I really enjoy bloghopping. Any one of you remembers my post about the benefits of bloghopping? I like seeing the works of some bloggers who are into scrapbooking, blog template making, cooking, photography and crafts. I’m not a gifted child like them. And my only talent is to admire these people and drool over their arts. And just by looking at their wonderful works, I can see how much love they put in what they do. No, I don’t sew, nor do I cook. I don’t wear jewelry, make up and perfume, much more make one. And if only I were as talented as they are, then I would have made my own template . . . . . 
This is how sites like Digg, Stumble Upon, Blogsvine and the likes help bloggers. They connect other bloggers to you and you to them. The problem is, sometimes, people comment on the posts or links you put in those sites, not on your blog itself. Who goes to check if they have new comments in there, anyway? But that’s a different story . . . . .
I’m not a big Entrecard fan but it definitely opened up more doors for me. I’m currently using it when bloghopping. I drop cards and get to read other blogs as well. (So who says you can’t do two things at the same time? 
). And while sitting in my oh so awesome chair, I get to travel from here to other places in Metro Manila to other parts of the Philippines, to the US, India, UK, Malaysia and many other countries and meet some nice people along the way. What a fun ride!
But the thing is, no matter how fun the traveling is, I still come across some obstacles. Like this one:
It pops out when I get to some sites and I don’t know why. This keeps me from going back to their blogs and read. What pisses me more off is that sometimes it pops out when I’m in the middle of reading something, while sometimes it shows 5seconds or less after clicking a link. Do you ever experience this? And have you done something about it yet?
Few days ago while doing my ‘rounds’, I tried googling ‘philippine top sites’ and found this on the top of the search result: TopPhilippineWebsites.com. To quote them, ‘The Top Philippine Websites is a ranking of websites related to the Philippines based on Alexa’s traffic ranking . . . . .’
So I got OiS listed . . . . .
My badge is shown on the right with my vital stats
I find bloghopping really fun. Aside from seeing interesting blogs, learning new things and meeting some nice bloggers along the way, bloghopping also helps me introduce Only in Silence to others. It’s one of the things I do to let them know that my blog and I exist. But I don’t have the time am too lazy sometimes, so I just do my ‘rounds’ when I drop cards to fellow Entrecard members.
Bloghopping gives me the following benefits emotions:
1. Excitement – Joining contests, getting rewards, earning . . . . .
2. Surprise – Sometimes I win!
3. Sadness – And most of the time, I don’t. 
4. Happiness – There are lots of funny blogs out there too.
5. Envy – Why are some bloggers so talented? They know how to make their own templates. They design their own blogs. While me? Oh!
6. Love – But honestly, I love this template design. I love it so much that if ever I finally get the chance to have a personalized one, I want it to be just like this one – the color, the sidebars . . . . .
7. Luck – Sometimes I get lucky enough to get picked for a free ad spot like the ones that Blanne of Hit or Miss and Carlota, who has been so generous to me from the start, of Dashing Smiles provided for me.
8. Confusion - Should I upgrade my account now? The people who came from Stumble Upon have knocked my site down last month. They are the biggest source of traffic until now. And today, which is only 3 days after my monthly bandwidth reset, I already used up 54% of my ‘allowance’. Their favorite hangouts? This and this.
Plus, I also get the chance to participate in memes, have OiS listed in blog directories and join some social networks. I also registered in the banner exchange program of Nuacco.net, which I hope to get additional exposure. And speaking of memes, it’s been a while since my last toot; so I’m making this post my latest Tuesday Toot.
It’s bloghopping time once again, people!
This is one of the things I do in my free time, and free time means when Jeff is at school, when I am not chatting with my husband and I am by myself here in our room. I bloghop because I want to see what other sites are into. I leave a link here so my readers can check them out too. Here is a blog of Mini, a young lady who, like me, appreciates her readers so much.
Go check her out, guys. There must be something interesting waiting for you there.
Talk to you again later, people!
Today is my husband’s flight back to Riyadh. Jeff and I took him to the airport, and an hour from now, Dario is boarding his plane. Of course, Jeff cried again and was holding tight his Papa’s arms. He doesn’t want him to go just yet. He was not even talking the second we went out of the house, and then just started crying when we got to the airport and held tight his father’s arms. It is always like this every year (Dario is on his 10th year working in Riyadh). Maybe you are asking now if I didn’t cry. Well, I did. Last night. I always cry the night before so our son won’t see. Dario always tells me to get use to it, but I can’t. I just miss him every day he’s not here. And so does our son. And looking around our quiet room now which was filled with laughter for the past few weeks, I feel sad. Two days ago, we went to the salon together for a haircut (him) and hot oil (me) and foot spa (both of us). Then yesterday, we went to the mall to buy a pair of hamsters for Jeff. He also bought me 2 pairs of pants. We had a great time though we forgot to buy our favorite choco frap from Starbucks. Anyway, we’ll see each other again tomorrow via webcam. And it will be like this again every day for ten months. Then Jeff and I will be able to hug him again when he gets back home next year. Haaayyyy! Being a wife of an OFW . . . . .
