Beauty Enhancements

My best friend from college did a surgery to her eye. She wants her eyes to look more Caucasian. She did the surgery so she'd get more lid realty to display the colors of eye make-up. It looks fabulous on hers. I thought of doing it myself, but I'm more of a coward when it comes to doing surgery that I might never truly need. That was my outlook when I was in my early 20s, still fresh and young. Now, looking at it from late 30s, I can see the wisdom of having breast implants. Why? It's to enhance my natural beauty. While it true that my husband does not require it, I do. I'm still in the process of researching the best kind of style and the best doctor to do it with. I have started this ball rolling, and pretty soon, I'll be sporting perky breast of modest size, suitable to my small frame. There is no embarrassment in wanting to look your best. I just want to be smart about it.

A Room With a View

I was watching A Room With a View with my mom last weekend. It was fun. This was a book by E.M. Forster. I actually bought the book from kindle too, because I want to read it, too. How come I never think Julian Sands so sexy before?! He's absolutely dashing in this movie. He starred opposite Helena Bonham Carter, and she's so pretty and young here, too. Unlike Sweeny Todd where she looked like a hag (with Johnny Depp). If you have not seen A Room With a View, 1986 version, don't miss it. It's a good one.

Sometimes, It's Needed

I just got back from a lunch date with a friend. We went to this Indian Restaurant. I forgot the name, but the food is quite spectacular. In fact, for 9.95 lunch buffet, it's excellent. The atmosphere, the food, all of it was just perfect. I have a fun time. But, before I left, my bathroom contractor reminded me that he's going to bill me for the work he's done so far. My bathroom's almost ready. We have to redo the shower, take out the bath tub and repair the water damage from a previously leaking shower. Now, our paycheck is not due until this Saturday. It's moment like this when usa payday loan is a blessing. Here I just have enough to pay for the bathroom, but if something comes up before Saturday, it's reassuring to know that there is somewhere I can go and get help. While it may not be ideal to get loans all the time because the interests can add up, it's good to have them available for those times when one paycheck cannot make it to the next one. Have I gotten a payday loan? Not yet, but I've helped my friends get one because they need it.

Optimistic

I remember the day we took this picture. I missed our exit going home. I had to detour 4 miles to go to the correct highway. It's still alright, because look at that spectacular sunset I saw. This picture was taken on the run.

Doesn't It Make You Sad?

I saw this on the wall at the cancer wing in the children's hospital. It makes me wonder why. I know cancer does not choose anyone in particular. Still, it breaks my heart to think that someone who have not live their lives can be so sick. All those suffering heaped on one little body. I'm also amazed how some of these children can be so cheerful despite being sick.

Farm What?

OMG. I can't believe how much time I have spent farming on Facebook. I usually don't get attached to games, but this one, I'm still playing. I have read less books because of it. I found a way to get my reading done and still have fun. Audio books. What a saviour!

I like Christopher Evan Welch. He's an engaging reader. I listed to his rendition of THE ART OF RACING IN ITHE RAIN by Garth Stein.

Julia and Julie

My husband and I went to see this movie. It was an enjoyable movie. I'm impressed all over again by Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci. Now, I'm going to have to check out that blog, if it really does exist.

:)

Have you seen this movie or read the book?

He's Hot and He Can Strip

I found this video in US Magazine site. He's really hot at 18. This is Channing Tatum stripping as Chan Crawford in Florida. I'm so glad someone discovered him because he's delicious to watch in movies. Have you seen GI Joe?

Halo vs Already Gone

Was Kelly Clarkson right to say that both songs are alike?

Listen and find out.

Halo with Beyonce Knowles

Already Gone with Kelly Clarkson

Halo lyrics
Songwriters: Bogart, Evan Kidd; Knowles, Beyonce Gisselle; Tedder, Ryan Benjamin;

Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound

I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light

I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again

Feels like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
The risk that I'm takin'
I'm never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Halo, halo

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

Already Gone lyrics
Songwriters: Clarkson, Kelly Brianne; Tedder, Ryan;

Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye

Even with our fists held high
It never would've worked out right
We were never meant for do or die

I didn't want us to burn out
I didn't come here to hold you, now I can't stop

I want you to know that it doesn't matter
Where we take this road someone's gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I'm already gone

Looking at you makes it harder
But I know that you'll find another
That doesn't always make you want to cry

Started with a perfect kiss then we could feel the poison set in
Perfect couldn't keep this love alive
You know that I love you so, I love you enough to let you go

I want you to know that it doesn't matter
Where we take this road someone's gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I'm already gone

I'm already gone, already gone
You can't make it feel right when you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone, already gone
There's no moving on so I'm already gone

Already gone, already gone, already gone
Already gone, already gone, already gone, yeah

Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye

I want you to know that it doesn't matter
Where we take this road someone's gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I'm already gone

I'm already gone, already gone
You can't make it feel right when you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone, already gone
There's no moving on so I'm already gone

Jessica Said "Indian Giver"

Apparently, Native Americans are outraged because Jessica Simpson said she's not an "Indian Giver".

