Payday Loans.

I am working mom who struggles living from paycheck to paycheck every month. I am mostly the breadwinner of the family right now as my husband has just started with a promising job so things are looking up. But, as of the moment, keeping up with our finances is really challenging and stressful. I have taken Check Cash Advance loans before because a short term loan until payday is what I need to help us get by until my next paycheck comes. Of course, this is just a short term fix. We need to be really financially stable to be able to get rid of debt totally.

SSD - From Our Blog to Yours Fridays

And Im hosting again!

Check out the post here and tell us what you wrote back by linking to your blog so we can read!

As what I wrote:

So, I would like you to share your plans for April - are you done with Spring Cleaning yet? Are you going to play some practical jokes (or even pranks, LOL!) come April Fool’s? Do you practice Lent? What are your plans for Easter?

I have actually started on Spring Cleaning with my kids’ clothes and bits and bobs on our house but I still have to tackle my biggest hurdles - MY clothes and computer (hard drive) space! We do not practice April Fool’s in a serious way but maybe Ill go play some tricks to have something to scrapbook about! LOL, dont you do that sometimes?! :) I am Roman Catholic by religion so next week, which is Lent, we will be going to Church and practice the rituals. What I am most excited about though is EASTER! I have a few plans, one of them is to take the kids on an egg hunt, some paintings and maybe an outing to a swimming resort with my family. That will be a long week off from work, so Im pretty looking forward to it :D

Health Insurance Coverage.

I am very fortunate to have my company give employees free health insurance coverage and extend it to 2 of her family members. So, I only have to enroll my daughter to have the same health insurance package as we have and we are all set. My dad's case is different though as he is staying for treatment in California. They have sourced and compared health insurance quotes before deciding to sign up with Kaiser Permanente. At least, he has health coverage which would greatly help in his treatment. He is using an Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) card to get the best possible care.

the RAZR will be mine soon!

So my trusty new Nokia 110i (yep Im advanced, LOL) finally worked after two weeks. Martha was chewing on it so much I think her drool reached the inner parts and kaboom, I kept getting the error message when Im texting.

The Motorola Razr is surprisingly cheap these days around 8-9K pesos for the expanded version. Hopefully after I get Martha's birthday and Matthew's tuition fee saved and allocated, I can spend something for myself :D

Classified Ads

I remember back when I was a kid I loved reading the newspaper every Sunday mornings because of the free kid section which have crossword puzzles, I would always wonder why there are so many classifieds in the newspaper and pretty much assumed no one would even as much read it! How wrong I was then. It is now such a great listing for me, most especially if its classified ads online. Let's face it, everything is done through the web now right?! I stumbled upon a local classified ad provider in UK called Itsmymarket.com. The are offering, aside from the regular classified ads, listings of community web sites, blogs, TV and movie guides and even local news. What caught my eye though is their free classified ad offers!

Photo Book Printing.

Im busy planning for my daughter's first birthday and Mother's Day in May. Im going to make a photo book for my daughter and Mom and want to finish at least 20 pages for each of them. Martha has around 10 pages already so Im good. Im thinking of getting a template book from a store to make a book for my Mom. She really deserves it.


Here's where Im contemplating having my books printed: Picatoo - local, Manila based.
Picaboo
Shutterfly - higly recommended by digital scrappers.

Drug Treatment

It saddens me that abuse has become such a normal occurrence in every household - from the slightest emotional and verbal abuse to physical and psychological abuse..it is all overwhelming. You can see the ripple effect on it in the society today with kids and adolescents being hooked in gangs and drugs. Nowadays, teen drug abuse has taken the priority in many a government’s and non-profit organizations to control and prevent. There are now different youth drug rehab centers concerned parents and family members can look up and endorse their children with. Drug Treatment would only be effective if there is solid support coming from loved ones of the addict.

MAC..mac...MAC..mac!

Should I take the plunge?

I've always been intrigued with the MAC. Ive always been an HP or Dell kind of gal but most of my friends online are slowly switching to it and though I know it is more expensive, the benefits they are saying are slowly outweighing the price.

It has three stellar graphic cards options.

And this: A DREAM FOR SCRAPPERS! "The brilliantly redesigned Mac Pro enclosure accommodates up to four drives and 3TB of storage; offers 8 DIMM slots to fill with up to 16GB of RAM; provides up to two SuperDrives. You also have four PCI Express slots, and more I/O ports — including two additional ports up front."

And it quad core! Not dual core...QUAD! TIMES FOUR!!!

Id be literally surfing doing layouts here!

For Hobbyists.

If you are a science hobbyist, technology and gadget geek, or a science fiction fan, you would be pleased to know the launching of the web site called Sci-Edge. Im a techno-gadget geek and so is my husband so Im really excited for its official launch on April 2nd! I can even make money by signing up for free just by exchanging links and blogging about topics. It is so nice to be able to meet people who you can connect with at the same level regarding your hobbies. Some people do not understand how addicting this is!

For the Recipe Challenge at SSD!

For the challenge this week.

