Quick Bytes..

techie mumbles!

If you're not a tech person, then chances are you'd think that Cat6 is a type of cat-- you know, that feline furry animal. Hehe! But no, Cat6 is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e and Category 3 cable standards. Cat6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet). Neat huh?? =) Anyhoo, I won't be needing this product, I just read about it on a tech blog. Thought I'd just share it with you all! Next up are HDMI cables, hehe! ^_^

the deal on 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, mortgage lenders, 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!

sports that I play

Yes, I do play sports – if required that is. Hehe! =) Our Physical Education (PE) class in college is very cool. We were able to able to choose what PE courses to take after taking the required PE1 and PE2, which are mostly lectures. Anyway, the choices ranged from swimming to dancing (Jazz, Folkdance, Tap dancing, etc) to numerous sports (volleyball, badminton, soccer, etc). I don’t like swimming coz I don’t like to have sunburn and the smell of chlorine on me during weekends. I can’t dance to save my life so dancing was out. Though I was forced to take Folk dancing (Tinikling) one semester coz that’s the only PE class that fit into my schedule. In fairness, I passed with flying colors, hehe! =) But that PE class wasn’t the most memorable for me – it was when I took up soccer in my third year.
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I enjoyed playing soccer so much coz of its physical aspect. Imagine running back and forth between the two goals separated by almost 500m of green grass (we had a smaller field). Add to that the fact you have to guard the ball and tried to score. I tell you, if there’s one thing that’d workout your whole body, it would be soccer! Man, after each session, my sides and legs would be aching from exertion. Playing soccer was definitely, absolutely worth it! =) My dream sports, however, is playing with horses and riding on them (with saddles of course). Yeah, I wanted to be an equestrian!!! Hehe!

let's start mooching!

I love to read books of any kind. I'm always constantly looking for book bargains in bookshops and used-goods stores. I've used online buy&sell portals like davaosale.com and ebay.ph to buy hard-to-find books at cheaper prices. And so far, I've been more than satisfied with my finds! =) But as they say, the best things in life are free. That got me thinking, "Can I get a free book online??" The answer? A big YES!!! At first I just downloaded free ebooks on the internet, some of them pirated. LOL! But I persisted looking for that elusive free physical book. My search led me to BookMooch. And man, was I addicted! =)
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BookMooch works like a charity site. You give away your books to earn points and using your points, you can request or mooch a book you want from another user. Nice concept huh?? The site is very simple to use but features-packed unlike other book swapping sites which have become commercialized. And NO, this is not a sponsored post, lol! :p I'm writing this because I truly love their FREE service. I've been in BookMooch for more than a year and received 5 books already. One from SIngapore and four from the Philippines. Free ~ Free ~ Free, all free! What could be better than that?? So if you're a bookworm, join BookMooch now and let's start mooching Yup, they have children's books for your kiddos too! =)

Sapia Net

We Pinoys are fond of pre-owned things (clothes, bags, shoes, etc) that we can buy for a lesser price than the brand new ones. And would you believe that even pre-owned IT products are being sold online?? Introducing Sapia Net! The company buys, sells, and trades IT networking hardware equipment. New, used, and refurbished routers, switches, and other equipment from Cisco Systems are being sold at prices 50% to 90% off their list price! Imagine that, used Cisco products for sale! I wonder what Cisco will say when they find out their products are being refurbished and sold again, lol! And get this, Sapia Net even offers 1-year warranty for their used products. Nice one eh??

shutter talk

Although wood window exterior shutters can vastly increase the perceived value of your house, they require considerable time and labor to sand, prime and paint. Here is an alternative: good olde vinyl shutters! =) These are thicker and heavier overall and some even simulate the subtle nuances of natural wood shutters, from the texture of the woodgrain to realistic formed edges and corners. If you want to see various types of shutters, just go to LarsonShutter.com .. Hope you find something!

market research

Going into business is a very risky move for someone who has a stable job and will quit it to start his own business. We all know that starting a business is like gambling, there's a 50-50 chance that your business will take off or fail. Win or lose. But unlike gambling, you can tip the scales to your favor. How? By doing market research for your business. As with everything else in this world, you should do research and meticulous planning before going in to something. So, a word to the would-be entrepreneurs -- analyze first the market you want to penetrate and then unleash your business acumen! Good luck!

fish art by moi!

Is this cute or what?? Hehe! This is what you call FOOD ART, or so I say :p Anyway this one is made of SUTCHI fillet with fries and small  vegetables for its body parts. If you love the soft meat of fish fillets in classy restaurants and you wanna replicate it in your own home, buy SUTCHI fish. It's quite affordable and the meat is, ummm, so soft! Try it now and have a taste of fishy heaven, hehe! =) Anyway, this fish post got me thinking about the aquarium filter that Labsie wanted to buy at http://www.aquariumguys.com/aquarium-filters.html -- gotta research about it more so toodles!

a cruise for our honeymoon?

