GT: CLASS PICTURE

It's second to the last topic for this month and as you might have noticed I haven't joined the meme for the previous topics. I was so occupied last few weeks and I don't have time to even update any of my blogs.

Old Class Picture! I've got only one and it was taken a day before our graduation in elementary. I forgot if it was the teachers who were not positioned at the center or i intended not to be at their back because I might not be seen. I was the smallest in the class that time. So I don't know if you can recognized me on this photo but i was the last girl on the right.

My entry for

MEMORABLE SUMMER WITH GREAT FRIENDS

GT gets hotter for the summer theme I guess! Expect some cute summer wear next week but for the meantime lets talk about our memorable summer.  

I love summer except for the sun burn and skin pigmentation that I usually got from too much exposure to the sun. And if there's a memorable one that would be my last summer with old friends here in Dubai at Wild Wadi Water Park way back 2006.

The lady on my right is Wenda. A former roomates and almost a big sister to me. Someone whom I would never forget. She was there during the most difficult times of my life in Dubai. She went home for good last 2007 and hopefully I would be able to visit here this year.

Those ladies with us are her relatives who became my good friends as well. I haven't seen them for quite a while but their memories would always remain.

My entry for

GADGET TO DIE FOR

Last day of TO DIE FOR topics! I don't know I had so much fun with this month's theme maybe because I got the most comments for Coco Martin. Well, as we end this month with the gadget to die for I wanna say "Thank You Guys" for the visit,comments and for following my blogs.

Gadget to die for! I've never desired for something that bad except for the DSLR Camera which was a part of our Christmas Wishlist for two consecutive years already. I thought I could be able to buy it end of last year, I almost had the money for it but something came up. A little boy's family badly needed money for his operation and my family was looking for a house to rent. So then I gave up that camera I've been dying to have for the life of that little boy in exchange of their house (mortgage) where my family stays now.

Nikon D3100

I've never been so techie or materialistic but saving and dreaming for something I really wanted to have means giving up for all those little and simple things i also want to have but if it takes saving a life and a place to call home for my family then I think it's worth giving it up besides I can still save for it.

My entry for

TO DIE FOR COCO MARTIN

Who among you are watching the newest soap opera in ABS CBN, Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin? If there's a reason that keeps me awake till midnight here in Dubai that is because of this Philippine family military drama series shown of TFC. I can't resist not to watch it everynight because of Coco Martin.

Image from here

I so love Coco Martin! For me he's the real image of a Filipino Hunk Actor. He's such a handsome and a hot guy. I love his eyes, the way he smiles, his dark complexion, his natural sexy body and more too when he acts.

If given a chance to choose whom to marry on the next life i would like Coco Martin (but i don't think he would like me too lol!).

Coco Martin's hollywood counterpart would be Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom.

My entry for

TO DIE FOR FRESH VEG'S SALAD

Whoa! Time flies so fast! Imagine where on the 4th month of Girls Talk now! And for the 1st topic of the month which is food to die for, here i go!

I grew up as a vegetarian and i think i'll die as a vegetarian as well. It's not that i don't eat meat or any other food rich in protein but if I have to choose between vege's and others I always go with vegetables.

And for some years of living in Dubai where most of the local restaurant serves fresh vegetables salads along with the main course and considering the cheaper price of vegetables made me and even my husband love it.

My entry for

GT: SWEET CHILD OF MINE

I'm back, after missing 2 GT entries. Back to Music Madness, as for the topic today which is about the song that makes me smile and feel relax everytime i hear it, that would be Sweet Child O' Mine of Guns N' Roses.

It was on the last years of my teenage life when i started to love this song. I was working that time in Laguna Technopark and every Saturday night I would hang out at Kalesa Kape. The first time i entered that bar, the band members were about to play this song and I was just there near the entrance simply looking at them while they perform and by merely listening to them it seems like all stress are gone. And now everytime i hear this song it reminds me of those days.