I love SSD's challenges, it really makes me scrap more with the sweet stuff :D

Emotional Intelligence

Have you heard of the 360 degree feedback? It has something to do with Emotional Intelligence or EQ. There are many possible definitions of emotional intelligence, and many definitions can be found on the Internet. Many of these definitions stem from the popularizations of emotional intelligence found in the popular press and in popular books. A clear and scientifically useful definition of emotional intelligence, however, is recognizeable because it takes the terms emotion and intelligence seriously. That is, the meaning of emotional intelligence has something specific to do with the intelligent intersection of the emotions and thoughts The new measure: Emotional Intelligence (EQ) takes for granted having enough intellectual ability to do our jobs. Emotional Intelligence focuses instead on personal qualities or emotional competencies based on One of the most effective ways to develop Emotional Intelligence is to use the Appraisal360 Emotional Intelligence tool monitor real life behaviour. The purpose of the 360 degree feedback is to assist each individual to understand his or her strengths and weaknesses, and to contribute insights into aspects of his or her work needing professional development. Here is their latest press release:

Imagine that you lived on your own in the world and you were the only person to give you feedback. It would be a bit of a lonely life and you wouldn't learn much. The fact is that the only real way to assess your emotional intelligence is to get feedback from people who know you and the way you interact. Developing the emotional intelligence of your workforce is good for business. It's the vital quality that underpins good teamwork, good industrial relations and makes the difference between having an inspired workforce and an average one. Just imagine a contented workforce which ran smoothly and efficiently with a minimum of fuss. using 360-degree feedback as part of your appraisal and development process you can bring some serious benefits to both your business and your people. People gain much better self awareness by learning how their colleagues perceive them . People generally like 360 degree feedback. They take things less personally and are more likely to take on board what's been said. It helps people understand how their behaviour influences both their own personal effectiveness and how they impact the smooth running of the organisation. It improves communication within the organisation and encourages a more open culture where giving and receiving constructive feedback is the norm. It is a very powerful driver for change both for individuals and organisations as a whole. The Appraisal360 system has no setup costs and is targeted at Employers, HR Professionals and Individuals More information at: http://www.appraisal360.co.uk/Emotional-Intelligence-Homepage-66

Spin a Lift Sunday with Mandabean!

It was my turn to host the Spin a Lift Sunday at the SSD blog and I chose to spin Manda Bean's superb gallery.

Here's my layout :)



Dont forget to participate to earn points to the Sweet Rewards program :D

Heaters

My parents had a hard time adjusting to the winter cold in the US last December. They always would want to adjust the heaters to make it warmer. The house they stayed in had recently installed a wall heater that used natural gas. They dont have the fireplace or wall space to add a propane or gas heater. The heat itself will just radiate throughout the walls then to the room. Plus since it installed in the wall, it can blend within the room's decors. And in a high energy home, saving money on your heating oil bills is a smart choice. For smaller homes, one must consider a wall heater as an alterative heat source. Wall heaters are simple, cost effective, afforable and will make your rooms more comfortable. With adjustable heat settings, a wall heater is clean, safe, and most of all, convenient.

CT News.

I had to step down from TWO of my creative teams lately. It just wasnt fair with me not being able to provide output for so long because of lack of time. I think 2 teams would be enough for me - I have a store CT gig so that should keep me in my toes all the time. Plus all the kits I have been buying but not using -- it's so extravagant already Im getting sick seeing all of them LOL :D So Amy Wolff and Katie the Scrapbook Lady, thank you for trusting me with your designs. See you soon!

Home Loans.

Everyone dreams to have a place they can call their home - something that they can truly call their own. Home Loans have been a huge help for families investing on houses for them to be able to get to enjoy their homes during their younger years. PersonalHomeLoanMortgages.com facilitates wise home loan decisions by providing borrowers with valuable resources and information. Mortgage refinancing, home equity loans and other intricate loan product advise is detailed by our original editorial content. Their lender and broker directory helps connect borrowers to lenders across the nation. You can prequalify and receive competitive quotes from up to 4 loan lenders immediately.

Color my World!

Have you seen this?! You can find it here. And this is jampacked. Jampacked is even an understatement. Im wanting this big baby really badly now, but I have to budget things for a while since Im buying clothes for myself a lot because I want to change my image :)

PINGO!

So I talked about our landline being busted for more than 3 weeks already and talking with my Mom internationally through our cellphones are not really saving us money. So I found this great deal - mobile international calling cards! Pingo can let me get up to 4 hours of free International calls just by signing up. Just go to www.pingo.com/freeinternationalcallingcards.do and email them at link@freeautobot.com to receive a free phone card! They even have an affiliate program that pays $15 for each new customer they refer. A fact about Pingo: On average, mobile users with Pingo Calling Cards save 90% or more on their international calls. Pingo phone cards are a service of iBasis, a public company (NASDAQ: IBAS) and one of the largest carriers of international cell phone card calls in the world - having International calling card service. . It would really save us a lot of money primarily because my parents are always on the go in the US. They hardly ever stay at home. There are so many invites to go to lunches and dinners and go sight seeing. Plus my Dad usually goes to rehab treatments daily for his breathing problems. So communicating though mobile phones are the only way for us. Im just happy that I found this.

There is inspiration everywhere.

Ever since I started scrapbooking, I find myself conscious of everything around me - from the little things my kids do or say and the routines we have been doing. I also surf the web a lot, drawing inspiration from all things I see - take these bags, for example. So much color! Id love to have one too, a woman cannot have too many bags, like shoes.

