The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Fresher than ever.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 6,400 times in 2010. That’s about 15 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 18 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 95 posts. There were 19 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 3mb. That’s about 2 pictures per month.

The busiest day of the year was January 18th with 75 views. The most popular post that day was Awakening the Trauma Brought by Frank.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were ellapelayo.com, facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, en.search.wordpress.com, and search.conduit.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for typhoon ondoy, ondoy, ondoy pictures, typhoon ondoy pictures, and time management.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Awakening the Trauma Brought by Frank October 2009
7 comments

Pictures During Typhoon Frank (at New Washington, Aklan) June 2008
9 comments

Product Review: Life Ionizer May 2008
10 comments

Looking for Time Management Tools July 2008
1 comment

Thank You for Being a Part of My Life September 2008
1 comment

While I was busy creating lists and planning for the year ahead, I decided to do something different for myself this year. I will try to do 30 New Things in my life. And I am going to ask you to also help me remember this (esp at times when I don’t feel like it!)

Here they are:

1. Create a You Tube music video - yes I am a frustrated singer! I can’t hit high notes like Charice but I know I can sing. So I want to get even just a few minutes of You Tube stardom
2. Get rid one of my fears – I have fear of heights, fear of spiders, fear of cockroaches and a whole lot more. I am still undecided as to what fear I would need to face but I will have to choose one before August 18th.
3. Drive my own car - I managed to purchase a car (twice!) but because of financial difficulties in 2010 I had to give it up. Before I hit 30, I am decided to buy another one again and this time I am going to share the driver’s seat with hubby (whether he likes it or not!)
4. Travel to a new place – I miss the adventure and thrill of traveling to an unknown place. I miss the thrill of exploring.
5. Buy an expensive gift for myself! – IPAD! Yes you’re going to be mine
6. Buy an expensive gift for my parents – I want to buy them a new Television (sshhh don’t tell them!)
7. Buy an expensive gift for Hubby – I honestly don’t know what it would be but I hope to buy him something he wanted for years
8. Meet my half brother in person
9. Have a full dental work-up
10. Visit an orphanage and volunteer time work for them
11. Write an Ebook – hopefully an ebook that I can sell
12. Pay a stranger’s bill in a grocery
13. Stay up all night and watch the sunrise
14. Sleep under the stars
15. Eat in one of the most expensive restaurant – and try new food
16. Ride a roller coaster
17. Travel through plane
18. Get me or my virtual assistant biz featured in one of the local magazines / website or TV shows
19. Go back to school
20. Meet one of my clients in person
21. Tattoo
22. Try our Zipline
23. Loose 20lbs
24. Have an appointment with a dermatologist
25. Do something good for the environment
26. Have a photo shoot by a professional photographer
27. Become a Guest Speaker
28. Learn a new skill – either advance web design or graphic design skills
29. Get it touch with my biological mom
30. Go back to school!

I still have 232 days to complete all of them  :)

What about you? What do you want to achieve before you hit your 30th birthday?

So thinking what can I do with my soon to be new Lenovo Laptop?

I will definitely have to give my Acer laptop to my daughter as a gift (so she can watch going bulilit at youtube and play barbie all day long!)

1. Download and learn advance web design techniques since Lenovo IdeaPad G460 has a very powerful memory!

2. Give this blog a site makeover using my new Lenovo IdeaPad without having to worry about system crashes!

3. Get a new webcam and mic so I can start video blogging as originally planned for 2011!  My video blog will be used mainly for those who wants to learn how to become a Virtual Assistant whom I teach online for free…

4. My UPS will be put to rest since my new Lenovo laptop has an awesome battery package. Now I don’t have to keep checking AKELCO’s brownout schedule! I will use my new Lenovo IdeaPad G460 even during power outages here in Aklan!

5.  Use my new Lenovo Laptop at my Photoshoot for my website makeover this coming 2011. (I can’t bring my existing lappy since its already slaughtered.) The Lenovo laptop would be great for my site! I will definitely be all smiles in every pose!