Photo from Google

She's got a smile that it seems to me

Reminds me of childhood memories

Where everything

Was as fresh as the bright blue sky

Now and then when I see her face

She takes me away to that special place

And if I'd stare too long

I'd probably break down and cry

Sweet child o' mine

Sweet love of mine

She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain

I hate to look into those eyes

And see an ounce of pain

Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place

Where as a child I'd hide

And pray for the thunder

And the rain

To quietly pass me by

Sweet child o' mine

Sweet love of mine

Where do we go

Where do we go now

Where do we go

Sweet child o' mine

My share for

SONG THAT I HATE TO HEAR

Hello Girls! We’re done with the love that the month of February brought us and now we’re on the Music Madness month. Well, I’m not a music lover but I can easily love music! (Huh?)…and if others hate rock, techno and heavy metal….I loves it! I want music that is associated with anger and depressions but actually alleviates negative feelings. And if there’s one song that I hated so much, that would be NUMB of Linkin’ Park. I hate it not in the sense that I don’t like it but because it reminds me or something and merely hearing it is like anger and hatred comes back…it’s like opening the wound that I’ve been dreaming to be healed.

For more Music Madness entries click the badge below! Happy GT Everyone!

STUPID THINGS

It's nice to be back after a month of not participating GT, I simply miss the Girl Talkers and I think it's the topic that brought me back here.

It’s Love Month and I’m pretty sure that LOVE is one of the most interesting topics that we girls really like. I can imagine when all of us gathered in one room to share our experiences about our crushes, first love and the man we promise to love till death…for sure all of us wants to be the first one to share but that is something impossible to happen that’s why we’re here at GT…hehehe

Anyway, as we talk about STUPID LOVE, I can vividly recall my stepfather’s statement when he has known that Marlon and I were already dating. He said, “For heaven’s sake, you almost grew up in the city and here you are falling in-love with this guy from our place? Can’t you find someone from the city? You were already born in this small barrio and still you will marry someone from here?”

I didn’t really understand why he told me that or maybe he can’t just tell me directly that he doesn’t like Marlon. I had that bad feeling with him that time and if not for the sake of having him as my own father I could have told him “Who are you to tell whom to love?” With  his disapproval and so as my mom the more we became so in-love with each other and all that they can do was to accept Marlon. And if there's some stupid things i did for the sake of love......that was to lie to my parents.

I can never forget how angry my mom was when she learned that i was with Marlon instead of my bestfriend during school break.  Well i do understand that she was worried of me getting pregnant without finishing my studies first....what she don't know we are already planning to get married and before she learned about it we were already married on a civil rights and that happened a month after my graduation before going to Dubai.

My share for

HEALTHY ME - 2011

It's been a months that i didn't join this meme and though i am alredy late for this entry let me still have a chance to be a part of Girls Talk. I've missed all the topics here and i hope i can have more time for this now.

Healthy Me! I have not been so conscious with my health until i had my digestive problem. Well, i love to eat fruits and vegetables a lot but if given a chance that someone prepared foods which include meat or chicken..surelly i would have it till the last piece just like what happened last Christmas and New Year's celebration. After that... i have had a hard time defecating and i promise myself that i will NOT and NEVER eat meat.

Other than eating meat i will avoid taking dairies and milk and anything that triggers my allergy. And i promise  to do a little exercise everyday, drink vitamins and eat on time.

My share for

NATURAL HEALTH AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Image from here

Last month till now i am having a digestive problem and so i decided to drink Aloe Vera Gel again on a daily basis to assist digestion.

'The Essential Aloe Vera' by Dr Peter Atherton.

Stabilised Aloe Vera Gel (when taken as a drink or applied externally to the skin and hair) has the following benefits:

• It is a natural cleanser due to the presence of saponins.
• It penetrates tissue due to its lignin content.
• It anaesthetises the tissue in the area to which it is applied, relieving pain deep beneath the surface, including pain associated with joints and sore muscles.
• It is bactericidal when held in high concentration for several hours in direct contact with bacteria, whereas antibiotics kill bacteria when highly diluted.
• It is viruscidal and fungicidal when in direct contact in high concentration for a long period of time.
• It is anti-inflammatory. It acts like a steroid, but with no side effects.
• It is anti-pruritic - reducing itching and burning. It is a natural moisturiser, taking moisture to all layers of the skin.
• It stimulates cell replication.
• The proteolytic enzymes break down dead tissue - cleansing a wound (topical products).
• It helps to increase blood flow in the skin by capillary dilation.
• It is health giving to the skin and body by providing a wide range of vitamins, minerals, sugars, enzymes and amino acids, essential and secondary.

