Today

This day sucks.

• I woke up early 'cos I have a meeting at 9pm, turns out it was cancelled.
• I gained weight
• I was waiting for a call from a prospective employer, but it didn't come. Now I'm not sure if I'm getting a job. And I already resigned you know.
• Then I hit a car parked outside our house 'cos it was sticking too close to our driveway.
• I missed getting my coffee fix at McDonald's 'cos I was in a rush to get to the office, good thing the drive thru was closed. One of the good things, yeah, but still. NO COFFEE.

Argh. Then there's work.

Today sucked, clearly. But what sucks more is how I reacted to all these negative things. I was such in a bad mood from hitting a car I was in a rage while driving to the office. I cursed at the slow cars along the way, the freakin jeepneys without headlights, the cars parked at frkn street corners, the tricycles, the people not walking on the sidewalk, crossing along Commonwealth. I could've killed a family and not feel a drop of guilt. I know, I'm awful.

But I still thank God.

• That my parents weren't mad at me for hitting their client's car. Have I mentioned they're a guest at our house? T___T
• That I arrived at the office safely
• That I still have instant coffee with me, not iced but it's fine
• That my dad is very understanding of my driving flaws and never scolded me for my lapses
• That I'm alive

Hope you're doing good. :)

Also today at Magic 89.9, Boys Night Out - they were talking about instances where you unfollowed, blocked, unfriended someone over social media, and why.

A caller mentioned unfollowing these social media darlings after they became born-again Christians 'cos they suddenly became judgmental and seemingly self-righteous.

I think I know who they're talking about. Being judgmental and self-righteous is a different story but I just want to react to the sudden change. Becoming a Christian is a complete transformation and it's not at all gradual. It's a 180 degree turn from your old self. It's going cold turkey to sinfulness so yes, it's abrupt, shocking, surprising, totally uncharacteristic to the point of seeming like a hypocrite.

And that's the burden we all share.

Chili's now open at Robinson's Galleria

I can't believe I haven't posted about Chili's! I was meaning to put it under Food Phase Fridays 'cos there was a time I got sooo addicted to it. I would crave for their classic nachos and Chili's rice, and Jeckie and I would eat at Fairview Terraces every two weeks. The manager there even gave us free buffalo wings 'cos sobrang familiar na ata kami hahaha. Well, that was before when we could still afford it haha.

Just recently though, we were given passes to Chili's soft opening at Robinson's Galleria so we were really stoked about it. So even though it was scheduled on a weekday lunch and that I'm most probably still asleep, Chili's is Chili's so I gotta make time right?

Right!

It's been a long long time since we last ate at Chili's so that day was such a huge throwback. We were given play money to spend and a survey form to fill out before we leave. Cool!

Then we ordered the usual. Classic Nachos for appetizer, Beef Salpicao for me and Monterey Chicken for Jeckie.

Classic Nachos

They have the most delicious and unique nachos!

Beef Salpicao

I super love Chili's Rice. My love affair with Chili's actually started with their rice. I keep coming back for it.

Monterey Chicken

Another one of my favorites, but I'd choose anything with Chili's rice talaga haha

Also, new found favorite: Dalandan Mist! 

If you ever find yourself in Galleria, don't forget to drop by Chilli's for a hearty meal! :)

Chili's is located at Level 2, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas, Quezon City

Head of the family: not just a provider but a father

Imagine working in a world where time seems to just pass by and almost everything changes instantly. Think of having to keep up with an environment where it costs a lot to stop or even slow down for a while. Sound taxing, right? What more of prioritizing the welfare of everybody in the household.

But every head of the family doesn’t mind about it. Fathers are said to be the pillars of our homes. They toil sun up to sun down to give our needs and desires.

Some of them go abroad with tears in their eyes because they will be physically separated from their families. However, there is a certain joy in their hearts knowing that they will be able to provide for their loved ones back home.

To honor these gallant paternal men and let them feel how extraordinary they are and important their sacrifices are for their families, Father’s Day has been a yearly universal event. As we mark again this special occasion on Sunday, June 18, 2017, our applause and recognition will never be enough to show them how grateful we are to have them in our lives.

Our dads, together with our moms, take good care of us the moment we’re born. They are the ones who provide everything we need for our everyday lives. From infancy up to adulthood, they feed and clothe us.

As we take our initial baby steps, our patriarchs guide and lead us in the right direction. When we stumble and fall, they assist us to rise and move on. In times of danger or any threat, they shield us from any harm.

All of these, they do out of unconditional love. Their selflessness, though, has its own toll. Working tirelessly could lead to high levels of stress constantly and problems not only mentally, but physically, too. So better watch out for the signs.

Has tatay been constantly complaining about losing strands and strands of his hair every day? Or maybe has he been searching for a way on how to get them to grow back?

According to the hair loss statistics conducted by Statistic Brain in the year 2016, 40 percent of men experience noticeable mane vanishing as early as age 35. And as per the American Hair Loss Association, there are a couple of different factors that cause excessive hair fall, one being extreme degree of stress.

