Double the Fun Contest!

This contest made me think about why I started Blogging in the first place. The last contest that really got me thinking was that of Lainy's.

This is my first entry to this wonderful contest. 

I did the slogan in Taglish. Tagalog and English - to say I'm proud that I'm a Filipino and I'm a blogger. I'm not sure if it's unique though. 

Here's the graphic I made as my entry.

 

I hope this qualifies. 

Hosts of the Blog Contests:

Sister Rosilie's blogs:

Rosilie: My Blog
A Closet of Limitless for Limitless Adventure, Limitless Possibilities
Teacher Techie Says

Sister Tammy's blogs:

Forgetful Princess
Anything Under the Sun

The Sponsors' Links:

Anne Bianca of My Little Home |Maxi of Ovah' Coffe |Twerlyn of Happy Family Lainy of Lainy's Musings |Mr. D of Basic Bloganomics | Maxi of Health and Beyond | Lainy of Kuerdas | Jade of Momma Wannabe | Rose of Designs and Scrap LO | Mary Anne of Mary Anne's Musing |Twerlyn of Stay in Love | Lainy of Our Journey to Forever |Lainy of The Certified Fashionable Chic |Mys of Thoughts and Obsessions | Mys of Just Keep Trying |Budiawan Hutasoit of Small Note | Shimumsy/Alf of My Careless Whispers |Bill of My Piece of Paradise | Mommy Elvz of I Luv Give Aways |Mommy Elvz of Straight from the Heart | Mommy Elvz of Musings of a Pinay Working Mom | Mommy Elvz of Mighty in Spirit | Sherry of Joyful Teary Zone |Sherry of Catch Up Giveaway |Shelo of Mi Mundo Del Amor |Jade of The Pinay Blogger | http://kawaiihost.net| Dianne Karol of Fading Kiss| Mr. D of Basic Bloganomics| Tammy of Forgetful Princess | Dianne of Diannekarol.com| Mr. D of Basic Bloganomics| Twinks of Twinkletoe Writing Space| Rosemarie of All About my Life|Rosemarie of The Journey of My Life|DJTammy of Anything Under the Sun|Chuchie of Where Abouts |Chuchie of Chuchie's Hideaway|Star of A Maiden's Testimony|Nedekcir of Girls are made of Sugar and Spice|Nedekcir of Everything has a Reason |Nedekcir of In My Kitchen|Nedekcir of In the Life of Mine|Twinks of Twinkletoe Writing Space|Divya Sai of Blogger Templates Widgets|Sherry of My Mom's Best|Sherry of Hotels For All|DJTammy of Anything Under The Sun|Rosilie of Rosilie:My Blog|Mys of Keeps Trying Info|Mr. D of Basic Bloganomics|Elai of Elai's Haven|Jena Isle of Random Thoughts|Fe of Femikey Designs|Lee Hsien Loong of Eastcostlife|Kirhat of Seek No More|Kirhat of Nesting Buddy|Rare Jon Rez of My Written xPressions|Elai of Elai's Haven|Sudha of Sudhersana|SunEGrl of Low Carb Weigh of Life |SunEGrl of Made In The USA|SunEGrl of SunEGrl Loves to Shop|QC of The Dream Catcher |Jena Isle of Random Thoughts|Melody of Life Marriage and Kids|Melody of Mama's Sanity|Rosa of Rosa's Love|Rosa of Journey|Rosa of Pinay Mama Blog|Sherry of Wishing Her|Laura of LauraStaley's Shop |Ate Eden of Moments to Remember |Dhemz of My Life's Perception & Inspiration |Donna Mae of Envy Me Salon |Jade of ivfjournies.com|Rosa of Rosa Love's|Chuchie of Three Chies' Trends|Chuchie of Scrap Collection|Chuchie of Chuchie's Hideaway |Cacai of Cacai's Step and Journey |NovaS of History of SuperNova and SweetPair|NovaS of History of SuperNova and SweetPair|NovaS of ANGELS in my Life|NovaS of ANGELS in my Life|Novas of Spices of Life|Angie R of Hot In Singapore|Jade of Chica Chica |Jade of Health and Beauty Diva|Jade of Diva Fabulosa| Twins Happiness|Sherry of Sherry Rambling|Rosilie of A Closet of Limitless Adventure|Sherry of Shopping|Sherry of Heart Random|Sherry of isherrygo|Sherry of lurveverything|Sherry of NameSherry|Sherry of iLUVcontest|Rosilie of Teacher Techie Says|Rosa of Istarblog.com|GeneJosh of Her and History / GeneJosh of Hyzyd's Diary

3 prizes are up for grabs. Plus a consolation prize for the 4th placer.

