Lessons From Nights in Rodanthe

Know the difference between Mr. Right and Mr. Right Now. That is the advice I should have followed when I was young and not-too-smart when it came to matters of the heart.

What are your core values? What do you believe in? What is your passion? What are your goals in life? If you do not know the answers to these questions without referring to what your significant other would answer - you might not be ready to be in a relationship yet.

Mr. Right will believe in the same things you do. He will have the same core values you have. He will believe in what you believe in. He will encourage you to pursue your passion and he will support you as you go for your life's goals. You meet him that way, you don't meet him and change him to conform to your idea of Mr. Right. You don't change your life for him. You grow together, yes. You may need to compromise, yes. But not in the foundation of who your are and who he is - compromise on the little things like who gets the remote or what flavor of ice cream to get.

In the movie, Nights in Rodanthe, which just came out in DVD a few weeks ago - after both Richard Gere's character and Diane Lane's character fail in their relationships and their life's work they find each other. They admire each other and encourage each other to find themselves and mend the relationships that are important to them. In the time they are apart they write to each other, letters that help them get to know each other more and anticipate their reunion.

Meanwhile, separately they find themselves. They get their lives on track separately. They mend their broken relationships with their children. And though they are separate, they support and encourage each other through all they are going through as though they are together.

So the moral of the story? You have to be happy with yourself before you can be happy with someone else. You have to hold out for Mr. Right - and not settle for Mr. Right Now. And Nicholas Sparks movies always makes me cry - ok so that's a personal lesson for me.

It's a great movie - make your special someone watch it with you and have tissues ready.

Secure Your Mail, Secure Your Identity

One of my worst fears is identity theft. I’ve seen all the warning ads, a thief can just look at papers you throw away and steal your identity. That is why I take the time to shred all my papers before throwing them away.

Another way a thief can steal your identity is to intercept your mail. I would never have any peace of mind if our mailbox was not securely locked. It has to be durable – if your mailbox cannot withstand a baseball bat then there is no use locking it because someone can still easily break it to steal your identity.

Mail Boss’ Locking Security Mailboxes provides peace of mind. It has a locking mailbox that stood the test of being run over by a Mac truck and being attacked by a baseball bat and passed with flying colors. It is sure to keep vandals away as the mailbox cannot easily be deformed. It is secure and keeps mail safe from identity theft. It is a definite improvement on the usual aluminum curbside mailbox.

Your mail contains a treasure trove of information that could lead to your financial ruin if it finds its way to the wrong hands. Protect yourself with a mailbox that serves as your outdoor safe, check out my sponsor, Mail Boss’ locking security mailboxes now.

A Million Subs For A Million Emails

This is a rather extravagant way of getting names in a marketing database, Quizno's is giving away 1 million subs as long as you register and give them your name, email and zip code.  In the fine print under the registration form is a note that people who register will automatically be entered into their Q-Club marketing database.  And so that you don't close the window right then, they are quick to assure you that you can always opt-out of the club, which is true - marketing emails are required to have this unsubscribe or opt-out option - you just need to be good at finding it.  They're usually at the very bottom of the email.

So if you are interested in free food, go to www.millionsubs.com and sign up for a free sub.  And for those who are giving up meat for Lent - they do have tuna melt and veggie subs.  Bon apetit!

Maturing Social Networks

One time I asked a young friend who's currently in college if she had a Facebook account. Her sister was quick to respond, of course she does - she's IN college. Facebook and MySpace has long been the domain of the young.

But not for long, the older set has been adapting to social networks and it is said that the biggest age demographic in both MySpace and Facebook is between 35 and 44 years old. I vaguely remembered writing a post that said I was in the most likely to be using Facebook demographic - this age range certainly excludes my younger self.

Another factoid that surprised me - Facebook's fastest growing demographic is the 55-plus age group. Wow! So it's now commonplace to find mom or dad on Facebook - although I don't think my parents have started using it yet, they may catch on quite soon.

I think the maturing social network users also bring with them quality content that comes from their wealth of experiences. I wouldn't mind finding a mentor online that would help me improve my writing or my photography. I wouldn't mind hearing stories about the good old days - back when I wasn't even born yet. I think it is a good change, a more diverse social network environment will certainly be interesting to interact with.

