Book Review: For One More Day by Mitch Albom

I think the weather's way of telling me to rest my body and my mind is to cut off electricity. No TV. No radio. No internet. No phone signal. Nothing. For the first time in a very long time I didn't feel upset or furious with the fact that the power was out so very early in the morning and that I can't check my mails and Facebook. I actually felt fine with it. I took it maybe as the electric company's precautionary measures what with the new typhoon that's here in the country.

So anyhoo, I was able to just sit down and read (or re-read for that matter) a very good book... Mitch Albom's For One More Day.

I have one thing to say about this book and the author. Amazing. It's amazing how Mitch Albom never fails to make me cry with his novels. It's amazing how he write such novels in a way that's easy to understand, with simple words, yet can touch your inner emotions. It's amazing how his story-telling feels like you are actually there... a character in the story.

The first time I read this book, I was deeply touched but I guess I didn't quite felt the emotion yet. Today, however, when I read it again in one sitting I cried. Not just teary-eyed but literally cried, tears-falling-down-my-cheeks-throat-hurts kind of cry. I felt like I somehow connected with the character. Different circumstances but same thoughts and emotions.

I don't know how to give a synopsis for this novel without spoiling it for those who haven't read it yet. All I can say is that this book is about how it feels to lose a parent, all your loved ones and the unconditional love of a mother to her child.

I will be back for some of my favorite excerpts/quotes from the book. Take some time to read it, totally worth it.

Friday Frustrations: Itchy Throat

1. I didn't get enough sleep last night even though I was so sleepy because of my super mega itchy throat. I felt the symptoms of this coming days before and I ignored it thinking that this was the 3rd time this month that I felt it and a day or two after it disappears. I guess I was wrong to ignore it this time.

I was so proud that I haven't gotten seriously sick for almost a year except for my normal allergy attacks that normally last for less than a week until July happened and I got sick to the extremes. I was hospitalized for almost a week and after that I get sick almost every month. Allergy and sore throat are my closest best friends and they have been visiting my quite regularly these past few month. I guess they are making it up to me.

This is the worst visit so far after my hospitalization. I couldn't sleep because every time I feel like dozing off, I start coughing and sneezing. My cousin who is a nurse is now starting to ask me questions if I have difficulty breathing, if I have fever, etc. etc. Fortunately, I answered no and no and no to all her questions.

I'm still keeping my inhaler beside me just in case. I am also drowning my throat with water.

So yeah, my itchy throat is frustrating me. I need my sleep especially with all my online activities which require my brain to work. I'm feeling too exhausted. Weekend is here again and I'll be resting then.

2. Remember that freeloader I posted about in one of my previous FF entries? Well, she's still here and I already told someone close to her that I want her out. It's been almost 3 months already. HELLO!?!

Okay. Bye.

Happy weekend to everyone! :)

I think I'm "Glee-d"...

... but not so much.

So it started yesterday... I was feeling under the weather and perhaps due to so much stress here at home, I decided to lay low on my online activities for a while and "enjoy" the rest of the day. There are no new episodes of my favorite shows and those who has I've already watched and I am left with no new episodes and no new movies to watch. Like a sign from the heavens, I saw a tweet of my friend and it has the show Glee in it. She and some of my friends (and other blogs that I have visited too) are all gushing about this show. It didn't appeal to me at first because I thought it was like High School Musical and I can't- for the love of shoes - imagine how something like that wold turn out as a TV series. But since I'm all out for new things to try, I decided to give this one a try.

Glee Cast

I downloaded all the shown episodes for this season and watched it. It wasn't as bad as I expected but it wasn't as good as I hoped too. I still don't understand what the hype is all about. But enough with the bad, I will focus on the good points of this show from my own personal view:

- it's a new genre from my usual shows; it's light, funny, sweet at times, and a little crazy

- they actually have good singing voices compared to those High School Musical teens

- the character, PUCK is a hottie and KURT is adorable, they are my 2 favorite characters

- the songs in every episode is good

and that's about it but it's good enough to keep me a bit interested and at least finish the season first before I give my final judgement. So far, the series is showing potential and maybe it just hasn't gotten there yet.

