The COFFEE CHIC..

Random Thoughts

2012-01-27T00:19:00.001+08:00

There are many things that I would like to write about in my main blog but I have so little time to do it. Thus, I have decided to create a post that contains random thoughts running into my mind right now. Before I do it, let me first send my gratitude to my regular visitors and readers who never stopped dropping by The Coffee Chic despite the fact that I'm not able to reciprocate the action. Don't worry because I promise to return the favor once I complete all my school requirements. Forgive me for not being "fair" these days.

1. Creation of my new Food Blog

When I started blogging, all I ever thought about was having an avenue where I can share my stories and experiences without even caring what other people may say. It was never in my plan to create multiple blog sites as it will require so much time, patience and understanding. But for the past months, I have realized that blogging is really fun. There are many great things I've come to know because of my being active in the blogosphere. These things motivated me to create more blogs with niche which will enable me to relate more with other people.

2. Feasibility Study Defense on Saturday

One more sleep and I will be facing the panel for my FS defense. My feasibility study is all about creating a coffee shop in Davao city. It is the primary reason why I am not getting enough time for my blogging passion. There were numerous requirements and materials that kept me busy for the past weeks. Just last Monday, I have finally submitted my paper. It's not the final FS yet since the panel will need to check it first. My "The Coffee Lounge: Feasibility Study" is not perfect but I know it's something that will make me pass my Management Consultancy Subject (LOL).

3. On-the-Job Training at B.O.C.

I have already completed 36 hours for my OJT in Bank of Commerce. I must say, those hours were the most tiresome yet fun times in my college life. My duty starts at 8:30 AM and ends on 12:30 PM. Yes, I only have 4 hours of OJT everyday which is good since I still have my afternoons to breathe. Well, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when my classes are from 1PM-9PM. Despite my very hectic schedule, I am not complaining. Instead, I am enjoying the ride. I'm hoping to finish my OJT on the first week of March.

4. Kung Hei Fat Choi

I have posted a list of different Chinese proverbs on my Lifestyle blog. My most favorite of all is: "No sweet without sweat." It is the saying that I always repeat to myself whenever I feel like giving up. It serves as a reminder for me. If I really want to graduate on March 2012, then I have to work hard for it. As what we Filipinos always say, "No pain, no gain."

5. My Current Giveaways

In line with the celebration of the Chinese New Year, I am hosting a $100 CNY Cash Giveaway which is open worldwide. The contest went live last January 23 and it will be ending on the 29th. If you haven't joined the fun yet, feel free to visit my giveaways blog. At the same time, I have also two major sweepstakes that will go live on the February 1. Win an iPad 2 open for US only and $650 Cash open WW. Don't forget to visit I ♥ Giveaways for a chance to win $50 - One day only (Friday EST time)!

6. Sweet Advocate's Photo Contest

Before I end this post, can I request for some likes from you? All you need to do is to click this link and like the photo. I hope it's not too much to ask for. Oh, I forgot. If you want to increase your social media presence, I highly recommend that you participate in certain giveaways. For example, you can sponsor for $5 if you want to increase your Facebook page likes, Twitter followers and Google+ followers. To know more about it, please check BeautyKetch Giveaway Sign-Up. Don't forget to write The Coffee Chic referred you!

Really random, eh?

Best Deals from Walgreens

2012-01-26T11:01:00.003+08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Nowadays, you seldom find companies in the market that offer great benefits and advantages to its loyal clients or customers. Walgreens is among the organizations in the industry that continuously provide satisfying services to its members. If you want to become one of the individuals who are receiving great things from firms like Walgreens, then you must consider into availing annual memberships.

Learn how to save in your medicines and prescriptions by taking Walgreens' special discount offer. For only $10, you can get a family membership and for $5, you can avail for the individual membership. There are countless things that you may get once you become a certified member of the said firm. Instead of paying expensive prices for the medicines, you can take advantage of the price cuts provided to exclusive members of Walgreens. At the same time, you also receive bonuses when you buy products produced under the same brand.

What are you waiting for? Visit the organizations' site and read more about Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. Do not forget to follow them on Walgreens on Twitter and like Walgreens on Facebook to receive updates straight from them. Be a wise customer by choosing the best deals!

Picnik is Closing

2012-01-21T18:14:00.001+08:00

When I checked Picnik this morning, I saw their public announcement. I feel sad knowing that they have decided to shut down the site on April 19, 2012. I used to be fond of editing pictures using online sites such as Picnik. However, when I learned about Adobe CS Photoshop, I began using the new software instead. But as years pass by, I started to lose interest on Photoshop especially that I'm not getting good at it. So, I shifted back in using Picnik for the quick edits for my photos. For the past months, I have been using its features in making collages and adding credit texts on my pictures.

The news about Picnik's decision in shutting down its site is devastating. I have become very comfortable in using it and I don't think I will be able to find other sites that offer the same services that Picnik provides. Do you have any suggestions for me? I wonder how can I add watermark texts on my pictures without Picnik. I know I can always use Photoshop so I might as well begin checking it soon.

As a gift to everyone, Picnik has decided to provide its premium features to interested users for free! You can check the site now.

A Mother's Story Quotes

2012-01-19T02:04:00.001+08:00

In ABS-CBN Global and TFC's movie, A Mother's Story, Pokwang played a heavy drama role which is completely opposite from her previous comedienne roles. She was able to portray the character of an OFW mother who struggled in America in order to provide better lives for her children.

In the film, it was never an intention for Medy (Pokwang) to work abroad. In fact, she never wished to be separated with her son and daughter. But when she found out that Queenie needs to be operated, she took the risk of becoming an illegal alien in the US. She never wished for it to happen but she was left with no choice. Her first two years as an Overseas Filipino Worker went well. However, her good fate has changed when she decided to become a house helper in exchange of a higher salary. The next five years of her life was full of unpleasant experiences. When she finally had the chance to escape from her employers, she was given a chance to go back to the Philippines. She was expecting for a warm welcome from her family but she ended up receiving blames and problems. Her son hated her for the seven years that she have spent away from her family. At the same time, her husband also married another woman.

I have seen this film with my mom and Abdel last week. I only got the chance to post it today because of my hectic schedule. As usual, I am ready to share some of the quotes from the great movie "A Mother's Story."

"Isa palang mahabang paglalakbay ang pagiging ina."

"Hindi ka nakakatulong. Puro ka kasi sugal ng sugal."

"Bakit? Binigyan naman kita ng dalawang anak ah."

"Oo nga. Sila lang ang magandang binigay mo sa buhay ko."

"Hindi ko po kayang iwanan ang mga anak ko, nay."

"Kakayanin mo, anak... Alang-alang sa kinabukasan ng mga anak mo."

"Alam mo, kung hindi lang talaga dahil sa dalawang anak ko..."

"So, hindi mo na siya mahal? Mahal pa rin."

"Basta masipag ka lang kumayod, lahat ng gusto mo, mabibili mo."

"Ganun pala 'pag ina ka. Kapag naninimbang ka, ang laging mananaig ay ang kapakanan ng mga anak mo."

"Napalayo lang ako sa mga anak ko pero hindi ho ako naging masamang ina."

"I'm a mother too. I know what it's like to be far from your children. I don't know how you Filipinos bear it. It must be hard."

"Illegal alien ka... In short, ni katiting, wala kang karapatan dito sa Amerika. You don't exist."

"Without your passport, you cannot go home. We can report you but that's not gonna happen."

"Ikaw ba ang nanay ko?"

"Nay, bakit po parang mas excited pa sila na makita ang laman ng balikbayan box?"

"Pitong taon kang wala anak, nasanay lang sila na wala ka."

"Ang dami ngang nasira nung lumayo kayo."

"Isa pa ha, my mother is beautiful. Isn't she?"

"Ang dali-dali naman niyan nay. Maganda ang nanay ko. Hindi naman, diba?"

"King, kinakausap pa kita. Ako pa rin ang nanay mo."

"Talaga? Parang hindi ko naman naramdaman na nanay kita ng pitong taon."

"Diba sabi ko na darating rin ang araw na ma-kokompleto kayo? Ito na 'yung araw na yun, anak. Kaya masaya na tayong lahat."

"The last time I know, asawa ko pa rin siya."

"Nak, sa'n ka pupunta"

"Sa Amerika. *sarcastic*"

"Nakakahiya? Sige na. Ako na yung nakakahiya. Ako na yung may kasalanan ng lahat."

"Alam mo ba ang pakiramdam kapag nasasabihan ka na wala kang kwentang awasa? Na wala kang kwentang ama? Masakit. Ang sabi mo, pitong araw ka lang mawawala."

"Hindi niyo alam kung ano ang pinag-daanan ko."

"Ang sarap ng buhay mo. Wala kang batang inaalagaan araw-araw. Hindi mo naransan ang mapuyat sa pag-painom ng gatas, sa pagpapalit ng lampin. Walang nag-tatanong sa'yo kung nasa'n ang nanay nila, kung kelan sila babalikan ng nanay nila. Gabi-gabi, tinatanong ko sa sarili ko kung paano nagawa ng nanay nila na iwanan ang kanyang anak ng pitong taon. Pitong taon."

"Sana hindi ka nalang umalis."

"Nay, ikaw yung unang tao na nagtulak sa akin para mangibang bansa. Nay, ang sabi mo para sa kinabukasan ng mga anak ko. Nanay kita kaya nakinig ako, kaya sinunod kita."

"Tama naman ako, diba? Paano mo mapagtatapos ang panganay mo kung hindi ka nag-abroad? Sino ang aasahan mo? Lumaki ang mga anak mo na nakilala ka lang sa boses at sulat. Nitong mga nakaraang taon, bigla ka nalang nawala. Hindi ka na nagparamdam."

"Alam mo kung ano ang chismis dito? Ang sabi nila may asawa ka nang kano at mero ka nang ibang pamilya. Ni hindi ka man lang nakapag-Skype tulad ng ibang OFW."

"Nay, ano pong hype?"

"Anak, Skype. Hindi mo ba alam yun? Eh yung IM? Ang magic jack? Saan ka ba nasuot at nakulong at hindi mo alam ang mga yun?"

"Pareho silang abogado kaya madalas silang nagtatalo. Wala kasi gustong magpatalo."

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her."

"Tsaka ko nalang haharapin ang problema kapag anjan na."

"Ano ang pipiliin mo? A. Isusumbong ka nila at ma-dedeport ka. B. Magtratrabaho ka at makakapagpadala ka sa mga anak mo?"

"Wala bang C? Can I buy a vowel?"

"Kung umuwi nalang kaya ako ng Pilipinas?"

"So ano nga? Sabay-sabay kayong mamatay ng mga anak mo na dilat ang mga mata?"

"Why do you keep up with them? If I were you, just leave."

"Don't worry. Keri ko 'to."

"Hindi ko na alam kung sa'n napunta ang tapang at lakas ko. Habang lumilipas ang panahon, para bang tiniis ko nalang lahat ng pagod ko sa garantiyang buwan-buwan akong makakapagpadala sa inyo."

"Para bang sumuko nalang ako para mabuhay ka'yo. Di bale ng mamatay ako."

"Kumusta naman ang nurse na nag-nakaw ng papel ko bilang isang asawa at ina sa mga anak ko?"

"Mare?"

"Huwag mo akong ma-mare mare dahil hindi kita kaibigan."

"Alam mo naman ang dahilan kung bakit ako nag-sakripisyo sa Amerika, diba?"

"Eh yung obligasyon ng ama mo sa atin? Sino ang sumalo? Ako. Ako ang tumayong ama ng pamilyang ito. Ako rin ang napilitang lumayo para manatiling buo ang pamilya na'to."

"Medy, hinintay ka namin. Hinintay ka namin ng mga anak mo."

"Oo, nagkamali ako ng desisyon na manatili sa Amerika. Oo, pinabayaan ko kayo gaya ng pa-ulit ulit na pinamumukha mo sa akin. Oo, illegal ako sa Amerika pero kahit kailan, hindi ko kayo inabandona. Hindi ako naging masamang ina."

"Illegal detention. Physical injuries. Hiring undocumented workers among others. Medy, you have a strong case against this couple."

"Sir, I don't have the right here."

"But Medy, you have the right to be treated like a decent human being."

"Mamili ka. A. Kakaladkarin kita palabas dito o B. Sasaksakin kita ng harapan. Hindi ako katulag mo Helen na talikuran kung manaksak. Buti nalang hindi lahat ng Filipino kagaya mo."

"Ina ka rin. Lahat lahat gagawin mo para sa kinabukasan ng anak mo, diba?"

"Wag na wag mo akong ikukumpara sa'yo Helen dahil magkaiba tayo."

"Hindi ko naman sinadyang saktan kayo eh. Mas lalong hindi ko ginustong iwanan kayo. Kahit kailan, hindi kayo nawala sa isipan ko. Kahit kailan, hindi kayo nawala sa puso ko."

"Ano to?"

"Annulment papers. Ipapa-walang bisa ko na ang kasal natin. Kaso. Bigamy. Pinakasalan mo si Celia. Saksi ang mga anak mo. Hanggang sa huli, inutil ka pa rin."

"Kahit wala si Gerry, kumpleto pa rin kaming matatawag dahil sa bandang huli, magkasama pa rin kami ng anak ko."

"Nay, ako naman."

"Ikaw naman ang ano, nak?"

"Ano naman ang aalis para buhayin ang mag-ina ko... Nay, patawad ha?"

"Anak, bingo ko kayo. Mali yung ginawa ko na iniwan ko kayo kasi ang babata pa ninyo."

"Hindi 'nay. Hindi. Kami ang nagkamali. Kami yung bumigo sa inyo. Hindi namin inisip na kayo yung nahihirapan. Kayo yung nakipagsapalaran. Kayo yung nagsakripisyo. Nay, binigay niyo yung buhay niyo para sa am

in. Nay, salamat ha?"

"Ang pagiging isang ina ay hindi lang pala nagsisimula sa pag-silang ng iyong anak. Kung hindi habang nasa sinapupunan mo palang, sa unang tibok ng kanyang puso. At hindi nagtatapos sa pagiging ina hanggab't nabubuhay ka at ang iyong mga anak. Ikaw pa rin ang nag-iisang ina nila saan ka man mapadpad. Kasi ang anak, pwede maging marami. Pero ang iyong ina, nag-iisa lang sa buhay mo."

Alvin and the Chipmunks 3 Quotes

2012-01-15T12:33:00.002+08:00

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is the second movie I have seen for 2012. It was screened in the country late because of Manila Film Fest Festival. Just like all other 2011 holiday films, the third installment of the Chipmunks movie came into the Philippine cinemas last week.

Guess what? Alvin is still the same old Chipmunk who gets everyone into trouble. However, he has changed to become better when the situation forced him to. Also, Dave and Uncle Ian are now friends! After fighting over the Chipmunks and the Chipettes, both finally settled the issues between them. It's funny how great things change because the Chipmunks were chipwrecked! Below are some of the lines and quotes taken from the movie:

“Family vacations are about having fun.” - Dave

"Rules is my middle name." - Alvin

"When are you going to start treating me like I'm not a child?" - Simon

"Sometimes, kids rise into the occasion when you just show them a little trust." - Simon

"You're old enough to make decisions." - Dave

"Okay guys. Have fun, but not too much fun." - Dave

"Where are you going?" - Simon

"To the casino. I'm feeling lucky." - Alvin

"There's nothing wrong with having fun." - Captain

"If Alvin breaks any more of our rules, there will be consequences." - Captain

"I'm sorry you lost your job... Or your dignity." - Dave

"It's not too late to ruin yours." - Ian

"Please don't eat my brain." - Theodore

"No one tells me what to do." - Alvin

"There's gotta be sometimes when you have to trust us with some matters." - Simon

"I trusted you tonight and look what happened." - Dave

"That's funny."

