Quick Bytes..

Asbestos-caused cancer

If you work in an environment where you are exposed to asbestos articles or asbestos dust and fibre, chances are, you might get mesothelioma. From the title, you might have surmised that mesothelioma is a form of cancer. It is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos, and in this type of cancer, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. The most common site where this develops is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity). It may also be seen in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart). Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. If you want more information about this dreaded cancer, you can visit MesotheliomaMedical.org

investing in real estate

I just passed by SM and I noticed a new development in the left side of the mall (the side with car repair shops and Halal eateries). It turned out to be Davao’s first condominium that I’ve first heard about last year. The condo units were selling like hotcakes then, and surprisingly, there are still condos for sale now! Good news to me coz I’ve been really thinking about investing in real estate, and I think buying a condo unit will be a good investment. That is, if the condo craze will catch on Davao as with other big cities in the country *cross fingers*

attention Backgammon addicts!

If you’re tired of playing backgammon with your offline friends, why not try to play it online and make new friends? Yes boys and girls, you can now play backgammon online. You can go to GAMMON world which offers the latest information about backgammon tournaments and events. There are also tips on how to play backgammon better. And for those who are not native English speakers, don’t fret coz the site is available in six languages =)

do I miss medical life?

I went on a medical hiatus since mid-June of this year, and it’s been five+ months already. People have been asking me, do I miss the medical life? Well, honestly, not really. I gave 9 years (5 years in formal training) of my life to medicine already. And I think it’s about high-time that the focus now would be myself, my creative side, my family, my home.. Still, I missed some things from the hospitals where I once roamed 24-36hours per day. In Davao Medical Center (DMC), a public hospital, I missed the vending machines! There’s no place in Davao that has vending machines that dispenses food and hot coffee except in the international airport. Not even the world-class Davao Doctor’s Hospital (DDH) has these vending machines. In DDH, I miss the super comfy sofas in their lobby. Shallow huh? Lol! In San Pedro Hospital (SPH), I miss their healthcare cart full of goodies! It contains high-end adhesive and IV tapes, gloves, masks, etc, etc. I really love SPH’s carts! It’s like SM – they got it all for you! Hahaha! =) And last, but not the least, I miss the camaraderie and our quarters in Brokenshire Hospital (BIHMI). I miss the residents and consultants too. They’ve been very good and very helpful during my one year stint there. I do hope to see you all soon docs!

Chin’s birthday!

Before Christmas arrives, there’s one more big event to celebrate – my Mommy Chin’s birthday! Nope, she’s not my surrogate mom. Hehe! She’s the mommy of our high school barkada =) Chin, if you’re reading this, what do you want for your birthday? A hunky male model to serve as your slave for one day? Sosyal birthday gift baskets full of yummy goodies? Or perhaps a delivery from the stork? Hahaha! Kidding Chin! But I’m really serious about what you want for your birthday. It’s just a week away! Me? I’d be satisfied if you treat me out during your birthday dinner for FREE, hehe! =)

christmas shopping!

Done with your Christmas shopping already? What? It's still to early shop?? Me thinks NOT! Now is the time to shop if you want to avoid the horde of people doing last-minute Christmas shopping. As for me, I'll be doing my shopping with my boyfriend this coming Saturday. Yeah!!! And if you wanna earn extra money for buying gifts, answer the survey below and post it in your blog. Simple! =) dNEERO totally rocks!

Sweeney Todd!!!

OMG guys!!! I just watched a movie the other day, and guess what’s the new fantastic trailer we saw?? None other than Johhny Depp’s tale of revenge, Sweeney Todd! The actor teams up with Tim Burton again for the silver-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical thriller. Other stars in the film include Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. And you have to check out Buzznet's cool take on this dark movie -- you are allowed to confess whatever bad deed you have done! You can write about it, submit a video you made about it, or if you're like me who's been a good girl ever, ever since (and have nothing to confess, hehe), just watch the confessional videos there =) There is also a Sweeney Todd Confessional hotline where you can call to confess your darkest secrets ever. Here’s the number: 415-830-3166. Ain’t it cool?? I love it when movies are promoted like this!
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Sweeney Todd is set for a Christmas-time release. For more info about this dark (yet entertaining) movie from Tim Burton, go visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site. You can also visit visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace. Yes, boys and girls, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is there too. Come, and join the fun! Lol!
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flower talk ;p

What flower are you? Me? I'm a SNAPDRAGON! Mess with me and I'll snap, bite, and roar with fire! Afraid now? Hehe! Joking guys! =) Anyway, I love the snapdragon coz of its PINK undertones! Yeah baby!

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

tutors, anyone?

About two months before the first semester ended, a cousin of mine has been flunking his Math subject. We were all very concerned for him since he was a good student (unlike his brother who's a happy-go-lucky kid). So we all decided that we'd get him a tutor and thus we began sifting through the numerous Math Tutors we know way back. No one qualified, and guess who we ended up with? My best friend who is a licensed engineer who also teaches college subjects. COOL! All in the family huh?? Of course, it would have been better if we got a SCORE tutor. Oh well, maybe next time =)

ADVERTLETS needs YOU!

