Let's Spring Ahead!

>> Friday, April 26, 2013

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scotts Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Oh yeah, it’s the time of the year. Spring it is. The trees are budding and the grass is sprouting. I can’t wait to spend time in my garden again. This year I have big plans. I’m going to build my own salad garden. And I am going organic too.
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This was my peppers from last year.
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This is my backyard where I'm planning to put a flower garden.
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And this was Hubby's vegetable garden years ago.

Well, last year we already have a salad garden. No, we always have a garden every year because Hubby loves gardening. But I was not really that involved in the process. It was hubby who actually did the garden and the whole nine yards. I was just the receiver of the produce. Not that I am complaining, I love veggies so much but Hubby is not a big fan. So I got so much in my plate, quite literally.
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But this year, I plan to get totally involved. I already made my research and yes, I’m so getting myself into sustainable gardening and will re-do the backyard too to make a flower garden. I already bought some Scotts Florida Select Natural Eucalyptus Mulch which is made from 100% Florida-grown Eucalyptus. This Eucalyptus Mulch, I found out is a sustainable Cypress alternative, which is grown in Florida. I also found out that Eucalyptus Mulch is the best option for landscape because it is:

1. SUSTAINABLE: Sustainably-harvested and plantation grown Eucalyptus is considered a renewable resource because it re-grows up to 4-times faster than Cypress.*
2. NATURAL: Made from 100% plantation-grown Eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus Mulch is guaranteed free from any construction, demolition, pallet, or other waste materials.
3. EFFECTIVE: Prevents weeds naturally** while helping to conserve soil moisture and moderate soil temperature.
4. LOCAL: 100% Florida-grown - helps support your local economy. Sustainably-harvested and plantation grown Eucalyptus is considered a renewable resource because it re-grows up to 4-times faster than Cypress. A three-inch layer of Eucalyptus Mulch naturally helps prevent weeds by blocking growth and access to sunlight.
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And here is some of the important information that any garden newbie like me should know about Eucalyptus and how to prepare the garden using Eucalyptus mulch:

How to Use: Spread 3 inches deep. Keep mulch several inches from tree trunks and house foundations or other wood structures.
When to Apply: Apply around trees, shrubs, flowers or vegetables after seeds have germinated and plants have developed.
Where to Use: Apply around trees, shrubs, flowers or vegetables after seeds have germinated and plants have developed.
Where Not to Use: Avoid use: Before seeds have germinated, around underdeveloped plants, and within several inches of house foundations or other wood surfaces.

After reading all the basic information I need to start a garden and how to manage a garden, I think I’m ready.
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Yes, I am so ready folks. I have all my gardening supplies ready. I got a new pair of gardening gloves. A must for me because I hate getting my fingernails dirty [one reason why I shy away from gardening for so long], my planting tools [gifts from last Christmas from MIL], my seeds [lettuce, beans, tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, peppers and select herbs], my flower bulbs for my landscaping [lilies, tulips and irishes] and my Scotts Florida Select Mulch.
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Oh by the way, for those of you non-Florida readers like me, Scotts Nature Scapes mulch  is a good option for your landscaping needs because they’re natural forest products which means there is no waste wood and it come in a variety of textures. Scotts Mulch does not only help your garden to maintain moisture and prevent weeds from growing but it also creates a groomed landscape all year long. It comes in 3 different colors: Classic Black, Sierra Red, and Deep Forest Brown to match your mood? Just kidding!

Here you go friends, let’s spring ahead and let’s make our garden green, quite literally and figuratively.

Visit Sponsor's Site

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No FB... No Regrets?

>> Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Yes, I deactivated my Facebook  account last year and I am FB-Free for almost half a year now.

It was a drastic decision considering that the social network has a great influence on me specially on my blogging activities. I had to admit blogging and my blogs' PR suffered a great blow when I stopped "facebooking" since most of my website viewers come from FB. And true, I miss my friends and family's updates. I miss my online camaraderie with virtual friends whom I was able to establish a true and genuine friendship with.