"Oh, do you think so?" - Simon

"Alvin, what are you up to? Need I remind you he's watching us?" - Simon

"Nap time. Time to turn punishments into funnishments." - Alvin

"Looks like it's Simon saving him again." - Simon

"In retrospect, this is a bad idea." - Alvin

"Then I starve to death." - Theodore

"We're alive." - Alvin

"Good because I'm going to kill you now." - Britney

"No one is killing anyone no matter how much one deserves to be." - Simon

"We're chipmunks. We used to live in the wild." - Alvin

"I'm not a monster, I'm Zoe and I'm clearly a girl and who has been on this island for so long and now she's imagining that squirrels can talk?" - Zoe

"They didn't mean to do it. It was an accident. They're just kids." - Dave

"I would never do that." - Alvin

"I don't believe you." - Britney

"One day on this island... and we've become animals."

"She's funny." - Theodore

"In a crazy way." - Alvin

"It was awesome."

"It was a miracle we got her alive."

"I'm not uptight. I just don't wanna see anyone hurt." - Simon

"I'm not gonna eat this. I got this as a gift from Theodore."

"You will not eat my son's necklace." - Dave

"He's not your son Dave. He's just a chipmunk." - Ian

"The adventure called life!" - Simon

"I have a situation to deal with my own." - Britney

"He's acting totally different." - Theodore

"Oh, the spider bite!" - Alvin

"I'm not the uptight one. I'm the fun one... the cool one!" - Alvin

"I guess I might be the responsible one." - Alvin

"They're not brats." - Dave

"Even Alvin?" - Ian

"No wonder he hates me." - Alvin

"Don't worry, Alvin. Dave will come." - Britney

"I hate to see you sad. I will help you find your friend." - Simon

"Face it, Dave. No one is coming to save us." - Ian

"It kills me to say this but look Dave. You're really good with those kids. They love you. You should know that no matter what happens, you did nothing wrong." - Ian

"I knew you would find us." - Jeanette

"It only hurts when I try to explain it."

"I thought you'll never find us... that you're not even looking." - Alvin

"Why will I not?" - Dave

"Because I thought you think I'm a pain..." - Alvin

"Yes, you are. But I'll still find you no matter what." - Dave

"When I am with you, all I can hear is the breathing of my own heart." - Simon

"Rememeber I told you that 'Someday, I may need to disobey you'?" - Alvin

"S.O.S. Please someone help me." - Jeanette

"Hate. Anger. Regret. They are what consumed me. And they're consuming you too. It's not late to do something." - Ian

"Help me save my dad, please. Come on, help guys!" - Alvin

"I guess I was just too obssess to find that treasure. I'm really sorry." - Zoe

"Oh well, apology accepted." - Theodore

"Even the perfect gem cannot compare to your beauty." - Simon

"Dave, I just wanted to say... Dad, sorry. Sorry I was acting like a child on a shop and ruined our family vacation." - Alvin

"Sometimes, a race horse needs a space to run." - Dave

You can read more about the movie by clicking the link: Alvin and the Chipmunks 3.

$50 Friday - 1/13

2012-01-13T14:19:00.002+08:00

Some people claim that Friday the 13th is full of bad lucks and unpleasant vibes. Well, I'm not one of those individuals. I don't see anything wrong with the day. In fact, I have received many blessings the moment I started my January 13, 2012. To share my luck and happiness to everyone, I have teamed up with Shauna and other bloggers to bring you $50 Friday (one day flash giveway).

Take note that this will only run from 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM EST. The giveaway will be open worldwide. Make sure you have a Paypal account before entering.

THIS GIVEAWAY is GROUP A $50 Friday Event - BLOGS to Follow via Google+
Click the Blog Name to go to their Google+ Page

Please don't forget to write The Coffee Chic on the first entry. Good luck! :)

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Win $40 and $50 Paypal Cash

2012-01-11T15:12:00.002+08:00

It's never too late to Toast for the new year 2012!

Here is another giveaway brought to you by eight amazing bloggers. Just follow the accounts listed on the Rafflecopter and get a chance to win $40. This is open worldwide as long as participants have paypal accounts where the cash prize will be sent. Good luck everyone! Please leave a comment in order for me to track whether you have entered the giveaway on my blog or on the other sponsor blogs. Thank you!

$45 Paypal Cash Giveaway will end on the 17th of the month. And oh, Don't forget to come back here on Friday for the $50 Fridays! More entries = more chances of winning!

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Cash In Tuesday Giveaway

2012-01-10T14:48:00.002+08:00

Note: Expect more giveaways to be posted for the next two days. I am kind of busy doing my thesis or feasibility study which is why I can't update this blog as much as I would like to. I will be fully blogging after the defense on the 28th. However, I will still post contents whenever I can. For now, I need to be a full time student. LOL This is a scheduled post.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the Cash In Tuesday Giveaway! This is another great opportunity given to our readers. This is brought to you by Coupon Spice and all other wonderful bloggers (including me). C.I.T. is a one day flash giveaway. You only have 24 hours to submit your entries and get a chance to win $70 Paypal Cash or Amazon card.

Date: January 10, 2011 (Tuesday)

Time start: 12:01 AM Eastern Time

Time end: 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Should you have any questions about Cash In Tuesday, feel free to contact the host - Jessica of Coupon Spice. Email Coupon Spice Here

This Giveaway is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google or any other website. It is sponsored by the Bloggers listed on the Rafflecopter Entry Forms. View our Complete Giveaway Terms and Conditions Here

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The Secret to Happiness

2012-01-07T21:45:00.000+08:00

In one of my Philosophy classes, my teacher asked: "What is the ultimate goal of every man?" I uttered to myself, "To be happy." She heard my answer and told me it's correct. She continued her explanation about the importance of happiness in every person's life. According to her, no one in this world lives to experience gloomy days and encounter unpleasant situations. Everyone wants to live life to the fullest and to be happy at all the times.

However, life is not perfect. There are moments when we suddenly feel down and unhappy. During these times, all we need is to remind ourselves of the gleeful things we have in our life. As Lolo Mario says in the video below: : "Find what makes you happy". Instead of worrying too much, we should learn to practice the real secret to happiness.

"Ako si Lolo Mario. At sa isang daang taon ng buhay ko, naging maswerte ako. Maswerte na ipanganak na tulad mo, na mabigyan ng mga kaibigan at pamilya, na mabuhay na maligaya hanggang sa araw na ito. Pinanganak ka sa panahon ng maraming pagsubok. Napakalaki ng mundo, napadaling maligaw ang landas mo. Bilang gabay, simple lang ang payo ko. Hanapin mo kung ano'ng magpapasaya sa'yo. Napakabilis ng panahon, huwag mong sasayangin sa mga walang kabuluhang bagay. At gaano man kalayo ang marating, huwag mong kakalimutan kung saan ka nanggaling. Sa haba ng buhay ko, nagpapasalamat ako sa bawat sandali na nakasama ang kaibigan at pamilya. Ngayon ko nakikita na hindi sapat ang isang daang taon kung nasa piling nila. Pinanganak ka para maging maligaya. Ang mga kaibigan at pamilya mo ang magpapakita kung paano."

Here is an English translation of the inspiring words spoken by Lolo Mario.

"My name is Lolo Mario. And in my 100 years of life, I have been lucky. Lucky to have been born like you, to have friends and family, to live a happy life to this day. You have been born in challenging times. The world is a big place. It's so easy to get lost. To guide you, my advice is simple. Go find what makes you happy. Time flies so fast. Don't waste it on nonsense things. And no matter where you end up, don't forget where you came from. Looking back on all my years, I am grateful for every moment spent with my friends and family. Now I can see that 100 years is not nearly enough time to spend with them. Happiness is your birthright. Your friends and family will help you find it."

Life is too short to worry about the things that don't matter. Let us find what truly makes us happy and enjoy our lives. We only get one shot in this life and we have to make the best out of it.

Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant

2012-01-06T10:44:00.003+08:00

When we dine into restaurants, we do not only check out the menu but also how the people from the place offer their services for us. We do not just order any foods we want but we also require goodness from the waiters and waitresses. Yes, we look into both things. There are only few restaurants that are able to provide the best foods and services perfectly all together. I honestly believe that Bigby's Restaurant and Cafe is one of these places. The branch I'm talking about is the one that is located at SM City of Davao.

Abdel and I went out for a lunch date and we have chosen to have it at Bigby's. All we want was to experience a full-blown meal that will keep us happy and glee for the whole day. Everything went well for our lunch. We enjoyed the Uncle Sam Roast Beef, Chicken in a Basket and fruit shakes.

Uncle Sam Roast Beef
Slices of slow-roasted U.S. choice
beef served with a rich creamy gravy.

Chicken in A Basket
Generous positions of homestyle
golden friend chicken served
with rice and country cream gravy.

At the same time, we also love the services provided by the employees. They're so friendly and fantastic. In fact, their attitude is one of the reasons why I love coming back to Bigby's. But of course, nothing beats the food trip platters and signature dishes served by this restaurant.

This is a special thank you post for Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant. Abdel and I would like to thank them for the sumptuous meals and most importantly, for keeping the camera I left at the place. Since I'm a careless person, I didn't notice that I lost camera. It took me one day to realize that it is no longer inside my bag. All I remember was tried to use it to take pictures at Bigby's. However, the batteries went empty so I wasn't able to really "use" the camera. Instead, I used my iPad to take LQ images posted above. What happened made me sad. I don't like losing the things given to by my mom. Also, losing the camera would mean not getting a new gadget this summer. When I visited Bigby's yesterday, I was delighted to see that the employees kept my camera! This only means that these individuals are highly trained to offer great and honest services to their customers. Once again, thanks Bigby's!

My share for: Thursday Brownies | Food Trip Friday | Happiness is...

The Lion King Quotes (3D)

2012-01-05T02:10:00.004+08:00

After almost three weeks of not posting about quotes... I decided to list the movie lines I have noted last December when I watched The Lion King on 3D with Abdel. Since the holiday buzz filled my dates last month, I wasn't able to share this to my readers. Yes, this is so last year. Though I have already seen the film for over a hundred times, I still chose to watch it when it was made into 3D.

"Life is never fair. Is it?"

"Don't turn your back on me."

"Whenever he gets dirty, you can take him out and beat him."

"Look Simba. Everything the light touches is our kingdom."

"Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope."

"So we are all connected in the great circle of life."

"I never get to go anywhere."

"Remember, it's our little secret."

"Ohh, I just can't wait to be king."

"I walk in the wild side. I laugh in the face of danger."

"Why don't you pick on somebody like your own size?"

"I'm only brave when I have to be. Being brave doesn't mean you have to go looking for trouble."

"I was afraid that I might lose you."

"I guess, even Kings get scared, huh."

"Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars."

"No one ever means for these things to happen. But the king is dead. If it wouldn't for you, he'd still be alive."

"Hakuna Matata. It means no worries for the rest of your days."

"It's a problem-free philosophy. Hakuna Matata."

"I'm telling you kid, this is the great life. No rules, no responsibilities. And the best of all, no worries."

"I eat like a pig."

"Pumba, you're a pig."

"Oh, I don't wonder. I know."

"What else matters? You're alive. And that means, you're the king."

"They fall in love and out trio falls to two."

"Sometimes, bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So, why worry?"

"You are our only hope."

"You don't even know what I've been through."

"That's not my father. That's just my reflection."

"You see, he lives in you."

"Simba, you have forgotten who you are. Look in yourself Simba."

"Remember, you are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are."

"Change is good."

"Yea, but it's not easy."

"Going back means facing the past."

"Yes, the past can hurt but the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it."

"The king has returned."

"What made you come back?"

"This is my kingdom. If I don't fight for it, who will?"

"Well Simba, if it's important to you, we'll be with you 'til the end."

*credits for the photos

New Year Thoughts over a Cup of Coffee

2012-01-03T12:05:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year coffee mates! It seems like 2011 has been a good time for us. May the blessings flow continuously until next year and the years to come! It was quite a nice thought to be part of the online sharing where people can just drop by to read what we all have in mind. After all, this is what blogging all about. From time to time as we blog hop, we do not just read between the lines but read straight from the hearts of the writers.

As usual and just like other years that pass, 2011 was not even close to perfection yet surpassing obstacles and overcoming challenges matter and the best part of all is that none of the downfalls can make us give up your zest for life. And based on as how we progressed for the past years, we know how stable we will be for the coming years. Over a cup of coffee, it is nice to ponder how far we have gone when it comes to progress and development. All the more that you realized that things get better knowing that people and situations have tried to damage us too hard enough for the past years yet we remain in the act of moving forward no matter what happened and whatever it took. Nothing beats our appreciation about life. This keeps us going. We are too grateful of the gift of life. With people stressing us out, with people trying to make our life miserable, we grow better knowing that they are the ones to carry what they have been doing and not us.

Life is beautiful and over a cup of coffee, we enjoy the breeze of the occasion, we can stare at wall paintings, we talk to friends, we show how much we care to our family, and more than anything else over a cup of coffee, we realize how important it is to take care of ourselves. Let this realization be carried on to the next year where the love of oneself prevails. Taking care of oneself means more growth and progress for us which may entail sharing the blessing we will receive along the way to others. Once again, Happy New Year. Let us welcome 2012 with a blast of abundance!

Source:

Jocelyn Aps is the Business Development Manager at Artyii, Asia's leading community for emerging paint artists. Launched in November 2010, Artyii offers a powerful global platform to discover emerging Asian art. Over 500 artists from Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia have trusted Artyii, thus far. Membership is by-invite only. Apart from sharing art, artists can communicate with gallery owners and art collectors online to enhance their profile.

Hello, 2012!

2012-01-01T02:52:00.004+08:00

Since I was so busy for the past few days, I wasn't able to prepare my year-end report. So, for my first blog post for the new year 2012, I would like to share all the great things that happened last year. But before anything else, allow me to greet you a HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR! Thank you for supporting me and my blogs. Let's all hope for a brighter and better 2012!

My 2011 was a great year. Everything went perfect for my personal life, love life, student life and most importantly, my blogging life. During the said year, I received many blessings that I wasn't expecting of. Below are some of the wonderful happenings that I wish to share.

The Comeback

There were months when I wasn't able to update The Coffee Chic. All of a sudden, I've lost my interest in blogging which was the main reason why my first personal blog got deserted. Another reason for the little updates was my hectic schedule making blogging a luxury I couldn't afford. In 2010, I only had 16 posts for the whole year. Even for the first months of 2011, I still wasn't able to provide some time for my blog until last September 3 when I decided to change the blogger template I have been using since 2008.

<----- Cropped from the header of my previous layout. With the new theme for my blog, I began to feel excitement about the thought of blogging and sharing my posts to everyone. So, I came back and since then, I never left. In fact, numerous major changes that have been made for The Coffee Chic after I made a come back.

The Changes

• Moved from thecoffeechic.blogspot.com to iamthecoffeechic.com

• Got a custom made layout by Dress Up Your Blogs

Because of these improvements on my personal page, I became more interested and passionate about blogging. Everyday, I get excited to check my blog, publish posts, read comments and connect with blogger friends. Despite the never-ending school papers and requirements eeded to be done, I still make it to a point that my TCC still receives the right amount of attention from me.

The 2nd Anniversary

BF and I celebrated our second anniversary last August 12. I have written a post about it - Lucky Two. God knows how thankful I am for having a chance to meet someone like Abdel. Once again, allow me to share the photo caption posted on 8-12-11.

8.12.09 -- I know my life will never be the same again. Thank you for the happy and gloomy days... We may not have the perfect relationship but I'm certain we have the best. I love you, always. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING ABDEL. ♥

The Early Gift to Myself

For the very first time in my entire life, I was able to get the gadget I want without asking anything from my parents. Because of being active in blogging and engaging in freelance jobs, I began to earn my own money. The sudden shift in my life as a blogger and freelancer started during the semestral break of last year. With all the efforts and hard works... I gained the capacity to buy my own iPad 2. You might want to check Beauty of Freelancing.

