DADDY'S GIRL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BOYS

Yeah, I know it's already late, but it's better late than never. Last Wednesday, my hubby celebrated his 29th birthday and my father celebrated his 58th last Friday. My two most important men celebrating their birthdays on the same month. I really think that they have something in common. They are both quiet and, shall I say, submissive?!


As I am away from home, I was only able to greet my father on the phone. I also sent him stuff from Red Ribbon. Yes, you can order from Red Ribbon online and have it delivered where you want to. The price is quite affordable compared to this site, even with 10% processing fee per item ordered. You also get to pick the date and the time you want it to be delivered. For my father, I ordered his favorite ube cake, carbonara and empanada. The variety for their platters-to-go is not that wide, because not all of Red Ribbon's items are available on the website. However, they have a wide variety of cakes and pastries to choose from.


For my Papi, I gave him Bvlgari Aqva for his birthday. The scent is sweet, yet still masculine. I got this for a bargain. He told me that he wanted a perfume for his birthday, but he did not tell me the particular brand that he wanted. I decided to give him Issey Miyake, but it was not available in the shop. Then there was Polo, Hugo and Perry Ellis. However, it was Bvlgari Aqva that caught my attention and pleased my olfaction.

So last Friday, I decided to cook kabsa as a post dinner celebration for their birthdays.

I wish I could have given them both a birthday bash. Anyway, the fact that both of them were happy on their special day is enough for me.

MY LATEST DIGISCRAP LAYOUTS

These are my latest digiscrap layouts with, of course, my favorite model.

BRACELETS, BRACELETS, AND MORE BRACELETS

My compulsion for buying these crystal accessories has not stopped yet. These are my latest buys.

This bracelet is made of jade which has the following properties:

• Atracts love.
• Attracts money.
• Strengthens mental faculties and assists in clear reasoning.
• Guards against accidents and misfortune.
• Helpful for kidney, heart and stomach complaints.

This one is a Sodalite bracelet. This stone is said to have the following properties:

• Brings inner peace and harmony.
• Stimulates endurance.
• Harmonizes the inner being or the conscious and subconscious mind.
• Helps with thyroid problems.
• Helps in communications and gives confidence in speaking.

Small as it may seem, this is my bracelet and not my child's. I must admit I have really small wrists. Its properties includes:

• Helpful to people having a hard time with forgiveness, and in dealing with letting go of bitterness and resentment especially in relationships.
• Relieves stress.
• Encourages strength.
• Gives courage.
• Helpful in starting new friendships.

This is my baby's green agate bracelet.

This one, oh, I forgot the name of this stone, but don't you just love the color?

Since I started wearing these stones, I must admit that it has been somehow working for me. I think I should buy more of those jade ones...

ON MY JOPPA GRAB BAG PART 2

After my lunch break, I saw this on my desk. Whooa! It's my Joppa grabbie. It has only been eight days to be exact since I placed my order. When not on sale, Joppa's grab bag costs around $20 plus the shipping fee. I bought this while they were having a sale, and I only paid around $12 including the shipping fee which, to my surprise, was $6. Come to think of it, I only paid $6 for this. Cheapers, ei?!

My grab bag includes Toffee foundie with puffer (5 g) Cranapple blusher (5 g baggie), Bahama Bronze foundie (1.4 g), Cool Copper foundie (1.4 g), Wintergreen eyeshadow (0.57 g), Frost eyeshadow (0.57 g), Promise eyeshadow/liner (0.57 g), Green tea and tea tree lotion sample, Lip Twist in Rhapsody, and glycolic cleanser.

They've also included this Hasassah eyeshadow freebie.

I also took the opportunity to order their 6-piece sampler which includes two blushers (Blushing Bride, Spice Berry), one concealer (Medium) and three foundations in jars (Bronzed Sienna, Tweed, and Buff). This samplers are for free, but you're only allowed to order one set per transaction.

I am really satisfied with my grab bag. Joppa really never ever failed me with their products. With their foundies, my face never becomes oily whenever I use it.

By the way, for those of you who want to avail of Joppa's grabbies, click here. I think the grab bags are still on sale at $18. It's really worth a try, believe me.

MY GOD'S GIFT

MY FIRST DIGISCRAP PROJECT

I had always been wanting to start this hobby for the longest time, but I couldn't afford it because of I lack the time firstly. Secondly, I still do not have my external hard drive to store all those sets that I will be using for this craft. I don't want my laptop to crash because I of system overload, hehehe...

Nonetheless, I still downloaded one set of template and tried out making one using PS Elements. I do not have any knowledge about Photoshop, etc. I just watched some videos in Youtube to be able to know its basic function...and taaa daaaa....this is the finish product of my first experiment.