Dada.net

The friend$ program, aimed at the Dada.net community of over 7 million users, allows the redistribution of on-line advertising revenue between Dada, Google and Dada.net users and their contact network. It is a money for Blogging program for Personal Space owners and their friends. As from today, March 1, 2007, friend$ will be available to users in both Italy and the USA and will shortly be accessible to users also in Spain, Portugal and Brazil. Join the friend$ program by following this link now! Here's their press release:

New York, March 1, 2007 - Dada, (listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, MTAX STAR: DA.MI), a leading international provider of Web and mobile community and entertainment services, launches friend$. This is a revolutionary affiliation program which allows Dada.net free of charge personal space users to earn from not only the Google announcements that appear on their own pages but also from announcements which appear on the pages of contacts they have invited, by using an innovative formula created and protected by Dada. friend$ is based on the Google AdSense program which provides text advertisements on like-content webpages owned by those who have signed-up for the program. The friend$ program is the first which enables the matching of the AdSense code of social network users (which they already have or which can be created from scratch) with the registered Dada.net profile in a simple and easy way using one single platform. In this way, the Google advertisements appear not only on the blog page, but also throughout the personal space site, including profile, photo, video, forum, etc pages, thus giving the users more chances to earn from clicks. Through the friend$ program the possibilities for web-advertising, such as Google AdSense, is strengthened by the “viral” nature of social networks like Dada.net. As such, not only will this encourage the creation of quality multimedia content (blogs, videos, etc) but also enthusiasm to involve and invite friends to join in. Access to the program is by invitation only: new friends, or “member friend$”, then increase the possibility for the inviter to earn and then in turn earnings for themselves. Only for a few days it will be possible for US Dada.net users to join the friend$ program by following this link: http://us.friends.dada.net/friends/people.php Google, the supplier of advertisements, will manage the economic aspects of the Dada.net users whilst Dada will manage the space on which the Google advertisements appear and the relationship between “member friend$” on the Dada.net platform. “friend$ is the new frontier in the social networking community world,” Paolo Barberis, Chairman of Dada said, “and with this project we want to show that the potential blogs have is not only for gathering user generated content but is also a business model for generating an income for those who join: thanks to friend$, users can now finally join the elite in the advertising value chain”, Barberis concludes. “We are very pleased that such an innovative program was created here in Italy,” said Massimiliano Magrini, Country Manager Google Italy, “Social Advertising offers advantages to all involved and the friend$ program allows the international Dada.net community, of over 7 million, access to the AdSense platform in a brand new way”. As from today, March 1, 2007, friend$ will be available to users in both Italy and the USA and will shortly be accessible to users also in Spain, Portugal and Brazil. Once again, after launching social networks in Italy, Dada leads the way by launching this program to revolutionize the social networking and web-advertising markets. *** Dada S.p.A. (dada.dada.net) is a leading international provider of Web and mobile community and entertainment services and is the controlling company of a Group which is entirely dedicated to the development of Internet services. Dada is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (MTAX STAR: DA.MI) and has among its shareholders the Dada management and founders, with about 14.6%, and the RCS MediaGroup, with approximately 44.2% of the share capital. The consumer offering of Dada - expressed through the community Dada.net (www.dada.net) and the brands life.Dada.net, mobi.Dada.net and love.Dada.net – is characterized by a rich range of fee-based “Community & Entertainment” products and services to enjoy, explore and communicate through the web. All services are accessible via web and mobile (through the SMS/MMS channel and the presence on the micro-portals of the main mobile phone operators). The Dada consumer offering is available, in addition to Italy, in the USA through its subsidiary Dada USA, in Spain through the subsidiary Dada Iberia and in Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Canada, Brazil, China and Australia. Within Dada Group there is also the subsidiary Register.it, a leader in domain name registration and the recently acquired Spanish leader in the same sector, Nominalia. Also part of the Group are Upoc Networks, a well established leader in providing Web and mobile value added services in the USA and Tipic, a leading international player in the Blog Social Networking Community segment through its brands Splinder and Motime.

9 Months

Babies grow up right before your very eyes. And if you look at how her face has changed over the last 9 months, you will be so amazed. I cant wait to see her first year book done.

Cheap Mobile Phones!

I am a sucker for anything cheap. Times are hard and things that might be a basic need to some is a luxury to me. It's a good thing I found Cheap Mobiles at the Phonespot.com. ThePhonespot.com is an UK based website that offers great deals to cosumers for mobile phones. The website is fairly new but the deals are really a steal. The best thing about the site is they offer great deals on phones for almost all networks. They offer a Price Match Guarantee to give a customer complete reassurance. They even have a section that allows you to puchase phones with free gifts like PSP, Ipods, and Handheld LCD TVs.

They currently offer phone subscriptions with the following networks: Three, O2, Orange, Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile, and BT Mobile.

Heartbreaker

Sometimes, well honestly, most of the times, I cant help but stare at how handsome my son is. Really. He's not masculine even. Lanky and nerdy, but he will definitely be a stunner someday. Just like his Dad. It's been so long since I made a layout about my little man.

Cool Videos!

I have found a web site that features cool video clips that are the best videos on YouTube! Not only do they pick the best videos in YouTube but from over 300 other video websites like Daily Motion, Yahoo Video, Google Video, Broadcaster, Flurl, Clickfish and many other video sites. I definitely will be adding the site to my bookmarks. When Im bored at the office or need to relax and break myself from the rigors of work, Im sure to browse around the site and keep myself amused.

Lime Cordial - JennyBean!

It's here! Finally the JennyBean collection has been launched. I already have it and cant wait to play with. Jen has an amazing contest again and I for sure am on it! I got a 30$GC to her store for being chosen a Guest CT and Im way excited to get started already! Look! Isnt this so delish?!

Free Credit Card Report.