My Dad's Vacation

My father works in Papua New Guinea as an electrical supervisor. He has been working there since the year 2001. He returns back home to the Philippines every ten months and spend a 45 daya to or two months with us. Even if my dad is far from us, we never felt that there is a separation within our family. Thanks to the advancement in technology! My mom, younger bro and I still get the chance to talk to Papa everyday. Last 2011, we were very lucky because dad was given the opportunity to take two vacations in a single year. Thus, we were able to spend more time together and bonded like never before!

These are just some of the wonderful blessings I received last year. I know that my 2012 will become more exciting and challenging. In three months time, I'm expecting to graduate from college. Unlike some of my friends, I have zero plans for the life after March. But I already have many considerations to look into like granting my dad's wish of entering the law school. Well, let's see how everything will turn out for the new year.

How about you? What are the things you love about 2011?

Join “Pimp My Cube Contest”

2011-12-31T04:00:00.004+08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you feel that you have the worst workplace ever? Do you envy your friends for having wonderful and lovely offices? Are there clutters and mess all over your area? Have you thought of changing every single thing in your office to make it friendlier and better for a workaholic like you? If yes, then Pimp My Cube Contest could be perfect for you.

Everyone is invited to join a brand new contest offered by Contest Factory - Pimp My Cube Contest. One lucky winner will be chosen for a grand prize of an instant makeover for his or her cubicle. You can become this lucky individual by simply uploading a video of your pathetic and messy workplace. Prepare a clip showing your worst office as you discuss the details of why you think it is horrible. Once you are done with this step, you can upload the video on Contest Factory and proceed to inviting your friends or coworkers to vote for your entry. Here is an example entry:

The grand prize is an instant cubicle makeover or upgrade which is approximately $1,200 worth. Below are the top three items that you could receive:

• New high end computer system

• New Desk, Chair and Decorations

• New Entertainment Package with high end stereo, espresso machine etc

The winner will be chosen by the Contest Factory judges. The criteria for judging include the number of votes received by the entry, the best video (most dreadful or horrible office) and the compelling story. If you want to grab the grand prize, then you better start filming your office and sharing your story about it.

There will be a minor prize of $200 gift card for one lucky contestant. Winner will be identified through a random drawing at the end of the contest period which will be on January 21, 2012 at 12:00PM. What are you waiting for? Join Pimp My Cube Contest and win exciting prizes!

Special Thanks to A Blogger Friend

2011-12-30T23:04:00.002+08:00

I would like to make a gratitude post for ate Krizza of Life's Tips and Tricks and Home Sweet Home for everything she has done for me and The Coffee Chic.

Who would have thought that I will be able to meet new friends in the blogosphere after I decided to be back in blogging last October 2011? Everything went well for my nth come back. But every single thing became better when I met the great bloggers namely ate Krizza, ate Rovie, ate KM, ate Lainy and ate Rona. These bloggers shared their precious time with me and they have proven that blogging is not simply writing posts but most importantly, creating great bonds across the web. We may come from different places yet we are still greatly connected because of our blogs. And for this, I am truly grateful.

Okay, back to the star of this post... Once again, I want to thank ate Krizza for sending me a special LBC package. It has been ages since I last received something like this. So, imagine the look on my face when she informed me about the Christmas gift she sent.

Below are the items I got from her! She knows perfectly that I'm in love with the color green which made me feel happier. All these things are fresh from Cambodia where she works. Can you imagine how generous and thoughtful ate Kriz is?

My most favorite gift of all is the greeting card. Finally, I have seen how her penmanship looks like.

Thank you so much ate Kriz for these things! I can't believe I got a special gift from someone I just met on the internet. You have no idea how much you made me feel happy. :)

Conzace Viral Smackdown: New Facebook Game

2011-12-28T22:51:00.001+08:00

After having a long-week vacation at my mother's hometown, I am glad that I'm finally back and able to access the internet. For the past six days, I had a limited internet connection preventing me to get all the updates on my online accounts. So when I returned back in the city this afternoon, the first thing I did was to check my FB account. As I was browsing for the latest things on the site, I came across a new Facebook app that caught my attention. It's a brand new game called "Conzace Viral Smackdown."

I find this game really interesting. It is completely unique and different from all the other Facebook applications I have used before. Since it is an augmented reality game, Conzace Viral Smackdown requires great interaction between the player and the viruses that need to be smashed. In fact, webcam is required before one could play this game. The app is extremely addictive especially that I am the kind of player who wants to get the top scores of every game all the time. It took me almost two hours before I decided to stop playing the game!

The goal of Conzace Viral Smackdown is to smash and kick all the yellow and red viruses to earn more points while all the green germs should be avoided. There are only three levels that need to be completed.

Level 1 Swat the yellow microbes - Defeat all the microbes by touching them using your hand. This is the easiest level of all. For every one microbe hit, the player will earn two points. The bonus given after completing this level is 20 points.

Level 2 Dodge the green germs - This time, there are two organisms needed to be dealt with. One yellow microbe still offers two points when it is hit. However, the green germs should be avoided for each costs a deduction of two points. Upon completion of this level, the player will receive 30 points.

Level 3 Kick the red viruses - This is the most exciting level of all! With the coming of the red viruses, which cost five points each, the level becomes more interesting. This is the right time to gain more points. The player will earn 50 points when the level is completed.

Try to play the game and experience adrenaline rush as you start to fight all the viruses and germs! Playing Conzace Viral Smackdown is truly enjoyable. It is starting to become popular because of its easy and exciting interface. I'd love to play this game with my boyfriend and friends. I can't wait to compete with them and see who gets the best score! Aside from having fun, we might also get a chance to win exciting prizes from Conzace.

Anyway, here are the top two scores I've earned! I will be playing again tomorrow with the goal of being part of the top 10 players and be listed on the leader board. This app also allows players to share their scores on Twitter and Facebook.

If you enjoy reality games, then Conzace Viral Smackdown is perfect for you. Here is the complete link for the app: http://www.facebook.com/conzace?sk=app_331259760233076

The full mechanics of the game:

1. The Viral Smackdown game is open to all fans of Conzace Heavy Duty Immunity Page

2. Register and allow the game to start

3. You must have a webcam to play the game

4. Play the game to advance to higher levels

a. Level 1 - Swat the Yellow Microbes

b. Level 2 - Dodge the Green Germs

c. Level 3 - Kick the Red Virus

5. Point System will be as follows until the completion of the level:

a. Yellow Microbes Level - gain 2 pts each yellow microbes hit (BONUS 20 Pts for completing the level)

b. Green Germs Level - minus 2 pts each green germ hit (BONUS 30 Pts for completing the level)

c. Red Viruses Level - gain 5 pts each yellow and red viruses hit and minus 5 pts each green germ hit (BONUS 50 Pts for completing the level)

6. Play as many times as you want

7. Complete all the three levels for a chance to win a Conzace gift pack

8. Top (10) ten weekly winners get a chance to win a special surprise gift, so keep checking the leaderboard for top scores!

Merry Christmas and Thank You

2011-12-24T22:01:00.000+08:00

Even if I'm in a vacation right now, I wouldn't let this day pass without greeting my valued readers a Happy Christmas! Thank you so much for all the support you have showed The Coffee Chic. I really appreciate it a lot and I wish for more support from all of you. Allow me to share a simple image I got from We Heart It. Sorry but this is all that I can afford for now due to limited time and availability.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Kaiser Webs Solution and Gagay MD for the prizes I've won from their giveaways! It really feels good receiving Christmas gifts that I could use for blogging.

Thank you so much to ate Gagay for the 1 yr domain and hosting! I will use it to create a new Fashion and Beauty blog which is something I have dreamed of having. Though I'm not sure how to start and maintain it, I'm still greatly interested about it. So, once again, thank to Gagay of Gagay MD for the Page Rank and Birthday Giveaway!

Also, thank you to Kaiser Webs for the 1 yr domain! I won the raffle prize from the Davao Bloggers Black and White Christmas Party. They offer the most reliable and affordable web hosting! Everyone would surely love to avail of their products and services. Thanks to Kaiser and the team! I owe so much from you! I wish I could also get the web hosting Philippines from this great hosting firm!

$50 Friday - 12/23

2011-12-23T00:01:00.002+08:00

*This is a scheduled post.*

Everyone loves cash, right? How would you like a chance to win $50 EVERY FRIDAY? Well, I am very excited that I have joined with an amazing group of bloggers to offer you a WEEKLY cash giveaway! Cool, yes?

Well, there is only one catch, the giveaway begins THIS FRIDAY and is ONLY opened from 12:01 am and will close at 12:01am on Saturday, so it is only OPENED ONE DAY!

This week's $50 Friday will be for Google+ Follows, so if you have yet to set up your Google+ Account, click HERE for information, then go on to add the following pages to your Google+ Circle.

BLOGS to Follow via Google+

About A Mom
Keenly Kristin
Adventures of My Family of 8
My Tots Exactly
Debbie Does Coupons
Week 99er
Pretty Pink Momma
The Coffee Chic
Africa's Blog
The Kids are Grown, Now What?
My Crafty Life
Bay Area Mommy
Insights by April
Koupon Krazed
Gone Klippin' Krazy
The Dad Blogs
Beach Monkeys
Upcycled Scrapbooking
the Blog Cafe
Hott Mama in The City
Martinsville Macaroni Kid
Gypsy Mama Logs
Sweeping The USA
Planet Weidknecht
Penny Pincher Jenny

ONE DAY to ENTER!

Entering is easy, just add each of the blogs in the entry form below to your Google+ Circle then click I did it! Now, to be eligible to win this giveaway, you MUST add ALL 25 Blogs to your Google+ Circle!

Don't forget to put The Coffee Chic as the Blog who referred you, in Entry #1!

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The "Date" Before Christmas

2011-12-22T04:20:00.002+08:00

Everything went well for my date with Abdel yesterday and it is something that I am truly grateful of. It's good to spend some quality time with him before I leave for my trip to Carmen where I will be celebrating the remaining happy days of the Christmas season.

The things we did for our date were simple yet they were the best (as what I always say). Just like all our usual bonding moments, we started our day by sharing lunch together. We have chosen to have our lunch at Igloo because it has been a year since we last went to the place. Chocolate sundae is my most favorite food from Igloo which is why I really asked Abdel to order it for me. It sounds like a demand but it's more of a favor. (lol)

Igloo has the best desserts in the city! They have different kinds of splits, ice creams and sundaes that will surely satisfy the sweet cravings of every person. However, when it comes to the available meals, their menu is limited. There aren't so much to order that is why we had these.

After a heavy lunch, we headed to the fourth floor of GMall for our movie time. While were choosing for the film to watch, we realized that there are only two movies that we haven't seen yet. We already saw the rest last week. So, we only have two films to choose from and we agreed to watch "Ghost Protocol - Mission Impossible." Read more about the film here. It's the first "real" post on my new blog which is also still under construction.

Two hours from now, I will be taking a long road trip with my family. That means I won't be able to stay online most of the time until I get back home, most probably, on the 29th. So, as early as now, allow me to great you Merry Christmas!

$50 Hump Day Giveaway 12-21

2011-12-21T12:08:00.001+08:00

Today's event is for adding Google Pages to your Google+ Circles once again (yay!). This is brought to you by the 20 wonderful blogs listed below. Feel free to visit them once you're done entering the giveaway. If you'd like to join as a sponsor in the following weeks, please send an email to humpday50(at)mytotsexactly(dot)com.

A note: You can only join this on one blog/page. There will be a maximum of 25 entries ONLY. If you have more than 25, I reserve the right to delete duplicate or fraudulent entries. May I request that you use only one name and email address for quicker validation of entries.

On the first mandatory entry, please write The Coffee Chic referred you. You must complete the first 2 tasks before the others are enabled..

Thank you very much and good luck. By joining this giveaway, you agree to the Terms and Conditions on the bottom of the form. Contest is open all-day Wednesday, from December 21st, 12:01am EST to December 21st,11:59pm EST (December 21st, 1:01pm Philippine time to December 22nd, 12:59pm Philippine time).

Good luck, Happy Hump Day and Happy Holidays!

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Help the Victims of Bagyong Sendong

2011-12-19T18:26:00.002+08:00

What happened in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan city is truly devastating. Bagyong Sendong has taken away the lives of many people living in the affected areas. It breaks my heart to see all the persons grieving for the loss of their loved ones. I may have not experienced what they are going through right now but I perfectly feel for them. Losing the one you love unexpectedly is really sad. Also, the people who were affected by the flash floods are currently suffering from the lack of basic needs such as food, water, shelter and clothing. These individuals need great help.

Should you want to help the families from CDO and Iligan, please see all these.

LBC will ship your donations for free to those who need it the most. Just drop it off at the LBC branch nearest to you. Let's join together once again in helping our kababayans, together we can make a difference!

You can also contact CDO bloggers and Iligan bloggers. Just complete the form below and send your donations:

One for Iligan

Help CDO

Grab your cellphones now and send your donations using your network provider.
For SMART Subscribers:
- Smart money users can transfer funds to the official Baha Fund account (5577 5130 6822 1104)
- Donors may also deposit cash Smart Money account number in any Banco De Oro branch nationwide or through Hapinoy and Cebuana Lhuillier outlets.

- You can also send this message: RED (amount) to 4143. Valid donation amounts 10, 25, 50, 100.
For Globe Subscribers:
- Text RED to 2899. Valid donation amounts 5,25,50,100 or 300 (For ex, RED 10)
- Through GCASH, text DONATE and send to 2882

SAGIP KAPAMILYA

1. BDO Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39301-14199
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

2. BDO Dollar Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39300-81622
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

3. PNB Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 419-539-5000-13
Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

4. BPI Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3051-1127-75
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

5. BPI Dollar Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3054-0270-35
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION

1) METROBANK
Peso Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 3-098-51034-7

Dollar Savings
Account Name:GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number:2-098-00244-2
Code: MBTC PH MM

2) UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK (UCPB)

Peso Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number:115-184777-2 or 160-111277-7

Dollar Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 01-115-301177-9 or 01-160-300427-6

GAWAD KALINGA

1) Through Bank Deposit
Gawad Kalinga Philippine Peso Current Account
# 3101 0977 56 BPI EDSA Greenhills

Gawad Kalinga US$ Savings Account
# 3104 0162 34 BPI EDSA Greenhills
Swift code: BOPIPHMM

2) Donate online

Let us help our Kababayans and make them feel that we are always here for them. Please offer your prayers for them, too.

Win $50 for the Holidays

2011-12-19T01:21:00.000+08:00

Once again, I have teamed up with all other bloggers to bring you $50 Paypal Giveaway! Who doesn't like winning some cash for the holidays? Expect more giveaways to be posted in the coming days. Christmas is truly the best time of the year. There are kind and generous persons all over the world.

All you need is to like all the Facebook pages on the RC. Good luck! Happy Christmas!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more giveaways like this, please visit I Heart Giveaways.

--------------------------------------

Since of my hectic schedule these days, I have decided to give the linky love to my first commentators every month. They will receive a sidebar display on this blog (Only for the top 3)! The top "first" commentator for the month will have his or her badge added on my sidebar too. I will start adding the links on January 2012 for the comments made from December 1-31, 2011.

Oh, Christmas!

2011-12-17T23:25:00.002+08:00

My schedule has been hectic for the past few days because of the demands from my professors and teachers. As we all know, there are many things needed to be done and completed before students can truly have their Christmas vacation. In my case, I had to take all the exams for prelims and submit the technical aspect of my feasibility study. The school requirements made me go to sleep super late at night and miss updating my blog.

And now that everything is over, I am officially back and ready to blog! (But I will be gone again for a long-week vacation at my mom's province on the 23rd.) Since the busy days are gone, I felt the need to reward myself for completing the first grading period of my hopefully last semester as a college student. So, I went to the mall with my mom for our early Christmas shopping and to the parlor for an instant makeover!