This is a video of one of the funniest scenes in the show so far:

*edited: The previous video I have posted has been deleted so I'm just linking it up instead to make sure.

You seriously HAVE TO watch this: GLEE FOOTBALL DANCE

The guy with the jersey number 20 is MY guy Puck and the one who said "Can I pee first" is Kurt. I LOVE THEM <3

I'm a winner in Vanilla Seven's contest!

I love it! I love it! I love it!

I knew it! ;) I knew "law of attraction" would apply in this case and my determination finally paid off in one of the many contests that I have joined in the past months. Last night, Vanilla Seven announced the winners in their First Blogoversary Contest and yes, I won second prize. Woot! Woot! I am so, so, so happy! Okay, sorry. I am just too excited about it and it is a super great way to end the weekend and start a new week. Yes?

Sweet!

I noticed my blog is becoming an online contest journal for me but it is pretty acceptable since I have been winning some of them too. I can't get over this. I have joined a lot of contests in the past weeks including this one from Vanilla Seven, Fedhz', Ate Mye, Kim and Yumi Giveaway, etc. and I'm still hoping to win. Special prizes are acceptable. I feel like a kid that just received a huge lollipop! :) Eyelovet!

I hope this is a sign that I will be winning in the other contests as well. I love you Vanilla Seven. Visit their site for beautiful and inspiring photos. Because of my regular visits to their their site I got really determined to buy a nicer camera for my food blog. So I'm also plugging my Tip Box on my right sidebar. Feel free to leave me a tip anytime and I promise to link you back even if it's just $.05 :)

Enough of that. Today is Monday. My day has been good so far and I hope you guys are having a good or much better day like me.

Hep, hep, hooray!

One Lovely Blog Award.

I think this is a perfect way of ending the week, a blog post of an award given to me by Bambie and Marose last Friday. Sweet!

She has been visiting and commenting on my blog regularly and I would like to thank her for it and of course for this One Lovely Blog award. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I am sorry to break the rules of this award, I won't be passing this to 15 other bloggers cos one, most of them got this already and second, my eyes are already too strained to sift through every other blogs that I frequent to that still doesn't have this. So instead, I am inviting my first 15 visitors to grab or even just acknowledge this award from me and leave me a comment. Either way, you guys are all LOVELY!

P.S. This is a scheduled post cos I'm starting a "Sunday is a rest day from A LOT of online activities" day. ;)

Yumi Kim Giveaway!

Did I say sorry already for posting a lot of contests here on my blog? Well, I'll say it again... SORRY!

As I was blog hopping last night, I stumbled upon this post and it's just too dreamy to pass on and so... since I am feeling lucky and is trying to attract all the good and positive vibes that I could gather in this world, I joined another contest/giveaway! Hep, hep, hooray! I'm sharing this with you guys cos aside from the extra points that I'll get, I know some of you might want an extra $150 gift certificate to spend on cute clothes.

Visit YUMI KIM GIVEAWAY for details and rules about it. Don't worry, it's just easy to join! Hurry, hurry cos the contest is only until tomorrow, Sunday 10/25 8:00 PM PST.

One of the rules of the contest is to go to Yumi and Kimi, choose whatever piece you'd like to spend your $150 GC on and post it as a comment. This is what I want from the site.

Good luck to myself! ;)

I miss my Friday nights.

I always go out almost all weekends of April until August. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Okay, Wednesday isn't technically a weekend but I'll count it still. I loved my Friday night outs and being with my friends because those were the only times that we could see each other as most of them has work during the weekdays. I always look forward to the weekends not because it's the weekend and it means days-off from work (cos I don't have work!) but because I will get to be with my friends and eat and drink out with them.

It has been 8 weeks now, 8 straight weekends that I'm at home by my lonesome while my friends do their thing. 8 weeks that I haven't seen a single friend except for Apple who I met up with twice. 8 weeks that I haven't eaten any fastfood (or any other food except for homemade dish) except for the one time I bought fries and Twister wrap from KFC. 8 weeks of being sober except for the one time where I drank 3 glasses of Absolut, 1 glass of Alize and 1 shot of Cuervo during my friend's birthday celebration and the last time where my cousin and I downed 1 bottle of vodka. 8 weeks of being in the 4 corners of our house except for some days that I have to go out and attend a job interview and even then, I go straight home right after and times when I go to the mall to pay my bill and one time when I attended a friend's birthday party. 8 weeks of being broke. So yes, that is the main reason why I'm under house arrest and why I missed and is still missing out on lunch out, dine out or hanging out with friends, and all other social gatherings.

