Unlimited Calls - Too Good to Be True?

What do you think of unlimited long distance calling anywhere in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico? Sweet right? Add the many features of a regular phone line like 3 way calling, caller id, to name a few, and you got yourself a hot deal!

VOIP. You get to call anywhere - unlimited. No more thinking about how much you're gonna pay per minute or how long you've been on a call. You can talk freely. This service is great and we found it at Vonage.

I was skeptical when I first heard about it. I said, nah, it's too good to be true. But being the curious person that I am, I signed up on their forums and learned a lot! I even found out our company's using them as well. Great way to save!

So if you're looking into getting VOIP, get Vonage! You won't be disappointed.

On Politics and Politicians - Warning Rant Coming

I'm taking a little break from our Prison Break marathon to rant. Sorry but I really need to as I am very frustrated.

About what? About politics and politicians here in our country. I don't get them. Maybe because I don't really like politics so I don't know much about what it is. But what I do know is it's very very frustrating when you're trying to rest and then some freaking politicians drive by (ever so slowly, mind you) with speakers in full blast announcing their names, people from their party shouting at the top of their lungs, and horns honking over and over.

Hubby and I were enjoying a leisurely afternoon, lounging around getting our long awaited Prison Break Season 2 marathon, when these freaks decided to wake the entire neighborhood up from their saturday siesta. I mean hello??? A little respect here? Isn't it enough they trash the the entire country with their garbage?

I know it was just for a few minutes but obviously, I did not appreciate the ruckus.

Rant done.

Now back to Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows.

A Cost Effective Solution for Customer Relationship Management

I spoke with a friend who is in the contact center industry yesterday. She was one of the transition managers and is in charge of starting up accounts. Anyway, she was ranting about how she couldn't find a customer relationship management software suited for the sales account she was building. She said she was looking for something that was cost-effective yet powerful enough to meet the demands and requirements of their clients. I could tell she was out of her wits looking for a solution to her dilemma.

Being in the same industry as her, I understand how she was feeling. A contact center industry is all about meeting the demands of your clients and their customers. So as soon as we were done with our chit chats, I picked up my laptop and scoured the web to help her.

Hours later, I gave her another call and happily told her I found something that could definitely help save her job lol! I found AIMPromote, an easy to use CRM software with a much lower cost of implementation compared to the other CRM softwares around. I was enumerating the key features it has but my friend didn't give me chance to finish, she was shrieking with joy and relief. lol!

Hmm...I got to thinking, I better tell my boss about this on Monday. I think this software would be a big boost to our sales team too.

No More Teachers, No More Books...

Or something to that effect.

I am on leave from work later! Wooohooo! Finally a chance to be with hubby longer and a chance to rest. I missed having this much time to enjoy. Let's see if my mojo's back too. ;)

Happy weekend everyone!

Be a Catalyst - Help!

Do you know anyone involved in drugs? Help them.

I know most people into addiction are more often than not into denial. But they need help. Even if they don't want to be helped.

I've experienced having a family member who was into drugs and it was no easy cake. Everything was chaos and there was a time when we literally had nothing to eat. Everyday, you'd always live in fear of this person doing something morbid. I am just thankful we are through that ordeal.

So if you know someone who's into drugs, help them, help their families. There are drug treatment available that could save a drug addict. You could even call a 1800 number for support. It's that easy. So lend a hand today. If you do, you'd be a catalyst in helping someone regain their life back.

The One with My Random Thoughts

This is a post of my random thoughts for the moment:

1. I'm tired of seeing numbers. My mind is filled with numbers. Numbers from schedules, numbers from headcount, numbers, numbers, numbers. lol!

2. I'm at work right now, taking a minute or two to take my eyes away from the numbers I see.

3. Tomorrow I will be on leave and it's payday whee! Hmm.. can you say shopping?

4. It's 8 days away until my birthday! Can you guess the year of my birth?

So what are your random thoughts? :)

In My Dreams

There are moments in my day when I would shift to my "dreamer" mode and just lose myself daydreaming. Lately, my daydreams have been about owning our own house and enjoying it with hubby and our child(ren?). These daydreams would often make me search the internet to make it more enticed and excited! lol!