Since I started with digital scrapbooking, I have learned how to use credit cards online and have become dependent to online shopping to fulfill my needs with the hobby. It doesn't help that most stores offer downloads right away and it would cost more to have them shipped internationally. I was anxious of trusting stores online with my credit card. I am paranoid with all the news about hacking, fraud, and identity theft. That's why I take advantage whenever a credit reporting agency offers free credit report to credit card owners like me. A free credit report can be my best ally when it comes to detecting identity theft when it is still in the early stages.

Identity theft has swelled to such an extent that nearly 27 million Americans have fallen prey to it in the past 5 years. It takes an average of one year before a victim discovers the problem and that too usually after a surprising credit denial. As a result of this crisis, many new consumer rights have been passed into law. The launch of AnnualCreditReport.com is the most obvious new consumer right included in the law. It entitles every American consumer--about 200 million people--to their free credit report each year. If you think that you are a victim of identity theft.

JennyBeans!

Im so excited with new product launch of Jen's collection! I think she hinted it will be papers this time as February was the Daily Dose Collection - a collection of the coolest elements. I hope I can get to play with it :) Jen has not informed Emily and me yet when our guest positions start.

Honda CRV

Let’s talk about cars shall we? Me and Edil were just talking about what car we would buy once we get the money. Id want the 4-door CRV or any SUV so that we can get a family car. Edil wants one too, but if he had the choice, he would want a Mazda 3 but in his dreams, he’d be driving a Hummer — yeah, in his dreams!

Have you ever tried looking for cards in a Used Cars For Sale web site?

Well, you might want to check out LemonFree.com!



Their web interface is very easy. You can search for an auto by make, model, year, country and province or state! You can even do an advanced search! If you would like to sell your car, you can list yours for free! You can have 10 pictures and unlimited text. Since it is free, no credit card is ever required, and your listing stays active until it is sold! They also have car reviews if you are not sure what to buy yet. As I've mentioned earlier, we really want a Honda CRV since it is stylish yet practical for the family - and I just did a search on it, and it is available!

It's Your Lucky Day!

Go over the Sweet Shoppe as we are having a ONE day only Lucky Sale where everything is 25% off! AND if you spend $10 at the shoppe you get this WONDERFUL kit for FREE!



Word has it that there is a blinkie going on that has a link to this wonderful add-on:



But you did not get it from me OK? :)

Insurance Leads.

If you would like to have the best and most affordable insurance for you and your loved ones, you are sure going to benefit from signing up for insurance leads. Here's how it works: You just sign up at the site and answer their detailed questionnaire. The system will then match you an agent who can provide computations and packages suitable for you and then they will send you an e-mail about insurance packages you might be interested in!

QuoteAction.com is the the best source of the the finest quality insurance leads on the net. You can get $200 worth of free leads, you just need to sign up at their site!

From our to Yours by Amy - SSD Blog.

I havent done mine yet, but you should check out the SSD blog today! It would be such a treat to see where all of you come from! I also cant wait to write where I live and what my life is all about :) Have fun, post, comment and earn Sweet Rewards points for discounts!

Cord Rehab Drug Center

Drug Abuse remains to be a top problem among teens worldwide. The government, non-profit organizations and concerned citizens have created and formed drug rehab centers and launched anti-drug campaigns to combat the addiction. Cord blood Drug Rehab is a website dedicated to educating the public about the effects of drug abuse and to promote abstinence. This informative web site, cordblood-drugrehab.info, tackles the symptoms of drug addiction, forms of intervention, treatment and the different kinds of rehab programs, including detoxification and cord blood therapy.

Friday Feast!

Feast 145 :)

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.
I can name more than two actually: but here is one entry and the other one: being able to shop for some digital kits Im going to use this weekend :)

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?
..there are people who are so full of words with nothing to show for? I hate hate hate show-offs and people who think they know it all.

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?
I surf the web until my eyes hurt :)

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?
I have always wondered how a wife who has kids can stay at home and not work and still manage money coming from the husband. I have a hard time making ends meet. Maybe because our income might not be enough or our expenses are too high.

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?
Spaghetti ni Mommy :)

Finding your Home.

For Sale By Owner is a term that describes a piece of real property that has been offered for sale directly by its owner. The owner has not solicited the help of a real estate broker, implying that no real estate commission is associated with the sale of the property. In recent years, the term has been used more broadly to describe the process of marketing, buying, and selling of real property without the representation of a real estate broker.

Many sellers who choose to sell via FSBO do so to avoid paying a commission to a broker, typically 6% of the selling price of the property in many parts of the US.

If you are looking for a house for sale by owner, you can go to Obares.com and find your dream home on that site! It is the best way to sell your home or buy your dream home the FSBO way. There are currently 20 featured cities, and you can also avail of the a free FSBO listing. At the site you are guaranteed to find the right real estate agent for your house, your dream home if you are buying, and even the greatest deal on your mortgage loan. They have access to all information on every city such as schools, libraries, churches, places that are necessary to make moving into your home easier and your decision faster. The best part of it all is it is FREE! You can even get a Free Credit Report Online!

Their site is easy to navigate because their links are divided by city and state and there are tabs on their site that separate the buying, selling, mortgage parts. They even feature calculators and legal forms you might need and find helpful. If ever you have questions, you can go the forum and register and ask away!

They have featured five mortgage calculators, which are also free, which they believe will help you with your home purchase or selling. These are the following: 1) Mortgage Payment Calculator (PITI) (Principle Interest Taxes and Insurance)
2) Mortgage Loan Payment Amortization Calculator
3) Mortgage Refinancing Calculator
4) How Much Can I Afford Calculator?
5) Mortgage How Much Income Do I Need?