Advertlets is a blog advertising network for Asians, and they have secured blog advertising opportunities from Starbucks, HP, Toyota, EMI Music, Buena Vista Columbia Tristar as well as local magazines, TV networks, petrol stations, mobile content brands, and more. Stable company? You bet! And they need PINOY bloggers as they expand here in the Philippines! So far they have 150+ Filipino bloggers (they launched in Malaysia and Singapore first where they have more than 10000 bloggers already) and will need 500-1000 to fully launch in our country. So guys, do signup! To sweeten the deal, Advertlets has a special bonus for the first 1000 bloggers who have signed up. So GO guys! =) By the way, this is NOT a sponsored post. Just would like to share another money-making website with you guys =)

Key West baby!

If you want to get close to Cuba as you can without leaving US soil, then visiting Key West in Florida is your best bet! This city is known as the Southernmost City in the Continental United States. Cuba, at its closest point is only 94 statute (82 nautical) miles 188°SE! Aside from this distinction, Key West is a seaport destination for many passenger cruise ships. Many visitors rent a bicycle and explore the history and architecture of its Old Town section. Walking tours, including a tour of the unusual Key West Cemetery (pictured below), are available. The Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is a daily spectacle for visitors and residents. Boat excursions and tours provide a great way to view Key West from the water.
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For nature lovers, you can go visit the Key West Botanical Forest and Garden which has excellent frost-free arboretum and botanical garden containing a number of "champion tree" specimens. Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden, on the other hand, is a one acre garden resembling a lush, predominantly green, rainforest. It is an exhibit of wild nature’s artistry in a woodland garden. There’s also the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory which features a 5,000 square foot (460 m²) glass-domed tropical butterfly habitat. If you want to go on tour in Key West, you can contact Trusted Tours and Attractions -- they offer discounted tickets to the best sightseeing tours in this wonderful Florida city! =)
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what is a blog?

The term "weblog" was coined by US blogger Jorn Barger on December 17, 1997. He used the term to describe the new kind of website that was emerging at the time that was a sort of an annotated bookmarks list available for public viewing, a “log” of journeys around the fledging web with links and commentaries. The short form, "blog", was coined by his colleague Peter Merholz, who jokingly broke the word weblog into the phrase wee blog in the sidebar of his blog Peterme.com in April or May of 1999. According to Wikipedia: "A blog is a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog."

Holiday Hypermarket!

Are you suffering from wanderlust? Feeling the need to soar and travel around the world? But afraid of facing the booking problems associated with traveling? Well, we all know how hard it is to book a flight, reserve a hotel, rent a car, etc, etc in a tourist destination. Sure, travel agencies can do these jobs but they charge exorbitant fees for their services. That’s just ok if you’re mega-rich but what about the rest of us? We want decent flights and hotel rooms but at affordable rates. Enter the world wide web. Most backpackers (those who travel on shoestring budget) knew that ONLINE booking for direct holidays will get you the cheapest deals anywhere. But finding legitimate websites that offer these services prove to be daunting to travelers new to booking online. Well guys, fret no more coz Holiday Hypermarket is here! HH is one of the largest travel agencies in Europe, and they offer millions of package holiday bargains, last minute deals, cheap flights and all inclusive holidays to destinations all over the world. Check them out for your next travel! =)

my NOVEMBER desktop

Just thought I'd share my November wallpaper with you guys. I really love the digital scrapbooking community! There's so MANY freebies from talented designers and the one I used below is from OSCRAPS.com -- I adore their work!!! =)
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Payday Loans!

I’ve been writing about payday loans but it seemed that most of you are not acquainted with what it is. A payday loan or payday advance is a small, unsecured short-term loan ranging from $100 to $1,000 (depending on the state) offered by a payday lender. A payday loan is typically used as a cash advance until your next payday. It will help cover unexpected expenses that come up between paydays and will solve temporary cash-flow problems without bouncing a check or incurring late payment penalties. The reason you might not have heard of this is because this type of loan is not offered by banks or other financial institutions. Unlike these institutions, getting a loan from a reputable payday lender is easy; there is no credit check or waiting period (some even offer NO FAX payday loans). All you need is a photo ID, a current bank statement and proof of income. And that’s it! You receive the money you badly need until the next payday rolls around. So, if you’re one of those in need of a quick fix without the hassle, try the payday lenders!

i'm a ninang!

Today, I became a godmother to Francis Henri Mari Salik, Labsie's nth 'grandchild' from his nieces and nephews. Hehe! Ekoy is my first godchild and obviously it's my first time to be a ninang. COOL!Ü I find it fascinating that next Christmas I have a godchild to give a gift to. IF I can remember, that is. Hehe! :-) Hope you'll grow up to be the best man you can be Ekoy!

P.S. The teddy bear above is the giveaway for ninangs. Cute huh??

need a job?

