Happy Birthday Samantha!

My little Samantha is two today! Geez, she grows up so fast! I will make this post short as I only have so little time left to do the cooking, the cleaning and of course, dressing the princess up before her guests arrive. So I guess I'll be on blogging break today so no reviews or comments or blog hops from me. Hehe! I will be back with lots of photos of her birthday celebration though. We'll be having a little gathering here at home with our friends. I hope our little girl will enjoy her day. I promise to be lenient today. After all, it's her day, so help me God. LOL!

Looking more and more like me each day?


With her pretty Ate's during the Sinulog Festival last February 20, 2010.

Do shower her with your comments and warm hugs and kisses over at Samantha's Own! She will be delighted!

Happy Sunday everyone!

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Where The Moon Shines

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

Do you do Adgitize? Because I do... and I find myself drawn to clicking on the ads who are sponsors of this contest. Hehe! But wait, contest or not, I always find myself drawn to the ad of Verabear. I find it very appealing and it always beckons me to click. The name alone has a nice ring to it. It sounds like I am about to visit someone so dear. And meet her I did. Through the blog of course.

Surprisingly, the blog title is called Where The Moon Shines and Verabear is the author's pen name. True enough, it is a monicker that she derived from an endearment term that the author's grandfather used to call her. Cute eh? I love what the author shares in this personal blog of hers. I find very interesting and informative stuff each time I visit. Are you familiar with the 5S System? This one you better read... It is not only for big companies. It should also be a way of life.

This blog supports various causes for the children, the poor and the environment too. I enjoyed her I love UNICEF entry and I have been planning to have an I (heart) UNICEF photo shoot with my little one little real soon. There's also Free Rice, Help Children and the 350 Challenge. Browse around this site and you will see that she blogs about a number of causes and even promotes its products like her 2010 Planner Giveaway way back in December 2009.

There's lots of online money earning resources to be found on this site too so that if you ever need of a legitimate one, you can check the ones featured here.

The blog is published on WordPress platform and has a very simple three column layout. The dark background made it attractive. I love that the author uses a photo to illustrate a point or to accompany it with the post so that it never looks monotonous. The sidebars contain the archives and categories among others and the navigation menu just below the header will lead you to various important links.

Visit Verabear and read about her life, Where The Moon Shines on her side of the planet.

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Jena Isle's Random Thoughts

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I have made a review for one of Jena Isle's blogs once but it was for Gewgaw Writings. After that review, she must have invited me to be a guest blogger at her blog but I unfortunately, wasn't able to give her my prompt reply. That is very bad of me as a blogger. I guess I must have forgotten all about it and thought it would be too late to send a reply today. So anyway, this time, I will be reviewing another blog of hers, the Jena Isle's Random Thoughts blog.

As always, Jena writes in that creative and profound way of hers that always leaves me feeling inadequate as a writer. In this blog, because it is her random thoughts, you can find various entries aside from her poems and short stories, which are very informative. I enjoyed reading her guide on how to buy PC systems for it helps readers to make informed choices. She also raised this question in one of her posts: Should husbands help with the household chores? If you have a strong opinion on this topic, better click here and leave her a comment. One will also find another novel in the making which is entitled Umma Ayam Sinsana (Where Are You Now). Now if you are particularly interested to learn more about Filipino indigenous culture, this one will definitely enlighten you. One may also find guest bloggers in this site every now and then.

The blog layout is simple enough and very easy to navigate. It is three column and has a white background. There's a book that she is promoting and selling on the sidebar. It's an inspirational book for bloggers so that if you want to be successful in blogging, you might be interested in grabbing a copy.

Visit Jena Isle's Random Thoughts today and enjoy reading her thoughts.

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Clarisse After Dark

ClarThe following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

Have had your fill of coffee? Then why not join Clarisse for a nightcap? There are some things in life that are just "toxic" and needs to be vented out in one way or another. There are some things in life that you need to just take freely out in the open, without thought, to be just carefree. And sometimes, you just need to be silent to be heard.