Guest CT Spots for April!

I will THREE guest spots on super hot creative teams next month! I am so excited about it! Right now, what Im doing is jotting down all the things I want to scrap and take a LOT of pictures. I need more pictures to choose from. I need to scan some old pictures too. Well, do you want any hints? :) One is Jen Wilson. You already know that. The second one is totally hot and funky ;). And her products are what people dig because they make their layouts :realistic:. The third one just got "funky" and she sells monthly kits to help us document our month by month! Too easy hints huh?

Credit Cards.

Three months into 2007 and im finally learning the value of money - making money work for me and not just me working for the money. I’m earning more money now but since there are more expenses at home, we don’t have that much to save either. At least, I am not getting buried in debt unlike before where all my credit cards were maxxed out and I had to take loans to wipe them clean. I regret not being able to to look for debt advice immediately when I was struggling. Back then, when I received credit card application forms, Id jump on it as if I dont have existing ones. I now have a savings account I am slowly building upon.

Last year, I had four credit cards, all of them almost maxxed out. I learned my lesson the hard way so I cut all of them except one, which I religiously maintain up to now. Credit cards are a double-edged sword. You need to know how to handle your finances well and treat is as hard-earned cash. Do not go spending away what will be expected money on credit card debt. That’s what did me in. I always had the attitude of saying to myself, “Oh, I’ll be getting money next week so I can use my card today” and suprise! Next week, the money comes, and there is a need for it someplace else - like the kid’s school bus fees. So the cycle begins.

I am not saying credit cards are all bad. If you know how to handle them well, you can take advantage of 0% credit cards and 0% balance transfers, even reward points and frequent flyer miles! Mare sure you compare credit cards as well to find what would be best for you.

Scrap Goodies!

Just snagged these today :) Consider me a happy duck!


DDE's My Funky Studio


Heather Ann's Monthly Memories Kit Cant wait to play with these!

Call for Artists: Ways to Earn Money Online

If you are an artist and would like to be able to sell your designs and are looking for online consignment shops, The Artisan's Market (www.artisansmarket.com) might just be the right shop for you! They are currently offering a 60 day free trial so you can experience their store, and if you like it, you can get paid membership as low as $10 a month. Artists make 80% of every sale.



You can sell your gift items, jewelry, apparal and accessories, and other home decors and apparel. You just need to sign up, use the easy site to describe the items in your gallery , set the prices, and easily upload photos for the items. They will notify you once there are orders for your work and once you ship the items, you just provide the tracking information and they will do inform the customer.

It is a great way to start doing business online especially if you do not have the start-up money.

8 Months.

This was for the All Around the Digi World Challenge in the Bebot's forum wherein our challenge host will scour the world around for a challenge we can participate in :D Im now just one month behind on my layouts!!

Online Banking.

I found a new banking site today. It is a new site focused to direct consumers to online banking with high yield savings account. Rates for saving account are as high as 6% now but most consumers still only earn below 1%. Compare online banking, find a savings account or checking account and earn more interest today with SavingsAccounts.com

New SWEET SHOPPE Challenges!

Just would like to invite you scrappers out there to participate in the Sweet Shoppe Challenges. There are new challenges launched every Wednesday and each time you use an SSD product from the Shoppe to create a LO with the challenge, you can earn Sweet Shoppe Rewards" points eligible for discounts for a period of time next month!

Human Growth Hormone

Human Growth Hormone, or HGH, promotes tissue repair, cell regeneration in the bones, muscles and vital organs, and supports the immune system in combating infection and disease. As the body's cells die off, HGH acts as a “trigger” to ensure that replacement cells are healthy and readily available. As we age, our HGH levels decline, causing our cell replacement levels to reduce to a fraction of the levels of our youth. The exact reason why the pituitary gland’s production falls so rapidly remains a mystery. By the age of forty nearly everyone is deficient in HGH, and at eighty the body’s production has usually diminished by 90-95%. Many of the diseases and symptoms associated with aging can be traced to declining levels of HGH being produced by the body. Sytropin provides the advantages of doctor-prescribed human growth hormone injections in an orally active spray. No needles, no prescription, and the amazing medically-documented results of injectable human growth hormone are available to you at a fraction of the cost. Human Growth Hormone is a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain.

March Sales!!

Im going to go crazy with all the sales in digiland! GMD - www.ginamillerdesigns.com - March 21-23 Scrapartist - www.scrapartist.com - March 17-18 JWD - www.jenwilsondesigns.com - March 11-18 TDC - www.thedigichick.com - March 21-23 Aggie, control..control. I might need to hit three of the four shops, need to set limit on budget now!

Drug Rehab.

Drug addiction is a very big problem we face worldwide. People of ages get hooked with drugs in one way or another and cant seem to bounce back from it. Sadly, this is because of lack of support from the most basic unit of society - the family. There are many forms of addiction: drugs, alcohol, gambling - but those that are taken into the body have a very grave effect as it can be physically addictive and it can get worse - one can die from it. Sometimes we ask and wonder why people get addicted to it. The answer is very simple. They chemically kill physical or emotional pain and alter the minds perception of reality. They make people numb. For drugs to be attractive to a person there must first be some underlying unhappiness, sense of hopelessness, or physical pain. That is the why with the rise of family problems, drug addictions also rise.