6. Create a product review of Lenovo IdeaPad G460 and post it here in my blogsite.

7.  I will be suggesting and promoting Lenovo Products (and use my internet marketing and social media marketing skills) all year round for FREE

8. I will offer 20 hours worth of Virtual Assistant work for one month  using my new Lenovo IdeaPad G460 to Yugatech for all the 12 months of 2011. (Bribing?)

9. I will document and video blog our upcoming family vacay this summer using my new Lenovo IdeaPad G460 Laptop. Now I can live my dreams of becoming a digital nomad!

10. I will tag all of my friends (almost close to 2000+) in both Twitter and FB to like my newly uploaded photo (with Lenovo IdeaPad G460 of course!) and urge them to “LIKE” Lenovo’s and Yugatech’s fan page as well.

Obviously this is my official entry to Contest: Lenovo-YugaTech Laptop Give-away.  (Santa, please help me win this?)

October is definitely the happiest month of 2010 for us.

We celebrated my daughters birthday in a “Castle” yes, literally a castle. Finally a new hotel / resort has been built in Numancia Aklan. When we first saw the hotel, I know in my heart my daughter will fall in love with it. We had to check it out right away. Good thing, Nadal Castle isn’t that pricey as it seems. Thanks to all the wonderful staff of Nadal Castle who made my daughters 4th birthday a reality. Would definitely recommend that you guys check them out. The only thing I would recommend that they improve is to have their wi-fi service repaired so the customers (esp moms) can surf away while kids soak under the sun

2 days after my daughters birthday, I had to prepare for the school’s United Nations celebration. I had to practice my internet research skills looking for Canadian recipes and Canadian Costumes. Good thing there’s a lot of Ukay-Ukay (2nd hand shops) here in Kalibo and I was able to find this lovely jacket (I honestly don’t know what it’s called) and find a perfect hair accessory to match her look.  Would you believe that the jacket + the hair accessory is just Php175.00 all in all? It was the first time I saw my daughter sing together with her classmates up on stage. Truly made me beaming with pride and joy. Especially when other moms called her and said she looked more of like Princess Sarah

I was so inspired with the UN celebration that I promised myself I would see to it Mikee wins the upcoming Halloween Party at school for the costume. I didn’t have to go look for a costume in Ukays or thrift store. My mom managed to preserve all of my gowns when I was little. So I decided Mikee will wear one of those. Mikee and I researched for her look. We scoured make up tutorials at you tube. She was so scared at one of the make up with a burned woman and decided we’d go for that. Good thing I have a background in theater way back in college and I managed to pull off the look. (I will post the before and after look in FB).

After 2 hours of gruesome pasting and struggling to have Mikee behave in her chair, this is the final look:

Scary Right?

She was an instant hit when we arrived in school. Most kids her age ran away from her and cried because they thought it was a real one. Moms would ask me if its okay to take photos with Mikee. Teachers would welcome her and say she looked awesome. Of course I also came in with a matching outfit (thanks to another thrift store!). And yes we were able to bring home the bacon. We won the Best in Costume and Best In Catwalk!

I have missed a lot of deadlines at work, and now my head hurts thinking how I can regain my momentum. But do I have any regrets at all? Of course not. I wouldn’t trade those unforgettable moments with her

I know you can’t read this just yet. You’re still learning how to read and it will probably take another year before you can read my letter…

Last night while I was creating a video of your photos, I cried… I cried because you are an answered prayer….

I realized that all the hardships and pain that mama and papa went through just to have you in our lives is all worth it… we waited for you for 3 years, and you came in an unexpected time. And when you did, everything else doesnt matter… just you…

I remember holding you close for the first time that night. You stared into my eyes as if you knew who I was. You silently watched me as tears roll down my eyes.

I remember how HUGE papa smiled the first time he laid eyes on you.

HE was the happiest person in the room.

I remember your first cry that night and how papa and I panicked not knowing what to do…

I remember how you used to be just a sweet, smiliing baby girl who finds joy in simplest forms….

Last night, I held you in my arms while you sleep… you are now 10 times bigger, heavier, taller and even more beautiful in my eyes. How did the years manage to slip by without me noticing it. I know in my heart you will grow up to be a confident and loving girl. I just wish that God will grant me more years to be with you.