There will be more to come as soon as I have my external drive.

ON JOPPA AND AWG GRAB BAGGIES

I told my self that I will stop ordering online like a couple of weeks ago. Well, guess what? I wasn't able to keep my word for it and just gave in. I ordered another mystery grab bag from Joppa because I just couldn't resist their tempting offer. Imagine from $20 down to $12.80 plus free shipping, which they have stopped offering lately.

So I told myself to get this grabbie just now. I must admit, I should be proud of myself too because I have been able to stick to my no-buy mode for like three weeks, hahaha!

I paid a visit to Joppa's website just this morning and hey, the grab bag is now $18 and you have to shoulder the shipping fee. I guess, it's a good decision after all.

When I was browsing one of my regularly visit sites, Femalenetwork.com, I found out that Adorned With Grace is also having their 4th of July Clearance Sale. I checked out their site and took a look. The items that are (because there are still some left as we speak) on sale are those that they called the Ooopsies... meaning these are the colors that were discontinued or colors that were formulated but did not make their final line of colors.

As one will be getting like 20 sample baggies for only $3.00 or less, I decided to purchase like four grab baggies.

I've already received a notice from both Joppa and AWG that they have already shipped my orders last Wednesday. I can't wait to have them all.

I'M ADDICTED TO FACEBOOK

Yes, I have to admit it. I am addicted to Facebook; not to Facebook itself, but to its applications such as Farm Town, Pet Society and Restaurant City. I just can't fight the urge of achieving a higher level and improving my site. I hate it, just hate it. It kills most of my time after work. Arrgggh!!!!

But what can I do? Instead of me studying, I am always glued to my laptop. Hate it, absolutely hate it! I think this is ludacris.

I think I should start resisting the temptation that Facebook offers.

This is what they call, "will power."

ON FATHER'S DAY

Dear Papa,

I want you to know that I will always be your little girl, though I already have my own little one. I still remember those times when you would come home for vacation from the ship that you were working with. Those were the times that I wasn't able to recognize that you are my father. I guess it's because you've been away for quite some time. Now I realized how painful my reaction towards you was and I want to say sorry for that.

I used to be so envious of my friends who always had their fathers with them, especially on special occasions because you were not. I didn't even know how hard was it for you to leave your family behind and be onshore for almost a year just to provide for our needs. Never did I say thank you for that.

Then came the time when you decided that you want to stop working. I didn't know why you had to stop where in fact I was still studying college and would be having more expenses for my studies than before. Afterwards, you suffered a heart attack, not once, not twice, but thrice, all in the same year, and we were thankful to God that you survived all those. Then we knew why you had to stop.

Papa, I want to thank you for being the wonderful person that you are, for being the best father and a good provider. I want to say sorry for all the shorcomings that I had and will have and for all the selfish acts I had shown.

Pa, there's always a special place for you in my heart, and each day that passes I am more grateful and proud just to call you my father. Thank you Papa for listening, caring, giving and sharing but most of all for loving us and being just the humble you.

I love you Papa and Happy Father's Day.

DEAR MCXENE

Dear Mcxene,

Hi baby.

I'm writing today to thank you, for giving me the best two years I've ever had in my life.

Today marks the second year when I went under the knife, felt the pain while being incised, transfered from one bed to another without any help 30 minutes postoperatively, and first saw my bundle of joy, Mcxene Leigh. She was just a tiny angel then weighing 3.5 kg and 55 cm in length.

I was full of fear before I gave birth to you, thinking if I would be worthy enough to be called a mother because I did not know anything about being one. But when you came along, my motherly instincts just came out naturally. I didn't know why, didn't know how... it just did. Two years of sleepless nights and restless days just to give you all the attention that you need and deserve and those two years that you have been with me have been the most wonderful. You have taught me how to appreciate those simple joys of life, to be thankful for everyday and have given me the strength to face each and every challenge especially when it concerns your welfare.
Those two years made me realize the reason why I was born, and that's to give birth to an angel, and that angel is you.

I love you my daughter.

Love,

Mommy

ON REMINISCING SAUDI ARABIA

During our breaktime, my colleague and I are talking about our experiences when we were still working in Saudi Arabia.

It was funny because our experiences were almost the same.

We both know that we have the vegetable of life in Saudi Arabia, and it's the ordinary lettuce. We call this as such because in Saudi, we have very limited ingredients whenever we cook something. We do not have kangkong, pechay, ampalaya leaves, or even the chow-chow (chayote) there. So be it sinigang, nilaga, monggo, tinolo, whatever dish you have in mind that you have to put some veggies on, I am 100% sure that lettuce will be a one of the ingredients.

