No matter how strong we hold on, still there comes a time when we suddenly fall . . . . .

- Lizard

image from: lizardcentre.com

I was awarded The Million Dollar Friend Award by Ann of A Nice Place in the Sun. I saw her link on my dashboard yesterday, but was caught up with so many things that I wasn’t able to do a post for it. When I read her post this afternoon, I was flattered and it made me think of the nice people I got to know here in the blogging world. All of them I haven’t met in person, but each one of them have done something for me, made me smile or have touched my life in some way.

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“You are never a burden.. don’t ever think that. Friends need each other to pick them up when they are down and I would do nothing less. ”
Dawn Drover~ Twisted Sister

A Million Dollar Friend is the kind of person who instinctively knows what it means to be a good friend; this kind of person makes you look forward to the days ahead and fondly remember the days that have passed. - A Nice Place In The Sun

A million dollar friend is someone who not only pulls you up when you’re down, but also always finds a way to not let you fall. - Abelle, Only in Silence

You Here! Post your nominees and tell the world what a million dollar friend to you means. That’s it!

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Now, I’m passing this award to:

Jasmine of La Vie en France for touching me with her journey to having another baby again. Jasmine, I also considered what you did, but it won’t work for us because my husband works abroad. But still, I salute you for that.

Rocks of God’s Best Gift, because like Jasmine and I, she also is praying for a baby - a first for her.

Carlota of My Web-blog Designs for the blogger template she made for free for my other blog. I will always be grateful, Carlota.

I already made some ‘thank you’ posts before - here, here and here. All the wonderful people I mentioned there are also being awarded.

This award also goes to MJ of Sagada Philippines (thank you also for the recommendation on Entrecard), Chorva of Chorva.net, Edna of A New Beginning, Karen of My Funny Dad, Harry, Vhiel of Can of Thoughts, Mama Flo of Mama Flo’s Place, Ruby of Pinay Mommy Online, Gen of A Message from my Heart and many many others for all your comments; to Rebecca of Freaky Frugalite, Carole of Carole’s Thoughtful Spot and Lady Rose of Diet Pulpit for mentioning Only in Silence in one of your posts; to all my readers and subscribers, please accept this award I am giving especially to all of you; and to all other fellow earthlings who became part of OiS, one way or the other.

I don’t diet. In fact, when asked if I do, my answer is a quick ‘Diet? What is diet?’ I eat a lot! I guess I’m just lucky I don’t get too fat (source: vital statistics section on the right ).

Below is a list I found in my RD. I thought of publishing it here so people get some tips. You see, there are dieters who follow rules easily, and then there are also those who find it hard to keep on track. Well, whether you fall on the first or the latter, here’s something for you.  Personally, I do #10 when I’m tight on budget.  I feast one day, then lighten up the next to make my spending limit ‘even’.

Ten Tips for Eating Well Without Having to Diet

1. Eat for pleasure and good health, not for weigh loss.

2. Start the day with oats and you won’t be hungry for hours.

3. Eat more fish, chicken vegetables and salads, and less red meat, pork, pasta, pastry and potatoes.

4. Use a plastic squeezy bottle for olive oil and sauces – it helps you use less.

5. Use yoghurt instead of cream.

6. Snack on fruit and nuts instead of chocolate and crisps.

7. Steam instead of grill, grill instead of roast, roast instead of fry, shallow-fry instead of deep-fry.

8. Eat carbs, like pasta and potatoes for lunch instead of in the evening.

9. Drink better, drink less and drink only with the evening meal.

10.If you really want something, enjoy it without guilt, then lighten up the next day.

source: Reader’s Digest Aug2008 issue, pg109

image from: Old-fashioned Oats

It has been a busy week for me, people. I went out to pay our health insurance, helped Jeff with his school projects, met with my husband’s friend to get the things Dario asked him to give me, Jeff has some dance practice to attend – whew! And next week is exam week. This means, Jeff and I will be busy reviewing his notes. My apologies for not having posted much this week. Prior to being a blogger, I was already a mother. And this will not change. I know you all understand. And today is Saturday – my laundry day.

Anyway, for our weekend wacky treat, I am leaving you with this. Turn your speakers on, relax, enjoy . . . . . and I hope I get forgiven

Have a great weekend, people!

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

This?

Or this?

And so I came yesterday. I was one of the first people to arrive. Like last year, many police and military men and women were there. And since it was still early (the mall opens at 10am, and I was lucky to enter at a little past 9), there weren’t much people yet. To make the long story short, GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Sagip Dugtong Buhay bloodletting project for 2008 was successful! As Ms. Mel Tiangco said at 24 Oras last night, they were able to collect more this year than last year. Thanks to all the kind people who came.

Here are some photos I took using only my mobile phone. I think I should take the Nagging101 class now and learn how to nag my husband to get me a digital camera already

A policeman and a civilian in the blood screening area.

That’s my hand. They’re checking my blood type. It’s the common O+, in case you want to know.

While waiting for my turn, I took some photos of the MIBs (Men in Beds)

My turn!

That’s my blood bag she’s holding right there. Now I’m 49kilos less 350ml

Ms. Mel Tiangco is one of the respected TV newscasters and hosts here in the Philippines. Her birthdate is Aug10 - one of the reasons why they hold the annual bloodletting program every August. Another reason is that she herself needed a blood transfusion few years ago due to heart attack and this is one of her ways to say her thanks to the Lord.

I got free snacks and this pin. The snacks were donut, chips and Yakult, plus a pack of sardines. I drank the Yakult in one gulp and decided to bring home the rest for Jeff; but on my way home, I saw this poor old lady on the footbridge and gave them all to her instead. Haaayyyy! Wish I could give more . . . . .

Final shot of the wonderful people who came.

Look at the design of this plaster. What do you see?

At first, I thought they were flowers

But upon closer look, I found out that they were FLIES! Pretty clever, huh?

Well, I guess that’s it for now, people. Time for me to rest. Bye for now!

Just reminding you of this, especially my fellow bloggers in Metro Manila. If you’re interested in participating in the GMA Kapuso Foundation’s bloodletting project tomorrow, please come and be there as early as 9am. You’ll help a lot. Bye for now, people! Got to sleep!

image from: blog.lidc.sfu.ca/

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.