Getting married is exciting, but having our honeymoon in a far-off place got me excited even more!! Hehe! =) We plan to honeymoon in Coron, Busuanga Island, Palawan before the Boracay developers invade the area. Already, these "bad guys" are buying up white-sand islands left and right to develop it into unaffordable resorts. Sigh! Future hubby and I initially wanted a honeymoon cruise (Mediterranean cruises were our dream!) but we thought that if we forego Coron, the next time we'll be there, it's natural vibe will be ruined by the resortsy atmosphere. Guess we'll do cruises next time!

of cats and games

I have never been a fun of cats but I must admit, cat accessories are definitely cute and adorable! When I was playing The Sims, one expansion pack had pets and I always buy the best stuff for my kitties and doggies. I especially like the cat tree that keeps the cats occupied -- coz if they are bored, they have this tendency to ruin my sofas and even pee on my rugs! Gahh! And yes, this is still in The Sims (a helluva addicting game by the way!), very true to life huh?? Hehe! 

glasses, contact lens or LASIK?

Unlike my parents and our youngest sibling, me and my first bro have bad eyesight. We have what doctors call nearsightedness, that is, we can't see far things. My bro wore glasses ever since he was in grade school while I started wearing it regularly in high school. Can't afford not to see my HS crushes playing basketball clearly! LOL! My bro also tried wearing contact lenses but he went back to glasses. Me, never tried contact lenses coz I don't like the feeling of putting something inside my eyes. UGHH!! But now that my wedding is drawing near, I am thinking about wearing contacts -- I definitely won't be wearing glasses on my wedding day noh! But at the same time I would love to have crystal clear vision.. So it's gonna be cheap but stomach-curling contacts for me or the expensive, vision-correcting LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis). This is gonna be a hard one to decide! Tsk!

what is phentermine?

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant (FDA approved) to help reduce weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet, and behavioral modification. Like many other prescription drugs, it works with neurotransmitters in the brain. Phentermine is a centrally-acting stimulant chemical, and stimulates neuron bundles to release a particular group of neurotransmitters known as catecholamines. The neurotransmitters signal a fight-or-flight response in the body which, in turn, puts a halt to the hunger signal. As a result, it causes a loss in appetite because the brain does not receive the hunger message. Thus, you lose weight! Whoopee! =) Phentermine is typically prescribed for individuals who are at increased medical risk because of their weight but is now prevalent among dieters.
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Info Source: Wikipedia

you NEED medical insurance!

When I was still working in a private hospital, I’d often come across patients who are relatively well-off but due to the chronic course of their disease, they eventually had a hard time paying off hospital bills. The problem? They didn’t have any insurance, HEALTH or hospital insurance for that matter. How about you, do you have one? If you still don’t have one, better check out with your insurance provider. I'm sure they'll have quality medicare insurance coverage at affordable prices. As with every doctor, I want you to get well, keep you well, and have better health in the long run -- without damaging your finances.

window shutters: wood or vinyl?

Although wood window shutters can vastly increase the perceived value of your house, they require considerable time and labor to sand, prime and paint. Here is an alternative: good olde vinyl shutters! =) These are thicker and heavier overall and some even simulate the subtle nuances of natural wood shutters, from the texture of the woodgrain to realistic formed edges and corners. If you want to see various types of shutters, just go to LarsonShutter.com .. Hope you find something!

diet pills, anyone?

I have never recommended diet pills for those wanting to lose weight. I have always advised them to diet (cut back calories) and exercise. But for some, this doesn't work, especially for those trying to get rid of the last few pounds in the belly and thigh areas (also my problem, LOL!). Recently, I came across a list of the top diet pills -- most of the names were familiar, as well as the drug ingredients. What caught my attention was the top 1 product name OROVO. It claims to be all-natural and its ingredients are more of multi-vitamin supplements than chemical drugs.
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According to its website, OROVO contains 10 highly concentrated "SuperFoods" recommended by renowned anti-aging experts around the world. Orovo also contains the antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid, DMAE, green tea, and an anti-aging ingredient first marketed by the makers of BOTOX® called Idebenone. Orovo users have reported dramatic reductions in weight, wrinkles, and acne. Orovo also detoxifies the body and improves overall health. Yup, aside from losing weight, you'll have a perfectly beautiful and youthful face! Too good to be true? I hope not!

beer pong table!

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Who would have thought that beer pong tables will become a staple in parties and other fun events?? And not only that, these tables now come in special and customizable looks! The beer pong table above is made with a high quality squared aluminum base with a super strong laminent protecting the designs from spilt beer, scratches, sun damage, etc. It is completely portable and storable, collapsing into lightweight briefcase for perfect mobility. You can store this beer pong table anywhere, and bring it anywhere! Ain't that grand?? =)

what is a billet grille?

