make sure you stay on top of your calories consumed and also keep track of your calories burned. When you record everything on your chart, you will begin to lose weight.

4. Figure out how many calories you need to maintain your weight, and drop a small amount below that. If you normally need 1800 calories, don’t drop to 1200 just to lose weight quickly as you will slow down your metabolism. A 1500 calorie diet would be about right.

5. You can’t eat what you don’t have on hand. Therefore, you should never shop when you are hungry.

6. Eat slowly. You will consume fewer calories when you take the time to enjoy your meal. In our fast food culture, this might be hard to get used to, but your waist line will appreciate it.

7. Be gentle with yourself. Sometimes a donut will find its way onto your calorie counter charts. If you cheat with a small item once or twice a week, you may actually last longer on the diet.

You may find calorie counters and track your calorie intake online on these sites:
Everyday Health's Food and Fitness Journal
Calorie Count
Calorie King
a Calorie Counter