Love life, oh yes. We all have one don't we? Both of us were in a relationship when we left the Philippines to Saudi Arabia. It's not just a simple relationship because both were already counting the years. Yet when we arrived in Saudi, both of our partners betrayed us and dated someone else. Typical ain't it?

And as we were both young back then, after the breakup along came other suitors. I really don't understand why old people in Saudi (particularly our Kabayans) are very judgmental when it comes to relationship. If they will see you going out will someone, they will brand you as a flirt, malandi, or BI! It's as if you're not allowed to date someone because they won't like it. I don't if they were envious because you still have a life while they don't, or is it because they didn't want to see someone else happy? What's worse is that you'll be the talk of the town for the next couple of months if you're seeing someone.

Last but not the least, we talked about the simplicity of Saudi life. Saudi, as we all know, is a conservative country. Even the facilities are very limited especially if you are living in the province, like we did. Weekends in Saudi are simple. Friends will usually go to a park (of course with a married couple so that it'll be safe for men and women to mingle) and have a picnic and that's it. We also talked about the never-ending birthday and maasalama parties that we have to attend even if we didn't know the celebrant.

We shared a good life talking about this and realized that we almost had the same experiences in Saudi Arabia; some were good and some were not, but one thing is for sure, and that is the lessons that we have learned from our experience there that helped us to be what we are right now.

ON MY EVERYDAY MINERALS HAUL 2

I got my second EDM haul yesterday. Compared to my last order, their shipping was quite fast this time. And the package, well I was surprised to see that it was in a box rather than their regular brown envelopes.

Drooling to try all of these...

The Sandcastle collection.

My sample kit.

The different shades and colors that I got from EDM.

Stacking them up.

Yey! Can't wait to try them on. Oh wait, sadly there's no gift from EDM this time. Too bad for me. Well.

I just noticed that I have been posting pictures about my recent purchases, but I am not posting any pix of me with my makeup on. I guess I am too shy for that. I'll try my best to post one...soon.

ON MY BABY'S AMETHYST BRACELET

Yesterday, I have purchased another amethyst bracelet for my baby. It was so cute and irresistable that I bought it immediately even if I only have like AED50 in my wallet. Of course when I got home, my daughter was so happy when she saw the bracelet (not me, hmp!) and put it on immediately. She really loved her bracelet so much that she even went to sleep with the bracelet on.

Of course, I surfed the net and look for details about the properties of amethyst.

• It is used as a dream stone and to help insomnia.
• It has been worn as protection from self-deception, as well as a protection against witchcraft.
• The amethyst symbolizes piety, humility, sincerity and spiritual wisdom.
• Amethyst is used for problems in the blood and in breathing problems.
• Amethyst clusters, points or several tumbled Amethysts placed in a window that receives sun most of the day are very beneficial to use in healing and to heal negativity in the home.
• Amethyst helps overcome fears and cravings.
• It also helps relieve headaches.

Interesting. I just hope that these crystals really work.

ON MY LAURESS HAUL

This arrived yesterday:

My Lauress loot! Yeeyy! I took advantage of the fact that their eyeshadows are on sale now. Instead of paying $1.50 per jar, it is now down to $1.10. Their shipping is also fast because I received my loot in less than a week compared to EDM which takes ages to arrive.

Nice packaging!

But I guess, the content is too little. Compared to the sample jars of EDM, EDM contains almost thrice as much as the ones I got from Lauress. I only ordered 11 eyeshadows, but they gave me one extra for free!

The colors are rich and vibrant, but I haven't tried it yet. And that kid below will soon become an MMU addict just like me.

ON BEING A MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST

Until now when people ask me about my job and I tell them that I am a Medical Transcriptionist, people are still clueless about it.

By definition, a Medical Transcriptionist is an individual who transcribes and interprets dictated reports by physicians into a typewritten format. In contrary, a Medical Transcriber is the equipment used by the Transcriptionist for this purpose.

The process is quite simple, yet complicated. This starts when the doctor dictates his reports through the telephone, either a land line or a mobile phone. Then the dictation will go to the Dictation Server which will then go into the Medical Transcriptionist's computer. After the voice file is loaded into the MT's computer, the MT can now start transcribing the report. The MT uses a foot pedal which controls the play rate of the dictation. It is the equipment which the MT steps at to play, forward and rewind the dictation. At the same time, the MT will type the report with the highest level of speed and accuracy that she can.

There are many challenges when it comes to transcribing reports. The doctor's accent for me is most challenging. Based on my personal experience, I find it really difficult transcribing reports from doctors who come from France, Belgium and Germany. Correcting the grammar is another thing that is of utmost importance (especially to my boss). In addition, the medical equipment and terminologies that these doctors use also gives the MT an extra challenge.