My dreams would then consist of what our room would look like. What our child's room would look like. Every detail down to the bedroom furniture would be included. Am I crazy or what? lol!

Anyway, so I was in my dream world one day and was surfing the net when I chanced upon this:

Awww... the furnitures are just so sweet! I love the overall feel of room. Sweet and cozy. The bed frame just took my breath away. so classic! This is the exact bed frame I would want for my little girl.

Sigh! I need to get back to reality now. lol!

If you want to see more, do visit the great priced furniture website! Lots of lovely furniture to choose from. All at great prices!

And it went down!!! Woot!

Okay, I know there is nothing to be happy about, but I can't help it, my Alexa scores went down - big time! From 6 million, it now went down to 2 million. Woot!

Of course, this would not be possible if not for you, the visitors and guests who drop by my site. Thank you so much you guys! And of course, last but definitely not the least, my fellow bebots who has tremendously helped in lowering my alexa scores, thank you sisters! You are the best!

LOL! I feel like I'm in the grammies!

Seriously, it's a long way to go but the big drop in alexa scores has really made me happy. Imagine the 4 million drop! And in less than a month! Thank you again everyone! My heartfelt gratitude.

Now, I'll continue to do my best to write quality posts. In line with that, I know I have so much more to improve on when it comes to my writing. My train of thought is somewhat scattered. Any of you care to give me comments or feedbacks? Tips and suggestions? I'd really appreciate it.

How Secure are your Files?

With the advent of digital files came the risk of data loss, theft or worse viruses. Data Security is definitely quite an issue. I am one of those people who download tons of files everyday, from music to my digital kits for digital scrapbooking and my files are pretty important to me. I also use my laptop for various online businesses and work related stuff so a virus threat is also a big scary thing to me. I guess everything I store on my laptop is very important so I make sure that I am careful in downloaing files and opening emails from people I don't know (heck, sometimes even from people I know!)

I spoke to a friend about these risks yesterday and he pointed me to a site that offers a free secure zip file that literally protects everything you have on your PC. SecureZIP - The next generation of ZIP is this new, revolutionary software that offers you protection at its best. It is also the easiest way to protect your stored files and more importantly those that you transfer by email (or otherwise). Also, let me mention that one of the features that I really like is that it is fully integrated with Microsoft Outlook so encrypting files for sending is easy as pie! SecureZip also works well with multiple PCs as that of a single one.

Oh and before I forget, for a limited time, they are offering the product FREE to download! So what re you waiting for? Head over to www.securezip.com and get yours FREE!

Believe me, with all the fabulous features, you will never go wrong on this one!

Of Buses and Sweats

I ride the commuter bus everyday to and from work. It usually takes me an hour each. Believe me, commuting to and from work here isn't as easy as, say, the US where you ride a really nice commuter bus. Here the common aircon bus (Yes, there are a lot of non-aircon buses here) are surplus from Japan, therefore, old and dilapidated. Imagine riding an aircon bus with all the windows closed and the aircon barely blowing out cold air? I tell you I get dizzy riding these buses. Plus you'd have to endure the bad (if not the worst) traffic!

So, if you're in a tropical country like ours, and commuting to and from work via bus rides, then you would definitely know the word "humidity".

These past few months though, I was happy to see a couple of really new aircon buses from about 2 to 3 bus companies. I've been riding them and it was really a great improvement! I no longer arrive at the office looking like I ran a marathon with all the sweat puring down my face and my hair all disheveled. Also, going home is not as stressful as it once was because the bus was comfortable enough for me to sleep while traveling.

It was just a refreshing change I guess. Specially with the intense humidity we've been experiencing these days.

So to the owners of Jell Transport, JayRoss Transport, BBL and Cher (hehehe!), my big heartfelt thanks for the new buses you rolled out!

Doing it the Digital Way

When we got married, we literally had to make sure we were within our budget. We achieved that goal. Our only mistake was I did not shelf any extra for our photos. While our photos were marvelous, thanks to the great Chito Vecina, our budget could only afford his services only. This meant we did not any get any albums for our wedding. We only got our CDs.