It's not at all bad and I am not complaining about money matters anymore, I am doing things to earn and I'll leave it at that. I am just saying that I miss how my weekends used to be. A glass or two, good food, good company, good conversations, good night, good life.

Sir Jack Daniel's, Boss J&B, Best friend Jose Cuervo, Absolut-ly my love and long lost friend Alize blue. Yes, I call them that and there are some more who are missing like: Mr. Johnny Walker and my pet Grey Goose. Of course there's Patron, Tequila Rose, Bailey's, Kettle One, etc.

My best friend, Jose. :)

I am hoping to be able to afford going out again without a super tight budget, you know, just enough for a coffee and a sandwich without me worrying about how much money I have left if I eat out.

So anyhoo, good vibes, good vibes. I think I'm better now than before. I'm taking small steps and so far, so good. I can do this!!!

New Contest and Updates.

I hope you haven't had enough of me joining contests. I'm sorry but I just feel lucky and would like to think so too. ;) Frugal Housewife's Pass the Inspiration contest isn't that big, no cash or credits for prizes but it's still good. The prize is basically like a giveaway and the gift pack was sponsored by Frugal Housewife's sponsors General Mills' new site: tablespoon.com and My Blog Spark.

photo from: The Frugal Housewife

*keeping my fingers crossed*

So moving on, I have had a good day so far ignoring some people who are ruining it for me. I was a bit productive than usual doing some assignments, taking tests, checking and replying to e-mails, Facbook-ing and now I am back to my blog hopping. Aww. You know I can't ignore you guys. :)

And because I can't ignore you and to tell you how much I appreciate all of you, I answered all of your comments and you might want to check back on them. I'm sorry it took me long to answer all of you, it's just that when I am online, 12 hours is just not enough. To add to my daily online routine of e-mails, Facebook, blog hopping, blogging, commenting, etc., I joined 2 more sites.

Did I mention that I joined Digg already? I also have LinkedIn but I can't seem to figure out how the two work. I strained my eyes reading and going around the site but it's too complicated for me. My questions are just simple:

- How do I put Digg on my every post?

- What does LinkedIn do and how does it work? What is it?

- What are they really?

The answers in their Help/FAQs are very vague and Digg's instructions and descriptions of the widgets are "incomplete" (at least for a noob like me), it's hard to understand. Maybe it's just me but if anyone could try helping me out with these two?

I tried signing up in Technorati too but the site seem to have a problem or something because every time I send my form it always come back with an "ERROR".

Digg, LinkedIn, Technorati... what else? I am serious about establishing this and my other blog and get more visitors in the long run. But I'm not sure what I'm doing exactly. :|

Help!

Here's what you get for cheating.

This video cracked me up. Like seriously made me laugh out loud while watching it and believe me, I rarely laugh watching YouTube videos especially when I am all by myself. ;)

Please tell me you laughed too and that I'm not crazy. The cats were too cute! I could imagine the angry cat as an actual angry girl who's been cheated on. It's so hilarious! Yes? Say yes!!

By the way, for those who wants to Shop&Share for a cause please please read my entry about it and visit the site. There are already new items up for bid and more to come soon. Check it out.

Thank you a million, million times!

Shop & Share: For a good cause.

As most of you know, our country suffered a disastrous typhoon several weeks ago and many people died, many families lost their homes and their belongings and many farmers lost their livelihood. Donations and relief operations are still ongoing.

Our local celebrities headed by actress and Philippine Red Cross Ambassador, Angel Locsin came up with a charity auction website where she and other fellow artists and celebrities donate their bags, shoes, personal memorabilias and other accessories and people who are interested can place their bids. 100% of the sales will go directly to Philippine Red Cross and will be used for donations and rehabilitation of the victims of both typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma).