In automotive engineering, a grille is an opening in the bodywork of a vehicle to allow air to enter. Most vehicles feature a grille at the front of the vehicle to allow air to flow over the radiator and cool the engine compartment. Other common grille locations include below the front bumper, in front of the wheels (to cool the brakes), in the cowl for cabin ventilation, or on the rear deck lid (in rear engine vehicles).
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Billet grilles are an aftermarket part that is used to enhance the style or function of the original OEM grille. They are generally made from billet, solid bar stock aircraft grade aluminum or stainless steel, although some are CNC Machined from one solid sheet of aluminum.
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Source: Wikipedia (where else?? hehe)

do you need acne treatment?

There are many products sold as natural acne treatments. Generally speaking successful treatments give little improvement within the first week or two; and then the acne decreases over approximately 3 months, after which the improvement starts to flatten out. Many treatments that promise big improvements within 2 weeks are likely to be largely disappointing. Exception of this is cortisone which can give very quick results.
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In general, acne treatments are believed to work in at least 4 different ways [with many of the best treatments providing multiple simultaneous effects] - a.) normalising shedding into the pore to prevent blockage, b.) killing causative bacteria, c.) antinflammatory effects, and d.) hormonal manipulation.

There are many products sold as natural acne treatments. Generally speaking successful treatments give little improvement within the first week or two; and then the acne decreases over approximately 3 months, after which the improvement starts to flatten out. Many treatments that promise big improvements within 2 weeks are likely to be largely disappointing. Exception of this is cortisone which can give very quick results.
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In general, acne treatments are believed to work in at least 4 different ways [with many of the best treatments providing multiple simultaneous effects] - a.) normalising shedding into the pore to prevent blockage, b.) killing causative bacteria, c.) antinflammatory effects, and d.) hormonal manipulation.

ready for the big night?

And with that, I mean your honeymoon night! Hehe! Your wedding day does not end with the ceremony or reception, it goes on and on til the night of your honeymoon =) And if you're lucky, your honeymoon might extend for days and weeks in some exotic parts of the world! WOW! I wish we could afford that but we simple couldn't, LOL! Anyway, for your wedding night, prepare your most special bridal lingerie (like the one in the photo) and make it a night that your husband and you won't forget for a long, long time.. ^_^

the groom's suit =)

Since we will be having a fairytale-themed wedding (this October 8 at 2pm in St. Francis, god-willing), Labsie won't wear the usual Filipino groom's barong but will be wearing a four-piece tailor-made suit. Yup, the one in the pic at left =) He plans to wear dark gray pants and jacket with dark pink (or perhaps red) vest and pink necktie. Of course, gold cufflinks is also a must. I bet Labsie will be the most dashing man in our wedding! He's tall and well-built so suits look good on him. Yum! Hehe! ^_^

addicted to weight loss pills?

When we hear addiction, the first thing that comes to our mind is illegal drugs addiction, i.e. cocaine and other dangerous stuff like it. But from a medical point of view, there are many different kinds of addiction, and DRUG addiction is just one of them. And among drug addictions, the dependent use of illegal drugs is just a small percent of the overall problem. Most drug addictions involve the use of legal (and safe if used right) drugs.
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One of the most common of which is weight loss pills addiction . If you’re one of the people who is trying to lose weight by way of pills, and have yet to be weaned from pill use (continuing taking it despite seeing no effect), chances are you’re addicted to it. If you feel that you cannot function without first taking your weight loss pills, with or without seeing any effect, then most likely you’re addicted. And I strongly suggest that you SEEK HELP asap.

wedding planning software

It's April and in only six months, we're getting married! =) That's the upside of that, the downside -- there's still so much planning to do! We only booked the church, cake maker, and florist -- the rest are still up for grabs. Wedding planning is a bit meticulous but so far we're enjoying it (thank god we have a wedding planning software!). What we're not enjoying is the budgeting aspect of it. So many things to pay for, and some, for sure, will be forgotten. And hence the need for a separate budgeting software. Can you tell us what's the best to use? Thanks! =)

wanting / needing a laptop

When I buy something, I always classify whether it’s a need or a want. By doing so, I am able to say NO in buying stuff I don’t really need but want very much. Hehe! And because of that, despite my income of only P3500/mo for the past year, I was able to save a lot. The only downside is that sometimes it takes me so much time to decide whether it’s a want or a need. Take for example, my “wanting” a new laptop. My hand-me-down old laptop is just a Pentium 3 with battery (and dos command line) problems to boot. I’ve been wanting for ages to buy a new one to replace it but I always hold back coz I don’t feel like I really NEED a new one.
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My argument? I just type articles on my laptop, digiscrap a bit, watch movies; nothing really serious that warrants an upgrade for a more hi-tech laptop. But now that we have a wireless router, I thought that I should buy a wifi-ready laptop so I could share in our wifi connection. My dad’s laptop is wifi-ready but he’s not here often so what would be the point of having a wireless router in our house then?? Hmm, maybe I’m just looking for an excuse to buy a new laptop. Lord, lead me not into temptation.. Hehe! =)

Audemars Piguet watches ^_^

Brand not familiar to you? Well, that might be because it's a VERY high-end product. An Audemars Piguet watch typically has a 5-digit price tag, and that's in dollars my dears. Just imagine buying one $10000 watch, that's P400000 already! But to some of us, that's just loose change. Audemars Piguet is one of the oldest and most established Swiss watchmakers, the company was a partnership between Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet officially formed in 1889. The AP Offshore is easily the most noted part of their product line. Jay Z (pictured above, click to enlarge) and Arnold Schwarzenegger have limited edition watches under that line. Cool huh?? But for P400000, no thank you! LOL! I might just get one of the IWC watches which are as handsome but not as expensive.

suffering from GERD?

GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease =) If you're one the unfortunate sufferers of this disease, there's some good news for you. And I'm not talking about medicine to cure it but an innovation that will let you sleep soundly and not be bothered by the acid reflux symptoms. Presenting the sleep wedge!
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The Incliner Sleep Wedge relieves acid reflux by elevating your head and shoulders, as doctors recommend. The sleep wedge gradually slopes up from nearly flat to a 5" elevation and is designed for sleep comfort. The elevated sleeping position will alleviate pain and discomfort associated with acid reflux, evening heartburn, constricted airways, snoring, sinus irritation, and more. The Incliner Sleep Wedge fits under fitted sheets or on top, is designed for one person in any size bed, and it removes easily when symptoms dissipate. As I said, a nice innovation! =)

game talk ;-)

In my other blog (Issa’s Dollar Earners), I always post the latest happenings in the world of Apple and Mac. I’m an Apple fangirl but the truth is, I’ve never bought anything made from them. Lol! Also, I haven’t made the switch from PC to Mac. Why? Because my tech-savvy brothers say its hard to find Mac games and applications that will run smoothly. But that was then, when other Mac fanatics did not share their work to other Mac users; now’s a different story. Recently I searched the web, and lo! I see loads of FREE Mac games! Yes! So, am I gonna switch now? Hmmm, let me find more free Mac apps then I’d consider the switch more seriously. Abangan! =)

looking for personalized baby clothes?

The PolkaDotPatch.com maybe what you're looking for! The PDP is a funky baby clothes store and unique children's clothing boutique that offers the most unique and fun infant clothing and toddler clothing. Also, their hand-selected items ensures that their kids clothing, children's accessories and baby gifts are always the colorful  designer styles and fashions that parents and gift givers love =) The PolkaDotPatch.com also has the largest selection of colorful unisex baby clothes that you can personalize. So whether you're looking for unique designer baby clothes or unusual handcrafted children's gifts, if you want it personalized, go visit PolkaDotPatch.com -- personalized baby clothes at their best! ^_^

looking for perfect honeymoon place =)

Most of you probably know that my boyfriend of nearly 9 years and I are getting married, God-willing, this coming October =) Our wedding plans are mostly laid out already but we’re still looking for that perfect wedding reception place. We’re also looking for the perfect honeymoon getaway, preferably a place great with snorkeling. So if you know of a travel agent or honeymoon travel deals, please contact us. We would appreciate your help! And oh, honeymoon suggestions are welcome too. Thanks! =)

some progesterone facts

Progesterone is a steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation) and embryogenesis of humans and other species. The use of progesterone and its analogues have many medical applications -- both to address acute situations, and to address the long-term decline of natural progesterone levels. Because of the poor bioavailability of progesterone when taken orally, many synthetic progestins have been designed. Progesterone is poorly absorbed by oral ingestion unless micronised and in oil, or with fatty foods; it does not dissolve in water. Progesterone can be given by injection, but because it has a short half-life they need to be daily. Implants, for a longer period, are also available.

wazzup guys?? =)

I’m back!!! In case you’re wondering where I’ve been, let’s just say I toured Visayas down to Mindanao in 9 days. Air, sea and lots of land travel were involved. Thank god, Papa was the one driving, hehe! You can view my latest travel escapade HERE. And before I forget, gotta finish all my online tasks (more dollars, yey!) including in the one about tsa locks. That’s a type of luggage lock that I sorely need to secure my bags while traveling.

insurance talk

When I was still working in a private hospital, I’d often come across patients who are relatively well-off but due to the chronic course of their disease, they eventually had a hard time paying off hospital bills. The problem? They didn’t have any insurance, HEALTH or any insurance for that matter. How about you, do you have one? Other insurance you should get are life and home insurance. You wouldn't want your home to burn to the ground without receiving some compensation right?? O_o

parteeeyyy!

For excited parents of April and May babies, check out the CUTE birthday invitations at ThePartyStartsHere.com! Their products are so adorable and so perfect for kids! =) Their designs are exclusive and priced at affordable rates. So if you have any joyful announcements this coming months, announce it with class and style -- use ThePartyStartsHere.com products! I'm sure both kids and adults will love their whimsical and fun designs =) Aside from birthday invites, ThePartyStartsHere.com also has thank you cards, photo cards, and invites for all events that you can imagine! Go check them out!

time to exercise!