This industry started in the Philippines in the late 1990s as the medical reports from the US were outsourced to the Philippines and India because it is more cost efficient. The prominent companies before were IDSI in Alabang, JL Business Solutions in Ortigas and OTPI in Makati. OTPI was the company where I got my training and skills from. Later, the industry started to pop out like mushrooms. Now you can see different MT companies everywhere in the Philippines. You can even do transcription from your very own home.

The importance of MTs in a hospital is often overlooked by many. People only see MTs as individuals who sit and type the whole day, but mind you guys sitting, typing, listening and staring at the computer for eight hours straight is not simple. It is eye straining, gives one low back pain or tendinitis and a very mentally challenging job. In addition the reports that we MTs produce is also important because it is where the doctors usually base the continuity of care, in addition to the report being a legal document for medicolegal purposes.

There have been reports and hearsays that Voice Recognition (technology wherein the computer will automatically transcribe the dictation) will soon be used here in the UAE, but it does not mean that MTs will not be needed anymore. The technology is promising but not reassuring. I do not think that the computer alone can create reports as accurate as MTs do. If this happens, however, MTs will take the role of Editors or Quality Assurance personnels to further furnish the report.

For more readings about Medical Transcriptionists, please click on the link below:
Medical Transcription

ON KRIS ALLEN

Kris Allen is the newest American Idol with a whooping 38 million votes over who was thought to be the "best" for the season - Adam Lambert. However, there have been a couple of negative reactions as to how and why Kris won.

Some were saying that it was because supporters of Gokey voted for Kris because both are church goers, so they supported someone of the same faith.

Others were saying that it was because of Kris' good looks why people chose to vote for him instead of Adam. To add to this, some are saying that Adam has "demonic" looks so they opted for the angelic Kris.

The worse that I have read so far was that AT&T provided phones at Kris Allen's voting parties in Arkansas and showed the participants how to "power text" by sending 10 or more text votes at the push of a single button.

Having heard and read all of these, I feel so sorry for Kris because even though he got the title, with these intrigues around him, I know that he is not happy. I mean, come on guys, the guy also has a talent, although not the best (even for me) in the batch. But we have to face the fact that the show is decided by the people and whoever is the most charming (not the most talented) to the public will win.

I so love Adam, but what can I do, Kris won already. I know that Adam still has a career that's waiting for him though he was not the big winner, and that's for sure. And for Kris, let's give him a chance to prove his worth.

ON MY CRYSTALS AND CHARMS

I really do not have any interest about these crystals and stones turned into jewelry until one day Andre, a colleague in the hospital, brought some jewelries which, I must admit, are really eye catching.

This was just her hobby at first, but when most of the people are noticing her beautiful charms she turned it into a business. She brought some samples to our department and I decided to give it a shot. They said that these stones have certain properties that can attract good vibes to the person who is wearing it.

This is the bracelet which my friend, Jane, gave me. This is made up of rose quartz and Swarovski crystals. Rose quartz as they say is The stone of Unconditional Love. It has a translucent or opaque soft pink sheen.

It is said to have the following properties:

• Gently dissolves blockages to love.
• Teaches how to love oneself and others.
• Encourages forgiveness and acceptance.
• Calms and reassures, bringing about deep inner healing.
  Helps releasing of blockages from unexpressed emotions.
• Opens heart chakra.
• Soothes wounded heart and internalized pain.
• Aids self-trust and self-worth.
• Attracts love.
• Said to increase fertility.
  
  I should have worn a bracelet made of this when I was single and still looking for love, because right now I have too much love around me, hahaha! OMG, the fertility thing! Not now because I am still enjoying my time with my daughter.

This is the bracelet that I bought for myself. It is made up of citrine and Swarovski crystals. Citrine has a golden yellow ray which is rich , warming and beautiful. It is like a physical representation of the sun. Metaphysically, Citrine is considered as the "Stone of Prosperity," and now you know why I bought this stone.

Its properties include:

• Attracts wealth and success.
• Brings happiness and generosity.
• Energizes and invigorates.
• Increases motivation and physical energy.
• Activates creativity.
• Dissipates negative energy.
• Promotes inner calm.
• Balances yin and yang.
• Activates navel and solar plexus chakras.
• Also believed to enhance digestive problems, thyroid imbalance and circulatory problems.
• The ultimate Good Luck Stone.
  
  Of couse, I also bought a small one for my daughter, which she wears almost all of the time. This is made of Rose Quartz and Swarovski crystals too. I am not worried about that fertility thing though, because she is only 2 years old.

I asked Andre to make two more bracelets for my daughter made up of agate and amethyst stones.

Let's see if these crystals really do work.