I've heard this phrase, 'Indian giver' growing up in the Philippines, long before I ever meet a Native American. I understand that this phrase means taking something that is given away. Is it offensive? Maybe. But it's like 'French Fries' and going 'Dutch' and the likes.

I am not sure of the etymology of the word, but it might have something to do with Native Americans 'giving' something to the White settlers and then taking it back. Some opinions said that it might be a misunderstanding. What the White settlers took for a gift might in fact just be a loan. This type of thing can happen. For example, I am very careful not to loan to certain people things that I like. They tend to mistake loan for gift. I don't like having to beg for my favorite item back, so I just don't loan anything unless I can be sure to let it go also.

Did Jessica Simpson do something wrong by using that phrase? Well, let's just put it this way. We're still going Dutch buying French fries.

Today's Flowers

I saw this one at Six Flags Fiesta near the Wiggle's World ride.

We have this flower back in my hometown in the Philippines. I've always associated this flower to my childhood home.

On a recent trip to San Antonio, we walked along the Riverwalk. There are many flowers along the path. Too bad it was dark already when we did, but I managed to take a few pictures.

I Am Lucky To Have Zenni Optical!

Two of my children need to wear glasses. The first one I bought for my 5 years old broke within 3 hours of getting it home. I kid you not. It literally broke in half. A cousin of his was making fun of his four-eyes, he got so frustrated, and he broke it. I paid 100 dollars for that pair of eyeglasses. Ugh! The worst part is I forgot to purchase replacement insurance. Double ugh! I have not even gotten yet to my 11 years old pair of 250 dollars glasses. She lost it. It is not the first time this happened either.

I too used break my glasses, but never on purpose. The first year I started wearing glasses, I broke 10 pairs. I would misplace them, and then found them when I hear them crack under my heels or under my bottom because I step or sat on it. I have no idea how my mother dealt with it. She'd get me another because I needed it to see. It took me ages to remember to take them off properly so I don't lose them in my sleep. My mother does not have many alternatives. She wasn’t lucky enough to have online shopping then.

Rocks - A Photo Hunt

Rocks can be beautiful as a garden, like this one.

Or a beautiful place to hike.

Downtown Ft. Worth

For weekend snapshot. I took it while driving. I was careful and didn't look at my camera window.

Photo Hunt

You can click on the picture to make it bigger. This isn't garbage until a car met this beautiful mailbox. I didn't hit it. I only came along to take the picture. Wait. My husband came along to take the picture. He didn't hit it either.

Must Have Satellite TV

I took my kids out to dine at a restaurant where servers wear the skimpiest tops and tiniest shorts. I noticed that they have big screens every where. There seem to be a TV screen every two table. I realized that it's important to have Directv for business. How else are they going to keep my five children sitting in place while we try to eat? I know it's better to eat without watching TV. I heard it's more healthy to eat that way. But the truth is, having a satellite TV handy makes eating out fun. I just wish they'd put some sound to the TV. My sister have a DIRECT TV. She's really happy with it. She gets channel from the Philippines. I guess I must be away from Philippines so long, I don't care for it one way or the other. However, my sister is very happy with hers. She likes the convenience of recording her favorite shows. Some days, she's just too tired to stay up and watch them.

Flower's Today

I see flowers like this, and I just know that with this killer Texas heat, they must have their sprinkler on.

Look how healthy these suckers are. I mean flowers. My gorgeous flowers are dying. I don't have a sprinkler system, and I'm too lazy to water the flowers. I will have to start all over again in the fall when it's not so hot to garden. Or I should move my flower beds under the shade of a tree. Why do I pick up the one spot in my yard without a shade? Beats me!

Ecologically Safe Binocular

I've got to hand it to Nikon for coming up with the first ecologically friendly binocular. Whether I'm just out for short hike with my family, or communing with nature in Colorado, Nikon Ecobins is a good companion. The materials it came from is eco-friendly. Its glass and prisms are arsenic-free and lead-free. The packaging paper is completely tree-free. Instead, they use waste material from existing quarries for building materials. I wish that more and more manufacturer will follow Nikon's good example to save our environment. This product is not only eco-friendly, it's fog-proof and water-proof also. It looks just right. It's going to feel great using this product knowing that I'm doing my part to save a piece of this world.