If you want something different than the usual work here in our country, why not apply at webloyalty? They currently need a business analyst and a database administrator in their Norwalk, CT offices. If you haven’t heard of WebLoyalty, they are one of the leading online marketing service companies providing customized programs to e-commerce, travel, and other fee-based businesses. They help clients increase their revenues while offering the clients’ customers a range of valuable benefits packages like a $10 cash back award for the customer to use on a return visit to the selling site. WebLoyalty has over 300 employees in its Norwalk CT headquarters and San Francisco offices. Their revenues reached $143.9 million in 2006, a 33 percent increase from 2005.

how to choose an engagement ring

2007 saw a lot of weddings and 2008 is expected to be the same. For all those wishing to be married next year, preparations should start as early as now. For the guys still needing to propose, don't fret, here's a guide on buying the much-desired diamond engagement rings. According to tradition, the engagement ring should at least cost twice your man's monthly salary (or more if need be, hehe). But women these days are opting for a more practical approach. Instead of wanting to be surprised with a diamonds popping out a ring, they want to be the one to choose the ring (or even get NO ring and use the money for other purposes). Guys, you can also propose to her with an ordinary ring (or something nice like a GIANT teddy or 100 roses) and tell her she can choose her own ring afterwards. She would love you for it since she'll be the one to wear (and brag about) it, so might as well that she gets something she truly wants =) As for wedding rings, by tradition, it should just be plain gold bands. However, many couples are now opting for embellished rings. Your choice actually, so talk it over before buying one.

gakk! ran out of ink!

It’s been awhile since we bought new HP 56 black ink for our HP 1315 all-in-one printer / scanner / copier. Back when I was still in school, as with my other siblings, we frequently ran out of black ink due to numerous school projects. But it was okay since the HP printer cartridge we use is affordable, even if it’s original. The colored ink, however, was not utilized so much coz the new cartridges are quite expensive. It’s twice the price of black ink! Gakk! Anyway, now I’m back to printing coz I’m doing homemade cards for Christmas. And before I could say ‘Geronimo!’, we ran out of ink. Tsk! So, gotta buy new ones in the mall today.
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My friends have been wondering why I still buy original HP inkjet cartridges when there are ink refilling stations that could give me more ink for a lesser price. My answer? I wouldn’t want our printer to clog up with the less-than stellar quality of inks found in refilling station. And as I said earlier, HP original inks are affordable, no need for cheaper substitutes. How about you? Do you buy from refilling stations? Well, I sure hope your printer will not clog up in the long run!

Happy Thanksgiving! =)

Happy Thanksgiving! Estimates vary, but an average, traditional Thanksgiving meal is around 3,000 calories!  To put it into perspective, the recommended daily calorie intake for an average-sized adult should be between 1,600 and 2,400.  And in order to burn off 3,000 calories, one would have to walk 30 miles or swim for five hours or run for about four hours. WHEW! So guys, eat in moderation okay?? Live healthy!

Did You Know... On average Americans gain 7 lbs during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

fuzzy memory?

My parents are in their mid-40s now, and I can say (with passion, hehe) that they have been quite forgetful lately. My father, who has very good memory especially in terms of places and directions, has been forgetting important stuff which is quite surprising to me. Being in the medical field, I consequently asked myself, “is this an early sign of the dreaded Alzheimer’s Disease?” I argued with myself that this could be just age-related memory degeneration but you never quite know. The solution? To do a memory screening!
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Yes boys and girls, a screening is now available for those concerned about memory loss or experiencing warning signs of dementia; or for those who believe they are at risk due to a family history of Alzheimer's disease or a related illness. However, it must be noted that memory screening is NOT meant to diagnose Alzheimer's or other related disease. As what I’ve been always saying, consultation with your doctor is always the best. Anyway, for those interested with memory screening, there are FREE screenings (click HERE for the screening sites) all through out the month of November. Why? Coz it’s the National Memory Screening Day! NMSA is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) to promote early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and to encourage appropriate intervention. AFA also has tips for successful aging in their website and accepts donation to help the people already affected by Alzheimer’s Disease.
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smokin' hot Jessica Alba!

WOW!!! Jessica Alba in leather lingerie and chaps! Who would have thought that leather can be this sexy?? These smokin' hot photos of Jessica are from her photo shoot for the upcoming Sin City 2, where she plays an exotic dancer. Ohlala! Thanks to OnlyJessica.com for the photos =) Currently, Ms. Alba has two movies out: Good Luck, Chuck (a raunchy romantic comedy) and Awake (a psychological thriller).

onlne slots!

I find it funny that there are online slots on the internet now. Awhile back I was blogging about the current popularity of online poker, and now, I'm hearing about virtual slot machines! Talk about life (gambling life, more so) moving online, hehe! Is it a sign of our times?? Anyway, here's a sample slot machine from Sloterix, one of the oldest slot sites in the net. The fruits look cute huh? But don't be deceived by it! Slot machines can be quite addicting as per my one-time experience in Casino Filipino Davao, lol =)
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pearl craze!

Ruby is my birthstone but my fascination for it is not as much as my attraction for pearls, my first brother's birthstone. Early this month, I blogged about the beautiful PINK pearl necklace I found online. I was all praises (its pink after all!) about it but right now, I'm so over it! Hehe! Why? Coz I stumbled on the gorgeous Tahitian pearls! These kind of pearls are naturally black with overtones ranging from green to pink. Just imagine the wonderful play of colors it will display when these pearls are strung together! So pretty! If you want to see what I mean, click the image at right. Sigh.. Just looking at it sends my heart aflutter! The price of the pictured Tahitian pearl necklace? $4500!!! *cough, cough* One thing's for sure, I can't afford it right now! LOL

lose weight by patch??