One of my resolutions for the year 2008 is to exercise. I plan to do jumping rope in the morning and jogging in the afternoon (maybe even use exercise equipment like treadmill and ellipticals). I really hope I'd stick to it. My metabolism is already slowing down (I'm 26!!!) and it doesn't help that my physical activity is just limited to house work and playing with our dogs. For most part of the day I'm just sitting in front of the PC. Yikes!

afraid of identity theft?

Then use LifeLock! The company offers a proven solution that prevents your identity from being stolen. They will protect your identity and personal information for only $10 a month - and they can even guarantee up to $1,000,000! Currently, there are LifeLock promotion codes that you can use to get discount when you apply for their service. This is a secret (sshhh! hehe) but one of the LifeLock promo code you can use is RD32 -- this will give you 30 Days Free and an exclusive discount =) If you're interested to avail of their identity theft prevention service, don't forget the LifeLock codes okay??
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If you're a n00b and doesn't know what's identity theft, here is Wikipedia's definition: "Identity Theft is a catch-all term for crimes involving illegal usage of another individual's identity" and its most common form is credit card fraud. Identity theft is one of the reasons why my father refuses to shop online via his credit card. I have assured him time and again, that unless he's been really careless about giving out his personal info, he won't be a victim of identity theft (specifically credit card fraud). But my assurance isn't enough -- and I'm glad LifeLock's service will help my father feel safe and secure in using his credit card online.

GRAPEVINE!

Hi guys! Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I’ve been very busy in my real life, lol! =) I have two BIG events coming up in my life this 2008, and I’ve been actively “laying down the foundation” for both events. One event is my medical board exam this August, and the other event is still secret. Hehe! Watch out for the formal announcement about it before February ends *wink* And before this current month ends, here’s a quick post about a great site I found. If you are strong woman who is independent and everything a modern woman should be, I highly recommend you go to Grapevine.com -- it’s a lifestyle website for women with sections on Style, Home & Family, and Travel and Entertainment. They even have a Boutique! =)

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According to the grrrrls who run the blog, their website is an “interactive and serialized story of 4 strong women who are professionally brilliant, captivatingly stylish, fiercely independent and role models for the female generation from 25 to 49 years old.” Neat huh?? The Grapevine Girls consist of Gabby, Liv, Shannon and Raqui. They “cannibalize” their lives to give their readers shopping tips, professional insights, love and fashion ideas. Hence their tagline “Style and Such for the Sophisticated Woman” =)

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The coolest thing in their website is the Grapevine Serial. It’s kind of a video diary (or webisodes) that the girls made to document their current project and what-nots. There are voice-overs, illustrations and animations to provide you with your daily entertainment dose. Personally I found each episode fun and interesting to watch. Not to mention, I learned lots of stuff! Especially about the most excellent food out there, hehe =) The best thing ever? You can be a Grapevine Girl yourself! Just sign up and be ready to embrace life!

when the dollar goes down, buy gold!

The US economy is said to be entering recession (with another alleged tech bubble on the horizon) and is very obvious in the downward turn of the US dollar's value. If you're a financially savvy person, now is the perfect time to invest in gold. In fact, stocks of gold mining companies (Lepanto, etc) have increased since the dollar became cheaper. However, gold investing is not a new concept.
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If you remember your World History, precious metals were used directly as currency in the olden times. To preserve their wealth, rich people hoard their gold. And so modern man stumbled on the idea that gold is an investment product. Today, gold can be bought in coin or ingot form. Ingots are generally gold ingots of pure bullion cast in a convenient size and shape while coins have a currency value. So friend, wanna buy some gold? I have some for sale! In electronic form, that is =)

financing your business

We all dream of starting a business someday -- a restaurant, a printing shop, a boutique, a flower shop, etc. And most of you will agree that what hinders us from achieving this is the lack of money for start-Up financing. If you're not too scared of getting money over the internet, I suggest you check out the start up financing service offered by EZUnsecured.com =) They process loans quick, you'll have fast funding and receive excellent service at that. Again, for your StartUp financing needs, check out EZUnsecured.com ... Good luck!

buying a new vacuum cleaner?

You should try the new HEPA vacuum cleaners especially if there are those who suffer allergies in your home. These vacuum cleaners have been tested for particle emissions, as well as power, dependability, and ease of use. Brands such as Miele, Bosch, Electrolux and Sebo all make excellent HEPA vacuum cleaners so if you gave a favorite manufacturer among them, just go visit their sites. Sanitaire even has a pink one (pictured at right), oh yeah! Hehe!

secure your home now!

With all the home burglaries happening these days, it really pays if you secure your home. How? By installing the latest alarm system monitoring out there. It's not enough that you install a gadget, you should have it professionally monitored 24 hours a day. And SafeMart might be able to do that for you without lengthy contracts. Interested? Then follow the link! =)

looking for classy faucets?