Thankfully, we have drug rehab available. But first, you need to admit you have a problem and seek help. You have to help yourself first. That is the first step. Check with your doctor or health professional. These people will have an idea of who you are, what your problems are, and the best ways for you to go about getting help. If you can trust someone you know they can recommend a place that might be tailored for your exact needs. Doctors will also know what kind of treatment options are available and can give you advice when it comes to taking care of some of your problems. They can refer you to the best drug rehab center and program that is suitable to your needs. No matter what kind of drug rehab center you end up going to, and no matter how you find it, you can take comfort in the fact that you are taking the biggest and best first step towards getting help. This is going to end up being the most important thing for you in the long run, and it is something that should make you very proud of yourself. You are getting help, and that is all that matters. You can find out the details about the different treatment centers near you, and you should make an effort to research them and decide what one is going to be best for you.

Digital Scrapbooking Mag in the HOUSE!!!

YEEHAW! I can always rely on the fast service of ideabooks4u.com! My digital scrapbooking magazine is here and I have just skimmed through it but the articles are really interesting - more on how-to fully utilize the program. There were so many familiar names in there, including our own Bebot, Yenny! So I have the CK March, and soon the DW Stamping. I want more books!

Computer Monitoring.

I have to admit Im a surf rat. I surf web sites daily and spend time on forums when at work. When our IT department decided to block some sites I spend my everyday on, I was bummed. I relied on the T3 connection at work to accomplish my net activities. Being part of a technical account provided me to do one thing - set up proxies. So problem solved - surfing the web continued. Until a potential problem, for me,that is.

Our company is interested in investing on a keystroke logger program. Basically, what a keylogger does is employers can use it for monitoring employee activity to make certain they are staying within the companies Internet Acceptable Use policy. Keystroke loggers can be used to record anything ranging from web sites they visit to recording passwords.

While it maybe a prelude to saying they will be invading in our privacy, I guess it will be beneficial to employees’ productivity in the office as well.

I need to use that when Matthew learns surfing the web more. Right now, he is just stuck on Cartoon Network, Playhouse Disney and the games his Dad installed in his blog. I was just surprised the other day he knew how to search Yahoo by asking me, “Mommy, how do you spell Pokemon Web Site?” (He is addicted to Pokemon). I will invest on a keystroke logger because I can use it to keep track of what he (and his Dad!) do on the computer.

This is a sponsored post.

The Big PICTURE.

I am fan of Stacy Julian's philosophy called The Big Picture. I have taken a total of three classes at BigPictureScrapbooking.com and so far, have never been disappointed. I would love to enroll in this Goals 101 Class by Aby Garvey, but I need to be consistent with my budget these days. I still have at least two weeks before I enroll. Im also looking forward to Lisa Cohen's Wellness Class. Lisa was the one who got me interested in the classes. And if you read her blog, you will find out why I am as inpired :D

Summer is here! Sandals time!

Summer is here! And now is the time for more sandals shopping! Im such a sandal person. I never wear closed shoes, maybe because of my big feet and the weather here in the Philippines is so conducive for wearing sandals all the time! I love reef flip flops the best because they offer a great variety of styles and are sturdy too! Active-sandals.com ship nationwide and you can get free shipping for orders above $75.00! I love this bone colored reef sandal!

Teen Girl Extreme

Just sharing a layout I made using Amy Wolff's Teen Girl Extreme Collection No.2



Isnt the kit gorgeous?! :)

Here is a layout I made with it, a picture from New Year's Eve.

OpticsPlanet.net - One Stop Shop for Glasses

If ever you want to shop for glasses online, OpticsPlanet.net is the only store to go to! They are the leading online supplier of eyewear & sport optics. From fashionable sunglassess to prescription ones, they have it! They even have goggles too! Shooting Glasses are also available here. OpticsPlanet offers you the advantage of top of the line, quality Bolle, Body Specs, Bobster, Wiley X, ESS, Revision Eyewear & Serengeti sunglasses at the lowest prices guaranteed. They even have free UPS on all order above $29.95! Their shooting glasses shop page even has links for related items like shooting accessories,targets, weapon accessories, holsters, tactical belts, swivels and the like. You will never have to shop at more than one store again!

Enabler Alert: Are you a Child of the 80s?

If so, this kit is for you. If you are not, it will still be perfect for your kids!

THE NOSTALGIC KIT by Audrey Neal

And a layout I made with it.I knew which picture to use the moment I saw it, and I would be using it for more!

Missing Baguio

I visited a very beautiful resthouse in Baguio once. I love the smell of the house - as it is has a balcony overlooking pine trees and the fireplace smells of burnt wood. There is always a caramel Yankee candle buring too! I love those smells! I asked the owner how she maintains the fireplace and she said she just uses gas logs. She also uses portable heaters to bring warmth to the place. It sure is cozy there, it makes me want to curl up in the sofa with my favorite book and a cup of warm hot cocoa! She uses the Zone Heating items that can reduce home heating costs by up to 15%.

You get the warmth and smell without the mess!

SCRAPPA SCRAPPA TOOOOT!!!!

I think I've died and gone to digi-heaven!!

See, I've just gotten a Guest Creative Team Spot for THE Jen Wilson. Yep! I joined her 6-week reJENerate Challenge and I was one of the two who were offered guest spots. Even if it's just a guest gig, hey, Im so thankful for it!! WOOT WOOT! I cant wait to get started!!!