For so long, I was looking for ways on how to showcase our wedding pictures to people who want to see. We have the online album but not everyone has access to the internet. Printing could be one option but it's way to expensive.

I chanced upon a site that sells, what they call the digital picture frame. I got curious and excited once I got to their site. This was the solution to our problems! An LCD digital picture frame! This digital photo frame can do a slideshow of pictures in a variety of formats,jpeg, mp3, mpeg. Yes, it can play videos taken by your camcorder too as it has built in stereo speakers. Isn't that exciting? You can just place it in your homes and let your visitors look at your pictures!

They have 7, 8 and 10 inch digital frames available and it comes with a remote (yes! a remote! How cool is that?), power supply adapter, AV cable, stand and free 128mb memory card (for 9 and 10 inch frames).

Aint that a great deal?

I Almost Had A Heart Attack!

I feel old. My youngest sister is now on OJT (On the Job Training) . By this time next year, she will be marching for her college graduation. Awww.. I still see her as the little 3 year old girl who once answered : "Kasi nasa itlog pa ako ng papa ko" (Because I was still in my father's eggs) when asked why she wasn't in the family picture. hehehe! Peace sis!

Anyway, I was able to chat with her today and we got to talking about her tasks in OJT. I casually asked what she wanted for as a graduation gift. I almost had a heart attack when she typed: "A MAC Book Pro." That's what you get for asking. lol!

You see my sister is a BSIT student and digital graphics is her thing. She said that was why she wanted the MAC Book Pro. But heavens, have you seen the price tag on that thing? The lowest is at a whooping $1999!!! Goodness! I guess I'd have to bargain with my sister if an iPod can do. lol!

But seriously, can someone tell me if the MAC Book Pro is worth it's price?

I Found A New Love

Found a new love. He's fast. He's flexible and he knows and gives what I need. His name is Smorty! No, I am not replacing my husband, silly! LOL! It's this new blog advertising opportunityI found.

Smorty paves way for advertisers and bloggers to connect. It's a win-win situation; advertisers get more business while bloggers earn cash on the side (or even do it full time!).

I love how easy and fast the application process was. My blog got approved in less time than other paid blogging sites where you have to wait for a long time. The interface is user friendly too! You don't have to go through a lot of reading before you can sign up. I know of a certain site where you could not even find the link to sign up unless you read through the countless junk they have. With Smorty, the sign up link is there, right in front of your face!

Another thing I appreciate with Smorty is that information is there where you need it. Before you even sign up, information about requirements and rules are available already. When your blog gets approved and you see the available opportunities listed, you also get to see the number of posts available for that opportunity. Isn't that nice? You won't get frustrated of seeing a wonderful opportunity only to find out, that all available posts for it have been filled.

I'm sure they're going to be filled with applications in the coming days and I'm seeing a good future ahead for Smorty.

Interested? Sign up here. But I suggest you read the faq and rules first. Enjoy!

Vacation Dreams

816In my other blog, my recent post was about my cousin going to New Jersey and having the time of his life. I also talked about my dreams to travel and how I love learning about different the history and cultures of places I visit. And while popular destinations appeal to me, other exotic and uncommon places also catch my attention.

I stumbled upon a neat travel website that offers a different type of search unlike any other. vacations.net allows you the option of choosing your type of vacation: Adults Only, Just for Couples, Family Friendly, Luxury etc. Their customized booking engine is intuitive and entirely customizable. They give you compelling visual images and visual tours and in-depth information on the destinations including amenities & recreational activities. I tell you, browsing their site made my heart a-flutter and my mind reel with imagination!

One of the many tempting offers I found was the Dominican Republic vacation. It's climate is the same as here in our country and the fact that Dominican Republic is in the carribean is an added plus! You should see the wide array of flora and fauna they have. And don't get me strated on the beaches they have. All I can say is WOW!

This beautiful carribean island offers more than the typical attraction of sun and sea as it is steeped in history and culture. I could go on and on but I am so worked up dreaming about a grand Dominican Republic vacation. I wonder when that will be?

