Earn while you shop!!! ^_^

Calling all shopaholics!

If retail therapy is your all-time stress reliever - then the malls are your clinic and the bills are your prescription. I didn't say it is the only cure, but IMHO it sure works for me at times when I need it the most. I don't go out much, and I don't shop very often either. I tend to fall under the savvy shopper category, and always have the needwant in my head, "Do I need this or do I want this?". And if it falls on the want, then I shrug my shoulders and leave before I change my mind. On the other hand, if it is a matter-of-life-and-death-kind-of-need, (OK I am exaggerating) then I scour the internet and find the best deals. And that's how I found Ebates. Who says you can't spend & earn at the same time?

Whenever I go online, I make sure I log into my Ebates account. What is Ebates? Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online cash back shopping. It pays members cash back every time they shop online as well as provide them with the best coupons and deals online. Best of all, it is FREE to join!  For example, if you are a Macy's fan, you earn 3% cashback regardless of how much you spend. And sometimes if you are lucky, your favorite store might even give double cashback. Right now, Macy's is one of them so you earn 8% cashback. Cool, huh? Once you've earned $5.01 or more, they will either send you a check or thru your Paypal account. Or if you're feeling generous - you can even choose to donate your earnings to a charity of your choice.

I just got mine, and here's the proof:

For first-time registrants, you will get a bonus $10 gift card. Just make sure that you log onto Ebates everytime you shop online for you to earn cashback, otherwise you won't. Sometimes I tend to forget specially when I'm in a hurry and how I wish I could redo it if I could (darn!) but anyway, there's always a second chance.

Interested? Sign up through the link below and start earning!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=Eb1eBUE6n96zV8Zutj2uXg%3D%3D&eeid=26471

They say it's better to give than to receive. In this case, you can do BOTH! Sweeeeeeet!!

Looking for a bargain?

Shopping can be a very exhilarating and exhausting experience at the same time. You can shop 'til you drop, but not until you get your hands into the best deals you could ever find - anywhere. May it be the mall, the bazaar, the flea markets, or online. Speaking of online, if you love eBay, then you might want to explore this website called nomorerack. It specializes on great deals which usually go as high as 80%.They have the Daily Deals which, of course, you have to check out daily to make sure you don't miss today's deal. And there's this Insanity Deal where they offer outrageous, insane (which is why they call it an insanity deal, of course) deals that rack up from 80-95%. But it doesn't last all day so make sure you look for that purple box and grab it while it lasts.

So, what's the catch? Why so cheap?

Ever wonder where those unsold, overstock, and closeouts go? nomorerack.com does the hunting for us and makes sure they get to it before somebody else does. And that's how we score these amazing deals. Which means we can also get famous brand goods in retail prices. Simply amazing! But before you can get your hands to these fantabulous deals, you have to be a registered member first. And you know the saying, "the more you share, the more you have"? You get 5 free $10 gift cards if you share the website to friends. Fan-ta-bu-lous indeed!

Checkout is also a breeze. They accept major credit cards and shipping is only $2 per item. What more can I say?

With the downfall of economy, even the not-so-bargain hunters enter the bargain frenzy. We want to get more out of our paychecks, and so the hunt begins. And who says shopping is just a snap? When your wives or girlfriends come home with bags and bags of goodies, instead of asking them how much they spent - ask them how much they SAVED. You'll never know a good deal until you see one. *wink*.

A Night to Remember ( New Year's Eve )

I have grown up with the tradition of starting the year with a bang. And with a bang, I meant a huge celebration and all that fireworks and stuff. In the Philippines, New Year's Eve is one of the highly celebrated holidays aside from Christmas. But since I am 7,000 miles away from my dear family back home, my hubby and I decided to throw our own party with some of his family members and our very close friends. Although we can't celebrate it ala-Filipino style (again, with the fireworks and all that noise) but I guess I can say we definitely welcomed the year filled with food, fun, laughter, pictures, drinking, mingling, and a whole lotta music!

New Year pull-apart cake

finger foods ala carte

hubby, friends, & family by the bar

the crowd waiting for the NYE countdown!

OMEOMY band playing in our basement

snapshot with friends

CHEERS!!!!