I think this is what Clarisse After Dark is all about. The author though wants to give this blog a new name: Call Me Claire, Just Claire. Perhaps the latter is more fitting as it indeed discusses more relaxed, out of the blue topics where the author can just simply be herself. No holds barred. No reservations. Just free wheeling. Here one can get a glimpse of the author's musical side too... Would you believe that she wants to become a jack of all musical trades? Let us all wish her luck.

I love reading this blog's entries because they engage me, the reader. It is like Clarisse er Claire is having a conversation with me and it relaxes me in a way. And while the layout could use some changes especially the dark olive green background of the text body, the contents are to my taste nonetheless.

Seriously, if you have a full-time job and wifey duties to attend to, tweaking a blog is the least of your worries. So, ready for some nightcap? Just Call Claire.

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Coffee, Anyone?

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I am a confessed coffee junkie so that if you would invite me for coffee, I would readily say YES! And so it goes without saying the Clarisse's invitation for coffee is gladly accepted.

Coffee, Anyone? is a personal blog authored by Clarisse and is published on Bravejournal. It shows a more personal side of her as one gets to discover here her interests in life through her sketches, her love for reading and her utter randomness. This blog is sort of her daily digest and it somehow wraps up how her life goes juggling between being a wife and as a career woman. There was a significant drop in the frequency of her posts in 2009 though due to what she loves to call "my major catastrophic burnout of 2009". I am glad though that she is back on her toes and starting to write down her personal thoughts again... and this time her thought on the road to recovery.

I just love the author's creativity when she "baptized" the elements in her sidebar with just about anything related to coffee and coffee making: like percolator for hot stuff, open bar/cocktails for friends beyond bravejournal walls, coffee trade for moneymaking resources, brewery for her other main blogs, coffee grinds for other blogs authored by her, and coffee mills for some online exercises for the brain. The layout does need some tweaking though, but I guess that is the least of the author's priorities.

Go and have a cup of coffee with Clarisse over at Coffee, Anyone? You'll be delighted to find that you share the same sentiments in life.

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Song From A Mom's Heart

Music has been an essential part of Samantha's life. From her conception until today, I see to it that she has a daily dose of music and songs to sing.

When I was still pregnant with her, I would usually listen to Hillsong. It's a Christian band that plays great Christian music. I especially love to sing None But Jesus especially when my paranoia strikes me and my wild imagination will lead me to think of Sam having 12 fingers or worse, and I am comforted.

When Samantha was born, I still play these songs to her along with my favorite Jesuit Hymns. I also exposed her to nursery songs and lullabies. She could never sleep without a hele. Me and her Daddy became instant singers at home just to send her to Lalaland... We even had a duyan or hammock assembled so that she can better sleep. I sing to her Lullaby, And Goodnight but I never really got around to memorizing it so I would just use my own words and hum it to her. There's also a song that I composed and eventually sing to her. Part of the lyrics goes something like this:

Little Sam, we love you so... little Sam, just so you know.
Little Sam, soon you'll grow... little Sam, be a good girl though.

I just love to reminisce all those sleepless nights.

Now that she is bigger, she can hum a few lines from the songs that she hears especially from her favorite cartoons. She can also sing Ave Maria with so much gusto! I just know that when my little girl learns to really speak, she will love singing all the wonderful Christian songs for kids that I have prepared for her.

Singing to your children is a good way to bond and spend quality time with them.

So how about you Mommy? What is the song that your heart sings?

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Wonder Wifey

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I have always enjoyed reading other peoples' journeys. I must admit that I tend to hold back when it comes to sharing about my personal life online. And I have so much respect and awe for those who are brave enough to share their joys and pains, and be able to write them down in such a profound manner.

This feeling of awe hasn't left me when I came across Wonder Wifey for the first time. This blog is written by Clarisse, a woman who has come to terms with her decisions in life and is a bundle of contradictions. I love the author's writing style, witty and funny if needed be and serious on different occasions too. I find the posts very informative and gives a glimpse of what the author is like, and the conclusion that indeed she is a Wonder Wifey in her own right. If you are a chocolate lover, her entry on how to make a chocolate mug cake in just 5 minutes is a must see! One can also find product reviews, consumer items, household tips, and recipes here so that if you needed something reviewed, Clarisse can surely pull it off.