Another HEALTH MATTERS post guys! And it's still about losing weight, hehe! What can I say? It's a very pressing matter to us ladies ;-p A couple of posts back, I shared the latest surgical procedure in losing weight. Most of us, I'm sure, cannot afford the expenses that goes with it. So what do you say about a PATCH that allows you to lose weight? God-send right?? Lol! And it's actually in the market now! Presenting to you -- HOODIA patch!
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Hoodia is a succulent that looks like a cactus, and its taste has been said to be like a bitter-tasting cucumber. It grows in extremely hot, dry weather and is numerous in the Kalahari Desert region of South Africa. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari (one of the world’s oldest tribes) has been eating the Hoodia for thousands of years to stave off hunger during nomadic hunting trips. So how does it makes you lose weight? A chemical in the Hoodia sends signals to the brain that make the brain believe that the body is full, even when it is not. Molecule P57 is believed to be responsible for Hoodia's ability to suppress appetite, increase energy levels, and aid in weight loss. BBC News has reported that in the first human clinical trial conducted for Hoodia, the morbidly obese group given the succulent had reduced their calorie intake by 1000 a day! Just compute how much you'd lose in a week, month, year! o_O

need a quick loan?

Time for money talk again guys! This time, we’ll talk about payday loans. We all know there are times when our budget is thrown off balance by some unexpected expenditure. It might be an unanticipated bill or perhaps a sudden hospitalization – then poof! Next thing you knew, your money’s gone and the next payday is days away yet. What to do?? This is where Payday Loans Quotes come in. No, they’re not a lending company. Rather, they’re a resource company that will guide in finding online cash advance. With Payday Loans Quotes, you submit your loan application online (No Fax Payday Loans), and they’ll find a suitable lending company who’ll give you a loan. Upon approval, you will see your loan directly deposited into your account in less than 24 hours. Fast and easy!

my take on Chikai's tag =)

Credits: Annie’s Little Footprints
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Snagged this thought-provoking tag from Cherry Rose. Nice one gurl! =) My answer? WORLD PEACE! Na-ah, joke! Hehe! Seriously, I would make a cure for cancer and AIDS. These are two of the most serious diseases known to the world today. The sad thing is, it even affects innocent people and kids =( Anyway, on a smaller scale, I'd say that I'd make a website from scratch. Html, Java and all that technical stuff. Hehe!

tutors anyone?

When I’m thinking of my future family, I always muse if I’ll have enough time to guide my children in school matters. You see I’m a doctor (still have to take the board exam though) and as you know, doctors lead very busy professional lives. Often, the family is neglected coz the call of duty cannot be ignored. So, who will guide my kids in their assignments and school projects? Or what if they’ll have a hard time in certain subjects? Sure, my husband will be available (I hope, hehe) but fathers are not really into teaching kids. No offense intended for those exceptional dads who teach =)
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Currently, I’m thinking of hiring a fulltime tutor if ever the need arise. I want the best for my kids. If I’m not available (and so is their dad), I want someone credible to teach them. Tutors are a dime a dozen, and most use the usual one-on-one teaching methods. But I want something new, something like an Innovative Tutor with tutoring programs that translate to academic improvement. Maybe I’ll find that in Score Learning Centers. To the admin there, see you in the future! I like the thrust and mission of your program. Hope it works with my future precocious children, lol! =)

dinnertime!

And its fish and chips! To be precise, its french fries and sutchi fish fillet with blue cheese dip. Sounds yummy huh? IT IS! Hehe! :-) Was feeling a bit bored cooking with meat so I turned my attention to fish, sutchi in this case. Anyway, I better eat now before my bro devours everything! Hehe!Ü

DSL problems

For the past few days, our DSL internet connection was marred with slow speeds. Instead of getting up to 2Mbps, we were just getting dial-up speed! Goodness! =(  We thought that this maybe just a pc or modem problem so my bro fixed our hardware tight, i.e. he had firewall and antivirus installed, with spam blockers and junk mail protection running, plus adware and spyware programs all up. Nothing was found so our next recourse was to call up our ISP provider via their call center. After two days of waiting, the local office called us up and we explained the problem. After a few hours of waiting, our DSL speed is again fast, yeah! But my bro insisted it’s still not our usual speed. Heck, for me, it’s quite enough! Hehe! By the way, who knows about VOIP here? By experience, which of the following is the best: Vonage, Packet 8, ViaTalk, Verizon, NetZero and other broadband phone services? Thanks!

sites where I earn $$$

These are the paid-to-blog sites I joined. My biggest moneymaker so far is payperpost. They rock!!! =) If you have a 90-day old blog, join these sites! Just click on the images. Good luck!

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BLOGGERWAVE.com

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BLOGITIVE.com - Guys, please add my email (melissa.solitoATblogspot.com) in the referred by box. Thanks!

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BLOGSVERTISE

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LOUDLAUNCH.com

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PAYPERPOST

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PAYu2BLOG

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REVIEWME - Get Reviewed At ReviewMe!