Contest ends on June 20, winners announced on July 18.

Hurry and Join now!

For more details, click on the banner above or visit this link..

Saturday ThOt: The ThoughtsandObsessions Tag

Image via Wikipedia

  

This is the first ThoughtsandObsessions Tag

In short, Saturday ThOt

About the Tag:

1. Every Saturday, I will provide a set of 12 Questions on a single topic. 
2. Sometimes, I'll just provide a topic and list my thoughts. If this is the case, feel free to do the same or make your own set of Q&A for diversity but please stay on the topic.
   
3. Feel free to post suggestions on what topics you'd like discussed, talked about, thoughts, your own obsessions or passions.
4. Click on Mr. Linky to list your entry or leave it as a comment.
5. Once you join this weekly tag, you are encouraged to visit other blogs who also have their participation posted. Let's do this together and have fun together.

Saturday ThOt: Vampires!

Questions:

1. Which Vampire Author do you like most between Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, or Stephenie Meyer?
2. Who is your favorite vampire among Anne Rice's vampires and why?
3. Who is your favorite vampire among Charlaine Harris' and why?
4. Who is your favorite vampire among Stephenie Meyer's and why?
   
5. Besides being immortal and drinks blood, what would your vampire be like? 
6. If your vampire were to have other supernatural abilities what would it be?
7. If you were a vampire, would you drink animal blood or get human blood but from blood donors?
8. Vampire Tv Series: Buffy, Angel, True Blood, Moonlight? or the new one... The Vampire Diaries
9. Favorite Book in 'The Vampire Chronicles' of Anne Rice
10. Favorite Book in 'The Twilight Saga' of Stephenie Meyer
11. Favorite Book in 'The Sookie Stackhouse Series' of Charlaine Harris
    
12. What other supernatural being do you like?
    

My answers:

1. Anne Rice is my first love. Made me meet my first college crush.
2. Lestat de Lioncourt. The Brat Prince himself. Just so stubborn.
3. Sorry fans of Billy, I like Eric specially when he got amnesia.(spoiler alert!)
4. Edward Cullen - the book character. In the movies: Jackson Rathbone:Jasper
5. Still in touch with his humanity.
6. Can affect the moods of those around him. To calm me, when I get hot-tempered.
7. Animal blood - so I can have topaz eyes. 
8. True Blood by HBO rocks! Anna Pacquin is amazing. Just the way I imagined Sookie to be.
9. Without a doubt, Queen of the Damned. Akasha, one of my favorites among the vampires was the queen there.
10. Breaking Dawn, with Twilight as the close second. 
11. From Dead to Worse.Just Because.
12. Shape Shifters! - both present in Charlaine Harris' and Stephenie Meyer's novels
    

Click on the image below to add your link.

Interested in Digital Scrapbooking?

Are you like me, who has a little interest in digital scrapbooking?

If you are, do you know where to find some great free stuff?

I do.

The best sites that I found for free digital scrapbooking elements and papers :

1. Digifree - where you see previews of the items that are given for free. It's really a search engine with free instant preview. As soon as you click on the image of the freebie you're interested in, it takes you to the site that offers the freebie. One simple rule though. It's free to download but you must at least thank the one who created and gave away the freebie. Plus, take note of the terms of use.
2. Shabby Princess - is a site that gives away real and complete sets of freebies. She doesn't do it on a regular schedule, but you can always check her site. The papers and the elements are always amazing and beautiful.
3. Creative Busy Hands Digital Scrapbooking Freebies Search - was that too long for you? Works just like Digifree. Some may be the same of those you'll find at digifree.

Need more ways to find something beautiful and free?

Here's how I do it when I have the time:

My favorite search engine is Google. What's yours? I opt for  a search in web or in blog. Type in blog train. 

There, you'll find blog trains/convoys that is a collection of designers working on a particular theme and giving their beautiful work away. This is a great way to collect free digital papers and elements. Some blog trains happen when there's a particular holiday that is of interest to the scrapbook designer like Valentines or Christmas. Others have monthly blog trains. You should visit all those participating in the train/convoy. When you download, thank them. Bookmark the designers you really like, also when you visit their site, look for a search button, type in freebie, or check out their categories. 

A lot of the artists showcase their art that is both free and for sale. If you can afford it, go ahead and buy those beautiful graphics, I'm pretty sure they're worth it. But if you're a cheapskate like me, then opt for the freebie.

I usually download and use it for myself. Little layouts for my kids, etc. 