But being FB-Free relieved me of all the pressures and stress of life's insignificant indulgences. I gained more freedom because I am no longer slaved by the power of facebooking. Before FB... I have more time blogging and bonding with Hubby. After FB...  life seemed to be a struggle to keep-up with the "wall or timeline statuses and updates". It was indeed a nightmare for me considering that I work 12 hours a day now. I have more time to sleep and become more productive with my free time.

pinterest logo photo: Logo Pinterest Logo-Pinterest.jpg But it didn't take long. My freedom from FB was soon claimed by Pinterest! LOL

Yup, I spend more time pinning and following pins. OMG... this website is awesome to the max! I so love it.

And yes, Pinterest is the new Facebook!

I know. It's a new cycle and history is repeating itself. Ah, life... that's social networking for you guys.

So here I am... moving on and pinning on! wink****

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Breakfast at Zola

>> Monday, January 14, 2013

One of the best times I spent with my brother Japol during my vacation in My Philippines was "pigging out". Yeah, my diet plan went down the drain during that time. Japol brought me to Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines and all we did there was... eat! One of the most best breakfast I had was in Zola.

Session Road as viewed from Zola.

Zola is a Filipino-owned resto/cafe in Baguio City. It is located in Session Road and near the new SM Baguio. It is frequented by locals [mostly yuppies working 3rd shifts at Call Centers during this early time of the day] and tourists alike. We met a bunch of them that time. Well, Japol told me that they are Call Center Agents because they are drinking beer at 6:30 in the morning. He knows it because he is a Call Center Agent and that is how he rolls too. LOL.
  
 Modern design light fixtures of Zola.

The food in Zola is a fusion of Filipino-American dish. The servings are good enough to fill a hungry tummy and the price is affordable. Aside from the food, Zola boasts of its modern fixtures that add uniqueness to the establishment. The ambiance is cool and cozy. Fresh crisp pine Baguio breeze gives a very relaxing and comforting feeling when you are inside since all the doors of the verandas surrounding the place were opened that time. And yes, it has WiFi - that is why Japol was so absorbed with his Kindle Fire.

Since it was the start of our 2nd day, we needed a hearty breakfast that will carry us throughout the day of our exploration. So if it was breakfast, it should be LONGSILOG for me. A Pinoy breakfast combination of LONGaniza (sausage), SInangag (garlic fried rice) and itLOG (fried egg). This is one of my favorite dish back home. Breakfast is not breakfast in My Philippines without rice. It is our staple. The left-over rice from supper last night is fried in star margarine [which gives the yellowish color to it] with minced garlic [and other bits and pieces of left-over when available like green peas, ham, and what-have-you].
Big Pinoy breakfast for Japol. It is a combination of all "silog dishes" like LONGsilog [longaniza], TAPsilog [tapa], BANGsilog [bangus]
Japol enjoying his coffee and Kindle Fire.

Busy Japol.
Japol still reading ebooks on his Kindle Fire and ignoring the wide-awake Call Center Agents at the background.

Some of the Photos taken by Japol at Zola.
 Me... enjoying my Longsilog.
 At the entrance of the restaurant.
 Taking a good view of Session Road down below.
 Me again... by the veranda.
So there we were on our 2nd day in Baguio City enjoying my breakfast while overlooking the not-yet-so-busy Session Road down below. I chowed down my Longsilog in less than 10 minutes and went around taking photos. It was indeed a yummy start of our "Pig-Out" day in Baguio City. And we set forth for another eating adventure.



This is another entry for Food Trip Day.
Food Trip Day No. 13

For more exciting posts on Food Trip Day... Click HERE!



Author's Note: This is not a sponsored post. Arabella owners are close friends of mine. It just so happen that I love their food and the owner.
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 This is regular weekly post for MY PHILIPPINES. For more interesting story about the beautiful "Pearl of the Orient"... click HERE.

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My Summer at My Baguio

>> Monday, December 24, 2012

It has been 20 years ago since I last visited Baguio City. Yeah, that long. And no matter where I have been since then, I know in my heart that I will always go back to relive happy memories.