Among all the things I bought for myself, the bags from Celine are my most favorite! They are perfect for someone like me who admires simple yet classy bags. The good thing about these items is that they are now affordable. Can you believe that the P1,700 / bag is now selling at P1,299 each or P1,000 for two?

Advance Happy Christmas everyone! Sorry for the low resolution image below. I used my iPad in taking the pic.

Since I am going to my mom's place for Christmas, I will need to download more reading materials for me to enjoy my week-long stay at the province. Thanks to Zinio for the free digital subscription of Cosmopolitan! That means I no longer need to pay for my 12 years subscription for my favorite magazine!

How many times did I mention the word "Christmas" in this post? :)

This is my share for Thursday Brownies

Promote Your Blog Giveaway

2011-12-16T09:10:00.005+08:00

I have been really busy these past few days because of exams and other school requirements. As we all know, last week of school before the Christmas vacation starts can really become stressful especially for graduating students like me. For this week, I haven't got enough time of sleep and rest. Blame it to the never-ending papers and exams! So, for now, allow me to update The Coffee Chic by posting again a new giveaway which is open for everyone. Have fun and enjoy!

One more day to go... Then, I'll be blogging and blog hopping more tomorrow.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Are you looking to increase your exposure and following for your blog?

22 blogs have joined together to offer you a chance to win a MEGA ad campaign! (Yey! I'm one of them.)

The lucky winner will receive:

A promotional post on ALL 22 blogs

Premium Sidebar advertising for the entire month of January on ALL 22 blogs

Weekly Facebook Shout-outs from ALL 22 blogs

Weekly Tweets from ALL 22 blogs

With the heavy hitter blogs we have participating, this would mean HUGE exposure for you and your blog for the entire month of January! Do you want to sponsor this giveaway next month? Participation is FREE! Find out more HERE. Entry is simple! Just follow us all using the Rafflecopter form below, and be sure to come back for your daily entries too!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you love joining giveaways? If yes, then, visit my other blog for more chances of winning. I ♥ Giveaways: Who doesn't love winning?

Win $100 Amazon Card

2011-12-15T22:29:00.000+08:00

Here's a new giveaway for all of you! Twitter Blast will end on January 1, 2012. This means, you have more time to get all the entries. More twitter accounts followed = more chances of winning! Good luck everyone! Advance Happy Christmas!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hump Day $50 Giveaway - 12/14

2011-12-14T10:27:00.010+08:00

It's time for Hump Day $50 Giveaway and today's event is for adding Google Pages to your Google+ Circles. Once again, this is brought to you by the 25 wonderful blogs listed below. Feel free to visit them once you're done entering the giveaway. If you'd like to join as a sponsor in the following weeks, please send an email to humpday50(at)mytotsexactly(dot)com.

For Google pages, you would need to log in to your Google+ account and add the page to your Circles. Just hit the "Add to Circles" on the top right and choose a category. We sure will appreciate if you hit that +1 button on the left too. :)

A note: You can only join this on one blog/page. There will be a maximum of 27 entries ONLY. If you have more than 27, I reserve the right to delete duplicate or fraudulent entries. May I request that you use only one name and email address for quicker validation of entries.

On the first mandatory entry, please write The Coffee Chic referred you. You must complete the first 2 tasks before the others are enabled..

Thank you very much and good luck. By joining this giveaway, you agree to the Terms and Conditions on the bottom of the form. Contest is open all-day Wednesday, from December 14th, 12:01am EST to December 14th,11:59pm EST (December 14th, 1:01pm Philippine time to December 15th, 12:59pm Philippine time).

Good luck and Happy Hump Day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Immortals 2011 Quotes

2011-12-14T01:55:00.001+08:00

Thanks to Abdel for inviting me to watch this epic film. Below are some of my favorite lines from the movie.

"All men's souls are immortal. But the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine."

"Salvation can be yours if you will it."

"I will end the reign of the gods."

"Being a warrior is not being able to fight the opponents. It is finding a good reason to drive your sword in the first place."

"It's not living that's important. It is living rightly."

"He does not fear danger, nor fear, nor defeat."

"The world does not need any more cowards."

"No god shall interfere in man's affairs until the titans have been unleashed."

"I have faith in you... Prove me right. Lead your people."

"They are simply metaphors, son. Nothing else."

"This is what I offer you... Immortality."

"The gods maybe in your side but tomorrow, I will unleash the titans."

"Stand your ground! Fight for order! Fight for the man beside you! Fight for those who bore you! Fight for your children! Fight for your future! Fight for your name to survive! Fight! For immortality!"

"The weak, the defenseless... Who is kind to protect them?"

"What does it feel like there is no memory of you?"

"My deeds will go down in history."

"I'm writing your history."

"Don't be afraid of your visions, little one."

"So, it will be your time."

"Time for what?"

"The fight against evil never ends."

"Your father will be there, fighting for your future."

Davao Bloggers: Black and White Christmas Ball

2011-12-13T12:28:00.004+08:00

Who says blogging is only all about sharing life's greatest moments, joining memes and writing paid posts? We all know that there is always something more to the terms "blogs", "blogging" and "bloggers". I have proven this again to myself when I attended Davao Bloggers' Black and White Christmas Ball.

It took me two to three weeks of waiting before my application was granted by the admin of the Facebook group. I thought my blogs are not that great making me ineligible to join the viral community of bloggers. But, I was wrong. As explained to me by one of the officers, kuya Olan, there is always daw a screening process before bloggers can get access to the group. Thanks to recommendations of my friends Renz, ate Rovie and Jin for the recommendations. Because of them, I was added to group by then-officer, now-president Ms. Dulce.

Truly, good things come to those who wait. When I became a member of DB, I was invited by some friends to join the Christmas party. At first, I was hesitant especially that I only know three persons from the group. Thanks to ate Rovie who persuaded me enough to come with her on the event. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I enjoyed every single thing in the party. Honestly, I wasn't expecting that the members from Davao Bloggers are friendly and accommodating. Never did I feel out of place during the event. Everyone in the party was showing a pretty smile and a warm attitude. Bloggers from Davao city are really down to earth individuals. They are great and intelligent writers yet they don't mind bragging about it.

Thanks to all these wonderful bloggers who made the Christmas party possible. The Coffee Chic is truly grateful to all the Davao bloggers!

I'm also extending my gratitude to all these sponsors. (I hope you could all like these pages)

I also won one year-domain from one of the generous sponsors. This means that I'm going to create again a new blog. It will be all about reviews!

Party and Blogs

2011-12-11T15:36:00.002+08:00

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Everything seems to be so perfect for this year's holidays. What do we expect during this season of love and sharing? Of course, partying and new things.

Tonight, I will be meeting some of the members of Davao Bloggers at a new establishment in the city - Metropolis Suites. It's going to be the first Christmas party I will attend for the 2011 holidays.

I only have two hours left to go for preparations. Then, I'll see my old friends again and meet new acquaintances. I can't wait to finally meet ate Rovie after not showing up last month for Bella's first birthday party.

As for the new things for the season, allow me to introduce my two other blogs. They're still under construction. So please, bear with me.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

My Journey

Arthur Christmas Movie Lines

2011-12-10T16:09:00.003+08:00

As I was looking in the drafts of my old cellphone, I saw these movie lines taken from the great film Arthur Christmas. Since I find these quotes merry, let me share them to you. Allow me to remind you of the real meaning of the Christmas season.

"Dear Santa, my friend doesn't believe in you. But I think you are real. But how how to get to all the children in one night?" - Gwen

"I do believe in Santa. He is real. He is the best man in the world." - Arthur

"Operation Santa Claus is coming to town!" - Steve

"I just want it to be perfect for every kid."

"My father said that being Santa is being the best job in the world. And he is right. I love it. Merry Christmas." - Santa Claus (Malcolm)

"Christmas has no time for emotions." - Steve

"But that will ruin the magic." - Arthur

"On Christmas night, he comes." - Arthur

"Arthur, there is always a way." - GrandSanta

"Only children get to tear the wrapper." - Elf

"It doesn't matter how we got here... as long as she still believes." - Arthur

"You've got to deliver the present. You got the suit." - GrandSanta

"But you are Santa." - Arthur

"Santa is the most caring man in the world." - Arthur

"Then why are you here, not him?" - Elf

"Christmas is for the kids." - Arthur

"I'm sorry, I messed everything up, lad. I just wanted them to remember who I used to be. You get old and then everything changes." - GrandSanta

"I promise, Santa will come. He is the greatest man ever." - Arthur

Have you seen this movie already? If you haven't, then, please take some time to go the cinema and give your children a treat! Be amazed with this happy and inspiring film.

Meet the family who makes Christmas happen.
The last person anyone believe in is the only one who can save the holidays.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

My Journey

What Makes You Beautiful Lyrics

2011-12-09T13:06:00.002+08:00

Sometimes, all I need is a sweet person to make me feel good and take all the worries away. I can't explain the happiness I felt when I received a video from Abdel last night. It was one of the sweetest things he did for me. Simple yet meaningful. Good bye gloomy days! Hello beautiful ones!

This is Boyce Avenue's revival of "What Makes You Beautiful." My favorite line from the song is:

Baby you light up my world like nobody else

The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground it ain’t hard to tell
You don’t know, oh oh
You don’t know you’re beautiful
If only you saw what I can see
You’ll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I’m looking at you and I can’t believe
You don’t know, oh oh

For the past few days, I have been whining about how busy I am with school and other things. I have also been complaining about how fat I really feel. Yes, there are times when girls just can't help it to feel so low. Good thing I have someone to cheer me up and to remind me of how beautiful I can be (never ending). I don't care about what other people think. What matters is his opinion. Knowing that he thinks I'm beautiful is more than enough.

Click here for the lyrics.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Simply Pochi

Bonding Time: Food Trips

2011-12-08T21:03:00.005+08:00

They say, people who are in a relationship are more likely to gain weight than those who are single. I used to disagree with this idea until I met Abdel and started gaining weight intensely. For the past 25 months of being with him, I noticed the irregular eating patterns that we have. We are like all other couples who enjoy eating a lot. Every single day, we have heavy breakfast meals. Most of the time, he picks me up at home early in the morning and brings me to fast food chains. For lunch and dinner, we often cook meals together or go to restaurants. In between meals, we also enjoy having our meriendas. There are also times when we go out with our friends and dine in eat-all-you-can restos. With all these food trips, it is really hard to stop ourselves from gaining some pounds. No matter what I do, I just can't say no to all these temptations. Most especially when boyfriend keeps on surprising me with chocolates and his own recipe meals!

Like yesterday, we had again another fun-food-filled Wednesday! Before we watched the movie Arthur Christmas, we headed to Mandarin for our lunch. I really love the quail egg siomai and fried seafood rolls of this Chinese restaurant! That is why I always order for it every time we eat at the place.

After having a wonderful lunch, we went to the cinema and then to Bake & Churn for the ice cream cakes! Who doesn't love an ice cream especially when it's baked?

Though this is out of the topic, I would like to thank Babe for choosing this great bag for me! It's the perfect choice!

First time to join!

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

My Journey

Arthur Christmas

2011-12-07T23:36:00.006+08:00

Today is the first Philippine screening of Arthur Christmas. The movie was not in the list of the films I wanted to see but since there are no new items showing in the cinema (I have already watched them all), I decided to go for it. Abdel also thought of the same thing. We were left with no choice but to see the movie on 3D or else, we're going to bore ourselves. Wednesday is our movie day and we cannot just let the it pass without seeing a great film on the big screen. Thus, we still bought our tickets for Arthur Christmas. When we entered the 3D Cinema of GMall, to our surprise, we found out that we were the only persons who have chosen to watch the film. It felt like we own the big place which was really cool.

My rating for the film is ★★★★☆. It was good but not good enough. There is something lacking in the movie. However, overall, the persons behind this Christmas film did a great job for making a movie that will certainly touch the hearts of its viewers. The moral of the story is really perfect. The movie teaches its viewers about the real essence of Christmas. The character of Arthur shows what it means to truly give presents and gifts on the most special time of the year. For him, nothing feels great than making the dreams of the children come true. He does not want people to forget about Santa Claus (Though in real life, we know Santa does not exist. But let's face it, the thought of this man's presence makes every child happy. We must not take that away from them.)

After seeing Arthur Christmas, I realized it wasn't that bad after all. The film reminded me of the important things about the Christmas season. When I was a little kid, I believed in Santa Claus. But as years pass by, I realized he is not real but it doesn't stop me from believing that someone out there is as great as Santa Claus. Someone out there is willing to share all the blessings that he has for the people.

credits to the photos

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

More Than Sexy

No SPEED Limit

2011-12-06T23:34:00.003+08:00

Be a part of history on January 29, 2012. Mark your Calendars and participate in one of the biggest events to start the year off. We give you No SPEED Limit.

No SPEED Limit, is a yearly benefit run organized by Ateneo Special Education Society (Ateneo SPEED). No SPEED Limit this year offers a unique 3K, 5K,10K and 15K route both inside and outside the Ateneo campus, reaching parts of Katipunan Avenue. For the benefit of Batino Elementary School, Ateneo SPEED aims to aid in the further development of teachers in one of the largest public special education institution in Quezon City.

RACE CATEGORIES and REGISTRATION FEES

15K Route: P700

10K Route: P550

5K Route: P450

3K Route: P400

GUN START

15K 4:45 AM

10K 5:00 AM

5K 5:15 AM

3K 5:30 AM

CASH & CONSOLATION PRIZES

15K

1st Place: 6,000

2nd Place: 4,000

3rd Place: 1,500

10K

1st Place: P4,000

2nd Place: P3,000

3rd Place: P1,000

1st Place: P2,500

2nd: P1,000

3rd: Consolation Prizes

1st: Consolation Prizes

2nd: Consolation Prizes

3rd: Consolation Prizes

REGISTRATION VENUES

Online Registration

Download the registration form at http://ateneospeed.org/nsl and send an accomplished copy to nospeedlimit2012@yahoo.com. Payment and race kit pickup options will be sent to you.

Public Registration

You can also register at ROX (Recreational Outdoor Exchange) from December 19 to January 28.

You can find them at: Bonifacio High Street B1 R.O.X. Building, Taguig City, Philippines

CONTACT

For Sponsorship & Registration Inquiries, Text/ Call: Abby @ 0917-691-9500 and 0922-863-0433

Email: nospeedlimit2012@yahoo.com

Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/NSL2012

NSL website: http://ateneospeed.org/nsl

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

My Journey

Link Paypal with Unionbank EON Debit Card

2011-12-04T23:18:00.004+08:00

When I started blogging years ago, I considered creating a Paypal account because according to my blogger friends, most online transactions are made easy by this payment facility. Even if I haven't understood completely what Paypal was all about, I still signed up. My account was even verified using my mother's credit card. For the past years, my PP had zero transactions and things started to change only when I began freelancing and earning through blogging.

Since my account was idle for so long, I didn't notice that the card I used to verify it has already expired. Therefore, my Paypal account was limited. To solve this problem, I need to get my own credit or debit card. Luckily, a friend of mine introduced Unionbank's EON. She said that for only P 350.00, I will be able to get a debit card which can be used to verify my "now" active PP account. This means easy online transactions!

In just one day, I already got my own EON debit card... Yes! The application is fast and easy!

Here are the steps to follow if you want to get your own EON Debit Card which can be used to shop online, to verify your Paypal account and to withdraw your funds in Freelance sites.

1. Visit Unionbank's EON Application Page

2. Complete the necessary fields (make sure the mobile number you provide is active and you choose carefully the pickup branch for your card)

3. Wait for the reference number that will be sent by Unionbank to your mobile number

4. Prepare two valid identification cards (for list of accepted cards, refer here)

5. Visit the pickup branch you have indicated in your application

(bring the two valid ids with one photocopy each and P 350 annual fee)

6. Submit the requirements to the bank (approach the person in the information table)

You can complete all these steps in less than an hour. Like in my case, it only took me 45 minutes all in all to finish the transaction. After getting the EON debit card, you must wait for 24-48 hours before your account will be activated by the bank. Within that time duration, you can already enroll your card for online banking. This is very important because you will not be able to access your cyber account if you fail to do this step.