I want to see you grow old to be the best person you want to be… I want to be there when you move up to your grade school years…I want to go up that stage and give you your high school diploma. I want to be there during your first crush, your first kilig moments and your first love. We will cry together in times of pain, and I will be your biggest fan in every victory…

I know Mama is not the perfect mother there is. And I wont strive to be one. I just wish that despite my imperfections you will still love me. Mama and Papa once gave up everything we have for you… and I will definitely do that ten more times just to have you as our daughter…

Thank you bhe for giving us the happiness….

Happy 4th birthday

One Wednesday morning, I told my hubby that I am bored to death working just inside the house. He suggested I go to a cafe for a change of mood and I said I am tired of that too! I want to do something new, go somewhere I haven’t been.

And a great idea popped in my head. We haven’t been to Bakhawan Eco Park. We planned to visit that before but it didn’t materialize. So I asked him why not go now.

If you knew my husband personally you know his reply would be.. “next time na lang”. But I guess my charm was working wonders that day because he gave in After fetching Mikee from school we headed on to the place without even telling Mikee where we’re going.

On our way, she wouldn’t stop asking questions where are we headed or why aren’t we going home.  I was happy we kept it as a surprise…

The place isn’t that visually appealing at first, you wouldn’t even notice the welcome sign unless you are really looking for it. Entrance Fee is just Php15.00 per person and cottage rental is just Php100.00 Yehey!

SO we started walking… and walking and walking along the bamboo bridge. At that time it was high tide, and the walkway is seemingly endless. I thought I wouldn’t make it to the end. I wasn’t even looking around the place because I focused my attention in the pathway. I was so scared that because Im big I might end up breaking one of the bamboo floors and I will fall. Mikee on the other hand was playfully jumping up and down the pathway and showed no trace of fear.

I wish I could be like her… I remember holding my breath in ever step I make esp when we got to the middle of the trip to the highest peak of the pathway. I remember thinking why did I even ask for this trip…

After like 30 minutes of walking we reached the picnic area where new mangroves are planted and just growing. Thats the only time I really let loose. We had a simple lunch and Mikee was eager to take a bath. We didn’t bring any clothes with us and I wasn’t even sure if it was allowed.

Then I stopped, closed my eyes and just listened. Not too far from our  cottage is the beach. I can hear the waves crashing, I hear singing birds and animals that I haven’t even heard of before… I took a deep breath…. This is what Ive been missing, life back to its simplicity…. No mobile phones, no radio, no cars passing by, just nature…

Mikee and I went down the cottage, we chased mudskippers, snails and other creatures… We saw snakes for the first time, eels, fishes etcetera! It was indeed fun and one of the best picnic adventure we ever had as a family… we’re definitely coming back for more

It has been almost 2 months since I left my hometown New Washington, Aklan. I moved in a nearby city hoping to find better and more stable net connection. I really wished New Washington is more equipped and that it can provide its residents with a more upto-date facilities otherwise, I would’ve definitely stayed there for good.

I still miss the walk in the beach, the weekend stroll sa bay-bay, ang paglagaw sa plaza (stroll in the park) and most importantly being close to my parents. Leaving was indeed hard but I don’t have regrets.

Now that Im living here in a more “urban” setting, I have noticed the big difference. I got a connection of 1mbps plus wifi! This broadband plan is never available to New Washington residents. This alone is already one of the best decision I have made. Not only did it made a huge impact in my day to day life but it also helped me increase my productivity as an offshore virtual assistant.

Everything here is so accessible. Mall, market, hospitals drugstores and not to mention fast food chains! I can eat and order burger even at 8pm (I know its still early compared to Manila but thats the latest time I can get it here). 2 months after moving in and I haven’t even explored the whole place

The only downside to it though is that we are literally living in a shoebox. Its more of like a mini-condo unit. No bedrooms, No divider, nothing! Im not really used to living in a very small and tight space. Plus 2 adults plus a toddler fitting in this room may seem impossible to some. The good side of it though is that cleaning is super fast and easy. It wont even last more than 2 hours for a general cleaning! Plus now I get to tame down my shopping urges. Why? Because before I buy anything I keep reminding my self about our problem with storage.