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SMORTY

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SPONSOREDREVIEWS

lose weight by surgery!

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November's HEALTH MATTERS post is here! And it's all about losing weight -- the favorite topic of ladies all over the globe. Hehe! Anyway, the hottest type of surgical procedure for losing weight right now is the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure. Unlike other bariatric procedures, the Tampa lap band surgery (pictured at left above) is not so invasive. The surgeon just inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This will allow you to feel full and satisfied even though you’re actually eating less. It doesn’t require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines thus, risks are lower and there are less serious long-term complications. The procedure can even be performed in an outpatient (day surgery) setting! That means recovery period is shorter than the other bariatric surgical procedures. If you are interested, please consult your doctor for further information. Here’s to living healthy and living lite! =)

rise and shine guys!

The past few days have been cold and dreary here in Davao, thus I had difficulty waking up early and cooking breakfast. But today, the sun is back! And so is my cooking mojo, yeah!:-) Presenting our breakfast today- BACON & EGGS, mmm good! Come, let's eat and be merry! Hehe!Ü

family holiday pictures!

As promised, here are some of our family photos from our Boracay vacation. Kudos to my mother who was constantly on the phone to find the gem among the many vacation packages that Boracay resorts offer. Anyway, I really enjoyed our family holiday especially since we wanted to go to Boracay for the longest time but our schedules (work and school) didn’t match until now. Our next vacation? Hopefully outside the country! Hehe! We did Hongkong when it had no Disneyland yet, and my parents have been to Malaysia, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries already. So, is it time we go for an American or European holiday?? Hehe! *cross fingers* I’m sure there are a lot of cheap vacation packages online (like the ones offered by Club Med) that we can afford. Scroll down for our pictures and more info about Club Med.
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Me, Mama and Papa in Crystal Cove Island (private island)
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The middle child (we are 3 in all and I'm the eldest) enjoying the buffet.
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The youngest sibling / wannabe photog at Tambisaan Island.
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Me in White Beach, just in front of our hotel, La Carmela de Boracay.
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SOLITUDE and grey skies morning...
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Club Med vacation resorts are found all over the world, in every type of climate and geography. Packages are available for singles, for couples and for families, so no matter what your 'relationship status' is, Club Med has a unique, once-in-a-lifetime vacation waiting for you. Their all-inclusive vacation packages really means "all-inclusive", you won't have to pay for anything else. You won't need your wallet (there's no tipping, hehe) in their resorts unless your gonna go shopping ;-P

snagged a COOKING tag from Yen!

1. How often do you cook at home?
> Since my hiatus from the medical life, I've been cooking every single day. And that's breakfast, lunch and dinner! Hehe =)
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2. How did you learn to cook?
> My parents taught me the basics (frying, cooking rice) then I learned all the other cooking techniques by watching my relatives cook, viewing cooking shows, reading cookbooks and cooking blogs & websites
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3. What is a meal that has special meaning to you?
> The one with pork sinigang coz Labsie adores that dish..
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4. What was the last meal you cooked?
> Our lunch today-- grilled porkchops. Later for dinner, I'm cooking fish & chips =)
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5. What is your favorite thing to cook? Least favorite?
> Fave thing to cook? Mmm, I love cooking so anything goes with me =)

need police gear?

Who would have thought that police officers need to have a “fashion” shop too? Lol! I stumbled on 5.11 Tactical today (I was looking for police / military themed pants) and I was quite surprised with their large assortment of police gear merchandise. There are tactical pants, shorts, shirts, and police eyewear, knives, gear bags, even Galco holsters! I really had fun looking over their products =) Anyway, if you need police gear, don’t forget to check out 5.11 Tactical. They got great police stuff!
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gotta exercise!

One thing I miss living in Makati was the exercise gym in the condo where we are staying. The basic fitness equipment were there like treadmills, exercise bike, bench presses, and other machines I don’t recognize (or use, hehe). I go to the gym with my parents early in the morning, and we take turns with the treadmill and bike. And since the gym’s aircon was damaged, we managed to sweat within 10 minutes of exercising. Hehe! Man, it felt great sweating all the bad stuff out! =)

THE MIST!!!

YES!!! The Mist by Stephen King will finally hit theaters this November 21! That’s tomorrow guys! =) Why am I excited?? Coz I’m an avid Stephen King fan! I collect his books, and my collection is almost complete. But I think it will never be complete unless he will stop writing, hehe! My favorite book of all time was his collection of short stories entitled Nightmares and Dreamscapes. I love the fact that Stephen King’s version of “horror” isn’t just all about blood and gore. I love the fact that he explores the evilness of humans. And for me, that’s the scariest part of all coz we deal with people all the time. Yikes! =(
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So what’s The Mist all about? Imagine going to your town’s grocery store and then suddenly it’s surrounded by an otherworldly mist. You want to go out but you realize there are dangerous creatures out there -- creatures that will rip you apart. What will you do? If you stay inside the grocery, you’re still gonna be eaten once the creatures enter. Or you may die at the hands of your fellow fear-crazed humans. If you go out, is there a chance you’ll survive? That will be answered if you watch the movie ! *shiver* Don’t forget the scary trailer okay?? Guaranteed to give you goosebumps, promise!
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my first WEB AWARD!