Nutramedica Inc. introduced a revolutionary product that aims to address this problem: NOVUHAIR, nature’s answer to hair loss. Being the only topical scalp lotion in the country that is made from 19 natural herbs, essential oils and co-factor nutrients all working synergistically, it’s perfect for all the heads of the family out there, be they biological or not.

NOVUHAIR is proven effective and safe to help prevent and stop the progression of hair loss and, at the same time, help promote locks’ growth. Simply spray a liberal amount of NOVUHAIR topical scalp lotion onto the scalp and massage for 5-10 minutes. Voila, it penetrates deeply into the roots, which helps rejuvenate, nourish and maintain the natural moisture of the hair.

Still have no idea on what to give him on his big day? Well, NOVUHAIR might not be the most expensive gift to impress him, but the most valuable present he could ever have. This nature’s answer to hair loss provides him the chance to be ahead already in preventing his “crowning glory” from receding in the near future.

So, head on to all leading stores nationwide and get a dose of this breakthrough product. NOVUHAIR is also available in shampoo and conditioner formats to further complement the benefits of NOVUHAIR topical scalp lotion. NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. You may also order NOVUHAIR online at www.lazada.com.ph. For inquiries, you may call 413-6570 or 0922-8830575, and visit www.novuhair.com.

Life Lately

To be honest I'm feeling kindof down lately. But it will pass. I'll stop sharing about our wedding planning for now 'cos I feel like it's being jinxed the more I talk about it. Something unexpected came and now Jeckie and I are scrambling to get new jobs. Can you believe it, right in the middle of saving for our big day. So yeah, will bottle it in 'til it's over then dump all the reviews when I'm officially a Mrs. I'm just thinking sayang cos I just learned that wedding related keywords are frkn evergreen. Hahaha On the plus side, I've earned around $200 doing freelance work last month. It's tiring, writing about pool accessories, home repair, and frigging drones, but I'm learning yeah. It's just that sometimes I wish I had more passive income, so I don't have to toil every time I needed extra money. It's like yeah I may be skilled in a couple of things, but it won't translate into money if I don't work extra, which sucks.

Anyway. I'm just so tired. For an unseasoned (just haha ok) writer like me an article a day is quite a stretch. I can't believe I pulled it off though. I'm still so exhausted from all the thinking and researching, but here I am wondering if I could get some more assignments 'cos I need more paypal funds to pay for my bridesmaids dresses hahaha.

Hay Lord. I just need some good news.

ShopBack is giving you cashback for shopping online!

I loooove online shopping, so it's kind of a shame I'm only exploring ShopBack now. If you're someone who loves lurking and swiping at Lazada, Althea, Zalora, or even Booking.com - you definitely have to learn about this!

Philippines' cashback website, ShopBack, is an online cashback website that lets you get deals and discounts on over 300 stores. It's pretty simple. It's all about giving you back a portion of your spending whenever you checkout at ShopBack. Easy right?

Watch this video to learn more about how it works:

See? All you need to do is sign up, browse on your favorite online shop via the ShopBack portal, checkout and get your cashback! You'll be able to redeem via payout to your bank account and even on Paypal. Convenient right?

I'm pretty impressed with the variety of e-commerce sites they've worked with. All of my favorite shopping portals are there, and I'm sure yours is too. You can get cashback on your eBay deals purchases, and get exclusive discounts on Lazada and even AliExpress!

It's the perfect online shopping and cashback platform for shopaholics like me!

But what got me really excited about ShopBack is the list of beauty shops they've worked with! They've got everything! Members get exclusive dibs on Sephora sales for saving on cosmetics, and they've also tied up with Zalora, Althea (waaah!!) and even Forever21. If that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will! Maybe travel deals? For those who love traveling, you know how costly it could get. Using ShopBack, all your trips are going to be totally worth it. They've worked with Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com to give you the best cashback offers you could get. Check here to see more of their travel deals.

Shopping has never been this rewarding, don't you think? So shop online and earn cashback now! :)

Sign up using my referral link!

Sign up here and let's help each other out! You get ₱100 upon signing up, then another ₱100 when you make your first purchase. And me? I'll get a hundred when you meet a minimum spend of ₱500 haha. Not to keen on it really but hey, you get better discounts so why not! :)

Sobrang waley

Everyone's thinking of resigning and I'm here contemplating whether I should attend interviews and try to get an offer at least. I updated my Jobstreet profile and browsed a couple of postings two nights ago, applying to this one company which I really like, sounds really good, and is basically just a couple of buildings away from where I work. So far I've had 4 calls, including the one I applied to (yey) and even an overseas opportunity (omg). So yeah. Time to think.