If any of you guys are interested in buying designer bags and shoes and at the same time help the victims, you can visit Shop&Share and place your bids. Bidding is still ongoing. You can read full details on their website.

There are items from Ms. Kris Aquino-Yap, Ruffa Guttierez, Anne Curtis, Pokwang, Angel Locsin and I believe there are still more celebrities (Sam Milby, Pia Magalona, etc.) who will be donating for this cause. I saw Maxene Magalona's tweet that she will also be donating. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, Hermes, Bebe and Tory Burch are just some of the few that are available for this week.

Please, please support this cause. This is shopping made fun at its finest. You will be hitting two birds with one stone, if you know what I mean. ;) Well, you know... shopping AND helping out. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. You get your shopping fix with a cause. :)

Click HERE!

Work Guidelines.

I was tagged this photo on Facebook of some company's guidelines. I don't know if it's real or not or from what company this is. Either way, this gave me a really good laugh.

I am sorry if it's too small. I uploaded the LARGE version of the image already. I do not know how to upload an image and enlarge it. If anyone could teach me how, I'd appreciate it.

These are some crazy rules they got! :))

Imagine if you have to work for this company?

Saturday Thought.

Something to ponder on:

"Happiness comes in many forms. In the company of good friends, in the feeling you get when you make someone else's dream come true, or in the promise of hope renewed. It's okay to let yourself be happy, because you never know how fleeting that happiness might be."

-Lucas Scott (One Tree Hill)

So were you guys able to find something to smile about the last week? No matter how small or simple it was, make sure that you appreciate it.

As part of my practice to restore my optimism, I realized I have to make a list about the good things that are still happening in my life amidst the problem that I am facing. Maybe in this way I would mope less and be more positive. Here are the things that made me smile during the past week:

1. A friend introduced me to a job opportunity online and I have been applying. I have 10 applications in 2 days time and 1 interview.

2. I went to the mall and paid my cellphone bill.

3. I got this tweet from a friend:

4. I reached the 100 milestone of Followers on Twitter.

5. Another week for my favorite series: Grey's Anatomy, Fringe, Criminal Minds, CSI, How I Met Your Mother, Supernatural, FlashForward, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill. Although I didn't enjoy this week's episode of CSI, Grey's and Criminal Minds. :| I cannot wait for Chuck next year.

6. I'm reviving my interest in pop music as my "easy listening". Hurray for Jesse McCartney, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Michelle Branch, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys. ;)

7. I went to the SSS office and my SSS number will be mailed to me in a few weeks. No, it's not a new one. I just lost mine and I still don't have the ID yet.

8. It's going to be a whole new week again! Looking forward to whatever addition there is to my daily routine.

How about you guys?

This Is It.

I saw the trailer of Michael Jackson's This Is It the last time I went out to see a movie. I had goosebumps all over. It was overwhelming. It's like I had a blood rush just from watching the trailer. Yes, it was that good.

So yesterday when I went out to pay my cellphone bill, my feeling from seeing the trailer was revived when I saw the poster already up on the "Coming Soon" window of the theater. A friend of mine and her family already bought tickets in advance for this. I'm so jealous. I want to watch too!

I'm lucky if I can afford to go out but if not then I guess I'll just wait for the DVD. I'm still crossing my fingers though. I love Michael Jackson and his music. I do, I do. <3

VanillaSeven's First Blogoversary Contest.

I am joining a lot of contests and trying out my luck in winning. Remember when I told you I feel lucky for being a winner in 3 blog contests? Well, this is me feeling lucky and crossing out my fingers again.

One of my favorite photo blog, Vanilla Seven is celebrating its first anniversary and being a celebration, there are prices at stake via a contest. Vanilla Seven's photo entries are beautiful and among the few photo blogs that actually inspired me to save up for a much better camera in the future (not necessarily DSLR) and take shots of my favorite subjects.

My birthday wish for Vanilla Seven would be for them to have continuous success, take many more beautiful photos in the future and of course, for whatever goal the blog has to come true. ;)

Take a look at VANILLA SEVEN. You might also enjoy the blog. :)

Happy First Blogoversary, Vanilla Seven!