Then Danze faucets might be for you! They have bath faucets, kitchen faucets and faucets for the entertainment areas. Danze has over 1,000 unique designs for you to choose from. They have everything from sleek to ornate to retro with a twist. For sure, there's a Danze faucet that would fit your personal style! My fave is the one pictured at left, love the sleek minimalist design! =)

Audemars Piguet watches

Brand not familiar to you? Well, that might be because it's a VERY high-end product. An Audemars Piguet watch typically has a 5-digit price tag, and that's in dollars my dears. Just imagine buying one $10000 watch, that's P400000 already! But to some of us, that's just loose change. Audemars Piguet is one of the oldest and most established Swiss watchmakers, the company was a partnership between Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet officially formed in 1889. The AP Offshore is easily the most noted part of their product line. Jay Z (pictured above, click to enlarge) and Arnold Schwarzenegger have limited edition watches under that line. Cool huh?? But for P400000, no thank you! LOL!

ready for Valentines Day??

Less than a month to go and it’s another red-letter holiday! Well, not really an official holiday but with all the pomp and pageantry stores do during Valentines Day, you’d think we’re celebrating some momentous event. Hehe! Anyway, do you have a gift already for your loved one? This question especially goes out to all the boyfriends and husbands out there, lol =) If you haven’t yet, try shopping online! Online stores of Saks Fifth Avenue and Henry and June Lingerie offer huge discounts if you have electronic discount coupons. Last year I shopped online using coupon codes from CouponChief.com, and let me tell you, I saved a lot! It was almost like I had 50% of what paid go back to me, lol! This is one shopping secret I won’t regret telling you guys about. After all, online coupon codes don’t run out so no need for secrecy =)

BUSTED!

One movie theater customer was caught taping a newly released local movie using a hidden spy camera. If he were successful in his attempt, pirated VCDs and DVDs of that hit movie would be in the market right now. Thank god he was busted! Here’s a question for you: do you watch films outside movie theaters? If yes, do you legally rent movie DVDs or do you “borrow” the film online. Me? The latter is my answer! Hehe! Sshhh.. ;p
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hmmm, wines!

Last Christmas, we receive a lot of wine gifts from family friends and co-workers of my father. Not that I’m complaining coz our family loves wines! For most part of the month, you’d see wine in our fridge or pantry rather than softdrinks. As if I’d drink the latter, ughh! Anyhoo, our love for wine got me thinking of joining wine of the month clubs. These clubs send you a monthly wine pack for a fee. Usually the wines sent are hard-to-find and produced in small wineries. Hmm, maybe I’ll gift my parents with this come Christmas.. =)

laptop talk

Last December, a hand-me-down laptop (from my father to my brother then to me!) that I use was deemed “beyond repair” by the computer guys in a known computer shop in our city. The problem? The connection between the charger and the laptop went off and they said there are no more replacement products for it. Sniff! Otherwise, my laptop was okay. There was no other problems but unfortunately, without the charger, I couldn’t plug it so I can’t use it =( I began thinking what if there’s a charger for laptop batteries? Such that I won’t need to plug my laptop on electrical sockets and I will just rely on the charged batteries for me to be able to work? That would be so great! And I would be able to use my laptop again, sigh..

mag-exercise tayo tuwing umaga!

One of my resolutions for the year 2008 is to exercise. I plan to do jumping rope in the morning and jogging in the afternoon (maybe even use ellipticals). I really hope I'd stick to it. My metabolism is already slowing down (I'm 26!!!) and it doesn't help that my physical activity is just limited to house work and playing with our dogs. For most part of the day, I'm just sitting in front of the PC. Yikes! Anyway, here's an exercise survey from dNEERO. If you wanna earn extra money for going out on Valentines Day (gotta start early!), answer the survey I posted, post it in your own blog and earn $$$! Simple! =) dNEERO totally rocks!

does your store offer credit card payment?

Plastic money or credit card has become a necessity in our world. At first it was only professionals and those with stable jobs who got this modern money replacement. Then suddenly credit card companies campaigned aggressively which resulted to almost everybody having the little plastic item with magnetic strips. Almost every store you go to, whether small or big AND offline or online, offer Visa & Mastercard payment solutions, and all those other credit card companies.
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If you’re store don’t still accept credit cards, it’s about time it does. Surveys have pointed time and again that credit card accepting stores have higher sales, whether they are online or offline. APlusMerchant.com is one of those businesses that offer to process credit card payments like Visa and Mastercard for online websites, retail stores, hotels, bars, gas stations, anyone really, and even offshore merchant accounts. If you need an Internet credit card processor, try to visit their website.

travel health insurance

My father travels frequently all over the Philippines as part of his job. Sometime he does out of the country trips. With his frequent traveling, I sometimes wonder if his company got him a travel health insurance policy. After all, the company’s the one sending him on trips. Traveling is not really that risky but what if you get ill abroad? How would you find a doctor? Where would you find appropriate healthcare facility? Where would you seek advice? Did you know that HMO's, PPO's and Medicare typically do not cover you abroad? These are just a few reasons why you need a travel health insurance. If you’re a frequent traveler, you better ask your favorite insurance agent about it!

popcorn machines!!!