I miss my hometown, but being in a semi-urban setting makes me feel like I am back in the city

I prayed that it wouldn’t lead to anything serious but it did. Tuesday, I found ourselves lining up in a government hospital’s emergency room. This is her second time to be hospitalized just this year alone all because of Asthma. The first time we spent one day in the hospital but this time we stayed longer…

With Mikee being sick, and with very little money left in my wallet I panicked. How on earth will I be able to pull it through with barely 4000 pesos in my wallet? I tried so hard to compose myself and make sure I didn’t show any signs of worry despite the fact that I am already in my panic mode deep within.

I almost forgot that we have an awesome God. A God who despite all our shortcomings continues to shower us blessings that we cannot contain. A superb God who heals all our diseases and pain. A loving Father who listens to our cries and fears and gives us hope that in the end everything will work they way He planned it. That day, I surrendered.

Mikee’s condition seem to show slow progress in the first 2 days of the hospital. She would be active and playful during mornings but would be very sick at night. And everytime I see her breakdown, I try to hold my emotions and be strong for her… I have asked friends to pray for her continously every passing day. And I am glad I did.

4 days after, we’re back home.

While worrying for Mikee’s health, I worry about our mounting hospital bills and payables. With the outbreak of Dengue in our province, almost every close family I know has been a victim or has a patient in the hospital, thus there’s no way I can loan money from them. And when the doctor said we  can go home, we practically don’t have enough to pay the bill, not even half of it…

But it was also God’s way of telling me, “Ella, stop worrying cause I will take it from here..” It was as if God has pushed me over to a cliff, holding my hands and spreading it as if it has wings, telling me to let go and just trust that He will not let me fall…

I hesitated…. I worried…. I was afraid… but I let go…. I trusted Him.

Help and blessings overflowed. God sent “angels” to help us get out of it and get through all these trying times. It feels as if I am flying with wings…

This week I have learned the lesson of trusting God and His Awesomeness… I am no longer afraid….

Lord, thank you for sending those angels… and more importantly, thank you for being an awesome God.

*Photo is an original Photo of Marc Soller

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I also need reliable transcribers who makes sure that the files meet the deadline. Prefer transcriptionists from the Philippines.”

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Remember, you need to sign-up at odesk.com first before you can bid on the projects. Happy Bidding!

I panicked.

She fearfully said “Mama my pinasok ako sa ilong ko” (Mom I placed something inside my nose). I panicked even more.

What on earth was she thinking? And what possibly could she put inside her nose? An earring? A stone?

I calmly asked her what she placed inside but everytime I did she would panick, shout and cry. Fearful that I might get angry or that it will hurt to get it out…

I asked her to sneeze it out… She patiently did but just more bleeding…

I remembered we have a neighbor who is a doctor… we ran…

But his car is already out…

We ran back to the house. I grabbed a bag (a wrong one thats my moms instead of mine) and head straight out to the hospital…

Tricycle!!!! I shouted in panic mode…. 3 tricycle passed by and its all full… when we finally got in… Mom said you forgot to turn off the stove for the rice…

Geesh! My adrenalin is so high that I didn’t even remember to shut it out. We had to come back of the house might be on fire…

So Mikee’s nose is bleeding and here we are going back to the house to turn off the stove…

To cut the long story short, we finally went to the emergency room. After ear breaking shouts, cries, and peacefully taming Mikee’s panic mode, the nurses managed to get her to the xray room…

I prayed that whatever she placed in her nose is not dislodge somewhere difficult to get out…

Thank God He answered my prayer… the nurses managed to get it out of her nose….

We are finally back home and Mikee seems to dead tired to do anything and she is just sleeping so peacefully…

Looking back now this is definitely funny…. however, being a mom, it was a scare of my life….

As soon as Mikee’s up, I will try to ask her, what on earth was she thinking sticking that to her tiny cutie nose!

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