WORD of the day

augment/og-ment/; verb

: To make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense

Example sentence: So as not to see the issue augmented further, the TL took his rookie agent off the call and spoke with the customer himself.

“Increase the volume!” Captain Kirk ordered, staring heatedly at the communication screen. “And augment video!”

Synonyms: add to, aggravate, amplify, deepen, develop, enhance, enlarge, expand, increase, inflate, magnify, swell

Acne no more

I remembered two months ago, I was very frustration with the way my skin looked. I had so many breakouts that I don't want to see my face in the mirror. I tried practically everything they sell in the market but nothing worked. So I gather all my courage and walk-in in the local derm house near our place. I under went acne treatment for 5 sessions and bought medicines for maintenance. And the dermatologist was right, my frustrations went away when my face cleared up. Now, my confidence is back and on high level. I'm glad I listened to my instincts.

Diet-away

We re-scheduled out Bicol in August because some of us will not be able to join on July 25 and 26. And I was the one who requested to re-schedule the said trip because we have a team outing on that same date and I don't want to miss that too. I already got the underwater digicam I wanted for the trip but there's still things we need and I haven't purchase them yet. But the good part is that I have more time to diet-away and exercise. That reminds me, I need to get diet pill from my friend. She said, it's the best fat burner in the market.

You're the 1, Goldilocks!

Being blessed with a baby girl is the most wonderful gift we received. That's why we always make sure that we give only the best. That's why when we prepared for our daughter's first birthday, we made sure it'll be worth remembering. My mom and I both prepared the giveaways, prizes and loot bags. My sisters help too by making the banner, invitations print outs and guest books. But a birthday is not complete with a birthday cake so we decided to go to Goldilocks because we know it'll be perfect with the Princess themed party and they did a great job. You're the 1 Goldilocks because, our cake was the cream of the crop and the most admired by everybody. I was thankful we made the right decision. Now we plan to get another character party themed cake on her birthday, I can't wait!

Gym @ home

Every Saturday morning, my mom and dad would jog a couple of kilometers at Quezon City circle. They've been doing this ever we were small because they want to stay fit and strong. But as the time pass, sometimes it's a hassle to go out already. That's why my sister thought of getting home gyms for our parents. We already got the mini gym and the treadmill and we still plan to buy the stationary bike. We plant to stay fit and healthy. It's our biggest investment.

Interior

I received a call from my sister yesterday saying that she and her husband is on their way Pampanga for field inspection. Both of them are Architects and is also accepting Interior services. And their recent project is a multi purpose building with a nice swimming pool. I heard my dad went to the site too and helped with the Interior. I told them to take pictures so we can also see it from here. I'm thrilled to see the outdoor pillows my sister was talking about the other day. She said, it really matches the color of the wall.

Greeting cards

Every year, I always make sure to send out Christmas cards to our family and friends here and abroad. I would ask my sister to make me a card like print out with our family picture on it. And I've been sending out greeting cards for the last 4 years but last year, I was so busy with work and family that I missed doing this tradition. I felt bad because I want our family and friends abroad to know that we miss them and that we've thinking about them during the Holiday season. But the preparation is time consuming. So this year, I plan to send out greeting cards online. Thank God for the Internet, I can now send out our thoughts with just one click of a mouse.

School stuff

I just got home and I still have online tasks to finish. But I figured I need to go to sleep now because I need to help the kiddo with her homework. They also have this mother earth parade on Tuesday, so I filed a vacation leave earlier in the office because I know nobody will accompany her tsk tsk! How I wish I could manage my own time because I'm always in a hurry. Maybe I need a miracle.

Birthday at school

It's crazy here at home every morning because everybody's preparing to go to work and the little angel and I would rush for school. One morning while I was dressing her up, she asked me if she can have her next birthday at school. I've thought about that idea before and I was surprised to hear it directly from her. School is definitely growing on her and she loved it. And for the party? I'm thinking of getting personalized children's plates for them to eat on, toddler backpacks
give aways for boys and I might get the ezy roller for girl friends.

Micheal Jackson dies at 50

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

The circumstances of Jackson's death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to the hospital, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album "Thriller" — which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.

The public first knew him in the late 1960s, when as a boy he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the music group he formed with his four older brothers. Among their No. 1 hits were "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There."