Tweet Later: Take the Weekend Off

I did not appreciate this application until after I was tasked to handle our social media presence at work.  Tweet Later lets you schedule your tweets ahead of time - just in case you have weekend plans and can't really go online to update your twitter account.

This weekend is the first time I'm using it, so if my tweets don't get posted - you'll be sure to hear about it on Monday!  Just kidding...

This is a great concept though - even with the advent of smart phones and the Simply Everything plan where you can access the internet from anywhere and tweet from wherever you are - it doesn't mean you would want to.  So for all you twitter addicts or for all you social media managers, take the weekend off and schedule your tweets before leaving work.

Thank you for this app, Twitter! Awesome idea!

Moving Made Easy

As the economic crisis worsens by the day more and more people consider moving to less expensive states. Some of my friends have even considered moving to Mexico or Alaska. I have only moved once in my whole stay here in the US and that was from our house in Monterey Park to our current place here in Orange County – around 30 miles one way. We had to do all the moving ourselves – and we didn’t have a lot of stuff then! It was so tiring and time-consuming. We had to make several trips back and forth.

I can’t imagine how people can move so often – even for business or military moves. My boss uses a moving service like ABF U-Pack Moving, which lets you pack your things using your organizational system and they will just drive the trailer or ReloCube to your new location. Cool, huh? It’s much cheaper than a full-service mover – and you wouldn’t want somebody else packing your personal belongings, right? You’d want to make sure your things are handled carefully – the way only you can.

So check out my sponsor, ABF U-Pack Moving, today and experience how easy moving can be.

Spice Up Your Walls

One of the things I miss out on while renting an apartment instead of owning my own walls is being able to change my wall colors. My husband and I love DIY shows and have found many creative ways of using paint to enhance a room’s décor. Our only option is to hang interesting wall art to liven up our all too stark walls.

I love canvas art - the kind that makes you stop and look closer, the kind that makes you say wow! It doesn’t have to be a Degas although I do love ballerinas. I love striking colors, bold colors. I tend to be drawn towards Asian-inspired artwork and those of nature, specifically trees and flowers.

White Walls has a huge selection of art work. I have found a few favorites as I browsed their website, which was so easy to navigate through.




This hand-painted canvas called, Tree of Life, which is a limited production original caught my eye the moment I came to the website. I love the curves of the branches, the flow as though it is moving and dynamic. I love the colors surrounding the tree, giving it even more life.




Another limited production original that made me stop and look closer is this hand-painted canvas called, Midnight Flower. The bright white against the auburn background created big impact for me. The simplicity of the art work and the size of the subject itself made a bold statement. And yet the piece holds a serenity that only a flower can accomplish.

Visit White Walls and pick your own favorites. Leave me a comment and tell me about them.

Friendster's New Friend Stream

Did you notice Friendster's new Friends stream?  Instead of the bulky list with profile pictures beside a list of all the things that friend did, they switched to an all-text stream.

It's cleaner, but not as engaging as Facebook's tiny profile pic with my friends' status updates.  It's not as interactive as Facebook's interface either.  I'm beginning to sound biased so maybe I should stop this review now.

I think Friendster is headed in the right direction, it just has quite a long way to go before it becomes as engaging as other social media applications out there.  Good luck, Friendster!

Budget-Friendly Travel Deals

A friend told me about this new website called Dealbase.com because she noticed that I like writing about deals.  Dealbase.com is a collection of travel deals.  A person can submit a deal into the website and he can also search for a great travel deal.

Dealbase.com classifies the deals submitted from Best Hotel Deals, Hotel Packages with the most stuff, Expensive Hotel packages to Worst Hotel Deals.  You can choose to get your deals in a weekly newsletter much like Travel Zoo.

Dealbase.com shows you just how much you save in each deal.  You can book the deal from the website.  And you can even leave a comment about the deal - rant or rave.

The website is easy to navigate and easy to read.  It lays out the deal in a very inviting manner.  All you need to do is pick where you want to go and search for the best deals.

This is a great site to find the best bargains on travel.  Excellent job on this one!