After two days, visit again Unionbank's E-banking System. If you successfully logged in and checked your account, that means the bank has already activated your card. If you haven't verified your Paypal account yet, you might consider doing these things.

1. Log in to your Paypal

2. Click the "Get Verified" link below your name

3. Add your EON Debit Card (take note: Paypal will get P 100 from your card to check if you really own the card number; but it will be credited back to your account after 24 hours)

4. Log in to your EON Cyber Account

5. Check the transaction details and look for the one sent by Paypal

6. In the transaction details you will see "VISA-PP*aaaaCODE", copy the 4-digit code (aaaa)

7. Log back in to your Paypal and click "Get Verified"

8. You will be directed to a page where you have to type the 4-digit code

That's it! You are now a verified Paypal member.

Should you want to withdraw your Paypal funds to EON, all you need to do is to click "Withdraw" link on the top of your Paypal page and choose "Withdraw Funds to your card." There is a P 250 charge for this transaction. However if you have an existing bank account and withdraw your funds to the said account, the transaction fee will be free for withdrawal of P 7,000 or more. P 50 will be charged for withdrawal of P 6,999.99 or less. As you can see, choosing "Withdraw Funds to your bank account" is more convenient. Because of this, I always prefer withdrawing my funds to my LBP account.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

A Day With Me

Pinoy Homecoming Hospitality Center Opens at DMIA

2011-12-03T18:27:00.003+08:00

Balikbayans arriving at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Pampanga, will experience their warmest welcome yet with the opening of the Pinoy Homecoming Hospitality Center at the airport.

Spearheaded by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the homecoming center is part of the government's ongoing efforts to boost visitor arrivals from the balikbayan market by 25 percent in the next five years. Dubbed as the Pinoy Homecoming campaign, it primarily targets Filipinos based overseas, not only in the United States and Canada but worldwide.

A result of Presidential Proclamation No. 181 “Declaring the Years 2011 to 2016 as the Pinoy Homecoming Years” signed on June 3, 2011, the campaign supports Republic Act No. 6768, as amended, or the “Balikbayan Program.” Under the Balikbayan Program, overseas Filipinos (OFs) are given special privileges and benefits in recognition of their contribution to the growth of the Philippine economy in terms of foreign exchange inflow and remittances.

“This is a campaign that recognizes three things: the invaluable contributions of Filipinos overseas, our urgent need to develop and promote Philippine tourism further and how much can be achieved when government agencies work together,” shares DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez. “We also have to tap into the market of second and third generation Filipinos abroad and encourage them to discover their roots.”

To reach this set of younger Filipinos abroad, the campaign also has a digital marketing component. Through the website Pinoy Homecoming, Pinoys abroad can easily access Philippine news portals, tourism products and services, practical balikbayan tips, Philippine holiday and festival calendars, as well as a directory of industry partners and the contact details of DOT’s international offices.

The campaign is supported by Globe Telecom, Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC)and the over 700 partner-merchants nationwide. For more information on the campaign and balikbayan benefits, contact the Pinoy Homecoming Secretariat at 632 525-1255, 632 525-9318 local 268 or 244; fax to (632) 521-6165, or e-mail at tts@dotpcvc.gov.ph.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Written Feelings

I Won't Last A Day Without You Quotes

2011-12-02T01:17:00.002+08:00

SPOILER ALERT: Again, please do not continue reading this post if you want to keep yourself excited for the movie "I Won't Last A Day Without You." Below are some of the lines taken from the romantic comedy film of Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson. I would suggest that you see the movie first before scrolling down to read the quotes.

"Spell bitter!" - DJ Ram

"HEIDEE. Di bale nang bitter noh if bitter is better." - DJ Heidee

"Ano ba ang kailangan kong gawin para mapansin niya?" - Caller

"Eh di plumaking ka sa harap niya." - DJ Heidee

"Iniwan kasi ako ng girl friend ko." - Caller

"Ha? Nasa'n ka? Ipasusundo kita." - DJ Heidee

"Ang sakit-sakit na eh." - Caller

"Eh di padaldalhan kita ng ambulansya." - DJ Heidee

"Always remember, bawala ma-inlove. Nakamamatay. Ansaveh?" - DJ Heidee

"Nakailan ka na ba?" - DJ Ram's Partner

"Sakto. Sakto lang para tumigil na." - DJ Heidee

"Oh no. Dapat happy lang tayo today." - DJ Ram

"FYI anaconda. Ang ibig sabihin ay anak kong maganda. Anaconda." - Pablo

"Maganda ka pa rin kesa sa pinalit niya." - Paraluman

"I know, davah?" - DJ Heidee

"Siguro kung kotse ka, Ferrari ka." - Andrew

"Really?" - Girl

"Oo, Ferrari na sexy." - Andrew

"Love comes with pain. Pero sana naman girl, worth it yung tao na yun sa pain. Kaya it's up to us to take care of ourselves. Sorry girl ha. Kailangan mo na mag-desisyon tonight. May gusto ka pa bang sabihin kay Andrew?" - DJ Heidee

"Yea. You heard me Andrew. Wala nang point na mag-sama pa tayo. It's over." - Melissa

"Ang playboy, naglalaro. Pinagsasabay ang mga relationships. Hindi seryoso. Pero nagbago na ako dahil seryoso ako kay Melissa." - Andrew

"Heidee, sino ka ba para magbigay ng advice sa mga tao? Bakit ang bitter mo?" - Andrew

"Kung hindi ka ipagpapalit, iiwanan ka sa ere." - DJ Heidee

"Congrats ha. What an achievement. May dagdag na naman sa babaeng napaiyak mo." - Andrew's Friend

"Paano niya malalaman na nagbago na ako kung iniwan na niya ako? Anak, we all deserve a second chance, diba?" - Pablo

"Ang hirap mo naman magpatawad." - Andrew

"O, pareha sila ng nanay niya. Like mother, like daughter." - Pablo

"Siya pa naman ang pinakatamang desisyon sa buhay ko pero sinayang ko." - Andrew

"Please make me a better man. Lahat naman tayo, deserve ng second chance, diba?" - Andrew

"Eto ang lesson number one. Pay attention, para walang tension. Ikaw kung lalaki ka, aba iwasan mo nang tumingin sa ibang sexy at magandang babae para hindi ka na matukso." - DJ Heidee

"Lesson two. Makiramdam kay madam. Kapag sinabi ng babae na okay na siya, 'wag kang maniwala. Alamin mo kung ano ba talaga." - DJ Heidee

"Lesson number three. The best 'pag honest." - DJ Heidee

"Naku naku. Anong kalokohan na naman 'yan?" - DJ Heidee

"Diba sabi mo, bawal tumingin sa mga magaganda?" - Andrew

"Tila ang heartbreak hotline natin eh nagiging heart connection na." - DJ Ram

"Minsan talaga noh, kahit anong pilit ng mundo na pag-hiwalayin ang dalawang tao, kung sila talaga, sila pa rin ang magkakatuluyan. Knockout ka talaga kapag pag-ibig na ang kalaban. Sa mga listeners kong sawi, the truth is may true love pa pala talaga." - DJ Heidee

"Melissa, 'wag niyong sayangin at pakawalan ang happy ending na meron kayo dahil maraming ang nangangarap na magkaroon ng ganyan." - DJ Heidee

'Andrew, yung mga tinuro ko sa'yo ha. 'Wag mong kakalimutan. Kundi ipapahabol kita sa mga aso." - DJ Heidee

"Ako ang nagdecide na hindi balikan si Mel. Hindi dahil inagaw mo 'ko. Dahil ngayong kilala ko na ang sarili ko. Alam ko na kung ano ang gusto ko." - Andrew

"Matagal na kitang gustong makausap eh. Pero hindi madali. Alam ko kasi na malaki ang atraso ko sa'yo. Alam mo kung ko lang ibalik ang panahon, ibabalik ko para sana hindi ka na masaktan. Siguro what I'm trying to say is sorry. If this thing with Andrew gives you chance to be happy. Sana lang, hindi ka pigilan ng sakit na 'yan." - Oscar

"Nakita ko na ang true love ko, ang mommy niyo. Pero pinakawalan ko pa." - Pablo

"So ano, tayo na baby girl?" - Andrew

"Makakatanggi pa ba ako niyan?" - DJ Heidee

"The moral of the story is totoo ang true love." - DJ Ram

You can also check No Other Woman quoted lines here.

Credits for the photos and movie lines: Star Cinema.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Trek

Hello, December! Winners Announced.

2011-12-01T10:31:00.003+08:00

First day of December! Last 31 days for the year 2011. Let's make every single day memorable. Let's prepare ourselves for a better 2012. Who else is excited for the Christmas season? It's my favorite time of the year.

Thank you to everyone who supported The Coffee Chic's Giveaway for the whole month of November. I really appreciate all the great things you did. Someday, I know I will be able to return the favor. So, here are the winners of the giveaway. Congratulations!

The e-mails will be sent tonight from algene(@)iamthecoffeechic(.)com. After I send the messages, winners have 48 hours to send their replies. Otherwise, a new winner/s will be chosen. Thanks again!

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Blog Ni Ako

I Won't Last A Day Without You Movie 2011

2011-11-30T23:02:00.004+08:00

If you are a constant reader of my blog, you certainly know that I always feature a movie every week. It has been a tradition for me and Abdel to go to the cinema house and watch a great film at least once a week. It is our own way of catching up with each other after spending some time at school and other things. We never fail to treat ourselves by seeing the best movies on the big screen. For the past three weeks, we have watched In Time, Killer Elite, Breaking Dawn (Part 1) and Happy Feet 2. As you can see, all were foreign films. This week, we decided to see I Won't Last A Day Without You by Star Cinema and Viva Films.

I'm not an avid fan of the Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson tandem. However, when I saw their second film together, I was really amazed with their chemistry. They look so perfect for each other. And yes, I agree with ABS-CBN that they are the most romantic love team of the year! I have to commend Sarah G for a job well done in portraying DJ Heidee's character. Everything she does in the film looks natural on her. Just like her leading lady, Gerald also played his role perfectly. The story of the movie revolves around two completely different persons who fell in love with one another when they least expect it. Heidee is a famous DJ because of her radio segment entitled "Heartbreak Hotline" where different callers ask for her advice about their love problems. Since she has experienced having a broken heart, she is very pessimistic about the idea of true love and relationships. On the other hand, Andrew is a typical play boy who looks so charming. He is like a girl magnet wherever he goes. When both of them met by chance, they started to get to know each other until they realized that they have already fallen in love. It's amazing on how they discovered that there is, after all, a true love.

I will be posting more about this movie tomorrow. For now, let me continue writing my Philosophy paper about the Moral Dimension of the Human Experience and making my Management Consultancy Market Presentation due tomorrow evening. Expect new Tagalog quotes on my next post about this movie!

Last update: December 2, 2011: MOVIE LINES

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

More Than Sexy

Beauty Box & Coupons Giveaway

2011-11-30T09:32:00.005+08:00

I am excited to be teamed up with 10 other blogs, including Couponing In PA for the final giveaway she's hosting before Christmas. This prize contains prizes that would be great for yourself or to give as Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) gifts. Plus 2 envelopes of coupons will be given to 2 other winners.

This will run from 12:01 AM EST) 11/29 through 12:01 AM on 12/6. The only mandatory entry is that you submit your name & e-mail once you have read to the terms & conditions. For the optional entries PLEASE make sure you do them properly as if you fail to submit the required additional info or submit it incorrectly those or all entries will be voided. So even if you think you know how to do it correctly please review the information given below just to make sure =)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR OPTIONAL ENTRIES. PLEASE BE SURE TO READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR OPTIONAL ENTRIES.

- Like all fb pages. If you enter using this option you must go to the corresponding post & like each of those fb pages. If your fb name is different from what you are submitting for your entries please include that in the 3rd additional info box.

- Follow a blog publicly with GFC. Even if your display name is what you are submitting you must put it in the 3rd (additional info) box.

- Follow a blog with twitter - you must give your twitter name in the 3rd box where it asks what your twitter name is.

- Like the blog post - just click like under that entry box before submitting that you did so.

- +1 the blog post - just click +1 here -

- Tweet About the giveaway - you must submit your link for your tweet. This should be a shorter link & should contain your twitter name in the middle. An example of what it should like is - https://twitter.com/#!/CouponingInPA/status/140963043759767553. Not sure how to get your tweet link or does yours not look like the example? If it doesn't then check out the directions given by Rafflecopter here.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

We'll Tell You

A Talk from the Coffee Shop

2011-11-29T15:01:00.001+08:00

There is beauty in writing when writing comes from the heart and not from the brain. It is like saying things without fuss when the words just spill straight from the heart. This goes the same with wall painting when it becomes an expression of things you want to say. And if you will just let it flow, you’d notice too that such revelation your hands create comes from the unconscious and as you write it your heart just pours what it feels inside.

They say follow your heart but what if your heart says so many things and you cannot unify them all to a single desire. It is like most of the time, it speaks of some many things that you are having a hard time to know what it really wants. One more crux of such matter is that whatever your heart feels can always be questioned by your rational thinking. If you are in the right frame of mind you do not let your heart dictate your fate but as you grow old, you will realize that every heart is a child within every person. It is persistent. It does not take no for an answer because there lies the truest bliss that every person deserves this why everyone needs to discover his art, of whether this is in the form of music and lyrics or landscape painting. The talent of the person is the medium of what the subconscious wants to talk about. Artists whose hearts are on their original painting can simply attest to this. The hands just work in an instant to come up with something that the heart wants poured out. The very same goes with writing. You start with a capital letter and before you know it, story now ends with a period. That is how our heart works. The expression is fed to our subconscious and our physical selves projects it without letting the brain process it except for checking on some technical details like grammar and construction and for wall paintings, maybe a touch-up of colors will do. Or when we listen to a song and such song touched our heart even without understanding the lyrics, then we know our heart is connecting to something.

The bottomline for good discernment of what we really want is to know our heart because no heart, even those that are damaged or in pain, will betray its bearer, even the pain it brings is part of the big picture of meeting the life God wants for us, as long as the pain being felt is divine and not orchestrated by some group to inflict pain on you because this is damaging and more destruction that it will give to the people who connived to hit you.

Source:

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Life's Tips and Tricks

Why Drinking Coffee is Good

2011-11-28T00:52:00.004+08:00

Coffee has become an important part of my life since I fell in love with it on the year 2007. Before the said year, I really don't like this beverage. I have read many articles in magazines and newspapers discussing the health problems and disadvantages that coffee could bring to its consumers. Because of those reading materials, I opted not to take coffee. However, when I lived in a dormitory near a established coffee shop, I began to enjoy its sweetness and eventually fell in love with it. All the negative thinking that I have for it vanished. Now, you can always find me sipping my favorite ice cold coffee drinks or instant coffees (at home). Oh, coffee indulgence!

Because of my love for coffee, I started to discover the great things that it can do to many people. Listed below are some of the reasons why I would recommend coffee as a good beverage for you.

• Coffee tastes good. Need I say more?

• It can stimulate and refresh you. After having a long day, coffee can make you feel relax. When things do not seem to go your way, all you need is to get yourself a cup of coffee to make you feel good.

• It can keep you up all night long. When you have some requirements needed to be done, you can grab coffee before starting your work. Caffeine in coffees stimulates metabolism and supports mental alertness. It will take 30 minutes before your body completely absorbs this stimulant drug and the positive effects may last for two to five hours.

• Coffee is rich in antioxidants. It can protect your body from experiencing any serious damages. Aside from that, it can also prevent pre-mature aging.

