Moving Here

Guest post written by Arnoldo Acevedo

We moved here last year to help my husband pursue his music career and boy was that the best decision we ever made. We’re closer to my parents which is nice because they can help with the baby and I now get to be a full time stay at home mom which is so nice. I love being home with Sarah during the days and I also have time to start my own little business on the side which I’ve always wanted to do. I love that I can use my clear internet Nashville to get online and solicit new customers and I’m almost done with my business website which has been a total labor of love. I had to have a design student come in at the last minute on that one and help me finish it off but it looks really good if I do say so myself. My husband isn’t quite famous yet but one of these days he’s going to hit it big, mark my words!

Medical Scrubs

The medical field is currently popular among job categories. Most of the people I know are either nurses, pharmacists, or medical technicians. I couldn't relate though, because being in the medical field wasn't my thing back in my college days so I took an office-related course instead. But now I understand why it's always on top of the job-hunters nowadays because anything related to health will and always be a priority. That plus the overwhelming advancement in technology particularly computers, it just makes sense. 

If you or anyone you know are in the medical field, you might be on the lookout for medical scrubs. The first time I heard about the term "scrubs", I didn't know what it was until a friend of mine who's a nurse went to shop for scrubs. I asked her why it was called that way, she said it's just what they call their uniform. It took us a while to find a store that sells scrubs. But now that I found that this website http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/ sells scrubs online, I can suggest this to her and to my other friends. They offer scrubs of all types and designs, surely you can find one that's just right for you. Maybe someday when I've decided to be in the medical field, I might have to buy one for myself too!

Say "CHEESE!"

"Don't just stand there, let's get to it. Strike a pose, there's nothing to it." - Madonna, Vogue

     It's amazing how social media nowadays have a tremendous impact when it comes to expressing ourselves. May it be Facebook or Twitter, we often find ourselves browsing thru our friends' photo albums and eventually know what's going on in their lives. And that, of course, involves a camera.

     I am still an amateur in the world of photography. That  plus being a self-confessed "camwhore" which I am guilty of LOL! But hey, who doesn't? Cameras have become part of our daily essentials - we can't live without it. For every face and place we see, we point and shoot. Taking a picture is like painting a canvas, but without the hassle of bringing paintbrushes and palettes. With the overflowing popularity of modern technology, there will always be that perfect camera for each of us. Whether you're a frustrated Ansel Adams or just a nature lovin' hobbyist, it all depends on the purpose and apparently, the budget. It is very important to research about the specific kind you're looking for, otherwise you might end up wasting your money. It took me a while before I found "the one", and I am delighted with my choice.

     Pictures say a thousand words, but memories last a lifetime. Keep in mind, we are not just taking pictures - we are collecting memories.

Part of a Team

Guest post by Gerard Mcdaniel

Being part of a team is always tough for me because I’m not very good at delegating. I love my colleagues but it’s hard for them to understand sometimes when I need to do things on my own because I’m a perfectionist and you know, I’ve finally learned to live with that. Anyway, we were talking about credit card services for the company the other day and I just about lost it – none of them knew what they were talking about and it was making me crazy. I just wish I had handled it better because I lost my temper a little bit but you know, there’s nothing you can do at the end of the day except apologize which is exactly what I did. I love my job and I need to work on managing people better but I guess that comes with time. I’m still young and it’s a young company so what are you gonna do, you know? I just go in every day and try my best to be a good employee.

Songs in the Key of my Life ♪ ♩ ♫

"Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing. Thanks for all the joy they're bringing. Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty. What would life be? Without a song or a dance, what are we?" - Abba

      Just imagine the world without melody, without a song, without a tune. Boring isn't it? And think of how music connects and brings us together. Without music, the world would be in melancholy. And without it, I wouldn't have met my partner in life as well.

 My love for music started when I was 4. I have been a solid member of my church choir as a Soprano at the age of 10 up to my 20's. I only quit when I started working since I had a hard time trying to combine my work schedule with my choir practice. My family had an extreme influence in my musical background. Growing up with a family of singers & musicians - grandpa loves to sing & is a huge fan of Elvis Presley, grandma & uncle play the piano, one of my aunts is a professional musician & songwriter, and my mom & my other aunts used to be members of the choir. They helped hone my talent & had eagerly pushed me (even to my limits) and even encouraged me to face my fear of performing in front of the audience. Which then brought me to being a vocalist of a band, thanks to my aunt. I  just quit my job before I got married. But even though I may not be singing professionally anymore, my passion for music stays with me wherever I go.  I listen to a variety of genres but I have a deep appreciation for pop, acoustic, acoustic pop, blues, r&b soul, & jazz music, even some classic & retro.

Anyway, here is a sample of what I call my "chillax" playlist:

•      "Change the world" by Eric Clapton
•      "Power of two" by Indigo Girls
•      "Baby you're mine" by Basia
•      "Everything" by Michael Buble
•      "Let's stay together" by Al Green
•      "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder
•      "Knocks me off my feet" by Stevie Wonder
•      "Baby I love your way" by Big Mountain
•      "L-O-V-E" by Fisher
•      "Stick wit u" by Pussycat Dolls
•      "Just the way you are" by Sitti Navarro
•      "The way you look tonight" by Michael Buble
•      "If I believed" by Patti Austin
•      "Ever After" by Bonnie Bailey
•      "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield
•      "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat
•      "Secret" by Maroon 5
•      "Deep" by Binocular
•      "Fall for You" by Shanice

Yes, life may not be fair. But there's always something we can hold on to - our hopes and dreams. A lot of us may not be aware of our hidden skills but it's never too late to explore it. What's important is that we don't hold back whatever it is that's in store for us.

Music has been an essential part of our lives, and it still is. We sing when we're happy, and we still sing when we're sad. We describe how we feel by a tune or a melody. Without it, really, what are we?

"So I say THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC, for giving it to me....."  

                                                  ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸❤¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Journey to Love

"All our young lives we search for someone to love. Someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope. All the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect who might be searching for us..."

Three years ago, my journey began... From a struggling breadwinner with a singing career, to being happily married to the man who loves me unconditionally. Who knows this would happen? We are all not capable of predicting our own lives, our future, our destiny. Despite the fact that happy endings only happen in fairy tales, we still believe in the so-called "ever after", and I am proud to say I am definitely one of them. Sometimes I ask myself, is this for real? Am I dreaming? coz if I am, I never want to wake up. I used to be one of those kids who would collect tons of fairy tales and read them until I memorize each of the story by heart, hoping someday my prince will come. And he did. But it was not an easy journey. There's no easy way to a lifetime of happiness. I had to go through a series of heartbreaks, pain, and recovering - hoping to find THE ONE. Never did it occur to me that at the end of that rough road, is a meadow full of pure happiness and love. 

Blissfully married to a wonderful and amazing man, who is now my husband. Some people may not believe in marriage, and I respect their opinion. I just honestly believe that two people who are in love, must be joined together as one in the sanctity of God. The vows we exchanged are not merely just words, but rather the promises we make to love each other for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.

It may not be soon enough that I finally met my Prince, but he is definitely worth the wait. He is my everything, and more...