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller." "He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him." More HERE

Online shopping

I can't get enough of online shopping! From the first time I bought my brown boots with a fur boots, I can't stop. I recently purchased another pair from this online women's shoes store. The seller is very reliable and transactions are flawless. I always check her site for newer models but I can't wait for the pair to arrive. I'm already counting the days and the suspense is just killing me. It's my first time to own a black wedge and I think it will really go well with my skirt. Online shopping rocks!

WORD of the day

gumption/gump-shen/; noun

: Enterprise and initiative

Example Sentence: The team really appreciated the new computers, which could cruise the internet with gumption thanks to their high-end processors.

“I would appreciate a bit more gumption,” TL Broderick told his agent, after catching him asleep during his shift.

Synonyms: drive, gusto, intensity, liveliness, passion, pep, pizzazz, vigor, vim, zeal, zest.

Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen :: NOW SHOWING!

I want to watch! I want to watch!

Survey says...

WORD of the day

appreciable/uh-PREE-shuh-bul/; adjective

: Able to be perceived or measured

Example Sentences: Kristen was forced to spend an appreciable amount of time explaining the ticket logs to the customer, which put a dent in her average handling time.

Joe’s behavior on the blind date could not have been less happily appreciable; he took the girl to Jollibee, and insisted on sticking to the value meals, then drove her right back home and made her pay for half the gasoline used!

Synonyms: apparent, distinguishable, evident, observable, pronounced.

Wordless Wednesday

~ Look at us chow down the "MC ARABIA" treat my sister brought from Dubai. ~

New shade

I know I'm busy with work, home chores, family responsibility and my band but I never forget to take car of myself. I make sure to visit the salon at least every two weeks. And last week, I had my nails done with foot spa. I bought this light shimmery orange shade from "The Face Shop" and I'm loving it. Check it out!

~ New shade ~

Diet routine

When we visited our parents house last weekend, I got good comments from my other sister. She said, I looked thinner now. Maybe my diet routine is finally working. No rice policy for me, treadmill at least twice or four time a week and take diet pill. I can easily adjust to this strict diet so I had no problems. I could always eat out during the weekends, but I made sure to follow my diet routine on weekdays. Besides, I'm always busy on weekdays the I forget to eat out. Hope I could continue this until the outing trip this coming July.

Health conscious

We are taking extra precautions nowadays because of the flu that's spreading in some areas here in the country. When I was waiting at my daughter's school last week, they gave several important reminders on what to do to prevent these virus. It was stressed in the announcement to always wash your hands, cover your mouth when someone is couching, and to people who just came in from a country, they require them to stay at home and observe their condition for 10 days. Virus outrage can be really scary, just like major decease like cancer and mesothelioma. Everybody should be health conscious.

Getting ready

My sister called in a few minutes ago and she told me that they will still continue the Bazaar stall this coming December. We talked about where to get the goods that we'll be needing for the event and of course, the ideas and quality of the items. I suggested to sell items from baby memory books to kids backpacks to laundry bag for moms. So we are targeting all ages which can be good to the business. If this goes well, I might leave my 9-hour corporate slave work and pursue the business.

Birthday gift

My best friend's birthday is coming up and I'm looking and scouting for gifts ideas on the Internet. I need all the ideas I could get because this year, I wanted something new and different. Like extra ordinary or something like she's never going to forget in the next few years. We've been friends since our College days and from there, we've been inseparable. We shared our ups and down moments together and we learned a lot from our past mistakes. I'm glad to have her as a friend that's why I wanted this birthday to be special. I was thinking on giving her Birthday Flowers just to kick things off. I think Lori's Hearts & Flowers has the prettiest flowers I could see but Oshawa Flower Delivery will also be great because they deliver them right in your doorstep. I might get her a dress that I saw somewhere in mall nearby. Oh I'm so excited.

DOH: Avoid wearing black, dark blue clothes to avoid dengue

I guess I have to hold my black shirt collection until the end of the month.

MANILA, Philippines - Mosquitoes apparently have color preferences. With “dengue season" now here, health officials advised the public Tuesday to refrain from wearing black or dark blue clothes to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said mosquitoes are attracted to dark blue and black, and advised students wearing uniforms with those shades to be extra careful.

“That’s why we must make sure we search and destroy their breeding places," Duque said in an interview on dzXL radio.