Movie Review: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

For some reason, I had a hard time sleeping last night. I reset my body clock and started sleeping no later than 12 midnight every night for the past 2 weeks. I really have no idea why I couldn't sleep last night. I was already in bed by 11 but since I couldn't sleep, I decided to watch a movie which would hopefully help me feel sleepy.

This is the movie brought me to sleep last night feeling in love:

*This is my personal opinion.

Main Characters:

Matthew McConaughey - Connor Mead

Jennifer Garner - Jenny Perotti

Michael Douglas - Uncle Wayne

Plot/Story:

Connor loves women. He loves them so much that after being in several dates with them, he breaks up with them on video conference--- all 3 girls. He modeled his life to his late Uncle Wayne who taught him how to "treat" girls and what relationships are. Uncle Wayne was a lady-charmer, loved to party but eventually ended up alone. Now, on Connor's brother's rehearsal dinner, after Connor was sent out for voicing out his negative opinion on weddings and love and ruined the dinner, Uncle Wayne appeared in front of him with some good intention. Connor was to see his past, present and future girlfriends' ghosts. Re-call why he turned out the way he is, see the present as it is and have a glimpse on his future if he continues living the way he does.

My Opinion:

As in music, I also watch a lot of movies from different kinds of "genre". I enjoy classics as much as I enjoy romantic comedies, cartoons, action, thriller, sci-fi, and horror. Uh, drama not so much but I do have a few favorites too. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past fits the criteria of romantic comedies. It has a few unrealistic scenes if you take it literally, a couple of good laughs and a good amount of sweet moments and realizations. Of course with this kind of genre, the story is predictable already but with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, it is enjoyable enough to sit for a good 1 hour and 45 minutes and indulge on a feel-good, relaxing movie.

I have always enjoyed Matthew's movies and I think his roles suit him well. I'm not so much of a Jennifer Garner acting fan but I do loved Alias and seeing pictures of her and her family on celebrity gossip sites but that's just about it. Matthew's character in this movie is too charming although I find him more charming in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (but that's another post). He maybe "old" for teeny boppers but he's still good for twenty-plus-somethings. ;)

Note: Do not expect too much in this movie. There is not much difference with other romantic comedies just that this one has a very, very good lesson especially to guys. And I say very, very good lesson.

My Favorite Quote:

"Someone once told me that the power in all relationships lies with whoever cares less, and he was right. But power isn't happiness, and I think that maybe happiness comes from caring more about people rather than less..." -Connor Mead

My Rating:

3.5/5 - Worth seeing if you can't sleep, feels bored and alone and just want to watch something lighter than heavy drama. Plus you should also at least appreciate romantic comedies. ;)

To Leave or Not To Leave?

These past few days, I have been seriously debating with myself whether or not to remove my Entrecard widget on both my blogs and delete my Entrecard account altogether. I will not deny the fact that Entrecard has brought my blogs a lot of traffic when I was still starting given that Entrecard and Adgitize were the first 2 blog advertising programs that I joined but while I am still happy and satisfied with Adgitize, I am having second-thoughts about Entrecard.

My concerns:

1. I have somehow "established" my blog,

2. I find CMF Ads more promising and less time consuming,

3. Speaking of time consuming, I feel that I waste a lot of time dropping to everyone who dropped by my blogs (to return the favor) instead of paying attention to those who actually find my blog interesting enough to stay for a few minutes and read and leave me comments,

4. And while at that, focus also to those blogs that I like and bookmarked,

5. After dropping more than 100 EC's a day, I only get 50% back and it's not much. Believe me.

6. No more cashouts.

7. And most importantly, I just don't feel like "dropping and leaving" anymore. There are still a whole lot of new blogs out there to discover and those that I found through Entrecard and became my friends will forever stay on my Bookmark.

8. Oops! I almost forgot, another thing is that I feel like I already have too many widgets on my blog with Adgitize and now, CMF Ads. Both are earning me a few on the side unlike Entrecard.

Now that I stated my concerns on why I want to leave Entrecard, it just strengthened the feeling that I really want to and that I should already but... what am I going to do with my credits? I have already lessened and limited my drops to those that have Adgitize on their blogs and to those that I regularly visit (friends).

My Giveaway is still on-going and I might just increase the EC credits prize or something.