A V-Day E-card After My Own Heart

My favorite Math professor, a lot of scribbled equations and a witty little message - the perfect V-day Ecard for a geeky Numb3rs fan like me.

I love e-cards, I love the way everyone can use it to promote brands and products. Plus if they're artistic and unique - I'm drawn to sending it out more.

Great job on this! Enjoy your heart day!

Breakfast Art

This is the prettiest breakfast salad I make. I find fruits and berries in season, cut them into approximately the same size, put them in a bowl and squeeze a lemon over them. It tastes sooo good and it's healthy too! It would have been very expensive to make this in the Philippines, but with the cost of fruits like these here in the US, you have no excuse to get your daily servings of fruits.

Used Photoshop CS3 to adjust the color and its saturation. Then I posterized the result. Isn't it beautiful? The natural colors of fruit just popping out. This would be great on a breakfast nook wall. Just to wake you up in the morning.

I'm having fun, can't you tell? Photoshop CS3 again. I enhanced the color and its saturation. I used a filter for rough pastels on a burlap texture. I love those colors.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Hope you have a very colorful day.

The Wordpress CMS

I manage my husband’s business website and my latest experiment on how to manage his website with a minimum amount of maintenance needed is to use Wordpress – a blogging platform. I, however, do not use it as a blog – instead I use it as a content management system. It’s very effective.

The hardest part of making it all work was finding a premium wordpress theme for the website’s look and feel. I wanted it to look like a magazine, I wanted to be able to customize pages to suit their purpose easily and I wanted to add a lot of cool stuff to the website. Simple requirements, right?

It was not so easy to find. But once I had it up and ready, it is easy to manage and it looks professional. Wordpress works great as a CMS. Especially if you do not want to spend a lot of time designing a look and feel, you can have a Wordpress website up in no time.

So if you’re still thinking about making a website for your business. I wholeheartedly recommend Wordpress!

This post is sponsored by WPRemix.com.

Online Resources for Starting Your Own Business

The most enduring businesses flourish when times are tough. You may think that today’s economy prohibits you from starting your own business, but with a little research and a little investment you can be on your way to financial freedom.

Stop letting other people run your life and find a business that’s right for you. Depending on your skills and your passion, plus the amount you’re willing to invest – buy a franchise and jumpstart your business now.

Franchise Opportunities is a good place to start your research. It is the largest online directory of available franchise and business opportunities. Search by state, investment, industry or niche franchises. The site is easy to navigate and rich in resources. Check it out and you may just find your perfect match.

This post is sponsored by Franchise Opportunities.

Trackle: Information That Matters to You

Trackle is drumming up a lot of publicity today as it launches in beta on February 10, 2009.  I created an account and started creating my own tracklets and I must admit I love this application.  The internet is crammed with information and information is important for bloggers like me.  It is always nice to have google alert send me email about the topics I'm interested in.

But I look up movies that are coming up, local news, concerts in nearby venues, my social networks for friends' birthdays among other things.  Well, trackle brings them all together - in one website.  One website where you can look up everything.  Isn't that cool?

So there you go, your personal concierge for all the information that matters to you.  Have fun!

Settle Debts Now

How much easier would life be for you if you didn’t have any debt? In these times of hardship, a lot of people who were laid off are defaulting on their debts and many creditors are willing to meet people experiencing hard times half way. Many people are turning to debt settlement to rid themselves of their debts.

Debt Settlement companies or representatives negotiate with your creditors in your behalf to decrease the amount of your loan. They can typically decrease your loan by 40 to 60%. They can give you one affordable monthly payment to pay for 1-3 years – after which time you will be debt free!

Debt Expert USA is one such company. They specialize in getting rid of credit card, unsecured debts, and medical bills. They help clients get rid of debt by negotiating with banks and creditors to get the lowest possible settlement amount. In turn they are helping banks and creditors get back some money – often the clients alternative would be bankruptcy and then banks and creditors will get nothing at all. Debt Expert USA does not handle debts secured by property like mortgage, car loans or purchase contracts. The monthly payment will depend on a client’s level of debt, income and living expenses – these are customized to every person’s needs.

So if you need help in these tough times, know that you have options. There is hope, you just have to look around and do your research. Hope this helps!