I’m addicted to popcorn, cotton candy, fish balls, scramble and all those “banned” childhood street food. I have happy memories of eating them despite being branded by my parents as “dirty” and “bawal”. Who cares, I’m a child with no vision of what it could really do! Hehe! Anyhoo, I stumbled on this site that sells these cool home theater popcorn machines! So cute to look at! I’d buy this in a flash but its high price prevents me. It sells for a freakin’ $680!! Definitely could not afford it!! LOL! o_O Anyway, this popcorn machine has a 6oz. E-Z Kleen stainless steel kettle, a heating deck, tempered glass windows and a removable kettle for easy cleaning. Pretty good stuff, even yummy - just expensive =) LOL

money matters stuff :p

Aside from love, I think that the most posted topic in this blog is money and business matters :p Yes, this is another money matters posts. And today, I'm gonna rant about employee payroll. We've been renovating our home for some time now and we employ two full-time carpenters here. Often, these two ask for cash loan, sort of a cash advance. And sometimes I get lost of how much they already "owe" us. Sure, they'd be working for us in the months ahead but still, I can't get this niggly feeling that they've "overdrawn" their "deposits" with us already.
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It's not that I'm being stingy (I'm not the one earning the pay money, lol) coz there are really times they badly need money. It's just that I wish there was a better way for me to track down their "loans". My mom's an accountant but she says let them remember the money they owe us. They're good persons, yadda, yadda... For most part, they are lucky that we let them borrow money. I’m sure other employers don’t give cash loans, and troubled employees resort to other means in getting money. In this time and age, the internet can be a source of money too. There are websites that offer payday loans like CheckIntoCash.com which has a very fast approval system. Go check them out!

career talk!

Whatever your line of work is, you should think about how your career will go. I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities available for developing your skills and knowledge, and this will affect your career development. For example, in Medicine, being a doctor is not as simple as the title. There are many different career paths a licensed doctor might trod. He may go into specialization (OBGYNE, Pedia, IM, Surgery, etc) or may go into government service. He can also go into medical research or be a professor in a health-related school. But for sure, to be successful, a doctor (or whatever your profession is) must continually improve his skills and understanding. He needs to continue learning throughout his career. And there are many ways he can do this – he can attend seminars, symposiums, and lectures where he may earn credits. This is what we call CME or Continuing Medical Education. I’m sure there’s an equivalent career advancement exercise like this in your own profession. And if I were you, grab the chance to attend it and improve your skills!

Chicago..

A high school friend of mine (hi Jinx!) stayed in Chicago for six months. And she thoroughly enjoyed her experience! Whenever she adds photos of her Chicago outings in her Friendster profile, I would always view it. My fave picture was of a manmade lake near her apartment (see photo below). At first I thought it was taken from a Chicago college or even an Illinois college. Imagine, going to school in such a gorgeous place – definitely conducive to learning! See how happy Jinky and her friends are, lol!
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If you are interested in going to college in Chicago, go check out Westwood College – they have four campus locations in the Chicago, namely DuPage campus, Chicago Loop campus, O'Hare Airport campus and River Oaks campus. Students can choose from several degree programs within four advanced institutes: Institute of Design, Institute of Technology, Institute of Business and Institute of Criminal Justice. And for recreation, students can enjoy outdoor stuff like hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking. Love it! =)

attention RUGBY fanatics!

If you’re looking for a comprehensive website about Europe's premier international rugby tournament (that’s the six nations championship!) then you’ve come to the right blog post! Presenting the RBS 6 Nations website! They provide a wide-ranging list of tournament news, fixtures and results. They also offer interactive games and podcasts for six nations fans. You want to see the rugby dream team? It’s here! By the way, the six nations is composed of the countries of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
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For those unfamiliar with rugby, this is the game that originated American and Canadian football. Rugby football, often just "rugby", may refer to a number of sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School in England, United Kingdom. Rugby league and rugby union are the only two sports referred to as "rugby" today. In the U.K, an old saying goes "football is a gentleman's game played by thugs and rugby is a game for thugs played by gentlemen".

lose weight by surgery!

I’ve posted several times in this blog about losing weight surgically by Lap Band. If you missed it, here’s a recap: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure is unlike other weight loss surgery procedures in that it is less 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.
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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. Or you can follow this link of lap band Surgarland, Texas where the bariatric surgeons with most experience in Lap Band are found. Good luck!

online casino anyone?

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! There are even online casinos that style themselves as “vegas casinos” as their sites are more glamorous than other gambling sites. Is it a sign of our times?? One of these so-called “vegas casinos” is 32Vegas.com and they offer lots of casino games for your online pleasure. Go check them out!

:: bet365 ::

The football season is nearing its end! 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 online gambling, 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. The website comes in 15 languages and the website is very user-friendly. Do visit the site but a word of warning: bet365.com can be addicting, very addicting! So friend, bet only what you can afford to lose. Happy gaming!

wedding flowers!