This is by far, the biggest party we've had since I've been here in the US. There were a lot of preparations but then again, it was all worth it. I managed to be sober the whole night (as what a good hostess would do) and by 5am, we were off to bed. Seeing all their happy, smiling faces and their laughter filling up our house is like the cherry on top of this last holiday of the year. Now we are ready to brace for what 2012 has in store for us and hoping for those yet to come.

Another holiday away from home

     When I was in my teen years, I have always desired to get away from home. It has been my rebellious spirit to try new things and explore different places. Being here in America for about 3 years and 2 months, I learned and realized a lot of things. That sometimes, we get more than what we bargained for. Holiday season is here again, and yet I feel that melancholic breeze. I lived in the Philippines my whole life (although I had to be away for 3 years to work in Singapore) but even so, my heart longs for the only place I called "home". Good thing, I made some really nice friends here and they help me get through the forlornness of the atmosphere. And so last Sunday, we gathered together for our very own Fil-Am Christmas party. I want to be able to look back and reminisce the fun times I had with them, so I brought my trustee camera and took some shots!

yummy appetizers and desserts

homemade prosciutto

a bountiful feast

prizes for the games ( I got one!)

a fun eggplant game!

a Filipina's day is never complete without Kodak moments!

     The day was filled with fun, laughter, tears (from laughing so hard), food, and camera flashes. I almost forgot that I wasn't in Philippines at that time. Next thing we know, it's already 9pm! Time really does fly when you're having so much fun. I wished I could have this moment with my family. All I can say for now is, life's moments are well-spent when you know it is shared with the people you love.

--☺☺☺☺☺--

♥ Our 3rd year together ♥

     Remember, remember, the 7th of December...

It was my husband and I's 3rd wedding anniversary yesterday. And all I could think of right now are the sappy, mushy, and cheesy romantic stories. Speaking of sappy, mushy, and cheesy, I saw this chick flick last night, and this scene where they were reading poetry to each other really captured my heart. Well, actually the poem did. My cheesiness can be a bit overwhelming, but hey, that's just normal for a woman in love. If you share the same passion for romantic poetry like I do, then this poem would surely melt your hearts...

 -- Having a Coke with You --

is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne

or being sick to my stomach on the Travesera de Gracia in Barcelona

partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian

partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt

partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches

partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary

it is hard to believe when I'm with you that there can be anything as still

as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it

in the warm New York 4 o'clock light we are drifting back and forth

between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles

and the portrait show seems to have no faces in it at all, just paint

you suddenly wonder why in the world anyone ever did them

I look

at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world

except possibly for the Polish Rider occasionally and anyway it's in the Frick

which thank heavens you haven't gone to yet so we can go together the first time

and the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism

just as at home I never think of the Nude Descending a Staircase or

at a rehearsal a single drawing of Leonardo or Michelangelo that used to wow me

and what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them

when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank

or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn't pick the rider as carefully

as the horse

it seems they were all cheated of some marvelous experience

which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I am telling you about it

~ Frank O'Hara ~

There are numerous people in the whole wide universe we encounter day by day, and yet we still don't know who they really are. That's why there's a thing called love - because we'd rather spend our lifetime knowing that ONE person we chose to be with. Love doesn't come easy, but it really does move in mysterious ways. And it led me to my beloved half..

HAPPY 3rd ANNIVERSARY to us, Hun! We may have our ups and downs but we've got our whole lives to make it right. All I wanna do is grow old with you.. ♥♥♥

A baby experience

Recently my husband and I have been invited to attend a friend's baby shower. It was actually a "surprise" shower and as far as I know, this is her 4th baby shower already. Some were given by her family, friends, and colleagues from work. It was a nice day for a first-time attendee like me. Yes, this is my first time to be in a baby shower and it feels good to be aware of what goes on in an event like this ( getting ideas in the future *wink*). Anyway, as soon as the opening of gifts came, I noticed that most of the guests gave them baby girl clothes ( it's a baby girl, by the way ) which I think is a smarter thing to give than toys. I mean, a baby can always use more clothes right? I didn't go with that idea though, since I figured that they'll probably be getting a lot of clothes so I went with the booster seat instead.

I remember when I was shopping for a baby shower gift, it took me forever to decide what to give. I was in the baby section for an hour and been walking back and forth from aisle with their baby registry in hand. Unfortunately, the baby registry wasn't updated so it got harder for me to decide. Oftentimes, when I shop for gifts I don't just grab it off the shelves. I always keep in mind if that person will like it or not, and if it's essential for his/her daily use. I don't know why, but I think gift-giving is not just a chore. It must be done from the heart.