Hmm.

Okay, final question:

Remove the EC widget on my blog or just leave it there and/or move it to a less popular spot? Why?

Right now, deleting is winning over me because what's the use of leaving my EC widget anyway if I won't be as active anymore? My advertisers wouldn't get their desired results too and it would be a waste of their time and credit as well.

But I'm still deciding and will let you know soon whatever decision I'll have. Promise.

Join Fedhz' Contest & Win!

I noticed that during the past months I have joined about 2-6 contests already. It's not that many but I lost count. I have won 3 times though. First one from Gems by Jerri (a necklace w/ pendant), second from Cornyman's contest ($5 from A Little Boy's Blog) and third still from Cornyman's contest (100 EC credits from Business Sphere). Even though I have only won 3 out 6 (or so) times that still gives me reason to feel a little hopeful in joining contests. *I am seriously crossing my fingers to win in this contest*

For this month's feature: One of my good and first online friend I've had, Fedhz, has started a contest in celebration of her blog Home Buddies's first anniversary and her birthday on November. If any of you guys want to win cash prizes of up to $200, ad spots and a few extra credits in your account then you might want to consider joining too. The mechanics are a little easy and the entries are per points, you just have to add links, review the sponsors' blogs, put up the contest badge, etc. etc., nothing that's too hard to do.

For more details on the mechanics, the points system and the prizes of the contest, just go and visit Home Buddies. If by any chance you have decided to join, please don't forget to mention that I, Mara, sent you! ;) Yes, we (YOU and I) both get points for that so don't worry that I will be getting all the glory. Okidoki?

Go, go, go!

Advertising in Adgitize.

I have been a member of Adgitize for nearly a year now. I was only a publisher at first and decided to be an advertiser after a month or two. I never regretted a single day of being a member there. If I may, I would say that Adgitize is the best thing that I have done to my blog. Yes. Honestly.

Since I became a publisher/advertiser:

- My blog gained traffic

- I discovered new and interesting blogs while doing the clicks

- I met friends

- I have been paid 5 times (most months I got double the amount that I have paid for for advertising) and that's just me doing what I normally do; post entries and visit other blogs plus I get points for every ad views that MY blog gets.

My recent payment received.

I paid $14 and got it back with $15.43 profit.

My all-time payment earnings. $124.38 for 5 months.

I skipped advertising for several months, by the way.

There are members who make $50+ in a month. Even if you don't sign up as an advertiser, you still get points for your entries and visits and it will be converted into cash. Don't forget to put up the Adgitize ad widgets for your visits to count. But personally, I highly recommend that you advertise your blog as it will increase your earnings compared to just being a publisher.

Currently, the Ad Prices are $7 (7 day ad), $10 (14 day ad) and $14 (30 day ad). These prices however are until this month only because Ken Brown (the administrator/owner) announced earlier today that Ad Prices will increase starting November 1 to $12 (7 day ad), $18 (14 day ad) and $24 (30 day ad). There is no need for panic though because with the increase of the ad prices follows the increase of our potential earnings as well:

Points	Old Daily Earnings	New Daily Earnings
Less Than 200 points a day	No Change	No Change
200 points a day	15 cents a day	24 cents a day
290 points a day	22 cents a day	35 cents a day
300 points a day	44 cents a day	72 cents a day
360 points a day	53 cents a day	86 cents a day
430 Points a day	63 cents a day	$1.03 a day
500 Points a day	74 cents a day	$1.20 a day

I earn an average of 350 points per day and I reach payout plus profit every month after I advertise. So, it's not at all a bad change but a good and beneficial one for all of us in the long run. I have personally been always happy and highly satisfied with the results and service that I receive from Adgitize.

Sign up as a Publisher first, get a feel of your potential earnings by doing what you normally do anyways then after you see your daily earnings try to be an Advertiser even for just a week, see and compare the difference and find out what works for you and your blog. There is absolutely no harm for you in trying out this program. You won't get rich overnight but you can get your blog out there for others to visit and discover and earn extra on the side too. Release your blog's potential! :)

If you decide to join and try it out, just click on the banner above and contact me (leave me a comment here) and I will be giving you a GIFT. :)

Go, go, go!