As a consumer of Forever Livng Products since 1998, wherever i go i look for the nearest product center if i run out of stock with some of those products i usually have at home like Aloe Bath Gelee .

Aloe Bath Gelee helps removed dead skin cells to reveal smooth, clean skin, while its rich formulation permeates your skin to soothe away dryness.

Usually i pamper my body with Aloe Bath Gelee every weekend  which leaves me a relaxed feeling, clean and refreshed. And the other products i always have on my bag is the Aloe Lips which protects and moisturizes my lips and keeps them in moist kissable form.

All other beauty products that Hubby and I used we usually buy it at any supermarket like Spinneys and Choitram which is very close to our place.

Some of you who might try the product just look for a product center near your place or find for a distributor who can give you a 30% discount from all the products you want to buy. And for some Dubai residents who also wants some products you can visit Forever Living Product Center in Al Bahket Bldg near Al Kabayl Center, Deira, Dubai.

My entry for

ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK

Yeah, BOOKWORM ends today. Thanks for all the participants of Girls Talk who shared their collections of books. Most of the books you guys shared are included in my "to buy" list.

All - time favorite books - THE LITTLE PRINCE & PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE.. but if there's another book I wanna share to you guys that would be - ELEVEN MINUTES - by Paulo Coelho.  A reviewer of this book said...Eleven Minutes is worth reading, but with a very open mind. However, it is not something that one would enjoy reading again, like The Alchemist.

HE SPOKE of the importance of my books in his life, concluding: ‘They make me dream.’ I have often heard these words before and they always please me greatly. At that moment, however, I felt really frightened, because I knew my new novel, Eleven Minutes, dealt with a subject that was harsh, difficult and shocking.”(Excerpts from ’Dedication - Eleven Minutes’by Paulo Coelho)

Eleven Minutes is the story of Maria, a young girl from a Brazilian village, whose first innocent brushes with love leave her heartbroken. At a tender age, she becomes convinced that she will never find true love, instead believing that "love is a terrible thing that will make you suffer. . . ." A chance meeting in Rio takes her to Geneva, where she dreams of finding fame and fortune. Maria's despairing view of love is put to the test when she meets a handsome young painter. In this odyssey of self-discovery, Maria has to choose between pursuing a path of darkness -- sexual pleasure for its own sake -- or risking everything to find her own "inner light" and the possibility of sacred sex, sex in the context of love.

One has to read this novel with a very clear mind, that is, if one wants to enjoy the literature value of it. Otherwise you will feel it is another one of the well written sex-flicks..

An entry for

THRILLER BOOKS

I didn't join last week Girls Talk entry...for the reason that I'm not interested reading funny books and I have never read any except "The Little Prince" though it's not really a funny books but I had fun reading it because of the pen-and-ink pictures drawn with a childlike gravity.

Anyway for my share today which is about suspense/thriller books are from the works of Sidney Shieldon and John Grisham. I was in college when I started collecting some books of Sidney Shieldon and I loved Bloodline the most.

Then when I came to Dubai I fell in love with John Grisham when I've read his first novel, A Time To Kill, my fave thriller book. From then on I bought all his books, infact I bought Da Vinci Code that day it was released in Dubai and it is the most expensive from my collections. I had only two brand new books Da Vinci Code and Eleven Minutes and the rest are second hand books which I bought on a promo at a  bookshop  in Karama and Satwa Dubai.

My share for

BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY

We've come to another month for Girls Talk Meme and I feel glad that I was one of those who voted for "Books" when our hostess Beauty Queen Gene conducted a survey on what would be the next topics for her Thursday's meme.

I'm not really a bookworm though I was once an avid reader of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Mystery Series when I was in highschool but when I came to Dubai 5 years ago I started to love reading books and became my new hobby.