In four months, a high school friend of mine (hi Cha!) will walk down the aisle. Preparations for her wedding are underway and mostly done in frantic pace. Just 4 months to go, goodness! I got the chance to view the styles and themes she wanted and I love the flower arrangements she chose! One of them is pictured at left. Flowers are an important part of any wedding. Though sometimes, couples scrimp on it because of its high price. But if they buy wholesale flowers, they could really save a lot. FiftyFlowers.com is one online shop that provides weddings with premium roses, calla lilies, rose petals, gerbera daisies, hydrangeas, peonies and many other flowers and greens. The flowers are delivered at a below wholesale cost and with minimum of fuss. Go check them out! =)

optimize you site!

When I say "optimize", I mean Search Engine Optimization. If you want your blog or website to get traffic from search engines (Google, Yahoo, Ask, etc), then you should optimize it so that search engines can easily analyze its content. Nowadays, those who are serious about their sites to grow, are getting an SEO expert or SEO specialist to have their websites optimized for search. Sure, you spend money but think of the targeted traffic you'll get from the search engines! Hopefully that will translate to sales and ad clicks = higher earnings! Anyway, to start you off, here's an SEO company that you might be interested in: TrafiCare.com -- go check them out!

Cat6 whattt??

If you're not a tech person, then chances are you'd think that Cat6 is a type of cat-- you know, that feline furry animal. Hehe! But no, Cat6 is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e and Category 3 cable standards. Cat6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet). Neat huh?? =) Anyhoo, I won't be needing this product, I just read about it on a tech blog. Thought I'd just share it with you all!

high-style rehab

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Along with these, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more!

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Along with these, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more!

Live happier this 2008!

Most people think that if they have enough money to buy all they want, they’ll be happier with their life. But, that’s not the way it really goes in real life. You’ll find that at the end of the line, after you amassed your “wealth”, there is no one to share it with. Or worse, your body is not good enough for you to enjoy your money. Money won’t make you happier, it will make your life easier – and there’s a big difference between the two! If you want to live a happier life this 2008, focus on “body mind spirit” – be healthy, be smart, be in touch with your soul! Be healthy is easier said than done since you have to undo all the unhealthy habits you’ve been practicing for years. So –-
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Let’s just start with the mind-be smart thing! After graduating from college, most of us didn’t go for higher education anymore (masteral, short-course diplomas, etc). Often, we just deal with work stuff and sometimes, with repetition, our mind stagnates. For 2008, why not try to join programs aimed for self improvement or personal development? Who knows, you might gain a new talent and look at yourself with a new perspective. At the very least, your brain will be happy with the stimuli you gave it. Ergo, you’d be a happier person! =) As for the spirit, it doesn’t have to be religious. Do what your soul tells you to do. For me, meditation just right after waking up and going to sleep. It restores my spirit and helps me remember my place in the universe. WowZa!

what's a payday loan?

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. Payday loans are 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. Unlike banks and other financial 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 to get a payday loan!

get hearing protection now!

Noise pollution is rising dramatically especially in urban cities. The source of most noise worldwide is transportation systems, principally motor vehicle noise, but also including aircraft noise and rail noise. Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution, since side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can results in noise pollution in the residential area. Other sources are office equipment, factory machinery, construction work, appliances, power tools, lighting hum and audio entertainment systems. For most of us, it has been a way of life. And this not good coz it will eventually lead to hearing loss and other health problems! According to studies, unwanted noise can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, and other harmful effects. Stress and hypertension are the leading causes of today’s health problems, whereas tinnitus can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and at times panic attacks.
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Noise reduction , therefore, is a must! But that’s a very lofty ideal. Unless new vehicles and machines with quieter engines are made, it will be hard to reduce noise. So what’s your next best tactic? Use hearing protection aids! That way, you will be able to block the stressful noise pollution that surrounds your day-to-day life. You can use noise reduction headphones or ear plugs like the ones made by SONOMAX (pictured at right). For those interested, that’s a Sonomax's SonoCustom custom-fit, custom calibrated, expansion earpiece. It is a highly efficient gatekeeper between sounds and eardrums. With its multi-purpose capabilities, it can shut the gate on harmful sounds like workplace noise and can also welcome sounds like music and voices with perfect fidelity while eliminating the associated risk of noise induced hearing loss. It effectively blocks hazardous noise, yet still allows you to hear conversations and warning signals. Way kewl!!! =)

what is fibromyalgia?

Lately I've been having muscle pains for no reason (i.e. I did not engage in strenous activities, etc). With my doctor's mind going to overdrive, I began thinking of the "exotic disease" I might have. One of them is fibromyalgia. Actually it's not that exotic, lol! So, what is it? Read on to find out! And yes, this is the Health Matters post for January. The first for the year 2008!
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. Fibromyalgia is more common in women than in men. Previously, fibromyalgia was known by other names such as fibrositis, chronic muscle pain syndrome, psychogenic rheumatism and tension myalgias.
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According to Mayo Clinic, although the intensity of your symptoms may vary, they'll probably never disappear completely. It may be reassuring to know that fibromyalgia isn't progressive or life-threatening. Treatments and self-care steps can improve fibromyalgia symptoms and your general health. For more information, consult your favorite doctor =)