And this is courtesy of the Cherry Rose, thanks so much sis! =)

I'm now passing this to Pia, Sophia (Happy birthday Sof!) and Grace. Keep on blogging guys! Pia, I know you're currently in HK so post your award when you get back k?? Enjoy HK and don't forget the pasalubongs, hehe =)

fantasy football week10

Fantasy football rage continues! It’s week 10 already, and dNeero has another survey for you guys. Below are my answers. I’m really rooting for the Packers so I hope their great record (8-1) will continue =)

~ DARKYRIA ~

We all know how hard it is to find someone good to date, much more someone who will understand your lifestyle. For “normal” people who dress “normally”, that wouldn’t be a much of a problem, whatever “normal” is nowadays. Hehe! But for people who label themselves as GOTH, it might be a bit of an uphill battle in finding someone to date (outside their own clique, of course). Never fret my Goth friends because Gothic dating has become easier with Darkyria.com!
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Darkyria.com is a dating site specially made for Goths wanting a new unique experience in the arena of looove. For all Goth singles out there, check this site out! It’s packed with basic features of a dating site, as well as special offerings. You can customize your own profiles just like any other dating site, and it allows their members to not only upload photos but if you see someone you like, there’s this “Send a Wink” feature to help you let that person know you’re interested. There’s a Dark Cupid who will find your Soulmate, a free Video Chat, Forums, a World Map Seeker, and much more. Darkyria.com – explore the Dark Side of Love… And yes, membership is FREE! So what are you waiting for? Check out their site now! =)

LiLo's rehab affair!

OMG! I can’t believe I’m blogging about Lindsay Lohan! But man, you gotta hand it to this gurl coz it seems that nothing is off-limits to her. Even while in a rehab facility, Hollywood’s poster girl of bad behavior managed to get caught in a scandal, with a married man no less! Lindsay was called a ‘home wrecker’ by a woman who claims that Lindsay slept with her husband while he was in the same drug rehabilitation facility with the 21-year-old actress. The woman was apparently a British heiress and her husband is Tony Allen, a 40-year old musician and father of two. Mr. Allen already denied his wife’s claims and told the media that he and Lindsay are “just friends”. Oh come on! That’s so cliché! Who believes that crap line nowadays huh??

finding the right dating site

In this blog, I’ve posted several online dating sites that offer matchmaking services which I enjoined you to try but I realized I have never written on how to go about finding the right dating site. Not that I’m an expert on dating, coz I’m not, I swear! Hehe! The good news is, there are reputable online dating sites have been very successful in meeting up compatible persons. I’ve known of several friends who met their foreign partners online, and were married eventually. I mean, who wouldn’t want to find their prince charming or their very own darling princess right? The most important tip I can give you is find the best and safest dating site you can. So, how do you find the dating site that will suit you? Check out Prime Dating Sites! This website offers reviews of the dating and matchmaking sites and services available in the world wide web now. They already did reviews for the popular dating sites like Yahoo Personals, eHarmony.com and Perfect Match. It's up to you to judge what's the best site for you =)

good morning!

You know what greeted me first thing today? MAILS! We got loads of mail but not the “good news” kind of mails but utility bills. Sigh! Hehe! The light, water and phone companies never fail to send us one despite us not having any mailboxes. They just tuck the bills between the grills of our gate. The big question: what if it rains?? What will happen to our bills then? Water-sogged and hopefully invalid? How we wish, lol! If only we can have the cool set of mailboxes below. Hehe! :-)
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reminiscin’ college life

Yesterday, me and a high school friend chatted up a storm (via YM) about the latest in our lives (she’s a teacher, I’m a bum), and we also got into reminiscing our college years. We were in different schools (she’s in AdDU, I’m in UPMin) so I was quite surprised that we shared the same horrendous experiences when it came to our academic lives. Hehe! As with me, my HS friend was always rushing to meet deadlines of numerous college essays and projects. She was constantly harassed by engineering works and lab experiments. I totally feel for her! And we have no one to help us with our papers and what-nots coz everyone is busy too. Students these days are quite lucky coz there are online companies that offer custom writing service and will make your research papers, term papers, theses, and book reports (for a fee, of course). Man, we were born too early! Lol! If I were in college now, I’d definitely use the custom writing service offered by these companies =)

online betting, anyone?

The football season is nearing its end! Come January, the season will be officially over. With two months to go, have you found your favorite team already? If you believe in your team so much, would you like to engage in a bit of football betting? Hehe! If you like, you can use bet365.com's online betting facilities. That way, you won't have to through the hassle of talking to bet handlers. You can do your betting at the comforts of your home. Aside from football betting (and other real-life sports), bet365.com also offers an online casino, an interactive games section and a dedicated online poker playing area. They even have this one wallet system so that you can enjoy the benefits of all their services through one manageable account. This website has been around like forever (okay, 2001) and has been proven to be a paying site. It comes in 15 languages and the website is very user-friendly. Sounds great to me! Do visit the site but a word of warning: bet365.com can be addicting, very addicting! And remember my friend, bet only what you can afford to lose, even if you say you’re a “skilled” poker player. Hehe! Happy gaming!