The blog's template reminds me of coffee breaks where one gets to skim over one's planner, take down some notes and check if all things are in order while having a cup of coffee, not at the cafeteria but at the dining table at home. The three column layout depicts a diary or planner where the left leaf shows the blog entries and the right leaf shows the different gadgets that are meant to make navigation easier and to provide a wealth of links and information as well.

Wonder Wifey is one of those blogs that I would highly recommend. If you want some good reading, this is it.

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Heart Random

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I have come across the name Sherry and her multitude number of blogs on various occasions, mostly in blog contests. So it got me really all curious and thought to myself, "how is she able to join all these contests?" She must be some sort of a superwoman. Check out her blogs and one is sure to find a treasure for a blog contest or giveaway there.

But of course, a blogger has to have a place where she can write down all the random thoughts that comes into her head... thus Heart Random. Here, Sherry writes about anything that she fancies and loves doing: from jewelry and fashion trends, to health and beauty, about Malaysia, and more personal stuff. This is a personal blog that chronicles the author's interests and loves.

The blog is written in WordPress platform and I love the simplicity of the layout. It's a two column layout with a footer where more elements can be found. I love the white background and the blue title background color that separates one post from another. I also like the font type used and also the dark blue pane for the most recent post because it highlights it in a way. To some it might look boring and dull but I guess the challenge to the author should be to add color to the posts by including a snapshot or two.

Do check Heart Random out as there is something interesting in here waiting to be discovered.

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I Love This Bag!

I stumbled upon Cute As A Buggy today and found this very beautiful, one of a kind handmade bag. I especially love the color, with prints of different shades of olive green, it looks so cool. It is big enough to be used as a baby bag and a hand bag, and is perfect for those casual days. It is made of lightweight material and is sturdy. It also has inside pockets to place your tiny stuff in, and a cellphone pocket so your mobile phone doesn't get lost inside the bag. Ain't it beautiful? And she is giving this as a giveaway. The deadline is today so I hope I still made it. And if not, I can still visit her online shop over at her Buggy's Shop.

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Because I Love

Today's theme for Girls Talk is "Describe yourself as a lover."

Now, this has really got me thinking because it is quite hard for me to describe myself as a lover. Hehe! So here's my take for this week's theme:

I would always put my loved one's welfare first above everything else,
because I love.
I am always patient and understanding of my loved one's ways,
because I love.
I accept my loved one for who he is, his entire being, the past notwithstanding,
because I love.
I embrace my loved one's iniquities and weaknesses and turn it into a strength,
because I love.
I am never quick to anger but would erupt when my filled to the brim,
because I love.
I devote my time, myself, my whole being to my loved one,
because I love.
I can give up everything I have and everything I am for my loved one,
because I love.
I would go out of my usual just to please my loved one,
because I love.
I am fiercely loyal to my loved one,
because I love.
I can get pretty jealous when the situation calls for it,
because I love.
I became whole and complete because I love.

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Here Comes The Bride

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I have always loved weddings. Ar some point in my life, I have been an event organizer myself although it was not a really grand one. Wedding preparations always excite me. It's a good thing though that there are lots of wedding preparation resources available in the internet today.. It makes preparations a little easier to handle.

It's my first time to visit Here Comes The Bride and the moment I entered this rose garden, I never wanted to leave. The header says: "Real life weddings. Real life inspirations." I guess this is where the appeal of the blog comes from. While offering various tips and advice in preparing for a wedding based on the author's wedding preparations experiences and from her clients as well because she is an event coordinator, there are lots of real life weddings featured in this blog that soon to be brides can draw inspiration from. Photos of real life weddings and prenups are very wonderful and includes the name of the photographer and a link to their website so that if you are looking for Photography suppliers, you can easily contact them. I really find the site very helpful because all the elements of a wedding preparation can be found here down to the smallest details of your table centerpieces and ring pillow.

I also love the blog's color of dark pink rose and chocolate brown. I guess this is a popular wedding motif these days. The blog has a two column-layout with the sidebar on the right and contains ads and blog sponsors, the author's profile, archives and labels among others.

Indeed, if you are interested to hire the services of the author to create that dream wedding of yours, you can always go visit her blog: Here Comes The Bride.

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Another Letter to Sam

The sweetest smile there is!