The next time you drink a cup of coffee, always remember all its benefits! Give yourself a treat and enjoy some coffee lovin' feelin'. You must keep in mind that too much of this drink can be toxic for you. As we all know, too much of any thing is always dangerous. Learn to appreciate the beauty of drinking coffee.

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Should you want to join my first ever mini giveaway, please click this. Only three days left to go.

I will be giving some coffee shop certificates next month. ;)

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Life's Tips and Tricks

Kids’ Style Giveaway and Contest

2011-11-26T19:43:00.006+08:00

Happy Caity's Kids' Style is a new meme that allows little fashionistas to showcase their own sense of style when it comes to dressing up. Kids and mommy bloggers can join this fun fashion meme every Sunday. All that needs to be done is to choose the best picture showing the kids' fashion sense and write about it on blogs. Mommies can now share to the world how beautiful and cute their kids are (especially when dolled up)!

Because of the success of this new meme, 13 bloggers teamed up for a giveaway and contest to encourage and welcome new participants.

Rainydazeee | Happy Steps Travel Blog | Pastel Corner

The Wonderlusts | Benedique | Doodles | My Tots Exactly

The Coffee Chic | Nshima Servings | The Jagged Barn |

Mommy’s Bright Bundles | Essential Tidbits | Ideas n Pink

I am one of the sponsors of this new giveaway which means that I am not allowed to join. So, let me just invite you to participate into this simple and easy contest. These are some of the items that you could win:

1st prize = $50 Paypal credits
  2nd prize = $30 Paypal credits
  3rd prize = $20 Paypal credits
  4th prize = 1 month ad space @ The Jagged Barn
  5th prize = 1 month ad link @ Ideas n Pink

Click here for more details.

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Only 4 days left before my mini-giveaway ends! Have you entered it already? If yes, let me thank you with all my heart. Thanks for supporting The Coffee Chic. If not yet, then, what are you waiting for? Click the badge and join my first ever mini giveaway.

I'm planning to host my own giveaway on January. Are you interested into sponsoring? You can email me at thecoffeechic@gmail(.)com or post a comment on this post. I will write a blog entry about it and create a Google Docs when I'm ready. :)

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Life's Tips and Tricks

Happy Feet 2 Quotes

2011-11-25T02:19:00.002+08:00

These are some of the quotes I got from the latest animated movie produced by Warner Bros. Up to this moment, I still can't get over the cuteness of this baby penguin. He's so lovely! Everyone must really see this great film. It's perfect for the whole family. Sometimes, all we need is to see a happy movie and remind ourselves of the beautiful things we have in our lives. I hope some of these movie lines inspire you. ☺

"Everything in this world, no matter how big, no matter how small is connected in ways we never expected." - Narrator

"Nobody's better than you." - Gloria

"But there are plenty of reasons to dance." - Mumble
"What's mine, Pa?" - Eric
"Well, the best way to find it is to try." - Mumble

"I wanna know what love is. I want you to show me." - Rinaldo

"This is one fabulous penguin you will never laugh again. Never." - Ramon

"There's only one of me in the world. I'm one in a trillion." - Will

"Everything has an end. I must reach the end of the world." - Will

"I have so much love. I'm gonna explode." - Ramon

"Use my powers only for the goodie." - Rinaldo

"If you will it, it will be yours." - Penguins

"You, me? Fat chance." - Carmen
"I have a chance! And it's fat!" - Ramon

"Believe in yourself, Erik. Believe in you." - Rinaldo

"If you want it, you must will it. If you will it, it will be yours." - Rinaldo

" Fluffy don't float." - Erik

"Baby penguins... Cute but ruthless." - Ramon

"Will, what are we looking for?" - Bill
"That's the adventure my friend. I don't know." - Will

"When things go wrong, running is not the answer." - Mumble

"Okay, keep going but take it nice and slow." - Mumble

"Every obstacle is an opportunity." - Penguin

"Delusional singing. That's the first sign of madness." - Bill

"But there's a lot of dangers out there." -Mumble
"Not dangers. But challenges." - Mommy Penguin

"There's always a way." - Penguin

"Wake me up before you go, I don't wanna go on solo." - Bill

"I'll never gonna give you up, never gonna bring you down." - Bill

"As long as we are together, we are already home." - Penguin

"Come on everyone. Let's cuddle up." - Gloria

"It was nice to have a family." - Penguin

"I hate this long distance relationship." - Ramon

"You are my world, entirely." - Ramon
"You're beautiful." - Carmen
"Only on the outside." - Ramon

"Hey Ramon, the earth is moving." - Carmen

"Imagination is the second sign of madness." - Will

"Well, there's only one me in the world." - Bill

"We all have a purpose. Yours is to change the world." - Bill

"Come on. We're wasting our time. There's nothing for us here." - Mumble
"No, Pa. This is so unfair. After what you have done, you really deserve better." - Eric
"Nothing makes sense in this world, Eric."

"Yes, every step counts." - Gloria

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Making a Difference

Happy Feet 2

2011-11-23T22:12:00.003+08:00

Abdel and I were watching interesting videos on Youtube until we saw the movie trailer of Happy Feet 2. We found out that it's already showing in the cinemas. We forgot that today is the first day of screening in the Philippines. In other countries, the movie was screened last November 18. Knowing that our most-awaited movie is already available, we got up and headed to the mall. In just an hour, we already bought our tickets at GMall 3D Cinema.

The movie was the best thing that ever happened for my Wednesday. I was smiling the whole time it was shown on the big screen. For me, it is the cutest movie of the year!

Happy Feet 2 is not just about the cute dancing penguins. There are many lessons presented on the 1 hr and 40 min film. It teaches its viewers about accepting one's uniqueness, living life to the fullest and recognizing the presence of other people. The story of Mumble, Gloria and Erik has inspired me. This penguin family has shown the true meaning of a "happy family." They are always available for each other no matter what happens. Mumble, as the head of the family, did all that he can to make his wife and son feel love and care all the time. Another character in the film that moved me is Erik. He is a cute baby penguin who has no interest in dancing unlike all the other penguins in his community. His uniqueness made him feel that he is an outcast. However, as he takes the adventure of life and love, he realizes that being unique makes him stand out among the rest. It was great to see that Erik, at a young age, discovered his true self.

The memorable line that I heard from this movie is "If you want it, you must will it. If you will it, it will be yours." This is not a new thing for me since I have always used this kind of thinking every single day of life. I'm just happy to hear it from the film. The people behind this wonderful movie have brilliant minds! They were able to send out their great messages to the viewers by creating an amazing animated movie. I will post tomorrow the movie quotes I have taken from the film. The rating for this movies is ★★★★★. Yes, Happy Feet 2 deserves a five-star rating. It is the perfect film, not only for the kids, but also for adults. Be sure to watch it on 3D!

I still couldn't get over the happiness I felt after seeing the movie. I still feel like dancing and singing! The OST of the film is exceptional! I can't wait to download all of the songs. Let me share to you the trailer of Happy Feet 2.

Have you seen it already? Mind sharing your own review for this? Anyway, please add me on your circle at Google +! If you want to earn some bucks for signing up and answering surveys on PaidViewPoint, you can check this link.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

More Than Sexy

Just Say Yes

2011-11-23T01:49:00.006+08:00

For the past three days, I have been spending some time on Vimeo looking for different wedding videos. It was the instruction given to me by my boss. He simply wanted me to find good videos about wedding ceremonies or celebrations and write articles about it. There were no specific keywords provided that must be included on my writing. Thus, I had the liberty to write anything I want about the videos. I must say, the task he has given me was really great. Aside from being able to work for him, I was also given a chance to see some wedding music videos that have moved me in some ways.

Nothing feels great that seeing happy couples fulfill their dreams of binding themselves in marriage. There is this sudden happiness in me knowing that I have seen some lovers who were able to survive the ups and downs of their relationships before marrying one another. Let me share to you one of those videos. This is one of my favorites (Rahim and Salima)! Please take some time to watch this and start feeling love.

"All my life, I've been waiting for this moment to finally meet a woman like you. I've waited and waited and I've always known you're gonna be there. I always thank Allah everyday that I'm with you. You're my best friend. You're my soul. You're my destiny. Every time I see you, I fall in love with you, over and over again." - Rahim

The background song used in this video is "Just Say Yes" by Snow Patrol. Here's my favorite line from the song: "Just say yes, there's nothing holding you back. It's not a test or a trick of mind. Only love."

If you want to see more of this, you can always visit Visual Masterpiece's site on Vimeo.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Marriage Markers

The Beauty of Freelancing

2011-11-21T00:04:00.004+08:00

When I started this blog last February 2008, all I ever wanted was to have an online journal where I can share all my thoughts and emotions without other people judging me. I never cared about monetizing it or even writing articles for moolah. Some of my blogger friends before encouraged me to work hard on my blog so I could earn some money while doing the thing that I am passionate about. They even told me to register to different online accounts that offer opportunities to blog owners. But, I never listened to them. I did not have enough courage and confidence in myself. Honestly, I was too afraid to try it because I knew I will not make it unlike what they have achieved. So, I kept everything simple until last month when I began to discover the beauty of freelancing, online working and blog writing.

It took me more than three years of blogging before I decided to take one step forward. On the 10th of October 2011, I joined Odesk and looked for online jobs that I could do during the sem break. Since my profile was a little dull, I placed The Coffee Chic blog on my portfolio url to make it easier for employers to see my original posts and articles. Thus, I started updating my page regularly and did all the best that I can to write interesting contents for my readers. Luckily, there were some bosses who admired my online page and hired me to do writing jobs. My first ever freelance job was content writing for different websites wherein I earn some dollars per hour. Yes, the rate was not fixed per article since I also do data entry jobs for the same boss. Even if I already have one contract, I still searched for more jobs that I could apply for. Again, another employer liked my blog and asked me to write articles for him. When I realized how great freelancing is, I registered to Elance. Fortunately, I was hired there as an article writer. All these great things, I owe to my blog. Because of this online journal, I began earning money on my own. At the same time, I have paid posts on this blog but I only have three because my focus is entirely on my contracts for Odesk and Elance.

In just a matter of 1 month and ten days, I earned enough funds to make some changes for my blog and made my Paypal account active. Here are some of the great things I received after working hard.

♥ I got my own domain! (Though I lost my ranking in Alexa and Google, I still believe I made the right decision because having my own ".com" domain was something I have dreamed of.)

♥ I had a blog make over! I now have my own custom-made design.

♥ I was able to host a mini-giveaway to express my gratitude to my visitors and readers.

♥ I became one of the sponsors for a contest. (But I only paid $5. LOL)

♥ My gift to myself - My own 32 gb iPad 2 Wifi + 3g!

This is the first ever item that I bought using the money from my own pocket! For the longest time, I have always depended on my parents to give me every single thing I want. So, can you imagine how happy I am for being able to get this for myself? I availed Globe's Super Unli Surf Plan 999. I paid the cash out in full and the advance payment for the first month. Who would thought that I can buy this tablet without asking anything from my parents?

With my new iPad 2 Wifi + 3g, I can already go online anytime and anywhere. It is certainly what I needed especially that I still have two existing contracts in Odesk and one on Elance. By using this advanced tablet, I can still do my tasks even if I'm at school. I can still read the emails sent my by employers and talk to them on Skype. Most importantly, I can now update my blog and visit my friends' blogs without connecting to a Wi-Fi spot which is usually limited in my university. In fairness to Globe, the signal is really excellent! The Wi-Fi at home will be solely used by my younger brother allowing him to play online games better.

I know freelance jobs come and go. Whatever happens in the next coming days, like losing the contracts, I will have no worries and regrets. At least, I have given myself an advance Christmas gift. I really feel blessed. This is a great beginning I will never forget.

P.S. Anyway, I'm planning on making a new blog with a niche but I'm not yet sure if I can do it. I need to manage my time well in studying my lessons, doing my thesis, freelancing and keeping TCC updated. Since I have 0 PR and a low rank in Alexa, I am no longer qualified for paid posts. So, for now, I think I have to work on making my blog earn some traffic and rank higher. Do you have any suggestions on how I could do it?

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

More Than Sexy

Breaking Dawn (Part 1) Quotes

2011-11-19T11:29:00.005+08:00

SPOILER ALERT: Do not continue reading this if you are planning to watch the movie on the coming days. There is nothing much to spoil anyway since the movie was based on the Breaking Dawn book. So, if you're a big fan of the Twilight saga, you'll certainly know the scenes on the film. As mentioned in my previous post, part one of Breaking Dawn movie was all about the wedding, the honeymoon, the pregnancy and the great ending. Bella's wedding dress was the most stunning thing ever!

"Jasper, what do vampires do for bachelor parties? You're not talking him to a strip club, are you?" - Bella

"I waited for a century to marry you miss Swan." - Edward

"What's a wedding without some family drama?" - Edward

"Edward will be a good husband. I know it because I'm a cop." - Charlie

"It's an extraordinary thing to meet someone who'll accept you for who you are... With Bella, I feel like I could finally begin." - Edward

"Everything is perfect now, Bella." - Edward

"This is how I will remember you." - Jacob

"She'll die." - Jacob "It's not our concern anymore." - Sam

"I love you so much, dad." - Bella "I love you too, Belle. Always have and always will." - Charlie

"Why can't you see how perfectly happy I am?" - Bella

"Last night was the best night of my existence." - Edward

"In sickness and in health, remember Bella?" - Edward

"I know it's impossible but I think I'm pregnant." - Bella

"You have a connection with her. May I could not understand it." - Edward

"I can't figure out why he thinks you'll listen to me. But you never really did before." - Jacob

"It's a miracle of something. I can feel him inside me." - Bella

"If you die, what's the point of you loving him and me loving you?" - Jacob

"Jake, don't go." - Bella "I know how this ends and I'm not gonna stick around to watch." - Jacob

"I wasn't born to follow you or anyone else." - Jacob

"You have to accept this for what it is." - Bella "You're not giving me much choice!" - Edward

"Edward, I'm sorry." - Bella "I can't live without you." - Edward

This is my most favorite movie line which was spoken by Edward. It's the sweetest!

"No measure of time with you will be long enough. But we'll start with forever."

Credits to the photos

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Posh Post

Breaking Dawn (Part 1)

2011-11-18T21:38:00.004+08:00

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the Twilight series especially that it is often compared with the Harry Potter series. My preference will always be for HP since it has touched me in ways I couldn't explain. But this doesn't mean that I don't like Twilight. What I'm trying to say is that I have developed more love and appreciation for J.K. Rowling's piece than that of Stephenie Meyer's. Despite all of these, I still believe that the Twilight saga is a wonderful creation. In fact, I have read all the four books and listened to one of its audio books. You can also call me a "team Bella and Edward" because I really admire them as a couple. The love between a vampire and a human person, who are completely different from one another, is truly inspiring and exceptional.

When the first movie of the saga was screened last 2008, I really made it to a point that I see the film on the big screen. As I can remember, my friends and I went out on for a dinner and movie date. After a great meal, we headed to GMall for the last full show of Twilight. In 2009, I watched the second installation, New Moon, with Abdel. In 2010, I also saw the movie Eclipse with him. And this year, I was again with Abdel for the part 1 of the last movie of the Twilight saga. Breaking Dawn's (Part 1) Philippine screening started today. It has been our tradition to go on movie dates at least once every week. For this week, we have chosen Breaking Dawn and I must say, it was the perfect choice! It kept us wanting for more!

How about you? Are you interested into watching the first part of the fourth installation of the Twilight movies? I will post some quotes and pictures tomorrow. There's a spoiler alert so you shouldn't read my next blog entry if you want to keep yourself excited for Breaking Dawn. Anyway, below is its official trailer..

P.S. Don't expect much from this movie. The cinematography is plain and simple. The story revolves plainly around the couple's wedding and Bella's pregnancy. Nonetheless, the movie is still very lovely!
Credits to Yahoo! Movies for the video and picture used in this post.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Life's Tips and Tricks

Join Gagay's Giveaway

2011-11-18T01:21:00.006+08:00

Thirty seven days to go before the best time of the year - Christmas. Everyone is probably excited for the upcoming holiday. Even I, myself, can't wait to celebrate the Christmas season with my loved ones! It is an important event that I always look forward to every end of the year. Who doesn't want this season when it is full of loving and sharing?