payday loans 101

I’ve been writing about payday loans but it seemed that most of you are not acquainted with what it is. A payday loan or payday advance is a small, unsecured short-term loan ranging from $100 to $1,000 (depending on the state) offered by a payday lender. A payday loan is typically used as a cash advance until your next payday. It will help cover unexpected expenses that come up between paydays and will solve temporary cash-flow problems without bouncing a check or incurring late payment penalties. The reason you might not have heard of this is because this type of loan is not offered by banks or other financial institutions. Unlike these institutions, getting a loan from a reputable payday lender is easy; there is no credit check or waiting period. All you need is a photo ID, a current bank statement and proof of income. And that’s it! You receive the money you badly need until the next payday rolls around. So, if you’re one of those in need of a quick fix without the hassle, try the payday lenders. My only advice? Make sure you read the fine print of their legal agreement or contract with you, okay?? Coz I wouldn’t wanna see you in more financial trouble than you already are in. Good luck!

I’m a DA!

Nope, I don’t mean Dumbledore’s Army. For me and my boyfriend, DA means “Dragonlance Addict”, lol! Would you believe that when I was in Makati last month, I bought 15 Dragonlance books from Ebay?? Well, actually, Labsie paid up for the books but I was the one who met up with the Ebay sellers =) Anyway, we have over 60 Dragonlance books now and we are currently looking for a nice bookcase (fantasy-themed would be great!) to display our collection.
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The problem is, every time we look for bookcases in stores, Labsie has a habit of going over to the audio racks area. Gakk! So, until now, our Dragonlance books are stashed all over his bedroom and mine (in our respective houses, of course). Anybody got an idea how to display our book collection in a creative way? Aside from using a bookcase, I mean. Please do share guys! Thanks! =)

the art of moving

When I was young, my family moved a whole lot coz my father was always promoted. And for him, a family MUST stay together that’s why my mother and the rest of us kids, moved along to distant places. I can even remember one time when I just spent half of a school year in one place coz it was time to move again. Heartbreaking for a kid but family comes first, that was the motto. Anyhoo, during these numerous moves, we were assisted by movers (is that how you call the guys that transport your stuff across the country??). If you’re constantly moving, I suggest you take up the services of these companies coz they make your moving a whole lot easier. Just make sure the company you choose is trustworthy. Imagine arriving at your new place and the moving company’s van with all your stuff never arrived.. What a tragedy! For International Movers, you can search the internet for reputable ones. We’ve never moved from one country to another so I have no idea how these guys do things. As for our local movers, we never had a problem. Our stuff were always intact and not even one was missing in the several years we’ve hired them =)

to check or not to check?

We finally got the BDO ATM cards for our joint account. Months ago, when we decided to open a joint account, we were debating whether to make it a checking account. According to money-savvy people, checking accounts are a must and you must have at least one. Well, we got that important bit of info late so our joint account was just a plain savings account. Maybe next time we'll open a checking account. At least now, we still don't have a need for it. But, as they say, you never know.. *cross fingers*

BLOG tag from Cherry Rose!

1. How long have you been blogging?
About 5 years, on and off. I started blogging summer of 2002 via PITAS.com (now defunct) when I was in HK coz I wanted to share my activities there without using email. You can now only view my first blog via the screenshots I took before it went down. However when I entered med school, I stopped blogging coz of the lack of time. I started back again in 2004 via http://cutieissa.blogspot.com (now http://BestDollarEarners.info) but I stopped there when Globe (yes, the mobile carrier) offered G-blogs where I can blog from my phone. Most of my 2004 and some 2005 posts are in http://g-blogs.com/cutieissa =)
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Parang nobela na to ah.. And I'm not finished yet, hehe! In late 2005, I began conceptualizing a food blog coz I noticed the food scene in Davao was blossoming. Finally, in Feb 2006, Tongue Temptations (TT) went live in Friendster Blogs. This is where the original TT was "hosted". It's now in http://TongueTemptations.us ..After I graduated from med school last year and internship this year, I began updating my blogs regularly. This has become Quick Bytes and I also set up a mobile blog at http://melissasolito.blogspot.com ..For the list of all my other sites, go HERE =) BOW! Human na jud! Hehe
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2. What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
Refer to my answer above for what inspired me. I don't have any mentors, it's all ME!
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3. Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?
I'm a writer at heart and blogging was my means to unleash my creative side without using paper. It was not for fun, it was to feed my soul. When I did my food blog, it was to disseminate info about the latest foodie place in Davao (now, there are many bloggers doing that). It was really never for fun to me, lol! As for money, I stumbled on it after my internship last July. And I'm just glad that I can earn by blogging =)
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4. Tell me 3 things you LOVE about being online.
> I get to learn new stuff esp. techie stuff and the latest news
> Got to make new friends =)
> And now, I got to earn as well! What more could I ask for? Yeeha!
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5. Tell me 3 things you STRUGGLE within the online world.
> Internet Addiction! --> tama jud ka Che! If wala koy kaagaw sa PC, asa man ko matulog ba! I'll go online forever and ever, hehe
> I notice I can't seem to finish something! I start an article but then I go surf, start another *whatever* again.. repeat.. Going crazy!!! Lol! It's like I have an ADHD/ADD
> I go crazy when there's no internet! Wahh! Think of all the opps & tasks I missed! Then there's my online employers waiting for my articles.. Sigh!

need a business loan?