A hillside village in Baguio City as viewed from OMG restaurant.

Baguio City is the Summer Capital of My Philippines. It is one of the most visited places in the country. Its cool weather maybe one of the reasons for being dubbed as the Summer Capital of the country. But I believe the warmth of the people is one important aspect why visitors like me keep coming back.

It is a city on top of the mountain - the Cordilleras. It is a city where happy memories are made. And it is the city that will always have a special place in my heart because my brothers and I shared happy memories there. It was there where we celebrated the 25th Wedding Anniversary of my parents. It is there where we spent some unforgettable summer with two of our cousins when we were young.

This summer of 2012, on my first visit to the Philippines since I left in 2007 my brother Japol brought me back to Baguio City. It was such a wonderful experience to go back and be amazed how the city was transformed yet was able to maintain the things I so long to see.

Our stay was short yet meaningful and memorable. We went back to those places we knew from the heart like the Burham Park,
 

Wright Park,

Mines View Park,
Sunshine Park,
 
 With Japol posing where our Mom and Dad posed more than 25 years ago.

the Session Road,
 

the Baguio Catheral,


the Mansion
 

and my brother brought me to new places I have not been to - mostly restaurants like The Cafe by the Ruins,
Zola,

and OMG - Oh My Gulay (vegetables).

And I will have separate posts for each one of those places so I can give you a little tour of those amazing places. Promise! [So help me, God!]

Yeah, our Baguio escapade was basically a yummy experience because all we did was eat... eat... eat!


PHOTO CREDITS: All photos without my watermark are courtesy of my brother Japol. Thanks Japol for the "raw photos".

Explore more of Baguio City through the following links.
1. Welcome to Baguio City
2. Go Baguio
3. Baguio: Summer Capital of the Philippines

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 This is regular weekly post for MY PHILIPPINES. For more interesting story about the beautiful "Pearl of the Orient"... click HERE.

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Goodbye FB... for now?

>> Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Yes, I finally deactivated my Facebook account a couple of hours ago. I have been contemplating in doing so a hundred times even before the "timeline" got me. But procrastination and other things stop me from doing that very drastic decision. Then, after chatting with a former HS classmate earlier I just thought - oh well, what a heck, I think I want to deactivate my account. [No, it has nothing to do with my former HS classmate, I love her dearly.] And without second thoughts I hit the "deactivation button" and I'm done. I put on my running gear and went for a 7 or more-mile run for 3 hours.


So is it a big deal that I don't have a Facebook account when more than half of the planet is almost living in FB? Will I survive without FB when I know all the people I love and I want to get in touch with are all in it? How will I know about their updates and whereabouts? And do I really care?

FB has changed the lives of many people I know both in good and bad ways. For me, I spend less time with my hubby because instead of bonding with him I would spend hours browsing on FB and checking other people's status and photos. It was insane, so to speak. Time flies so quickly when I am in FB. I cannot finish any project I plan to do or even my regular chore. I have backlogs on my "to do list" all the time and new list is piling up.

And worse of all, I have overlooked blogging which used to give me my regular therapy from my  hectic schedule. Instead of blogging I will be facebooking and I ended up accomplishing nothing and sometime feeling jealous when I see other people's happy pictures and acquisitions. Arggg!

Now that I am finally free from the shackles and curse of FB [lol] I can now enjoy my freedom to express my thoughts and creative side [do I still have some left, I wonder?] and be "more productive".

Oh, I moved to google plus by the way. hahahahaha

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About This Blog

MABUHAY! Welcome to my breathing space. This is where I share... impart... and convey some if not all of my nagging thoughts, personal experiences, points of view, radical exploration and logical encounter. But be warned - everything here is subjective and mostly influenced by my personal upbringing... orientation... and culture. Beliefs, convictions, and principles other than mine are appreciated without prejudice for I consider them beneficial to my personal growth. So feel free to explore and give suggestions to help me enhance my haven. Maraming Salamat po.

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