The Bridge is falling!

Not the London Bridge hehehe!

Reading John Rana's entry on their family trip to CaliRana made me remember that fateful day when me, my then fiance Jasper, and friends from our online wedding community fell off the bridge into a pond. It was one embarassing experience because:

1. Well, it's pretty obvious. When you fall off a wooden bridge with lots of eyes on you, wouldn't you be?

2. We were staying at the resort courtesy of Weddings At Work and ruining that bridge, albeit unintentionally, was enough to make my toes curl of embarassment. Just imagine the cost of having it repaired!

But not all of my memories there were that embarassing. In fact, if not for that incident (which was our fault, by the way), I could say our stay there was perfect. CaliRana will always have a special place in my heart because it is there that I gained treasured frends overnight. I can still remember the fun we had cooking our food. The stories over cups of coffee. The fun we had at the pool, All these we did with just an overnight stay.

Sigh! John, your post not only made me remember, it made me want to go back there now! lol!

If any of you would want to learn more about CaliRana, please visit them here.

ETA: I found a picture of us when we fell of the bridge. Pictures courtesy of Pierre Oliver Cruz.

A Way To A Better Life

I don't really remember when I started noticing my brother in law's unusual behavior. All I remember is that the first thought that came into my mind was that this guy’s into drugs. His blank stares, always asking for money from his mom triggered a big alarm in my head. I spent days trying to think of a way to tell my husband about my suspicions.

True enough my husband and my mother in law were not happy about me insinuating that my brother in law was an addict so I kept my mouth shut. Other well meaning friends and family also told them about the possibility of my brother in law being a drug addict. They suggested that maybe it would be better to put him in drug rehab. But for some reason I could not understand why they kept denying the truth.

Months went by and still, they refused to listen.

When things got really out of hand and a lot of bad stuff were happening to the family already, they finally accepted the fact that my brother in law was in deep trouble. They decided to call a drug rehab hotline to learn what they can do. After much help from family and friends, My brother in law is now safe inside the drug rehab and is on his way to a better life – drug free.

I really appreciate what this drug rehab places do to help people get back on track. The government should really support and help them so they can, in turn, help more people.

How do you like it?

So I finally chose a new theme for my blog. I had a hard time though, as there were limited choices of themes for the new blogger. I had to revert to the classic template to be able to use this one. How do you like it? I'd appreciate any suggestions. :)

Site Under Renovation

I am currently renovating my space so please forgive me for the inconvenience. I felt like I needed a fresh look to go with the new hope we received.

And while I'm on the subject of renovation, would any of you (few but very important people who read my blog) know where I can get really great blogger templates? Would appreciate any suggestions.

Baby Dreaming

I am Baby Dreaming.

I realized there are a lot of people out there who are wanting to have children right now but due to some circumstances, couldn't - yet. I am one of them baby dreamers and I decided to put up My Baby Dreams to encourage women like me to continue to dream and pray. No matter what our circumstances are, one day soon, we will hold that miracle in our arms.

Those who were baby dreaming and now have their own bundle of joy, please, share your stories with us. We are in need of inspiration.

The blog is still in it's infancy stage so pardon the bare design and content. Please visit us once in a while for updates.

Thanks!

Cutest threaded bows!

Check out these wonderful threaded bows from Designs by Ann-Marie! They are the cutest! You can get the stuff at her shop over at OAKS!

Vegas Baby!

NEWSFLASH! I got an email from a headhunter advising me that I was short listed for a job in the US. Great news! Woot! I’m scared and excited at the same time. It has been my long time dream to visit the US! When she explained that the job was in Las Vegas. I got more excited!

Being the dreamer that I am, my mind was filled with ideas about living in Vegas! I have seen movies, even shows that were shot in Vegas and my mind was reeling with thoughts! LOL! I could just imagine the bustling activities, the twinkling lights, walking along the Strip . (insert dreamy look here) Then, my mind shifted gears and I thought of where to live in Vegas. I would definitely want to look for New homes over there. Am I being silly or what?! I haven’t even been interviewed yet and my mind is already thinking about New homes in Vegas!