Btw, I chanced upon the blog of this lady who says ‘I need someone to review my blog‘. Jean is a fellow Filipina who lives in the US. And this lady has a lot to share. Go check her out, people!
Sometimes, bloghopping gets you to interesting sites, and the not-so-interesting ones.
While I was doing my ‘rounds’ last night, I chanced upon this blog that speaks about things related to environment and health, just like Only in Silence. What’s more interesting is that it has this little oracle thing and everyone can ask a question and get a wise answer. Of course, I tried it! And here is the result:
I asked the I Ching Oracle:
do you think we will be able to buy our own house soon?
(present) 61. Chung Fu - Inner Truth
When the heart is free of negatives, the truth is revealed. If you have good motives you will succeed.
(future) 42. I - Increase
Find good in another and imitate it. For the increase to be great, it must benefit others as well as yourself. Luck is with you on a significant journey.
What does the Oracle hold for you?
http://luckyhonu.com/iching/oracle
I just don’t know if that was the right way to ask, but I got my answer! So, what does the Oracle hold for you? Click that link to find out.
I am including this blog to the category ‘fun games, quizzes, puzzles & more’ so it will be easy for you to find it again here. Things like this can be addicting, right?
But remember, trust God in everything and you will find success and true happiness. Keep on praying.
Hey there, people. In a few hours, Dario, Jeff and I will be off to Bataan, Dario’s hometown. We might be staying there for three weeks and go back to Manila by last week of May. I am done preparing the things we are bringing. Also, Dario and I finished the bigger things that need to be done – we enrolled our son for 5th grade, we installed the new computer printer, my husband’s done arranging the TV and the home theater system (sorry, no photo; but I‘m posting one soon), and our room has been re-arranged a bit too.
Jeff is so excited about getting to Bataan this afternoon. He’s looking forward to playing with his cousins there. He already put his Play Station in the box, as well as the game CDs they’ll be playing. That’s three weeks of great time for him. Our son really likes it there, no doubt. But don’t worry, guys. I’m not leaving you with this as the last post. I’ll still be in touch with all of you. Plus, I have prepared some funny stuff for you for the weekends to come. So please stay around.
Now I’m ending this post with a link to this weight-loss blog for my readers who are into fitness. This also reminds me that it’s been a while since I last posted a health-related story/news. I’ll keep up. Promise.
Bye for now, people!
A very busy Thursday and Friday, guys. Let me update you.
In my other blog, I made a ‘must have list for 2008’. Here’s the update of the said list:
1. my own website (done on Feb02)
2. digital camera
3. new pair of pants (at least 2)
4. a pair of sandals/flat shoes
5. shorts
6. skirt (done on Feb01)
7. TV rack (done yesterday, Apr30)
8. office table (to replace our PC table) (I don’t think I’ll be needing this for now; we already had an alternative)
9. computer monitor (to replace the one I am using now which is having near death experience)
10. (I’m still thinking)
Then today, My husband and I bought a new TV set and it’s oh so beautiful! A black Sony Wega. And everything matches - the home theater system he bought me, the entertainment rack and the TV set - a perfect match! It’s as if they were bought together. They compliment each other well, especially the color. I really love them! I also love this executive chair I’m sitting on right now!
And by the way, another blog to check out is a blog of a yummy mummy who, like me, just got a little surprise too from her husband. (Nice watch Chris! Post the new one soon, please.) Why ‘yummy’ and why ‘mummy’? It’s for you to find out!
Bye for now, people! We’re going to watch some movies together. I’m so excited!
You may be wondering why sometimes I speak of some blogs here. This is because I have been bloghopping here and there lately to check out what other blogs have to offer. This is what I do when I have nothing to do (haha!). There are as many niche blogs out there as those who talk just everything about their personal lives. For me, it doesn’t matter what one wants to talk about, as long as I find it interesting, I read it. Besides, it’s their blog. They can write whatever they want to. Some talk about their work, some talk about their travel experiences, while some talk about their heartaches and triumphs and still, others talk about things that really interest them like computer or the internet – just like Internet For All, a blog about business, computer, internet and news.
My bloghopping gives smaller blogs like me have the opportunity to get known, or at least be visited, by my readers. This also gives me the same opportunity to have other bloggers and readers come over. I find it fun helping out each other in this way.
Hello there, people. Sorry if I’ve been too tired lazy to write these past couple of days. It’s because Dario, Jeff and I are too busy cuddling each other to do anything. Even getting up from bed seems like a very difficult task when I am being held by the two most loving guys in my world – my husband and our son.
Anyway, here I am, with a heavy head due to cold. I did a few minutes of bloghopping and just came across this site that is authored by a fellow Filipina who calls herself Pansay. Her blog is of course about the things that interest her – her daily routine, her job and other issues she has with some people and things around her. You can check out her blog and learn her views in life and how it keeps ‘amusing myself’, as she puts it.
Talk to you again soon, people!
And back to the bed . . . . .