My preferred company (the one I applied to) doesn't really have any open position that's fit for my current experience. But the HR said I have enough experience for this and this post so they're inviting me for an exam. Which is the problem. Cos I already tried their exam 5 years ago and failed miserably. I don't think I have enough braincells for their test. And chances are they'll make me code the Fibonacci in C or Java, on paper. Just like 5 years ago. And I frkn can't. Never in my (short) programming experience did a business requirement needed a similar algorithm anyway. But I know, I know, it's really just to test me out. Waaaah Lord.

The other opportunity, the one that got me really excited, is an overseas one. This time the position is for something I have current experience in. Something I'm more confident in. During the call they told me about the country (it's in Malaysia), their client budget (which sounds like an offer already but wtv), the cost of living there, how long I'll be staying (1 year), and some other stuff. They told me to wait for an email but I haven't received one, so I'm tryna get my hopes down. In any case, HOW COOL IS THAT?! :D I told myself I had to wait until I get married before applying to other companies because I can't afford to have a downtime. But damn, times are hard. And being at the edge of the fence makes me want to leave for greener pastures.

Anyway. I have three things going on: 3 pending articles, 2 logo concepts, and my regular job (that I don't even wanna count anymore cos I'm just out of mojos for it). In fairness, God has been truly gracious. I never had an ongoing writing job since 2009 (oDesk) so I'm really thankful I landed one! Next, I've never worked on a design project via organic leads so again. Thank you Lord!

Lastly, someone finally bought the Delonghi Multicooker I won from a blogging contest, so yeah. It's been 3 months and I'm afraid the warranty will expire so yey for getting a buyer. It's my first time to ship via bus cargo too so I'm kinda scared, but buyer paid first so I just gotta try it out. I didn't even know it was possible to ship items via cargo. Well buyer has to pick it up at the terminal but that's already plenty of savings given that I'm sending something too big and heavy.

So there. Wish my luck in a lot of things!

Life lately and a cincher on my waist

Long time no life latelyyyy
So, what's up?

Waist training

You'd think it's some special program you enroll in to slim down your waist area but it's really just wearing these expensive binders that flatten your tummy. I'm wearing one right now. I bought it on Instagram and it's called 9-boned latex hook and eye. What can I say, it's pretty effective in tightening my core. But then all my fats spill over to my upper body, enlarging my boobs, and the sides. I look terrible. On the plus side, I can't slouch. This thing is too stiffly wrapped around my waist it's uncomfortable so slouch. Isn't that good? It really takes some getting used to, now I get why it's called 'training'. Hehe

Okay I just took it off. No way I'm enjoying my revel bar and blueberry tea with this on.

Writing

So. Remember I told you my last writing gig was a scam? Looks like it's legit after all. I got paid around a week after I kept emailing the guy. He apologized too, saying he hardly communicates with his writers via email, and finally invited me to be part of his team, and his slack group (which is pretty neat!). Damn. I feel so bad for hating him. I even went as far as contacting his "client" (the link I used in one of my articles) to say he's a scammer who doesn't pay his writers. ARGH. Stupid girl. I retracted the complaint immediately, but still.

I've written seven articles for him now, and I'm getting paid. Why, Lord. This is embarrassing.

Designing

There was a styling gig I agreed to a few weeks back but there aren't any projects yet so I'm pretty chill. Today, however, I was contacted to create a logo by a client from the states who paid agad agad the upfront down I asked for. It's the first time I got a client who is not a referral and who came from my site, so thank you Lord for organic leads! It's pretty flattering! Also, it's the first time I'm working on writing and designing at the same time, so, uhm. LET'S PANIC.

Wedding preps and keeping the expenses down

I realized that if I really wanted to have a budget wedding, I have to let go of all these nice-to-have things brides rave about at w@w (it's a facebook support group for soon to be married couples. it's pretty enlightening). And they are:

• Bridal robe - so overrated, but I'm probably gonna get a pretty one too HAHA #PeerPressure
• Gift to your partner - we have our entire lives for this
• Thank you cards - don't the souvenirs count already?
• Videographers - same day edits and aerials are the bomb right now, but I don't think we need it. I think I'll be fine with just pictures (NICE PICTURES), but yeah we already booked one. It kinda puts pressure on the couple too, cos they have to shoot too many places to get more (and beautiful) footage.
• And a lot other favors you give the guests - like heyyy I just treated you buffet lunch what else do you want? Actually, nothing. Guests are pretty inexpectant when it comes to weddings. They won't even notice the table centerpieces you bitched about to the caterer, and the additional 100/head you paid just to put their asses on rustic champagne tiffany chairs with burlap ribbons.

You see, there's a price for aesthetics. Once you book an acclaimed supplier, the rest have to follow. Why is there this kind of pressure? But you see, I think a really good photographer can fix all my aesthetic needs HAHA.

For instance, I didn't think Microtel was pretty, but this photographer, with his bright and natural shooting skills made it look so poooosh! Now, I'm set to booking Microtel for our preps haha. How I wish I could afford photogs like that.

Okay, I'm blabbing. Back to writing about phone systems and how to choose one.

Have a happy weekend!