Lakeview Terrace - Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel Jackson is a neighbor from hell to this new couple moving into a pretty neighborhood. It's not because he's black, it's because he's a damn good actor, if you ask me.

He's quite racist, in the movie that is. And in his twisted sick mind, he's got good reason to be. The scary part of it all is he's also a cop. Who do you call if you're having problem with a cop? Anyway, Lakeview Terrace is nicely done. I enjoyed it, and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would say I was so stressed out, I had to eat lots of ice cream to calm myself down.

Samuel L. Jackson ... Abel Turner
Patrick Wilson ... Chris Mattson
Kerry Washington ... Lisa Mattson
Ron Glass ... Harold Perreau
Justin Chambers ... Donnie Eaton

Dexter: Season 1

Netflix has Dexter Season 1 and 2 on instant play. My husband and I watched it. We're addicted. We finished season 1 in one week, despite being so busy with work and everything else.

We're now about to watch season 2. I can hardly wait. When Dexter first came out, I didn't think I would like it. I mean, come on, he's a serial killer. But, I love Michael C. Hall here. They do a perfect job. If you haven't watch it, you should.

iPod Video 160 GB

I was so happy to get my iPod over a year ago. And two weeks ago, it won't sync with iTunes because of these errors. If you happen to know why it's doing this, please, feel free to leave a comment. I'll even give you a free book (got lots of fiction books because it's my vice).

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

High School Musical 4

I just love Zac Efron! You've gotta watch this. I enjoyed watching 17 AGAIN the movie. I enjoyed High School Musical. Have you seen it?

Find Best Rates

Have you noticed that everything these days seem to require shopping? When I was running out of laundry detergent, I find myself comparing prices between stores. Like everything else, CD Rates needs comparison shopping too. When it comes to money these days, it pays to shop around for storing it. Of course, my laundry detergent comparison might have been a rationalization for shopping a lot. Still, I find that I saved myself several dollars by comparing prizes. It didn't save me time because I went to two stores, but it sure was fun.

Window Shopping

I'm more the sit and read type. But there are times when I am really inspired to shop. I don't shop for anything in particular, but when I find myself inside a Lowes Home Improvement site, then I find myself wandering the aisles for hours!

I was quite amused at this display. This battery is huge...like car-sized!


I think I'm going to get my husband this gift for father's day. I wanted to build a gazebo, and this one would definitely make it a not too subtle nudge in the right direction.

Perfect, Timeless Gift

I first heard about hummingbird from my mother-in-law. She loves them. She paints and draws them. She also has an extensive collection of book about them. So, each special occasion is an opportunity to get her different kinds of hummingbird feeders. My mother-in-law's quite superstitious.

Do you know that hummingbirds have an average lifespan of about 3-4 years, although quite a few will die in their first year. They come with many different looks, but I think that this particular feeder below is attractive to them.
I heard that they usually can take artificial sugar. White granulated sugar is proven safest for them. With a ratio of one cup sugar to four cup water, you could fill this feeder and perhaps enjoy watching the hummingbird as they stop by. To prevent bacterial growth, it helps to boil and cool this mixture before storing it in feeder.

Aztecs wear hummingbird talisman to enhance sexual potency, and skills for war and fighting. Its sharp, narrow beaks resembling weapons of war, sexual organs and bloodletting tools. These are significant during ancient time. My mother-in-law owns a number of jewelry with hummingbird on it. They're quite beautiful. Hummingbirds cannot survive harsh winter weather, hence the reason for their migration. They travel far and wide to find food. They prefer flowers with high sugar content. This is good to know for your next year's garden planning.

Landscape Envy

I love how my cousin's yard is turning out. I've been wanting to redo my backyard landscape, but I don't want to pay someone to do it 10,000 or more in labor only. I want to do it myself. I think that green gras and some brick work would make a big difference. But there are so many bricks out there, it's hard to figure out which one I like. I'm shopping now, and making room in our budget to get the yard I want. The best part is, I won't have to pay an arm and a leg for it.

Aren't these lovely?

Flowers!

I love flowers. There's not a single crappy day that can't be better with flowers. I started a garden of my own. I love the feeling of looking at the flowers I grow. I especially like the ones I grow fom seeds.

I Got Blooms!