As an early Christmas treat to everyone, ate Gagay of GagayMD is having her Page Rank and Birthday Giveaway. I am one of the sponsors for this contest. Join us and celebrate the love. Below is a list of the amazing prizes:
♥ 10 Page Rank Shirts
♥ A total of $360 PayPal cash
1 winner – $100
2 winners – $50 each
4 winners – $25 each
4 winners – $15 each
♥ 5 1-year Domain Hosting

Feel free to visit the contest page and participate! There are 26 winners all in all! Anyway, here's the link to all the sponsors for this great giveaway.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Life's Tips and Tricks

Only For You

2011-11-17T11:03:00.004+08:00

Always remember that..

Take some time to read this letter from Him. He always have something to tell you.

To: YOU

Date: TODAY

From: GOD - The Boss

Subject: YOURSELF

Reference: LIFE

This is God. Today, I will be handing all of your problems for you. I do not need your help. So, Have a nice day.

I love you.

P.S.

And remember, if life happens to deliver a situation that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it yourself. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold it by worrying too much. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life right now.

If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard privilege.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day and seven days a week just to feed her children.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles aways from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take than walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she has hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking "what is my purpose", be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities... Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!

Now, you have a nice day.

-GOD-

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Life's Tips and Tricks

Coffee Lovers' Indulgence

2011-11-16T01:15:00.004+08:00

One of my favorite lyrics is taken from the song "I Finally Found Someone" by Bryan Adams. It says: "We started over coffee. We started out as friends. It's funny how from simple things, the best things begin." Every time I sing the song to myself, I remember how things between me and Abdel started. Because of our love for coffee, we became closer to one another. In fact, one of the first dates we had was at a coffee shop in Prime Square, Torres.

Even before I met him, I already fell in love with coffee. I am often found reading, relaxing and studying at my favorite coffee place - Brew Crew's. There is always something in a cup of coffee that brings me happiness and excitement. But I realized that drinking different kinds of coffee mix is best shared with somebody. I prayed to my God that I may find someone who can be with me as I enjoy every cup of coffee. He answered my prayers and gave Abdel to me. Since then, I developed a greater indulgence for coffee especially that I already have someone whom I can share it with.

Some of our favorite coffee drinks include: Iced White Choco Mocha, Caramel Macchiato, Coffee Frappuccino, Hot Cappuccino, Caffe Latte and Instant Coffee (the most affordable!). These are the beverages we usually order but if a coffee shop has its signature drink, then, expect us to pick it! Espresso is good but we do not put preference over it.

Our latest coffee date was yesterday afternoon at Figaro Coffee Company in SM City. We ordered frosted coffee! I chose Coffee Caramel while he had Butterscoth Vanilla with Coffee Jelly. Sans rival cake was also a perfect addition to our simple rendezvous.

Photos are included in this post. Sorry for the low image quality since I used my touch in taking them.

Sometimes, you meet someone and your life is changed completely. The song lyrics will always be a reminder of our getting-to-know-each-other moments. Who would have thought that those casual dates will bring us to path for a long term relationship? There are certain things in life that can turn out the best when we least expect them to.

Anyway, I am now working on placing the linky love for my first commentators. The same rule still applies. I will link the blog of the first person who leaves his or her comment on my latest post. Thank you!

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥

Life's Tips and Tricks

7 Secrets on How to Have Fun While Cooking

2011-11-13T23:00:00.002+08:00

Our mood affects the meals that we prepare in the kitchen. While some are aching to give it their all in the kitchen, others need more than just a nudge. Cooking is a skill that we need to learn in order to survive. And if we continually stuff ourselves with salt-drenched fast foods, then we’re in for major health trouble. Cooking at home is inexpensive and healthier than eating out. And if preparing meals is something that you dread doing, here are few secrets and tips on how to make the kitchen your favorite place at home.

1. Cook with good company- It’s always fun to cook with family and good friends. Cooking is also a time to talk, socialize and catch up on each other. You can also share recipes and tips for an improved cooking experience. Cooking with lots of laughter and good conversation around you, never fail to lighten up anyone’s mood. Or how about do it with a loved one, like your kids, cooking with your kids will make the experience a lot happier.

2. Go with simple food recipes- Leave the multi-course meals to special events. With ordinary days you can do well with simple, laid-back and economical meals that don’t take long to cook. Reserve fancy meals to occasions that need elaborate cooking. Day to day dishes need not be upscale; it would only stress you out.

3. Live out a positive point of view- A positive outlook always does the trick. Think of this endeavor lightly, like when you're playing cooking games. It also helps to envision yourself as a flourishing cook. Look at cooking not as a menial task but rather as an opportunity for learning and creativity. If you’re unenthusiastic about cooking, it will reflect on the dishes that you’ve prepared. So be optimistic and feel good about cooking.

4. Relax while you cook- Learn to forget whatever it is that you’re stressing about. Relax, take a deep breath and leave your worries before you start cooking. Listening to music also helps ease the stress.

5. Relish the aroma of the different ingredients. Cooking is aromatic. Take a whiff of spices, fruits and vegetables laid on the table. It’s really good for the senses.

6. Take pictures. Taking pictures of your dish encourages you to improve your food presentation. It’s fun unleashing your creativity and keeping memories of your fun cooking memories.

7. Concoct your own signature recipe- Cooking experiments are fun and challenging. You can always perfect your dish through dozens of trial and errors.

An innate love for cooking starts in you. So ditch your worries and learn to defy your cooking fears.

Cooking Game article is provided by the Team of Kim Tyrone Agapito, owner of Web Strategy Blog KimOfTheWorld.com promoting cooking games.

Thank you for the first Coffee Talk ♥
Life's Tips and Tricks

Join The Coffee Chic's Mini Giveaway

2011-11-12T21:35:00.007+08:00

I finally got everything I needed for my blog. From my domain to my new layout. What more can I ask for? To express my gratitude and appreciation to everyone who visits my blog, I am hosting a mini giveaway. I hope that you support me especially that this is my first ever giveaway. Thank you so much!

Here are the prizes for 5 possible winners:

+ 2 Robinsons Movie Passes

+ 1 Php 500 Bon Appetea Gift Certificates

+ $10 Paypal Cash

+ $5 Paypal Cash

Please don't forget to leave your coffee talks after submitting your entries! I need the comments for moderation and confirmation. The contest will end on November 30, 2011.

First Commentator: Gladiator Goddess

Expressing Gratitude

2011-11-12T16:55:00.008+08:00

Thank you so much to Grace of Dress Up Your Blogs for the complete makeover. She is so good at giving every blog a fresh look. I'm glad I have chosen the right designer!

One of the things on my wish list was getting my own custom made design. I really wanted to get my own theme but I can't do it since I have no idea on how to order online and how to pay for it. I wasn't an active blogger for the past years making my Paypal account contain less funds. However, just recently, I discovered about the beauty of blogging and freelancing. Thus, I found some means of earning through the online activities. I have gained some funds making it possible for me to get my own domain and custom made design for my The Coffee Chic.

Once again, thanks to Grace for dressing up my blog. I really appreciate the things she did for me. If you want to get a new look for your online page, you can always contact her. See here portfolio designs here.

The long wait for the new look is finally over! (Some items on the side bar are still unorganized. I will work on them soon!) As promised, I will be hosting a mini-giveaway to express my gratitude to everyone who regularly visits my blog. At the same time, I'm doing it to gain more visitors since I lost my Google page ranking. I am hoping that you will participate in my upcoming giveaway. I will post it tonight!

Thank you also to Ate Gagay of Gagay MD for all the support and advice. She is one of my mentors in the blogosphere. She has given me tips and ideas on how to become a good blogger. I really owe her a lot!

I can really say that she's a pro blogger. Aside from being a medical doctor student, she is also maintaining and updating many blogs. Her personal page is Gagay MD which will host a contest next week. She wants to have a "PR 3 and Birthday Thanksgiving" contest soon. To make her online party successful, she is inviting people from the blogging community to sponsor. You can click on this link to see the details of the sponsorship. If you want back links for your precious blog, then, sponsoring for this upcoming contest is a good idea.

First Commentator: Life's Tips and Tricks

11.11.11

2011-11-12T01:47:00.005+08:00

11.11.11 - certainly one of the dates that I will never forget. Six consecutive 1 will always remind me of how great my November 11, 2011 went. There were many things that happened today which made me really happy. Allow me to highlight some of those things in my blog.

The "In Time" Movie

Another science fiction film has touched me in so many ways. It taught me lessons about life, love and time. I must say, Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried portrayed their roles very well.

The film has a futuristic theme with its year set at 2161. The story is basically about the people who are genetically designed to stop aging at the age of 25. The primary currency used by the people is time (minutes, hours, days, years, decades). Those who want to extend their lives should save more time before their 25th birthday. Otherwise, they will ran out of time and eventually die. For the people living in New Greenwich, the place where Sylvia (Amanda S.) came, living is not a problem. They have more than enough time for themselves. In fact, most of the persons situated in the area have centuries which means that they can live longer. However, for Will's (Justin T.) society, the Ghetto, being able to complete a day is not easy. Persons should work hard in order to earn time and to live a little longer. They survive on a day to day basis. In order to have hours for tomorrow, they must earn more time today. Rich people can live for more than a hundred years while poor people have limited time. Both the two characters met in the story and learned many things from each other. Though they came from two different worlds, they were able to connect well with one another. They teamed up as lovers who are helping people from the ghetto to extend their lives. By stealing time from the rich people and various banks, they have given individuals the chance to live more.

One of the lessons I learned from the movie is the value of time. Sometimes, we tend to postpone certain things needed to be done today thinking that we still have tomorrow. But what if we don't have enough time? What if, like the Ghetto people, we barely have hours to live? Will we be able to make every second count? We must always appreciate the time that we have right now and make use of it at the best ways possible. We must be thankful for every minute that we have. Other people are not given the chance to extend their lives just like what we have. Make every moment counts. Do everything you can for the day.

Time Spent With Abdel

Let the picture do the talking. (Captured using iTouch camera and edited using Instagram)

Babe fetched me at home today. I was late again but he never said anything about it. He patiently waited for thirty minutes before we headed to the mall for our lunch and movie date. He also gave me two bars of Snickers! It feels really great knowing that we still enjoy each other's company even if we have been dating for years now.

How about you? How did you spend your 11-11-11?

First Commentator: Joy's Flair

University Calendar

2011-11-10T22:09:00.003+08:00

ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY
Second Semester SY 2011-2012
(posted as requested by a classmate)

November 3: Second Semester Classes Begin (College)
November 3-9: Manual Adding & Dropping of Courses (College)
November 10: University Mass for the Dead
November 14: BM/Accountancy Day/Computer Studies Day
November 16: Philo & Humanities Day / Nursing Day / NSM Division Day
November 18: SS & Engineering Day
December 3: End of Late Enrollment (College)
December 8: Immaculate Conception Day
December 12-17: Advisory Exam
January 2, 2012: Start of Classes
January 23-28: Midterm Exam of Graduating Students
January 30-31: PAASCU VISIT
February 1-3: College Days
February 10: Deadline of Midterm Grades for Graduating Students
February 6-11: Midterm Exam for Undergraduate Students
February 25: PE Night for PE 4
March 2: Deadline for Midterm Grades of Undergraduate Students
Mar 1-3: Final ExamS of Graduating Students
March 3: PE Night for PE 2
March 9: Deadline of Final Grades for Graduating Students
March 12: NSTP-CWTS Culminating Activity
March 12-17: Final Exams of Undergraduate Students
March 23: Baccalaureate Mass
March 24: Graduation Day

OOOMMMMGGGG!

Latest Changes

2011-11-10T02:09:00.009+08:00

This blog is under construction.

For the past days, I have been very busy taking some actions in order to make my one and only blog better. Just recently, I discovered many great things about having this blog. I was presented with opportunities of not only earning online but also gaining new blogger friends. After almost four years on blogging, I now realize its purpose.

Because of it, I decided to fix everything in my page. I started from getting my own domain and changing the old "The Coffee Chic" to "I am the Coffee Chic." This first change had many effects for my blog. Some of my external links were broken and my rankings in some sites instantly went down. My Google page rank even declined from PR2 to PR0 which means that I have to work on it again. Right now, I am just waiting for new layout to be completely installed and I will be back in business again!

To the bloggers whom I've exchanged linked with, forgive me if you cannot find your links in my page. I promise to fix them as soon as possible. For the mean time, I cannot give a linky love for my first commentator but I will post it after everything in my blog is okay.

Please support me on my upcoming mini-giveaway for the make-over of the old The Coffee Chic! I will post the details soon! Thank you so much. Anyway, I have also changed the username of my Facebook page. It is now facebook(dot)com/iamthecoffeechic. I hope you could like..

Sunshine

2011-11-09T10:01:00.000+08:00

First of all, I would like to thank ate Rovie of Anything about Bella and Jenny of Dabawenya for the Sunshine Award. This is not the first time I received something like this but it has been years since I got one. I really appreciate the heart-warming award. Once again, thank you to my blogger friends for sharing this to me.

Now, here's the rules for the recipient of Sunshine Award:

1.) Thank the person who gave this award and write a post about it.

2.) Answer the questions below.

3.) Pass it to 10 fabulous bloggers and send them message to let them know.

* Favorite color? Green!
* Favorite animal? Honestly, I'm not a pet-lover but if I have to choose, I'd pick puppies!
* Favorite number? 8 - Always my lucky number.
* Favorite drink? Pineapple juice! Coffee too, especially when shared with love ones!
*Facebook or Twitter? Both actually. I like updating my FB page and tweeting everything in Twitter.
* Your Passion? Loving. *chos*
* Giving or getting presents? Giving!
* Favorite Day? Everyday! Always a happy day.
* Favorite flowers? Roses! I want the green ones!

And now in no particular order, the Sunshine Award goes to (drum beating)...

Krizza of Life's Trips and Tricks
KM of More Than Sexy
Haidene of A Neurotic's Neuroticism Overdrive
March of The Labyrinth of Fickle and Sloppy Thoughts
Renz of The Travelling Nomad
Arvin of Written Feelings
Chano of Sayantifico2005
Yanie of Life Ascending
Jen of I Could Be the One
Albert of How to Become an Einstein

Crossed Fingers for the Last Semester

2011-11-08T11:31:00.001+08:00

Two universities. Three courses. Five years. After everything that I've been through in college, I think March 2012 is the right month for me to graduate. I don't plan to extend it any longer. All that I want is to give mom and dad my diploma as soon as possible. Nothing is more important than making them feel happy and proud. I know, deep in my heart, that they deserve it.

Ever since I started studying for college, I never heard them demand anything from me. When I chose to take BS Biology at the University of the Philippines in Mindanao, they agreed and supported me with my decision. That time, I really wanted to become a Biologist or a Medical Doctor. But having attended the classes and performed lab experiments, I began to realize that it wasn't meant for me. So, I asked my parents if I could transfer to another university and shift to a new course. Again, without long negotiations, they granted my wish. I was enrolled at Ateneo de Davao University under the School of Business and Governance. I took up BS Accountancy which I started to really love. However, somewhere along the way, I experienced things I never wanted to. After a year of being an Accountancy student, I decided to shift again for a new course which is BS in Commerce and Management Accounting. Again, my parents backed up for the new decision I made. They never stopped believing in me despite all the inconsistencies that I had for the previous years.

To return all the good things my parents did for me, I promise myself that BSC-MA is going to be my final degree. So far, everything has been running smoothly and I only have one semester to go. Hopefully, I will be able to finally attend my own graduation ceremony. As the title says, "Crossing fingers for the last semester." This time, I will never let anything get into the scene. I will pass the 15 units left and soon hand my diploma to the persons who never left me - Mama Gina and Papa Albert.