Here's my reJENerate layouts:

And my bonus LO:

LoversPlanet.com

I have seen a site called LoversPlanet.com that features russian dating. Apparently, Russian Brides are famous internationally as the most beautiful women in the world. A typical woman from Russia looks like a model. They have been reared by their families to have well-developed family values and instincts so it is natural for them to blossom into becoming intelligent and well-educated wives and mothers. Lovers Planet is an online dating service that has a community of marriage-minded women seeking men for dating and marriage.It is said that each year millions of men from US, Canada and Australia meet, marry and admire brides from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of Eastern Europe.

From Our Blog to Yours by Mandy - SSD Blog

Check it out here.

1. If you could witness one supernatural event–whether you believe in the supernatural or not–what would it be? Why?

I would want to witness the Calvary - from the decision of Pontius Pilate to the Crucifixion. I am a religious Catholic, and I am grateful for Jesus Christ's salvation of mankind.

2. What is your earliest memory? Why do you think you have remembered that particular event or thing?

My earliest memory would be playing with my childhood friend Kay, and always using my Mom's heels for imaginative play!

3. Pick a friend or acquaintance with whom you think you would like to start a new business venture. What business?

I would pick Glo. We share the same idea for creativity and genius! Seriously! And Glo knows how to tickle my mind and push me further. We just need an accountant since we are both bad at shopping! LOL

Super Unbeatable Wirefly Deals

Most mobile network companies these days offer discounts on new cell phone contracts, freebies on family plan deals or even free cell phones for retention plans. The only difference these days is the cell phone deals out right now give away super hot new phones for FREE!!

Take for example, the super hot deals over at Wirefly.com. First, this plan would be perfect for our family of six. You can get up to 5 RAZRS FREE with a Cingular Wireless Family Talk Plan (new account). Can you imagine all of us sporting these uber cool, hot RAZRS?!

My husband though, wants a Blackberry model. It is perfect for his new job which entails him to have access to his e-mail at all times. We can get him that phone for FREE if we sign up a new T-Mobile account and we get rebates too!

What he really loves about the Blackberry Pearl is it is one of the world’s smallest smartphones and packs all of the power you expect from a BlackBerry® device. It comes complete with digital camera, multimedia capabilities and expandable memory. And it offers users everything else you would expect from a BlackBerry smartphone — including phone, email, web browser, text messaging (SMS and MMS), instant messaging, organizer applications and more.

As for me, I have always been very vocal that I would love to have a RAZR! I want the PINK one so bad!



I can get the Motorola RAZR V3 Cherry Blossom Tattoo for free with T-Mobile as well. I even get $50.00 Cash Back after the mail in rebate. As eye-catching as it is advanced, the Motorola RAZR V3 Cherry Blossom Tattoo is designed to be the thinnest flip phone ever. Etched to the Motorola RAZR V3 Cherry Blossom Tattoo's aluminum shell is a custom Ami James of Miami Ink design. Inside are Bluetooth, camcorder/camera, and a 2.2” color display. An amazing phone to look at, and equally as amazing to use – check out the Motorola RAZR V3 Cherry Blossom Tattoo.

I hope as soon as my husband settles in at his new job we can sign up for new phone plans and get these phones. The deals are fantastic and the phones, well, I have been wanting them for months!

Have you checked out what is new at the SSD Shop?

Make sure you stock up because it is 20% off today only! Scrap with us at the Sweet Shoppe Challenges and use them to earn points towards the Sweet Shoppe!

It doesnt get any better than this!

Make sure to scrap more with the SWEET stuff!

Winzy.com

I found a cool web site that lets me play free online games, particularly the Deal or No Deal game. Winzy.com is a site where I can play free online games, and win great prizes. They have given away thousands of prizes including iPod Shuffles, iPod Nanos, the Nintendo Wii, Xboxes, Amazon Gift Certificates, iTunes Gift Certificates, and even large cash prizes!! No worries - there is no catch here! They make money through sponsored results on its search engine. Yes, they have their own search engine too!

Christy Lyle Creative Team Call!

Christy Lyle is having a Creative Team call! Send in those applications ladies, you would not want to miss out on this grea oppurtunity!

And a new From our Blog to Yours prompt is up! Make sure to post them in your blog to earn more Sweet Rewards points!

Wirefly Announces Top Seller List of Smartphones.

Today, there was a press release made by Wirefly that lists the Wirefly Top 5 Smartphones. It announced a sharp growth in the smartphones sales especially in the first quarter of 2007 where the sales grew 70% from the third quarter of 2006. They believe it is because more people are now aware of the features of smartphones and they now have an increased selection that is thinner and more stylish. Smartphones are now being embraced by the general public as a versatile kind of cell phone.

Here are the top five: 1. Cingular Blackjack 2. Blackberry Pearl (for Cingular and T-Mobile) 3. 8700 series (for Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon) 4. Cingular Blackberry 8800 5. Motorola Q for Verizon Wireless

SALES to look forward to.

I just want it to be my responsibility to enable you guys :) FunkyPlaygroundDesigns.com - 20% off until March 11th ScrapArtist.com - will have a one day sale on St. Patrick's Day TheDigiChick.com - will have their 1st Year Anniversary Sale on March 22-24 Dont forget the LilyPad Collaboration Kit is still available at the shop! And every Saturday, new products at SweetShoppe Designs are 20% off! Use them for the challenges and earn Sweet Rewards Points!

Lombard Direct.

Lombard Direct now has a financial news section in their web site. Lombard Direct has been one of the UK's leading online providers for over ten years, providing affordable low-cost loans. One of their featured articles state that education could stop people getting in debt'. National Debtline said that many people across all income levels lack an understanding of basic finance issues, leading to them borrow more than they can afford. The organisation is campaigning for schools to deliver personal finance education as part of the national curriculum. Over all, they believe that people could avoid getting into debt if they were better educated in personal finance issues.