I had collected some books/novels of Sidney Shieldon, Nicolas Parks, John Grisham, Dan Brown and Paulo Coelho and other authors. And if there's one book that really made me cry...it would be "A Walk to Remember". I guess everyone who read that book cried...am i right? But if there's a book I wanna share for today's topic....its Samira and Samir.

This book of Siba Shakib (an Iranian/German filmmaker, writer and political activist) is a true story of a young girl in the “mans world” in Afghanistan. Samira is brought up as a boy known as Samir by her father who is a brave commander fighting in the mountainous land of Afghanistan. Her father, who desperate for boy as his first born taught her to fight, ride and shoot and finally became the head of the family when her father died.

When she became an adult she fell in love with her friend of her youth and confess her female identity. She wants to live as Bashir’s wife but she has to give up her freedom, followed her heart to be a woman but hate to appear as a woman because she is well-know in her tribe as a male and her experiences is that of a man.

This for me is an emotional story, giving a glimpse into the unfair and oppressive lives of the women of Afghanistan and other Arab – Islamic Countries.

I am living in an Arab Country so I preferred to share this to all of you guys…not a must read but if you want you can have a copy of it…

An entry for

FAVE COLOR

Yeah Beauty Queen Gene it's the last Thursday of the month which is the day I've been waiting for though I wish there's another more weeks for COLORS AND ME...yet I am glad that it ends with the color I dearly love.

I'm not a kid/young anymore but I still wish to have a Hello Kitty Room such like the photo below but since I'm too old to wish for that and I don't think Hubby would love our room to be like that so I'll just have that wish for my daughter to come.

It's not the first time to show you guys how much I love this color....on our previous Girls Talk Meme about vanity kit I have almost everything on it with a touch of pink. And now let me show how much more I dearly love this color!

Tops, Shorts, Swimwears, Blouses, Jackets, Winter Coat.....

Long hotdog pillow, throw pillows, purses(coin, mobile, vanity kits), headbands, ponytail, fancy earings, bracelets and necklase, shawls, rosary, face powder and even my kleenex pocket pack.

Gap Cap, Adidas Shoes, Slippers, Belt, Mobile Hanging Case, Princess Kiddy Bag

Gillete Shaver, pH Care Feminine Wash, Colgate Toothbrush, Creamsilk Conditioner, Head & Shoulders Shampoo, Hand Gloves

The flowers and the cake I received during my 31st birthday celebration.

And of course my best buddy my Sony Cyber-shot Camera.

So guys what do you wanna say? A PINK ADDICT???  For more Color Pink Stories click the badge below. Oh I almost forgot....take a look at my blog...what colors did you see? Happy GT Everyone!!!

An entry for

BLACK GLADIATOR HIGH HEELS AND ACCESSORIES

I couldn't think of anything black from all my stuffs that i like so much except for this two...black accesories which was a gift from one of my friend and my all time fave high heels gladiator shoes which i bought in a chinese shoe store near my office.

It says that every woman should have a little black dress in her closet. A little black dress that will make you empowered and a queen of the world, this item of clothing should also be one that you can wear out to lunch with the girls and to the opera, and not feel out of place at either event. Sad to say i don't have that LBD and that's something I should look forward buying on Dubai Shopping Festival.

See you girls next week for the last day of COLORS & ME! It's my fave color next week...so watch and see how many stuffs I do have with a shades of PINK AND FUSCHIA.

An entry for

GREEN....AS IN GREEN

I'm not a fan of this color but this year when we went to a friends house who sells dirt-cheap clothings and stuff toys i bought this dresses...the first one i've used it when we had our ladies night out at The Lodge with the matching accesories; earing (from Shoemart Burdubai), bracelet (from Yemen shop in Global Village) and bead necklace (from Max).

And then this one i've used it when we had our Eid Celebration at Al Mamzar beach.

Does it look so cheap?...i bought it only for AED4 (Php 45-50). For more entries of girls with their green stuffs.......click the badge below.

An entry for

VIOLET TOPS

It was Niko who comes on my mind while i was doing this post today as she is the only person i know who loves this color...violet.

I've missed the meme of Girls Talk last week but I am still thinking of writing about red stuffs that i have....but for now that's we girls shares about this color violet....i've got only one stuff with this shades....a violet tops from Zara which was a birthday gift during my 30th birthday.