Dearest Sam,

You must know that Mommy is tired since she had her German lessons this evening, had to commute on her way home because you were still sleeping and Daddy couldn't fetch me at the Language School, and had to do tons of other stuff in the house. I am amazed to find that you just woke up from your early evening nap when I got home at 9:30pm. I just know that it's going to be a long night for me because I couldn't force you to sleep.

I thought you are over Barney... and yet after dinner and tidying the table up, you asked me to play your Barney video while you were still watching Special Agent Oso. I can say that you have really grown so much because you can do the dances better and you can still recall what step comes next. And for that, I am very proud.

Your birthday is already in three days and I can't believe that you are turning two! Time does fly too fast... Sometimes, it passes me by with a breeze that I would wonder where the hours went. But I am very thankful and blessed to have watched you grow and witnessed your firsts, even the littlest ones. You have always been a sweet child, who knows when to console and when to charm, when to laugh and smile, and when to show off your skills and antics. And although Mommy is grumpy at times because you are so makulit and can't seem to understand the words "please wait", know that I love you to the very core of my being and I wouldn't replace you for anything else.

I wish you could talk soon so that we can sing songs together and so that you can express yourself better. I only want to understand you and your needs and wants so I hope you'll be patient with Mommy too if she can't get what you are trying to say right away. I know it frustrates you Sam and it hurts me to see you frustrated. Here is wishing that you will grow up to be a good child, an obedient daughter and be spared from serious illnesses. I love you. Daddy loves you. We know you know... And we look forward to hearing you say the words "I love you" too

I love you fiercely,
Mommy

This post is an entry for Mys' Letters That I'll Never Send. Have you got a letter to a child? Then come share it with us!

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Glitter Page

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

Whenever I blog hop, the first thing that catches my attention is the blog's layout. Most of the time, I get drawn to blogs that have a meaningful header, an attractive background or a very simple yet catchy blog title. These are what makes me stay and explore the blog a little bit more.

It is no wonder that the blog Glitter Page caught my attention. It has got an unusual title and one would think that it would look all glittery and brilliant. It did somehow, with the blog's pink background with floral prints and tiny shiny twinkling-like thingy. I love how the elements in the two sidebars are organized. I can easily find the labels and the blog's archives plus a link to the About page.

Reading some of the blog posts have given me a glimpse of what the author is like. She obviously loves the color pink, that we already know. I find her posts about blogging very savvy and very informative too. The blogging tutorials are also very helpful. And of course, there are the product reviews for products that she actually uses so that I know that she is honest when she gives her verdict about the product. It is also worth mentioning that this site is earning hundreds of dollars through Adsense. How? Now, that my dears, is something that will surely interest you.

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Husband of A Blogger

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

Marce Anik loves to talk about her dearest husband Yobib in her blogs, and because of this, I feel like I know him too. I know, feeling close ako, Hehe! But kidding aside, I am amazed at how Anik writes about Yobib - with much passion and gusto. I am sure he also reads Anik's blogs to keep himself updated. It is also no wonder that Yobib would also be encouraged to blog because of the fact that his wife is passionate about it. And hey, he also is entitled to voice out his thoughts and feelings on different things, right?

And so that's how Husband of A Blogger came to be. And it is so sweet of him when he wrote in his profile: "My blog will be my place in the world wide web teaming up with my wife's addiction. Partners for life! Hope she loves the idea, though." This couple is just so in love with another that even at blogging, they are still united.

What I like about this personal blog is that it is honest, it is sometimes mushy, and is filled with the simple and sometimes grand dreams of a husband and father who only wants to give the best to his family. I am sue Anik already knows this, but needless to say she is one very lucky woman indeed.

The blog's look is very simple and masculine, with a dark two-column blog template. The black background does not bother me at all because the posts are still very readable. I also find it very easy to navigate given that it only has one sidebar.

There aren't too many personal blogs authored by men out there so if you are looking for one, this is it! Get to know Yobib as a person, as a husband, as a father and as a friend. Visit Husband of A Blogger today.