Lombard Direct added this feature to their web site to keep us informed about financial news that actually affects us and our finances.

Pay it Forward

I just love the digital community!

Natalie Braxton, an awesome designer and a sweet and generous person, has randomly given her kits to random people at DST (www.digishoptalk.com) and it grew so big people were doing little RAKs of their own :)

I am so blessed to be on her team. She is really a genuine person.

JustSayHi!

Free Online Dating sites abound nowadays but there is nothing like JustSayHi.com. It is truly as good as any paid dating site but it is absolutely 100% free. They think that a REAL free dating site needs to exist and so, they built it! They help people meet that special person through free dating services! So Im helping spread free love to the world! Visit the site!

Some Lily Pad Pimping Designer 1: AUDREY NEAL!

I am very very fortunate to be able to work for three of the awesome designers over at the Lily Pad. Im going to feature them one by one and the first one is Audrey Neal!!





Here is her latest work, Hello Dotty, which is a HUGE Kit which has matching solids and overlays. I do not have a layout for it yet, but you know what Im doing with those? Im going to use them to make random quotes abt me - around 4 pages, I think - using here Sense of Self Word Art - which is Audrey Neal's trademark! I love her writing and doodles!!!

Sugar Free Challenge - Sweet Shoppe Challenge every Wednesdays!

It's time again for Sugar-Free Wednesdays at SSD :) Remember to play along our challenges to accumulate Reward Points for Sweet Shoppe goodies! Here's my take for the Week 6 Sugar-Free Challenge: What's Your Pleasure? I immediately have the layout done in my mind. And I got to use Eve's fantastic Scratch n Stamp Alphas - I just had to drag them over and voila! No blending, erasing or changing opacity! And if you are a regular blog reader, you would know what is my guilty pleasure :D

Anorexia.

More teenagers have eating disorders. These are found rooted to the importance made on physical appearance today and how the fashion, TV and multi media industries always have the "thin" people to represent beauty, intelligence and happiness. Eating disorder symptoms include:

- A large amount of weight loss in a short timeframe - Wearing clothes which don’t fit and hide the body within many layers - Constant talking about weight, often about themselves being over weight - An obsession with the amount of calories and fat within meals - Going to the bathroom after each meal and frequently throughout the day - Isolating themselves from friends and family - Unusual eating habits - Hiding food - A bad self image - Frequent headaches or dizzy spells

An eating disorder is an illness mostly affecting women, often leading to long term mental health problems. Research has shown that up to eight million people in America currently suffer from an eating disorder. Furthermore, roughly eighty five percent of those suffering from an eating disorder are females of twelve to twenty five years old.

People with this disorder will likely be keeping their eating habits a secret from those around them, making spotting it even harder and meaning it could be a long time before their illness is even diagnosed.

You can find more related illnesses in this link.

Public Service Announcement.

If you are lost on how to make multi photos work in your layouts, now is the time to grab these from Nancy Comelab. It is a must! Look at this thread. And yep! I bought them already :)

ReNu Contact Lens Solution Recall

There is some disturbing news today. There is the news about the ReNu Contact Lens Solution Recall where Bausch & Lomb recalled over 1 million bottles of ReNu MultiPlus contact lens solution. No patients reporting adverse effects from trace iron contaminant that may reduce effectiveness over time. They have details about free replacements and lot numbers at the article. But what is distubing is what might have happened to the people using it? Now is the right time definitely to think about investing in laser surgery, or Lasik. If you have had one, at least you would not worry about your contacts drying up, replacing them and the hassle of putting them on. But if you wear contacts, please check what you use and the lot number and check out the article.

Scrap Alert! The First Collaberative by the Lily Pad - SPRING COLLECTION!

So this was launched yesterday but I wasnt able to really blog about it until now. Once again, I feel so inceredibly lucky to be able to work with four out of the five Lily Pad designers. Each week, each time they bring out a new product, "Im like..how did I ever get so lucky?" You can view the product previews here. (it's too big) and the layout I've done below doesnt even cover HALF of what is in there - the papers are so flexible, so textured, and the elements -- what can I say about the elements when it came from the BEST element designers right now? :) Go grab it because it will only be offered for TWO WEEKS!

Beautify your Home.

If you would like to shope for home appliances, Absolutehome is a great place to do so! They offer a wide variety of kitchen products including faucets, garbage disposals, hot water dispensers, house wares, sinks, soap dispensers and water filtration systems. It provides kitchen sinks from American Standard and Kohler. Among the bathroom products, ADA complaint, air tubs, bathroom suites, bidets, consoles, faucets, medicine cabinets, mirrors, showers, sinks, steam showers, storage cabinets, tank less water heaters, toilets, towel warmers, tub and shower walls, tub fillers, tub showers, tubs, vanities, ventilation fans and whirlpools are very much useful. They also offer lamps, lighting fixtures and even manufactures products for making your outdoor surroundings more pleasant!

It is truly a one stop shop for beautifying your house!

Scrap Announcement: SSD's Treat of the Month (March)

Visit SSD and read on Kate Hadfield's Treat of the Month feature! Make sure you play in the Scraplift the Treat of the Month and check out what the Sugarbabes did with their lifts of Kate's awesome layout! Here is my lift using Amanda Rockwell and Lauren Grier's absolutely adorable kit - Amanda and Lauren Rule the World!