But hey, it’s free to dream right? Wish me luck on that job!

The New Wave in Town

Have you all seen the new wave in town?

Bloggerwave hits the net and is now live! Bloggers now have a new way of earning money!

I like this site as their design is fresh and appealing to the eye. Plus my blog got approved in a short span of time allowing me to take those opportunities in a jiffy! Trust me, I’ve been to this big site where my blog sat on the approval queue so long I had thought they forgot about it! But with Bloggerwave, approval was easy and fast!

Since they just opened, there are still few opportunities but I am seeing some great things for this site and pretty soon, their opps page will be teeming with ads! I am definitely looking forward to a long business relationship with Bloggerwave!

So, what are you guys waiting for? Sign up now and start earning!

Fliptrack it!

If you have a friendster or a multiply account these days, you would see how picture slideshows have proliferated it. It is actually fun looking at my friends’ profiles looking at our group pictures whilst enjoying the uber cool sounds they have chosen.

Being the envious person I am (lol!) I searched the net for great music slideshows and found Fliptrack Music Slideshows. They have a wide array of songs available! You just need to choose the song you want, upload your pictures and voila! Instant Music slideshow a la MTV! And just like a music video you can add effects like texts and rotate images. Cool isn’t it? So what are you waiting for? Get one now!

Ciao! Gotta go and upload my Fliptrack Music Slideshow on my friendster account.

It's Just Another Manic Monday

But I don't miss Sundays lol!

Another manic monday done at work. At least the day is done. The task in itself is sometimes fun as I am just learning how scheduling and forecasting works. I guess, it's the working hours that kind of kills me.

I've been part of the contact center industry here in the Philippines for almost 4 years now but working nights is still somewhat hard for me. But I enjoy the hefty night differential though lol!

Oh and why don't I miss Sundays? Because that's not my fun day. It's a day filled with household chores that when the day ends, my body aches all over!

Oh and I was happy today, because the boy is back!

My Godson intently watching "Happy Feet" with his mouth open lol!

Yes, the little man is back from Bicol. He got thin though from all the running around and he looks more black than ever from all the playing under the sun! I hear him talk in full sentences already! Aww, my little man is growing up!

That's it for my Monday. Hope you all had a great one!

Overwhelmed

... is an understatement. My life for the past 3 weeks went by in a blur I don't even know where to start. March seemed to be a month of new beginnings for my parents and my in-laws.

My parents have finally settled into their new home. There are a couple of boxes to be unpacked and arranged but everything seems to be in order now. Phone lines have also been connected. I just wish my parents all the best in this new journey.

As for my in-laws, they are slowly recuperating from the crisis that they recently encountered. With A in a rehabilitation somewhere, they are now moving on, repairing the damage that has been done. It is not easy and we are all adjusting to it but if this means a better tomorrow then I'd stick by it.

I guess drained is what I am right now. With happenings in both sides of the family, I feel like all my energy was sucked out. And then there's work, but that's a different story for a different post.

So, enough about me, how have you been?

Forgiveness

I am drained. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally.

The parasite has left the vicinity. Placed in a rehab somewhere. Thank goodness! Finally people here have opened their eyes and I only have God to thank for His miracle! We have been given hope and a new lease on life.

It's not easy though as A has left a lot of debt piled up. Debts that are due this May. Not to mention the bills this month. Aargh! If someone gave me a knife I could've stabbed that guy and chopped him to pieces! Gory and brutal, I know. It's just that it breaks my heart to see my in-laws so lost, not knowing where in the world they would get all that money. Sigh! All in God's graces and mercy. I just hope that when A gets out of that place, he, with God's help, would do his best to help his parents rebuild what was broken.

So, if you would ask me "have I forgiven him?" I would honestly tell you, "not yet". I guess it's true what Kris Aquino said, forgiveness is a process and I know in time, with God's help, I would find it in my heart to forgive him.

Layout of the Day!

One of my Layouts got picked as layout of the day over the nuts4digi.com! Woot!

View credits here