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Trendy and Heartily Yours

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I must admit that I am never good when it comes to what's the latest in the showbiz industry. Although I try to keep up with what's going on all over the world by watching CNN, the news don't generally appeal to me because they only speak of war, death, conflicts, murder, and even more death. So why bother right? But then again, it is good if one is updated about what's going around you. It always pays if you know all about current events so that you are also informed and be able to make informed and good choices. So these days, I have developed a filtering mechanism to just absorb what is worthy and junk the rest.

And what of the hottest and latest trends? Good thing there is Trendy and Heartily Yours. I can still keep my head up when somebody asks me about the hottest issues because I can answer it. It is through this blog that I learned about different famous people and those who made it to the headlines. It is also through this blog that I learned about the worst crimes committed by young people, and it really got into me. Indeed, this blog has evoked in me a thousand and one emotions.

It used to be Online Trends Now but for some reason, the author decided to change the blog's name and the contents as well. While it would still cater to "all that is trendy and heartily awesome stuffs in the internet", you will see a difference between the previous posts (2009) and the newer posts. And because I know that Anik loves writing from the heart, she will definitely would also like to leave her signature in this blog, thus the changes.

I am amazed at how much this blog has achieved. It has enjoyed a PR a little over two months since it became online in August 2009 and boasts of a chic three-column layout too!

So if you want the know the latest buzz, drop by at Trendy and Heartily Yours today.

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Girls Rule!

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

Blogs about women's interests always interest me because they always encourage, empower, enlighten and inform me as a woman and as an individual. That's why when I come across one, I always try to have a look at what it has in store.

There is one blog about being a woman that I particularly enjoy visiting because it is home to all girly and womanish stuff, including the popular meme Girls Talk! You probably know the lady behind this blog, no other than Marce Anik or Niko for you. Girls Rule! is a fairly a new blog but it has grown in popularity since then, proof of that is its PR2 and high alexa ranking. And don't you just love the header? Talk about girl power eh? I also love the very girly layout, although the navigation menu tabs could do a little tweaking so that they will appear inside the main page and not on the background paper. I am sure Marce Kaye can take care of it, right Anik?

In this blog, Anik discusses different issues involving women and gives her honest thoughts about it. You could readily see that the author does not tolerate violence against women and "condemns" any man who does it. I also like the fact that she thought of the themes for Girls Talk really well so that each Thursday, all women bloggers get to celebrate and brag about being a woman. I enjoyed reminiscing about my teenage years through this meme although I didn't have the courage to publish them. Hehe!

I wish that Anik will update this blog on a more regular basis. I must admit, it has been a little lonely lately and it could use a little jumpstart. I know you have lots of girly topics in mind Anik, so I hope that you will be able to write them real soon.

And oh, do drop by Girls Rule! If you are a girl, I am sure you will find something really interesting here. Just check the archives.

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Breakfast In Bed?

Nah, i don't think so. Hubby and I are not that kind of couple although it would be nice if sometimes, one would go out of the way to surprise one another. But we always eat together as a family, that is one thing that we make sure of, especially during dinner time.

When we were still in Japan and I still have the energy, we would always have breakfast but not in bed. Hehe! When I had Samantha and we moved here in Germany, I don't prepare breakfast on weekdays anymore, because I am too lazy to get up early, owing to the fact that our little keeps me awake until around after midnight before she would succumb to sleep. Hubby would also usually wake up just with just enough time to prepare for work and our morning prayers. I would just make him eat his blueberry yogurt before he leaves, then wish him a good day at work and give him a kiss and a hug before sending him off to work. I know he misses eating breakfast with me so that on rare occasions, I would go out of my way and prepare him breakfast and see to it that he gets to eat before he leaves.

I know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Perhaps it is high time that I go back to our usual routine... It is not only healthy, it definitely jump starts anybody's day!

Got a breakfast in bed story to share? Then join us every Wednesday for Couple's Corner, hosted by Liz of Rodliz's Nest.

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Somebody Thinks Me Beautiful!