It's a good year. Despite my dog eating my roses and gladiolas, I still got blooms. My Asian lily bloomed, too. I have over half a dozen flowers from it. I toss these wildflower seeds last year, and look at this now. Isn't that great? I love it!

I'm Going to a Beauty Pageant

I got a call from my friend, Fe, the other day. She told me there will be a beauty pageant for Filipinos in a few days. I am so excited to go and dress up. I find dressing up in formal dresses the best fun there is. Besides, I just recently lost over 20 pounds. I want to show off the improvement. I can see my waistline now. I want to wear this dress below. I'll pair it with my 4 inch black heels. I think it will make me look great. The fluffy design will also hide what remains of some stubborn jiggly bits. This dress comes with a wrap, so it's great when the air gets a tad chilly. There's nothing like dressing up to make a girl feel special.

I'm also planning to wear the second dress below to a dinner with four famous singers from the Philippines. I'm planning to take lots of pictures. I can't wait to meet these stars! The best part about dressing up is finding the best deal in clothing. Would you believe me when I say that each dress is less than a hundred bucks? My shoes are a bit more expensive than that.

Looking at the Sky on Fridays

Our neighbor's tree after a windstorm. At least nothing else was broken except for this poor tree.


I never get tired of looking at clouds. There's so much to look at, even without anything in it.

Walking

This was at Muir Woods. It is a lovely place to walk. There are tall redwoods, so grand to look at. It makes the harrowing road to get there almost worth it. I would go back again, perhaps next time, when they just open instead of half and hour before they close. Kids like walking there too.

Fresh, Hip and New

After reading the reviews out up by people, I can declare that hip hop fans will take an immediate liking, while others might be skeptical. Non fans of this genre wrote about how “unoriginal this artist is” and how IceBloc.com is “just another person wanting to get rich.” I checked out some albums. The name “KRANKMUZIC” offers upbeat hip-hop music. The cover of the album features cracked CD with blue electric sparks along of the name of the artist in chrome, and the title of the album in red cracked block letters. In other words, the album cover could be called uncreative, unoriginal etc, by people who were not fans. Fans of this genre would probably call it one of the best. But from a natural point of view, the cover does the job of giving you an idea of what kind of music to expect aside from genre. IceBloc comes with new hip hop artists with “fresh, unique lyrics and energetic beats”. IceBloc seem to be full of talents.

After I listened to the song “Put it in the air” at iceblocmusic.com, I immediately took a liking to the electronic beats in the back ground. It somehow reminded me of an anime called “Air” where a girl with long blond hair, standing in the wind with her arms wide spread. After listening to the lyrics, I remember a time after the middle school got out and some high school students were playing rap so loud, that you could hear all of the song clearly. When I listened to “Drop roll” and heard the girl laugh, I had an image of a black woman in a club. The rest of the song followed on the somewhat harsh beat with hard to understand rapping except for the chorus of the song title. How the song fits into my musical taste would be difficult to explain because I am an emo (punk pop) indie, rock, and scream fan. However, I can say that fans of hip hop, and rap would easily declare IceBloc as number one, and with enough popularity, it could become as popular as Chris Brown and Solja boy.

ABC Wednesday: O

I have no idea what O to put. Then I saw this picture. It's O-shaped art, and it's Out in the Open Outside of a Mall. Does that count? I'm sure it is not a obelisk.


More ABE Wednesdayhere.

This Old House

The nice thing about this house is I own it. The bad thing is also about owning it. I have a 30-year old house. If I had bought it right when it was built, it's paid off by now. Unfortunately, I was only 6 years old when they built it, so I couldn't buy it. I noticed that to make this house into something I want to live in; we have to spend money. First, the kitchen has to go, then the bathrooms, and then there's the sun room. Dallas Remodeling provides me with creative space that is both functional and beautiful. I have tried doing it the cheap way and it ended up more expensive. Redoing anything in a house takes time and money. I thought why not do it right the first time? I am very happy with my newly remodeled kitchen. It wasn't cheap, but it needs to be done. Now, if I cook and serve dinner from my new kitchen, I’ll call it even three years. That is in comparison to how much I spend going out to eat for lunch and dinner both. A successfully remodeled home can bring so much joy. I find myself walking into my kitchen and just enjoy the beauty of it all. I caught myself running my fingers through the granite countertops and shinny appliance. It's worth it. I'm worth it.

Today's Flowers

My husband took this picture. I don't know what kind of flower this is. At first, I thought it might be sunflower. It's got that same look. But then agian, I have never seen sunflower in other color than yellow. So, what is this?

Click on the picture to enlarge.