SME or small to medium enterprises are the starting points of the big corporations of tomorrow. Usually these are mom-and-pop businesses that bloomed. Their major problem, especially when expanding their businesses, is the lack of cold hard cash. Sure, they can always apply for a loan in a bank or lending company, but that would take time. And most often, their application would just be disapproved. The solution? To use a third party like EZUnsecured.com for easy processing and fast funding of your loans. EZUnsecured.com is a business financing consulting company that specializes in unsecured lines of credit, business loans and credit cards. With them, your Small Business Loan will have a better chance to be approved by lenders because of their extensive experience. Check their site out for proof of their excellent service and excellent results. So if you have a small business needing more capital, let EZUnsecured.com help you get the most money you can qualify for!

mobile blogging problems

Anybody here who photo blogs via their Sony Ericsson phone? I've been having problems posting from my SE k800i phone to my Blogger account, and I need help coz I really don't know what's wrong. This has been going on for 2 days already =( My last post was still when I was at the beach last weekend. Sigh.. I really hate when technology fails with no solution in sight!

more discount coupons guys!

About a month ago, I blogged about using online coupons to save on your online purchases. I even recommended one website where you can search for such coupons. Guess what?? I found another website that offer online coupons! Woohoo! Right now, I’m “stocking up” on Amazon coupons and BestBuy discounts. I can’t begin to imagine all the money I’ll save after using these coupons for my Christmas gifts shopping, hehe! So if you’re into online shopping like me, check out NCNatural.com for discounts and deals. Remember, you heard it first from me! =)

Manila Bay Sunset

Finally I'm able to witness the world-famous Manila Bay sunset! The SM Mall of Asia offers a great view of the spectacular sunset that had many admirers even from foreign countries. In fact, when I took this photo, there were several foreigners also taking pictures. Sweet! One thing I can say, I'm proud to be Pinoy!

Hannah Montana tickets!

Hannah Montana star, Miley Cyrus, appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show last Thursday to address the scalpers who are selling expensive tickets to her widely popular BEST OF BOTH WORLDS concert tour. How expensive? Scalpers are asking up to $4,500 for the tickets!!! Ticket trackers are saying that tickets for the Miley Cyrus show (which also features the pop rock group The Jonas Brothers) were sold out in as little as four minutes! You’d think that the tickets reached all the young girls who wanted to watch the talented Disney star. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Parents have so far voiced their displeasure over the scalpers, and asked the camp of Miley Cyrus to address the issue. In response, the teen actress says, “It’s going to be a good show, but I don’t think it’s worth what it’s going for. [But] for the people that do get to come, I’m going to make it the best show ever.”
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But don’t fret moms and dads, tickets for Hannah Montana at the Houston Rodeo show is still available, and definitely cheaper than the ones sold by scalpers! So if your child is a BIG Hanah Montana fan, don’t disappoint her. Grab a ticket now! At least, in the Houston Rodeo, there’d be adult stuff you can watch aside from the Miley/Hannah tween show =)

nursing home, anyone?

A few posts back, I blogged about my need of a nursing home since I don’t plan to have kids. Ergo, there’d be no one to take of me (or future hubby) when we grow old. I don’t want to impose on our siblings or their kids (our nieces and nephews) so a care home is really the way to go. So far, the idea in my mind is to retire in our home and just hire a caregiver. But then we’d to pay for utility bills, buy food, etc and that would be too much hassle. A good nursing home is really the best answer, whether here in our country or outside (I’m sure there’d still be caring Filipinos working in care homes). The only thing that remains is finding the best nursing home for us coz this is very crucial. But don’t worry Ma and Pa (if you’re reading this), we won’t put you in care homes. I promise to take care for the both of you for as long as you need me.

need QUICK cash?

Time for money talk again guys! I’m sure many of you are waiting for another money tip to tuck away until in times of need, hehe! This time, we’ll talk about payday loans. We all know there are times when our budget is thrown off balance by some unexpected expenditure. I’m sure even people who really budget their salaries faithfully experience these trying times. Coz sometimes, life really throws us some curveballs, and the budget allocation that was carefully planned lay in ruins. It might be an unanticipated bill or perhaps a sudden hospitalization – then poof! Next thing you knew, your money’s gone and the next payday is days away yet. What to do?? This is where Payday Loan Quotes come in. No, they’re not a lending company. Rather, they’re a resource company that will guide in finding online cash advance.
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With Payday Loans Quotes, you submit your loan application online (faxless payday loans), and they’ll find a suitable lending company who’ll give you a loan. Upon approval, you will see your loan directly deposited into your account in less than 24 hours. Fast and easy! Imagine, NO fax payday loans! So if you need some quick cash, do try them out. They might be the solution to your financial woes!

need to transport your car?

Then the National Car Shipping company might be able to help you! The company has over 20 years of experience in the auto transport business so you can be sure your car will be in safe hands, even if yo