Oh yes, somebody does! And I love her (not him!) for thinking it. Hihi! Kidding aside, I am touched that Bambie of My Thoughts, My Heart, My Turf remembered me when she sent this award out. And oh, she is hosting her very own contest soon so watch for it! Sponsorship pledges are still all welcome so visit her today to find out how. ☺

Now for the AWARD:

Here are the rules that I must follow:

1. Thank & link the person that gave you the award.
Again, thanks Bambie! You are such a sweet person!

2. Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered and think are fantastic.
I'm gonna break the rule this time as some of the blogs I've chosen I've discovered way back!
Oh, there's lots of fantastic bloggers out there! Here's my fifteen:

Kaye Niko Jade Seiko Genejosh
Liz Yami Pehpot Mye Fedhz
Chris Enchie Jhownie Alice Kikit

3. Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won.

4. State 7 things about yourself
- I am currently on a blog review craze.
- My little one is turning 2 pretty soon and I'm so excited!
- I don't know what's the latest in the music industry.
- General house cleaning is a task I enjoy.
- I don't like to procrastinate but I keep procrastinating.
- I am such a very forgetful person. I forgot my cellphone yesterday and Hubby could not contact me. Oh no!
- I wish that I were slimmer, taller, and with fairer skin. But then again, that would not be me!

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Lover Mushroom

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I remember the movie Happy Feet and how the penguins would have a heart song to find their one true love. I remember Norma Jean and Memphis singing their heart song, and the song became love, and love became the egg.

The love story of married couple Anik and Yobib is more or less pretty much like that. In their blog Lover Mushroom which they both author, they have also sung songs together. I got this from their sidebar and thought it worth sharing here:

"We had sung You And Me Against The World AND is currently singing Looks Like We Made It! Sing with us and join us in our little journey of keeping the love alive.. now that we found our FOREVER!"

- - Yobib and Niko

And oh, this wonderful couple is also anticipating for their little baby mushroom to grow up and sing with them the song Together Forever!

Very sweet eh? But beyond the songs that they sing together are the wonderful and sometimes not-so-happy stories in their married life. I get to relate with most of the posts that Marce Anik writes in this blog because they hit me right where it should hit. The blog is very realistic when it presents some of the couple's daily anecdotes. And I just admire Anik for not being shy in letting the world know that she loves her husband while being firm that she will not tolerate any secrets. I guess this would also go to the wives and husbands out there. As with the other blogs, this one is definitely written from the heart.

And what of the layout? It is very a very simple and navigation-friendly three column layout. You will never get lost here. The posts can be found at the center of the page, and is done in white background so that everything is readable.

Want some more? Get your daily dose of married life sanity and bliss over at Lover Mushroom NOW!

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Niko's Blog

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

If there is one person so sweet, so thoughtful, so generous and kind-hearted, that would have to be my Marce Anik. I met her a year ago when I was still trying to make my way into the blogging world and I only have praises for this woman who I happen to just click with. She is like a sister to me and so I always try to read what's up with her through her blog, Niko's Blog. Too bad their IT has made blogging impossible for her during her lunch break. Luckily, she has Nancy that she could use and her own internet connection, or is it thanks to WalterMart?, so that she is still able to get connected. Hehe!

I have more than enough reasons why I love this blog. Foremost, the writer writes from the heart. She is fiercely loyal as a friend so that you can count on her to back you up should anyone try to berate you as a person. Kindness and thoughtfulness are second nature to her. I remember her campaign to raise funds for little Daniel and of course, her birthday surprises to some of her closest friends in the blogniverse. I have never met anyone who would go through such lengths just to make someone happy. I also find some of her posts very amusing and funny. And while the author is a full-time career woman, she hopes to one day win the lottery so she could be a full-time mom! The question then Marce Anik is this: Tumataya ka ba?

Visiting this blog is always a pleasure for me. It is not just the contents that I find worth my time. I also find the layout very cool. The background color is in lavender and white, which are very relaxing to the eyes. All the elements in the sidebar look very organized too so that navigation is never a problem. I always find what I am looking for at the sidebars.

So drop by Niko's Blog today. Subscribe to her blog because that would really make her happiest, and you'll be updated too. And who knows, you may also find a friend in her.

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Pen, Paper, Pan

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

I have come across so many full-time WAHMs across the blogniverse and I think we all have one commonality: that in one way or another, we have something to give up to be where we are now.

Marce Yami of Pen, Paper, Pan for instance has been at some point in her life a newspaper reporter but now embraces the life of a full-time work at home mommy. She has not given up writing though for she writes and maintains three blogs that contains lots of useful information.