Photo was taken at Al Hamra Mall, Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E

An entry for

GT: I LOVE ME SPIRITUALLY

                    

I felt like I was once an angel/holy during my stay at a convent-like school when I was in highschool. And as we talk about being spiritual let me share how I was before spiritually.

Am not religious in the sense of being a religious....but growing up with religious people I think somehow there's a part of me that was called for holiness. When I was young as a kid I saw how the people of our barrio venerate the Patron Saints and Mama Mary. For sure all of you are aware about Santa Crusan...it's like a 9 days Novena mostly during summers. I remember we have 5 Chapels other than the Church in our Barrio and we have attended Novena's in all those Chapels not because we want to have that give away after the Novena but because our elders brought us there to learn how to pray hoping that when they're too old to lead a Novena, they will pass it to our generation.

Funny but I have a memory of praying the "Rosary after the Novena De Salvacion" together with my grandmother where I should respond after her but often I got sleep at the middle of praying time and when she noticed that I am already asleep she will pinch me on my side, then I will respond which sometimes was not appropriate to what she has prayed. I’ve learned to pray the Angelus through my grandmother also, and 6:00 o’clock is the time I hated most. That time is the best time for young children to play and I hate her calling me to stop playing because we have to pray the Angelus.

Then when I entered The Sisters of Mary School the more I became prayerful. Prayer is one of the duties we have there. Imagine the bell rang at 5:30 for Morning Prayer, we pray before and after eating time, Angelus at 6:00pm followed by Rosary and another praying time before we sleep at night. We have the Novena for the Virgin of the Poor, Long Rosary, Station of the Cross, Meditation of Lives of the Saints, film showing of the Saints and Beatos, and Catechism Class every Sundays. We attend the Holy Mass twice a week and read the bible and all other Holy Books everyday before Rosary Time. Then during Holy Week we fast and do sacrifices for the intention of saving souls from the Purgatory and to relieve sufferings of those who are sick and needy. We also have our Vigil and if your group is scheduled to pray at 1am it means that everybody should get up from bed and go to the Chapel to pray for almost an hour. So that was the life we have there other than studying. It was the best time of my life being a holy but naughty student of that school.

When I left that school after graduation I became a member of Parish Renewal Experience and when I came to Dubai I’ve joined Singles for Christ. It feels so great to have a direct connection to God through Prayer and doing noble works but sometimes when you go out to the real world with so many temptations you sometimes forget to do good all the time.

Right now, I seldom go to Church and I’ve even forgotten to confess my sin for years now but it doesn’t mean that I forgot HIM. I don’t pray the rosary anymore but I don’t forget to thank GOD before I sleep at night for all the blessing he gives me.

I am not as good as you might expect it but everyday is an struggle for me to be good though sometimes it’s really hard to be good when all evil are just around me.

Happy GT Everyone!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

It has been a custom to look back at the past year and forward to the new year and our resolutions help us in a small way to solidify our hopes and aspirations for the new year. Its a good thing, taking time to stop and examine our life is helpful. Reviewing our successes and failures over the past year and start anew with specific goals in mind.

So here's my new years resolution:

• Manage Debt - I was glad that one of my credit card was blocked by the bank so i can't used it again. I think its a must for me not to use cards anymore and manage to pay all my debts this 2010


• Get Better Job - i shouldn't be here anymore if not because of reccession. I've been planning to shift to another company but for current economic situation of Dubai, this idea is not good.


• Save Money - I've been working for five years now and yet i don't have any savings. I hope i can start this year...


• Learn Something New - Upgrade my skills


• Enjoy Life More

FAVE BIRTHDAY GIFT

Oh sorry Niko, i almost forgot today's theme...i'm already late for this post coz it's 12:40am here now....but better late than totally forget.....hehehe

Well, speaking of favorite gift...i only had one treasured birthday gift....and that was my C168 Motorolla Mobile phone which was given by a black american friend whom i met online 5 years back. Haven't heard from him for a year and then the other day i saw his new born baby girl with his Filipina wife.

But sad to say...this gift is nonfunctional already....my hubby smash it to the wall last year...huhuhu