Welcome the New Year with a Big Bang!

I was awaken by a loud shout from Deda this morning at 9am but I ignored her and went back to sleep only to get up in bed a minute later and realized that what she said was: "Nanganganak na si Louise!" (Louise is giving birth!). We were expecting her to give birth in two weeks' time yet but look:

She has five cutie little shih tzu puppies: 4 girls and 1 boy.

What a way to welcome the new year!!!

My 2007

The year 2007 has been a good year for me. There may be a few hurdles here and there but overall it still was a good year highlighted into:

1. Travels - I've been to two places I've never been to. I had my first ever trip to the USA in April. It was the sweetest! I enjoyed every minute of it tremendously. Who wouldn't when you were denied of a visit four times over? In August I went to Cebu with friends courtesy of the BBE! (You know who you are!!!).

2. My 12 year old cousin's hospitalization - Aj got into an accident in school, suffered a severe fracture and had undergone two major operations in June. It was difficult for the family to face but I know that from that experience, each one of us learned the value of acceptance, gratitude and appreciation to things and people that matter.

3. Social conscience - If there is one trait I am proudest to say I inherited from my dad, it is being selfless -- thinking of other people's welfare before one's own. I really think that no amount of lecture can hone a person's character. The most important factor that will characterize a person is his environment and the people around him. I am grateful that the most important persons in my life in my growing years made a great influence in me to be someone who is altruistic. They did not teach or force me to be one, though. They showed me how to be one so I grew up knowing that that's how it is supposed to be.

4. Food Trips - Looking back, this year has brought me to new food places and old favorite places I keep coming back to which is why I have gained so much weight but I'm not complaining because I've gained new friends, too.

To my family, friends and everyone who has been a part of my 2007, THANK YOU.

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy!

This is soooo touching...

Finally!

I've been hearing from friends about how good Excelente Ham is for like forever but it was only last night that I had a chance to satisfy my curiosity and finally tasted it! I had to go to Quiapo myself to buy... It was already past seven when we got there and there were less people in the store but there were lots and lots of ham.

I don't know about you and sorry to burst your bubble but for me Purefoods' Fiesta Cooked Ham tastes better.

I Signed Up for PayPerPost

Out of desperation to get my hands on that MacBook and all things beautiful that money can buy, I signed up for PayPerPost. Who knows? It says that once this post is approved, PPP will pay $20 to me. Isn't it just great?

PayPerPost is a site that lets you get paid for blogging about the things you love. No wonder almost all the bloggers who want to earn without shelling out cash signed up for this. The site is flooded with opportunities with payouts ranging from $5 to as high as $250 for every approved post. It is an easy money, indeed! I am so glad Paypal is already offered here in the Philippines because PPP uses Paypal to pay out bloggers.

What's also great about PPP is its blog ethics. It is committed to keep your readers trust you with the posts/opportunites you take and bloggers are free to write that they are being paid for the post. It has a strict policy of full disclosure that clearly shows that truth in advertising is extremely important to them.

I am looking forward to meeting new friends in the blogworld. Also, I can't wait to take as much opportunities available to write about.

World Vision

Facebook, being the newest craze in the internet world, is one of the websites I devour my idle moments with. I enjoy browsing and playing with the many and diverse applications it offers, one of which is "Click a Day for Hunger". Through this application, I found World Vision. I visited the website and it more than made me interested. I got involved right away! I signed up and actually thought of sponsoring a child in Bolivia. Thanks to D for telling me that there is a World Vision here in the Philippines. Just my luck, there's a booth in Glorietta. Unfortunately, there was no available list of children to sponsor due to the huge demand of sponsors (Alleluiah!). Even so, I sealed the deal and paid P450.00 with a promise from the WV people that they will contact me as soon as the list is available. I left the booth with a smile on my face and excitement all over. I can't wait to pick my sponsored child. I just love the idea that P450.oo (about $10) a month for a child can make a big difference and I am so glad I am a part of it.

Now this is something no amount of MacBook or iPod Touch or iPhone or Louis Vuitton fixation can surpass. I wish I could have done this sooner.
For more information, visit www.worldvision.org.ph (Philippines) or www.worldvision.org (international).

The Stairs

I took the stairs in our building today. ;-)

Is it gonna happen again anytime soon?

I-DON'T-THINK-SO.

Tagged: 7 Things You Don't Know About Me

I've been tagged by EAM. Thanks dear, for linking me up in your blog.

I picked some from my old Vox entry. These are seven things people don't know about me (except for my closest friends, of course):

1. I was scared of my father when I was a young girl. Just hearing his voice from afar got me all jittery. And believe it or not, all it took was the advent of SMS for us to have a real father-daughter relationship. I am now a daddy's girl, thanks to Globe that started it all! (And that's why I'm loyal to Globe.) :)

2. I have a love affair with magazines. I particularly like fashion, lifestyle, food, home & beauty, techie, and crafts & hobbies. That being said, you will never guess how many I have at home. I gave away some of the old ones but I can't seem to part with most. Tsk, tsk. The thing is the moment I have a new one on hand, I get overwhelmed by the glossy pages I don't get to read them all! I don't know if it's over-excitement or just plain laziness. Whatever!

3. I can stay for HOURS in the bathroom. Ironically, it is where I find solace. I can do just about anything there except eat (Okay, I brought a mug of coffee ONCE but was made a big deal by my aunt so I never did again. I became a laughing stock in our household that day. Mean people! hahaha). I bring books and magazines inside and I always, always have my phone handy because I love bugging people when I'm inside. I have a question. Is it bad that I pray there, too?

4. I still keep a personal journal. Yes, I do have this blog and more but nothing beats writing on paper. I guess this explains why I gotta have the Starbucks planner each year. I still have with me my diaries since college.

5. I wish on railroads while holding something blue. Up to this day, I have no clue why. Thanks to my college friends, I can’t get it out of my system!

6. I think that the perfect combination ever discovered is coffee and cigarettes. People who smoke can perfectly relate to this.

7. I keep track of every single thing a person has done me wrong and I pray profusely for that person to realize it. God is good!

Now it's my turn. I'm tagging Bexie, Lexie, Patty, Vera, and Jovi.