Girls Talk: Comfort Food

I'm so excited about the April theme for Girls Talk! Today we talk about Comfort Food.

I go through comfort food phases, it was different when I was in highschool, when I was in a dorm during college and definitely different now that I'm a Mom. I'm not a cook, only thing I can cook for certain is carbonara and that's about it. I've tried my hand in cooking other stuff though mostly soups. I like soups. Right now, my favorite soup and comfort food is....drumroll please.

Everytime I get this from that famous food place, you can bet that I buy 2 Large bowls because I often get attacked while eating by the two kiddos who enjoy it as much as I do. They just love saying...sssooooouuuupppp.

For more yummy entries that will make your mouth water, go ahead and click that button above. I know you want to...

Untitled Letter

Dear Me the Fool,



         Discontentment is now filling my world again. Hmm, maybe time to join Ms.Bambie's contest and win me a blog makeover. I'm so tempted to delete my blog and start from scratch. No joke, even if it's April Fools Day today. You should ask Calvin and Sir G., both witness to the numerous times I'd delete my blog and start from scratch. The coming school year would be a trying one for me. It will be the first time that both kids will enter school. Will blogging still be in the picture? I'm also facing the reality that if I never win any contest again, then how in the world am I going to pay for my domain? Hmm... It's time to rethink my blogging options. Perhaps going to a blogspot address again? Goodbye, cruel blogging world? Could that be the answer?
As promised, here's the Mcklinky and there's the Mcklinky.

April Themes for Letters That I'll Never Send

Are we moving?
I'm undecided. I'll just post 2x, here and there. Leave your links to your letters at the MckLinky.

Dear Reader,

Here are the Themes for the April Letters That I'll Never Send


Thursday Themes:

• April 1: Dear Fool
• April 8: Happy Easter
• April 15: Any Topic
• April 22: Write a Wedding Anniv Message
• April 29: Dear Movie Director

Mom/Dad Bloggers here are your themes for Saturday:

• April 3: No Letters in respect of Black Saturday
• April 10: Summer plans for kids
• April 17: Any topic or theme addressed to your Child/Kids
• April 24: A Letter to my kid/s Teacher

Leave Suggestions and Comments Here for Future Themes

To: Letters That I'll Never Send Participants

Dear Reader,

A comment made by Cacai got me thinking. I was wondering why she termed the question that way, that I was transferring letters that I'll never send to a blogspot address. Then it hit me. I give link love to those who participate in my blog which already has a pr  of 2, to those participants who take the time to write their letters. Is transferring the meme with poor participants to a blogspot address with no pr seem like a punishment to the meager number of participants who do bother? 

So, check out the poll, or leave your comments here.

I want to do what's best for the blog and for the readers, and participants as well. 

Definitely, a redefinition of what my blog is about has got to happen. It's time to decide pretty soon.

For the Blog Tweaker like me...

My picks
Lists of Great Blogger Tutorials and tweaks for the designer in you.

Dear Reader,

You're a blogger who likes to play around or tweak with your blog layout or template, then this is something for you. One of my most avid readers, if not my most avid reader and commenter Kikamz was curious about my blog header. Made you look didn't I? It's animated and changes around every 6 seconds, but who is counting?
Instead of taking all the claim and giving you a blow by blow account on how I tried to change it, I shall lead you to the experts who will tell you in ways you'll understand and grasp. I hope you make a better job of it than I did.
In no particular order, here are my favorite blog tutorials and tweakers and hacks.

• Font or Fonts - changes how your blog looks and contributes to the branding of your blog. There are a lot of different fonts to choose from but the tricky part is getting that font applied to your blog.

          You can download fonts from
           1. Dafont.com
           2. Fonts for Peas by Kevin and Amanda
           3. Free Scrapbook Fonts by Kevin and Amanda
           4. Miss Tiina Fonts
           5. Misprinted Type  - just check under freeware for free fonts
           6. Two Peas Free Fonts - register to get them but they are totally cute!

Now, if you've chosen that font you would like to use for your blog post, date, sidebar titles and even for your blog entry itself, head on out to KevinandAmanda clicking that will send you to the tutorial on how to change blog post, date and sidebar title fonts only. For the blog post entries, you have to check out their new tutorial.