Amid the public alarm about A(H1N1), which hasn't killed anyone in the Philippines yet, Duque has been reminding the public that the annual season of the notorious killer disease dengue has begun.

Duque reiterated his advice for the public to make an effort ito keep their surroundings dry and clean, to prevent dengue-spreading mosquitoes from breeding.

He also said people suffering from fever or body pains should go to a hospital for a checkup right away.

“Medical emergency ang dengue, nakamamatay ito. Sa isang kagat lang baka ka matepok [Dengue is a medical emergency and is potentially deadly. You could die from one mosquito bite]," he said. - GMANews.TV

WORD of the day

auspicious\aw-SPISH-uhs\, adjective

1. Giving promise of success, prosperity, or happiness; predicting good; as, "an auspicious beginning."
2. Prosperous; fortunate; as, "auspicious years."

Example Sentences: The team was made up of a bunch of freshman; thus, their season did not get off to an auspicious start.

An auspicious way to conduct a call would be to use a pleasant, eager tone, sit up straight in your chair, and smile often.

Other Ways To Say It: advantageous, beneficial, favorable, great, hopeful, propitious, worthwhile.

What Your Hair Says About You!

Word FaQ :: The characteristics of a good listener

The characteristics of a good listener

Think back to a time when you were heavily influenced by someone. Chances are, you appreciated the fact that that person was a very good listener, as well as a speaker. Whether instinctively or through practice, that person who influenced you was skillful with empathy.

Doctor Marisue Pickering at the University of Maine identifies four main characteristics of good listeners:

1. A desire to be other-directed, rather than to project one’s own feelings and ideas.
2. A desire to be non-defensive, rather than to protect the self. When you are protecting yourself, it is difficult to focus on anyone else.
3. A desire to imagine the roles, perspectives, or experiences of the other, rather than assuming they are the same as one’s own.
4. A desire to listen as a receiver, not as a critic, and a desire to understand the other person rather than to achieve either agreement from or change in that person.

These characteristics can be learned, practiced, and mastered. Our society places much more attention on the spoken side of the communication equation, but if you think about who influences you, are they good talkers or good listeners?

As we come to understand ourselves and our relationships with others better, we rediscover that "communication is not just saying words; it is creating true understanding." Active listening is an important skill in that process.

Source—Center for Rural Studies, University of Vermont

Add me in Twitter and Plurk

I'm twittering again and now I can't stop. I signed up on Twitter months ago and never updated my account ever since. And then my sister insisted that I join Plurk. I don't know why but I did. So now I'm hooked up with both Twitter and Plurk! They are basically the same, updating current status and sending out information like birth announcements, but the only difference is that the Plurk has a Timeline where you can view as well as your friend's time line all at the same window. I already have the Plurk widget and thanks to Amy, I'm going to out twitter widget soon!mo

NEW MOON - Official trailer

I can't help it! I need to post this today. Thanks to my sister who gave me this link. Here's the official NEW MOON trailer. Enjoy!

ramdom questions

1. What are you looking forward to in the next next month? ~ Team building and a beach getaway with some friends.

2. Where’s the last place you went besides home? ~ SM

3. Would you ever change for a boy/girl? ~ I did.

4. Is there anyone that you wish was out of your life? ~ That person is already out of my life now.

5. Were you happy when you woke up today? ~ Kinda.

6. Happiest moment of 2009 so far? ~ Little kiddo's birthday, band rehearsals, beach get aways, new friends.

7. Have you ever asked a boy for advice? ~ I can't remember.

8. Do you have a gay friend? ~ Yes.

9. Do you lie about your age? ~ Nope.

10. Describe your life for the past month in one word? ~ Exciting.

It's my rest day today and it's so nice to have free time for a day. I just spend the day with the little kiddo, watched a movie and bought some groceries in the local mall. Now, I'm just doing my rounds and it's so nice to have couple of hours more for myself. I think I'd check on colon cleanse review later too.

Gift ideas

Me and the super friends were suppose to go out last Friday but due to unavoidable unfortunate events, I was not able to join them. A super friend were suppose to treat us because it's her birthday. And speaking of birthdays, it's the middle of the year again, that means more birthdays are coming soon. So as early as now, I'm looking for possible gift ideas and items like towel wraps, kids nap mats and personalized plates and placemats
are great to give out.