So far, I am still eager for my mommy moment to come...

Baby Boom

 

 

Are babies the IN thing this year? Because lately, I have been surrounded by an overwhelming batch of pregnancies. So far 5 of my friends are expecting their babies by the end of 2011 / beginning of 2012. 
Coincidence or sign? *wink*

     Yesterday I joined some of my friends for a 3D/4D Ultrasound viewing of our friend Lany. Her and her husband are expecting a baby girl on the 2nd of January next year. Yeah, isn't it cool to have a post-New Year's Day baby? The whole world would be celebrating her birthday next year! Anyway, I was very excited to be part of this wonderful event in our friend's life. Oh the joy of seeing her up close for the first time! I couldn't be any happier for them...

 

     Being an expecting parent must be a very exhilarating feeling one could ever have. And I can just imagine myself being in their shoes someday. I am just a few among my friends who are not on the list yet, but who knows? Maybe next year. I wonder if Mr. Stork will bring our bundle of joy in the near future. Too early to tell and besides, hubby and I still have some plans in mind before we leap to the next level. Aside from the fact that we still want to explore a little bit more of America, is that we're also facing a major change in our lives which is moving to a new house. A lot of work and stress, but all worth it once we get settled in. So it really isn't our year to have a baby. But prayers aren't left unanswered. And it is in my prayers that our time will come in the future. :-)

Are u a Kikay at ♥?

Let's say you are going to a party. Or the mall. Or a quick errand to the grocery store. We, females, have our very own "forget-me-not" stuff that will always be present in our handbags. In our case, we call it our "kikay kit". "Kikay" is a Filipino gal's term which means "vain". Why the stuff? Simple. Men have their emergencies, and so do we! *wink*

Here's a peek of what's inside my kikay kit:

1. Mobile phone     ~  Gotta have it in case of emergencies,  and for checking Facebook while waiting for appointments, etc.

2. Keys              ~ We all bring our house & car keys right?

3. Hand sanitizer    ~  Germs are everywhere. Spread love, not virus okay?

4. Handy mirror     ~  In my case, I really need it. It's all funny games till I flash that smile with green leafy stuff stuck between my braces.

5. Mints                 ~ Making sure nobody knows I had some garlic in my lunch.

6. Cheek tint         ~  It's nice to have a little hint of color on those pale cheeks.

7. Concealer         ~  I don't normally use it but hey, it helps cover those eyebags and nasty blemishes.

8. Lip balm           ~  Always handy specially during cold weather. No to cracked lips!

9. Lipstick            ~  I like having it on my purse. You never know when you're gonna need it.

10. Handkerchief     ~  It's always nice to have something to use in case we sneeze.

11. Power snack  ~  It helps me get through my low blood sugar problem.

Let's face it. We all have the right to be vain. And don't forget - Vanity is also a form of art. 

How about you? What's in your kikay kit? 

i ♥ MYSELF

"Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all." - Whitney Houston

     Each of us has our very own purpose why we're here. And what is that purpose? Some are for the best, others they don't even know yet. But being a part of this whole universe, we know there is always a thing we all should never forget - to love thy self. It may be considered blasphemous if we don't have the so-called "self respect" which is one important thing for us to be accepted by others. Maybe in times we don't realize we overdo in some aspects that's very keen to the observer's eye which is our "physical" attribute. 

     I must admit, I've been a victim of this unconquerable disease in a woman's life - makeover (don't we all do?). Women nowadays go through a series of processes that even men don't understand why. "Why go over and over again? You look great, that's enough." But for us, it's never enough. We are never content. We still want more. The fact that cosmetics play a huge role in our lives makes us think, are we under some kind of a spell? Or is it just the mere reality that women are from Venus? Let's just say we are Venus, and she is the goddess of love and beauty. We have to stand by what she's symbolizing - beauty. Not only on the outside, but inside. Inner beauty is what makes us even more beautiful - doesn't matter how gorgeous and appealing you are but if you don't possess inner beauty, then physically you're never attractive at all. It's okay to make yourself presentable but there's more that meets the eye. It's what's in your ♥.

     For the record, I've always believed that LESS IS MORE :)