All my classes for the second semester are scheduled on the days of Tuesday and Thursday every week. I have no classes for the Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. My on-the-job training will also start on January 2012. This means that I could still keep an update of my blog without affecting my studies!

How to Become an Einstein

The Yellow and the Red

2011-11-06T20:14:00.005+08:00

This 10 minute video is worth your time. Sometimes, we have to listen to the two sides of the story before we could finally understand what is happening and learn about the real truth. For now, let me just share this video for I have no plan of expressing my thoughts about it. Honestly, I have many questions in mind. I think I have to read more books about the Philippine history, specifically during the days of the Martial Law and Edsa Revolution. The moment I understand more about the subject will be the time that I'll write about my thoughts.

This Filipino Visual artpiece is created, authored and directed by a conservative Filipino citizen, residing in the Philippines. The director/author/owner of the video does not intend to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate his fellow Filipinos or any particular Filipino individual. We are not promoting hatred, violence and discrimination towards our own race. Nor do we promote stereotyping and denigration against any Filipino Individual.

The objective of the director/author/owner of the video is to promote an intelligent and civilized discussion about rectifying the flawed provisions of the Philippine's 1987 Constitution. Provisions that promote a protectionist government where only a few number of rich families benefit while the entire populace of the Philippines is mired in POVERTY, MEDIOCRITY and constant SUFFERING.

The opinion of the director/author/owner of the video is similar to the opinion of a growing number of disillusioned Educated and Enlightened Filipinos who simply wants to elevate their quality of life and get rid of poverty in our country once and for all by freeing up the economy and attracting foreign direct investments that brings job opportunities to the people. The 1987 constitution is responsible for restricting progress in the Philippines for 25 years. The 1987 Constitution must be rectified. This rectification movement must be supported by the people. But first, the people must be informed. Hence the very PURPOSE OF THIS VIDEO.

This is not Hate Speech. This is not Racial Vilification.

Life's Tips and Tricks

Keep Calm and Love Yourself

2011-11-04T11:20:00.005+08:00

Below is the complete transcript of the speech I have delivered for my Public Speaking class when I was in my first year in college. Allow me to share this and to remind you of something special.

Do you love somebody? Do you love your parents, your brothers and sisters? Do you love your friends, best friends or boy friend? What about yourself? Do you love your very own self? Have you ever looked in the mirror straight in your own eyes and said the sweet words “I love you”? To those who answered no, don’t worry I am here to teach you how to love yourself completely. To those who answered yes, just sit back, relax and listen to some ways on how you could learn to love yourself more.

Loving yourself is not an easy thing to do but it is worth the effort. According to Dianne Mastromarino, the author of The Girl’s Guide to Loving Yourself, “Loving yourself takes lots of confidence and very little self-criticism. It takes acceptance and understanding and more courage than you may feel like you have some days. It is challenging your mind, knowing what is best for your heart and taking tip to toe care of your body.”

Loving yourself is not about skipping meals with the goal of reducing your waistline. It is not about depriving your body of the food it needs to fit into some trendy outfit. It is not about wearing the clothes everyone else is wearing even if you don’t feel good with it. It is not about pretending to be somebody you’re not just to be inside the circle. It is not about following what your parents or friends ask you to do because you’re too scared to hurt their feelings.

Rather, loving yourself means being able to be just yourself in front of the people surrounding you. It means being happy with who you really are. It means creating good relationships with your family and friends. It means staying with your real friends who accept you for who you are and not with what you have. It means having the courage to be unique and to be “you”, not some carbon copy of the latest model on the cover of your favorite magazine. Loving yourself means knowing how great you are and not letting any person, any place or any thing ever get in the way of that.

The first step on how you could love yourself is to accept the fact that nobody is perfect. You grew up playing with Barbie who happens to be so perfect with her pink dresses, her astounding posture, her teeny tiny waistline and her perky breasts. You even wanted to be just like her when you grow up. Now, you’re old enough to know the truth. She is an unachievable ideal. She is just a product of man’s creative mind. Barbie is just a plastic princess and you are far better than her with cute imperfections. Be proud of who are and be the best you can possibly be. Check in with yourself and figure out what you can do to be the best “you”. If you stare at yourself in the mirror and aren’t happy with what you see, go get a haircut and treat yourself to a makeover. The best “you” is definitely not brought out by locking yourself in your room because you think you look fat in your party dress and feel sad when you look at your friends’ party pictures and you are not in them.

The second step in to loving yourself is to be confident. Having confidence is feeling good about yourself both inside and outside. It means that you are comfortable with your own skin, weight and height. It means that when you wake up early in the morning and look in the mirror, you are happy with the person you see despite the tangled hair and simple look. And at night, when you lie down and go to sleep, you really feel good inside. It means accepting compliments like, “You look great”, “You are amazing” and not by giving some ridiculous responses to the praises given by other persons. The best way to gain confidence is to praise yourself once in a while. At the end of the day, you should be able to name at least one thing you are proud of having achieved. Confidence is not always being right. It is about feeling good enough about yourself.

The third step to love yourself is to get along with your family – the persons who will never leave you no matter what happens. At any age, getting along with your family members is not always the easiest thing to do. You have parents who don’t understand exactly how it is to be at your age. You have siblings who compete with you in getting the attention of your parents. Though it is sometimes easier just to shut your door, turn your iPod on or play your favorite psp game, try to remember that family matters a lot. They are the people who know you best and will always be the ones who love you most. So learning the best way to deal with your family and with the situations you may encounter together is not just an option, it is essential. Bottom line: No matter how crazy your family seems or how crazy they make you feel, family always matter most. It is important to value the persons who will always make you feel good when the rest of the world can’t.

The fourth step in loving yourself is to choose the right set of people you hang out with. Get real friends who like you for who you are and who are not talking to you just because of the clothes you are wearing or the guy you are dating. Don’t waste time with people who don’t respect you or who really don’t listen when you talk. If you can’t be completely yourself in front of someone, then that person is not your real friend. Put 100% into friendships that matter and don’t be fooled by the people who give you any less. One lesson learned the hard way, when new people start paying you special attention after you get a brand-new Louis Vuitton bag or a boyfriend who happens to be the school’s basketball team captain, they are not real friends.

The fifth and last step in the ways to love yourself is to be the master of your emotions. You probably find yourself getting totally upset over something that may not even have bothered you a few months before like feeling your boyfriend is no longer the same guy you answered “yes” months ago. Perhaps tears well up in your eyes for no reason at all or the things that used to make you happy don’t anymore. It is scary to grow up and feel everything change and to know that you have no choice but to change along with it. Don’t tuck everything inside you. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Don’t let it eat you. Remember that you are in charge of how you are feeling, not the other way around.

The one person in your life who knows you the very best, who will always stick by you, and who will never leave you is “you.” You are the only person who know when you are having a rough time or when your confidence meter is falling below average. Only you know exactly what you need to get yourself back on track and feeling the superwoman you really are.

To truly live your life into the fullest, you have to fall inlove with the one person who matters most, YOURSELF. Take it from me, somebody who loves herself more than anybody could love her more. Thank you for listening. Remember: love yourself, each and every single part, from your little pinky toe to your great big mind and all other parts in between. You deserve nothing less.

How to Become an Einstein

Hola Noviembre

2011-11-03T04:20:00.005+08:00

Let me say this to the months of October and November. I know it's kind of late but as the common saying goes, "It's better late, than never."

Though it is already the 3rd day of November, I believe that I can still give the new month a warm welcome and wish that it will be good, or if not, better than the previous month.

The 31 days of October has been memorable for me. Since I am the type of person who keeps diaries and journals, I have some great moments listed for October that I will always be thankful of and that I will never forget. Among those happy moments is my vacation at my mother's hometown in Carmen, Agusan del Sur. For the past days, I haven't updated my blog and missed reading my blogger friends' posts because of my short vacation. I spent three days at Carmen where I got the chance to bond with my cousins, enjoy the beauty of the beach and relax at the province. It really felt good having an opportunity to take a break from everything.

I am also grateful for the countless blessings I received on the previous month. In the middle of October, I got my freelance writing jobs from Odesk and Elance. Thank you to The Coffee Chic for helping me get more clients because I use it as my portfolio url. For almost four years of writing, I never thought of being a freelance writer because I am not confident with writing skills. But everything has changed during the sem break. I tried looking for ways to become productive and to earn without leaving the house. Luckily, I got some clients who love my own writing style and hire me as their writer. In fact, I am still writing articles for some of them. Another blessing is having enrolled for the second semester of this school year. I have taken 15 units for my last semester in college. The best part of all is I got everything arranged on our online enrollment. I only have classes every Tuesday and Thursday but it will be from 1:00-9:00PM. My MWF schedule is vacant except for the morning for my OJT which will only last for two months. The whole afternoon and night of my MWF are free which means I can have more time with my mom,with Abdel, with TCC and other things. There are many great things that happened in my life for the month of October. Those things were precious to me and I will never forget them.

I hope for a happier and better November. I am excited for the next 27 days of the month. I pray that it will be as fruitful as my October.

Sunny Toast

Tablet Time Giveaway

2011-10-28T10:33:00.002+08:00

Here is an early Christmas treat from Just Married with coupons.

Do you want to win a brand new iPad 2 or $550 cash? If yes, then visit the contest page and participate. All you need to do is to follow certain blogs on Google Friend Connect, like the Facebook pages associated with these blogs and follow their owners on Twitter.

Hurry! You only have four days left before this contest ends.
The winner will be announced on October 31, 2011 (11:59PM).

Date With Mom

2011-10-27T20:27:00.002+08:00

Going out and having an all-girl bonding date with my mom makes me really happy. I find ultimate joy when we go to the malls, dine on restaurants, watch movies on cinema houses and hit on the road together. For me, nothing feels great than spending some quality time with her. We may live under the same roof but we make sure that we still go out because we believe that it offers us a different kind of experience and excitement. It is our own way of catching up with each other especially now that I am kind of busy with some stuff.

Today, we had again our date! We spent the whole afternoon doing the things we love to do together. Our first stop was at Ice Giants in Sta. Ana St. where we had our frozen treats. I chose my all-time favorite Strawberry Mango Giants while she had her usual Mango Giants. Since we ordered for the giants, it took us some time before we finally finished taking them all which was great because it gave us more time to talk and get an update about our lives.

After having the perfect time with my mom at Ice Giants, we headed to Robinson Supermarket at Abreeza mall. We had our groceries which is one of the things I always want to do with her. Every time we do it, I learn more about things like cooking, cleaning and house caring tips. She always have something to say for different products found in the racks. Honestly, walking through the different lanes in the supermarket was tiring but since it's for my mom, I can take it. The next shop we went into was Go Nuts Donuts store where we bought two dozens of our favorite donuts as a pasalubong for my brother.

My date with my mom today was perfect!

My mom is a full-time house wife and a full-time mother. Since the day she married my dad, she devoted her life to taking good care of us. She even quit on her job and focused on becoming the best for our family. This is one of the many things that I adore about my mama. She places our family on top priority. Because of her, I learned about the value of a happy family and how I should treasure it. I am thankful for all that she has done for me, my brother and my dad.

Some Music For Us

2011-10-25T19:10:00.002+08:00

Waking up with music gives us the mood. What a lovely day to greet the rising sun with coffee and a sound that tickles our heart! Many would say to play a song that your heart desires for a moment. And yes, this is true. Whatever we feel in a particular time can be more stimulated as we listen to song that matches our present emotion. But then as they say, it is all in mind just as how each interprets a wall painting that touches the hearts of the viewers.

It is all in the mind. Create your mood by choosing what music to listen to first thing in the morning. Wanna go hip and upbeat? Why not? The rest of the day should be alive, anyway. Or how about thinking sexy the whole day while staying at home? Seductive smooth jazz will be great, then. Let the creative juices flow as we listen to product of arts around us. Ahhh, but the best music so far if you feel like going nostalgic comes from the gorgeous drops of rain. Notice how these tiny drops from the sky fall by looking at them straight from our bedroom window. They create beats. And as long as this is not the kind of rain that will drown people but just drizzles, then drizzling memories will begin to pour. Hopefully, we’d be selective enough to sort what would keep us thinking—happy and in love?! Cup of coffee is great during this time of the day. Play a soothing jazz. Just try to keep it down. Stare at a relaxing wall painting displayed in your room and there you go. You’ll have all the memories coming back to you. They just keep coming in and before you know it, your subconscious is submerged to nostalgia.

Life we expect or the life we plan to enjoy for the rest of the day may not smoothly go as we think it will, but then thanks for the arts—thanks for music in particular to keep our company, to console us, and to let us submerge for a not so-good emotion to ease up the load we carry. How to imagine the world without this simple entertainment is like thinking the impossibility of people to connect their emotion to something that they can relate to. With music, reflection becomes easy which benefits the soul. It is not our body that needs a recharging, anyway. Our soul needs to be pampered, too. Thanks to music. Life seems to be easy for the time being!

Source:

PGT Season 3

2011-10-23T23:16:00.003+08:00

Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 has finally declared its grand winner! Honestly, I don't like the results of the grand finals night but the people have already spoken. They chose "Maasinhon Trio" as the winner. I guess I can't do anything about it. In the first place, I never voted which makes me incapable of complaining. The top three finalists chosen by the people are Maashinhon Trio, Khalil and Bringas Brothers. I was expecting that "El Gamma Penumbra" will make it to the top three though I'm not certain if they'll win. That is why when I tuned in to PGT3 grand finals night, I was really disappointed. I think I'm not the only one who had the same sentiments. Some of my friends and even Twitter people have expressed the same thing. In fact, one of the top retweeted tweets goes like this:

You can also check #PGTgrandfinals trend!

Below are the videos of the El Gamma Penumbra's performances in the semi and grand finals night. I like them more because their talent is exceptional. They did not only perform but they also sent a message to everyone who have seen their acts. They are composed of twenty-six shadow play performers whose creativity will never fail to amaze anyone.

Sorry if the videos are not in HD. I can't find any official videos yet. So, for the mean time, these are all that I can embed. Credits to Claudette and PhilippineNewsDaily!

Lucky Two

2011-10-23T15:37:00.007+08:00

When I was checking the camera roll folder in my touch, I came across this picture which really made me smile and happy. It's just a simple screen shot of my profile pic in Facebook uploaded two months ago. This picture made me remember of the two years I spent being with Abdel. Those years were not perfect but those were the best years of my life.

Two years of being in a relationship. For some people, this is only a short span of time. However, for someone like me who never had a serious relationship before, this is epic. With all honesty, I never thought that my relationship with Abdel will reach this far especially that we have many differences. Though we are alike in so many things, there are still quite a number of things that we really can't get along. I guess, it is one of the reasons that bring us closer to each other. Because of our differences, we started to discover more about ourselves. We worked together as we reconcile the differences between us. Each day becomes more exciting and challenging. There are times when we really can't understand each other and we fight over silly things. There are even moments when we can't take it anymore but we never gave up. By far, it is the best decision we ever made. It's just amazing that after all the fights and quarrels, we're still here for each other. The challenges and trials that we have encountered only made us stronger.

God knows how grateful I am for all the moments I spent with Babe. I am really thankful that I have found someone like him. He is the only man, aside from my dad and bro, who has shown me so much love, care and understanding. I will never forget the day he entered and changed my life. No one knows what might happen to us in the future. No one can tell if we'll end up being together forever or not. But whatever happens, I will never forget how happy he made me feel. All that matters is that I have found the love of my life. We will be celebrating our 25th month two weeks from now and I'm looking forward for it!

Now.. I'm praying and hoping for more happy years in our relationship. I'd love to say this every year:

8.12.09 -- I know my life will never be the same again. Thank you for the happy and gloomy days... We may not have the perfect relationship but I'm certain we have the best. I love you, always. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING ABDEL. <3