For Kikamz:
       Congratulations on winning at Kaye & Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. I knew you could do it!
Anyway, here's the tutorial that you want. It's a new discovery of mine and I wanted to share. The site has a lot of stuff to offer from blogging tweaks/hacks, blog header and for the photoshop, photoshop elements, and lightroom addicts out there, this one's for you as well.
       
          Headers are that, headers, headlines, where you post the title, your tag, your brand for all the world to see. To gain curiousity and attraction, headers have to be at least attention-grabbing, cute, well-defined, or all that.
         Discover how to make an animated header like mine from this site. Coffee Shop. You will be amazed to the hundreds of freebies, tutorials and other amazing info you can get. I'm still reeling from the many discoveries I enjoyed from the site. I personally like the story board/ templates and will be playing with some of the ps freebies though I don't totally get it yet.
         One little thing though, can you tell me how to completely remove the header including the title? That's the error that got me flabbergasted as I tried to change my header. Maybe, I read it wrong or something. If you know the simple and easy fix to that...tell me. I'll be trying the animated header for my Letters that I'll Never Send blog too in a while.


Other Blogger Tutorials/Tweaks/Hacks Experts:

1. Amanda of Blogger Buster
2. Annie of Blogger University
3. Kaye of Random WAHM Thoughts - coolest blog comment counter ever!
4. Pocket of BlogBulk - for blog borders,dividers, etc. and posting 3 images side by side.
5. Amanda of Kevin and Amanda
6. Simply Fabulous Tutorials - code for grab this button!
7. Pehpot of Novice on Blogging for blogging cards, how to review and more.
8. Fedhz of Home Buddies - has adorable page rank buttons.

Know more interesting sites? Leave it in a comment here.

Looking Forward when faced with the Past.

Graduation

It was Recognition day and visions of both the past and the future overwhelmed me.

Dear Reader,

                                        Here's a photo of my nieces for my younger niece's (Kharylle) Recognition Day. She's an honors student and is in the second grade. Wondering why it's her sister that's on the stage with her? Their parents are abroad, working in separate countries.

                As I sat there and listened, somehow I was transported to a different time, but in the same place. I am also an alumni at the same school except for my 1 month stint at Philippine Science High School in Agham Road.  It was so much different from my time. Back then, when you got into the honor roll, you got certificates, and awards given away are those of loyalty, etc. Now, they hand out medals for the honor roll and certificates for special awards.


                My school has changed a lot too. From the time that it started with around 8 classrooms, it is now an entirely very long compound of its own. I checked the faculty roster and I recognized the name of the owner and her child as the director and academic affairs officer respectively. I saw that 3 of my teachers in highschool when I was there are still there. Then, I also recognized one of the alumni, now, a teacher in our school. Pretty amazing. I should also mention that the alumni was the pioneer class of our highschool, as in the first batch to graduate. I belonged to the 3rd batch to graduate from that school.

               Maegan is school-age now and we are seriously considering my former alma mater to be her new school. The school announced last year on its 25th foundation anniversary of discounts given to children whose parents are alumni. I hope Maegan qualifies, the discount would go to a lot of things we need. Hopefully, Maegan will decide to stay in school since I don't think I can handle her being homeschooled. I think she has more respect to authority figures. She knows she can twirl mommy in her little fingers or if mommy's really tired mommy will turn into mommy monster.We've been bringing her to the school since there are a lot of occasions there and she enjoyed the book fairs there.


               Summer classes are about to start as soon as the Holy Week is over. Hubby and I are still undecided on what classes will Maegan and Paul attend. Have you decided on what hobbies/crafts/sports/class will your kids attend? Suggestions?

Letters That I'll Never Send: Dear Graduates of 2010

Letters That I'll Never Send
is moving this coming April.
Please come and join us at our new home.

Dear Graduates,

              You are at a point in your life where you have to face some decisions. Specially for those graduating in highschool and in college.This is the time to celebrate the fact that you have finished one milestone in your life and that you are headed to a point in time which will mold your future.
               Do not fear unemployment or any of those things. All you have to do is be the best version of you. Try to be well rounded. Know your strengths and strengthen your weaknesses. The future is yours and you can change it.