Right now, I'm trying to work on a souvenir for a friend who's getting married. Will be posting it here, to see and get your vote. Or not, to keep the event private. I'm designing it as a photomagnet. Just a few pieces, it will act as my wedding gift. She plans to give it to her principal sponsors.

Independence Day!

Image via Wikipedia

What does Independence mean to you?

More often than not, I wonder how much freedom is underrated and unappreciated. Today, the Philippines celebrates its Independence. Independence is something taken for granted by some. There are just a few who knows or remembers how we gained our Independence. With our independence, comes great responsibility. Staying free and not being under the rule of anyone. But with the recent economic crisis and political turmoil our country is facing now that we are indeed free and independent, sometimes my mind wonders whether it is better to have remained under the American rule. But that's just an errant thought of course.

If we did not gain our independence, we could be American citizens right now. Coming to and from at our convenience and happiness to the U.S. of A. I would have more access to sugarfree items (being a diabetic and all that). My kids would have better privileges. There are greener pastures in the U.S.

But then, when I rethink it. I'm proud to be a Filipino. The Philippines is rich in itself. We hold so much promise. We all just have to learn to maximize our potentials.We take power into our own hands. We use People Power to remove officials who we think are undeserving. We have a lot of talented persons who make our country proud. We are known to the world because of them.

Let us be proud that we are Independent.

Mommy Moments: Outdoor Fun

Mommy Moments

This week's theme is Outdoor Fun. I've never brought my kids to a park yet. Our park here in the province is not conducive for kids. These are photos from the backyard. For their outdoor fun, they love walking around the garden, watering the plants and trying to feed the dogs.

They love picking calamansi (little citrus fruits) and picking flowers, we have sampaguita and roses.


Do you see the gazebo in this picture? That is where they rest when they get tired from being chased by the water hose.

Maybe, if we have enough money, we can add a little pool for the kids to have fun outdoors.

For other Mommy Moment entries: Click Here

My Lists

Each week, though I hope I can do this daily, I'll try to create a list of interesting things that I want to share. Like links to my new discoveries, what blogs I read, books, movies I enjoyed (if I see any). There are a lot of things that interests me, so consider it a weekly roundup of some sort.

First up this week, is my list of Obsessions.

1.I'm addicted to blog templates that are colorful and fun and most of all, FREE!
   My blog is currently wearing  a template from Smitten Blog Designs with a few tweaks at the header.

There are tons more out there who offer free and colorful templates. Will be posting about them next time.

2. Vampires. I'm very much obsessed with Vampires. I went into Anne Rice phase. I just loved the Brat Prince - Lestat, loved Louis' humanity and my favorite book was Queen of the Damned. I like the character of Akasha. Even had my own coven. Then I discovered Stephenie Meyer, and read the Twilight Saga in a few nights, sleeping really late, which made my kids grumpy at me. I love Edward Cullen's character in the book but for the movies, I like Jackson Rathbone even more than Robert Pattinson. I sort of see Robert as Cedric Diggory from Harry Potter, though I think they're all hot. Then there's Charlaine Harris' who wrote the Sookie Stackhouse series which is the basis for HBO's True Blood. It doesn't hurt that the TV series stars Anna Paquin, more famously known as Rogue in the XMEN movies. If you want brutal and real vampires, True Blood is for you.

3. Learning. When I obsess about something, I tend to try to learn more about whatever it is. I go thru phases in my life, some phases longer than others. Now, I'm at the stage of learning about making handmade crafts and scrapbooking which is practically related to each other. I'm also into digital scrapbooking and I love those who make digital things and give them away for free.

4. As I've often mentioned in this short, yet long list, I love Freebies and Giveaways. So expect my entries to these exciting giveaways and I hope you join it with me. Anything free is something I appreciate, specially now that times are hard.

5. Tags/Memes/Surveys - I get to discover more about myself and about the writers I love reading about. I gain new insights about me and about you. I'm still finalizing the details of my tag. You can see the tag button on my leftside corner. Hopefully, I get to finish it soon.

Thanks for reading.

Mommy Moments: With Friends

I promised myself that I'll never miss a Mommy Moments ever again. To my detriment, the topic is something which is, not really something I can participate into. My kids don't have friends they can call theirs. There's an acquaintance who drops by when there's an occasion but that's about it. Their friends as of the moment are their cousins.

 

Maybe things will change since my eldest is now going to go to a toddler school. Where I hope she'll learn to become a little friendly and maybe I can start cleaning the closet while she's in school and I hope that Paul will be napping while she's in school. Maegan usually starts out shy, but she likes her future Teacher so I hope she answers when she's asked. 

For more Mommy Moments: visit the link