She is still able to "publish", at the click of the mouse at that, by writing down her thoughts on politics, current events, health, finance and parenting. I love how Marce Yami writes... she integrates very useful information into her posts while not losing her personal touch. Her personal posts also allow me to the get to know her better: her struggles and fear, her joys and loves .

Visiting the site always leaves me feeling cheerful because of its golden background. I love the shade of the yellows used. The header was wonderfully done, depicting a mom who is multi-tasking: juggling between cooking, budgeting, and blogging.

Get to know Yami better as a mom and a wife. Visit Pen, Paper and Pan today!

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TCP#26: Stepmom

Hello there, my dear Couchers! Welcome to the February 23rd edition of Tuesday Couch Potatoes where we post about a movie each week. This week's theme is For The LOVE Of Family. If there is one movie that touched and moved you because it brings you closer to home and to your family, then come share it with us this week.

Our theme last week was: For the LOVE of Nature. ACmomCee of Join my Stroll featured AVATAR, the one film that replaced Titanic in the No. 1 spot. While it is essentially a sci-fi movie, it has indeed an environmental theme to it.

And now for my pick this week: Stepmom. A 1998 comedy-drama film starring Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts, Stepmom is a family-oriented movie unlike any other. While I do not promote divorce which is an element in the movie, I do love the fact that even two women who is competing with each other for the affection of two children can still call a truce and make peace with one another. That even if one cannot replace the fact as to who the biological mother is, LOVE can still move mountains and allow for a change of heart to happen.

The film is about Jackie and Luke, a recently divorced couple who are struggling to keep their children happy dsepite the sudden change in their lifestyle. Then comes Isabel in the picture, the new woman in the life of Luke, young and a successful photographer, and who is the official stepmom when Luke proposed to her. There is friction in the house. Isabel tries to do a balancing act between making the children feel happy and comfortable around her and keeping her career but Anna (the daughter) is making things difficult. Jackie on the other hand is bitter: she blames Isabel for their failed marriage, and she treats Isabel coldly because of this and the fact that Isabel is a career woman, a deep contrast to herself. The day when Jackie was diagnosed of cancer made matters worse. She became angry because after all the sacrfices she made for her family, she would soon lose her life.

The two women repeatedly clashed against one another, with Jackie largely questioning Isabel's parenting. They were given a chance to bond though and were able to reveal each other's true feelings and fears. While Isabel feared that the daughter Anna would wish that her real mom were present on her wedding day, Jackie feared that Anna will completely forget about her. This led to the two women understanding each other better and eventually, with the acceptance of the children and Jackie into the family (evident in the Christmas family picture where Jackie invited Isabel to join them). It was a happy ending, because Jackie was more importantly able to make peace with herself.

Have you got a wonferful family movie to share? Then come join us this week for TCP. Don't forget to add your TCP link to the MckLinky below so that others may find and visit you too.




That's it for this week's TCP. Next week, March 2, we will feature School Is Fun movies.

Take care everyone and have a Happy TCP!

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Super Gulaman

The following Blog Review is an official entry to Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest. If you haven't encountered this blog yet, read on to find out why it's worthy of a visit.

Reading blogs written in my native language, Filipino, always makes me smile. I just admire people who have the patience to write a blog post in Filipino on a daily basis. I must admit that I find it quite hard to gather all my thoughts and write a single entry in Filipino. Perhaps because I grew up speaking a different dialect?

I honestly thought that Super Gulaman! is a blog that chronicles about the life of a new Pinoy superhero, born out of a blogger's creative mind. I was expecting a cartoon sketch of Super Gulaman and blog posts about his adventures and misadventures. But when I visited the blog, I was surprised to see that it was entirely of a different nature. It chronicles the life of a Filipino teacher's struggles, what humors and frustrates him, and his thoughts on issues that are directly or indirectly related to the teaching profession.

The blog layout is done in black, with a left sidebar that contains some useful links, labels, followers, archives and latest posts. The entries are done in white so that they are still readable despite the dark background. I find the site very easy to navigate too, and found out how the blog came to be in History of Super Gulaman link.

If you are in for some refreshing reads, get into the world of Super Gulaman! You'll find yourself enjoying your visit. I did.

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