This post is sponsored by Debt Expert USA.

Save With An Online Savings Account

Do you have an online savings account? In these times of web 2.0, one of the most convenient technologies I have encountered is an Online Savings Account. You don’t have to go to the bank each time you need to check your balance or deposit money to it. Your notices come to you through your account inbox. You can even compare different banks’ interest rates online. It saves you time and money. A great venture!

Sponsor:
Compare the Best Online Savings Account Rates, CD Rates (Certificate of Deposit Rates), Online Checking Account Rates, Credit Card Rates, Mortgage Refinance Rates and Bank Reviews.

A Valentine Treat: Scottsdale Vacations

My husband and I love long vacations. We find it very relaxing to spend a week out of town, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Hotels are quite expensive when you book a week, especially since you will have to eat out all the time! Vacation rentals are a better way to go for us because we can cook our own meals. It’s cheaper, plus you still have control over what you eat if you’re on a diet or trying to eat healthier. You also have more privacy because they usually are condo-style units. You can even entertain guests while away, instead of going out to see a friend in the area, you can invite them over. They can stay as late as you want them to and you’ll never feel hurried like you would if you met at a restaurant.

If you’re like me and prefer luxurious vacations, be sure to try Scottsdale vacations, they have great spa getaways there. I like relaxing and pampering when I go on vacations so this seems to be a great match for me! The excellent golf courses and hiking trails will keep me on track in terms of exercise.

Take your special someone on vacation this Valentine’s Day. Spend all the alone time you need in a vacation rental.

Sprint: Polling Done Right

I just wanted to applaud Sprint on the way they conducted this poll.  I got a Sprint Connection newsletter, which had statistics on how many older people are using text messaging - mostly parents who want to get through to their kids.  It was an interesting paragraph (and I'm a statistics person - I love numbers) so I clicked through to a site that had Sprint's own polls as to my text usage.  It had four simple questions and I was able to see the current results right away.  

It's a nice polling campaign.  The campaign was engaging.  It was simple and user-friendly.  And it didn't take much time.  Great job on this!

ChloroFilms: Plant Biology on YouTube

My fascination with the Internet began when I presented a report on nickel alloys for a chemical engineering course and found six different types (as far as I can remember). My college professor only knew three of them! Wow!

They call it edutainment now - education + entertainment. Back then I was satisfied with just pictures and text, but now with the advent of YouTube and easy to produce home videos a new era of knowledge transfer is upon us.

This video contest about plant biology videos was sent to me by a friend who teaches biology at Philippine Science High School - we are kindred spirits as we both immersed ourselves in the arts just as we were preparing for careers in the sciences. So maybe edutainment is a great media for people like us, artistic scientists and educators who want to use this great new media called the worldwide web to share knowledge and inspire the younger generation into careers in the sciences.

For more information about this contest, please go to the Chloro Films website.

A Tainted Hero

I watched and cheered for Michael Phelps during the last Olympics. I almost competed in swimming when I first learned how to swim - and I want my kids to learn how to swim as early as possible. I looked up to Michael Phelps because I know how hard he had to have worked to get those gold medals and I want to ingrain the same values in my children.

When you see a role model using a bong, it's like the pedestal you had him on suddenly crumbled. He apologized for his poor choices, but he's not just the same to you anymore.

Although we know that these people can not possibly be perfect, we do expect them to behave appropriately because they are public figures that a lot of children look up to. What will that picture teach a child who considers Michael Phelps his hero?

And if Michael Phelps keeps his endorsements despite his poor choices, what does that say of society in general? We can teach forgiveness if he keeps his endorsements I guess, but do we want to teach our children that as long as you apologize there will be no consequences if you make poor choices? Real life brings consequences on each action you make. You must learn that lesson and be a better person because of it.

Finding a Home in Texas

The recession has caused a lot of Californians to move into less expensive states – or at least look into moving. One of the main factors in their decision on choosing a new state is the cost of living – particularly the cost of a new home. Texas is one of the premiere destinations, especially for people who work in the IT industry. There has been a lot of development and IT companies hiring in that area.

If you’ve ever searched for a home using OC Real Estate Finder, you will love austin real estate searches at Home City. They make it easy for you to find a home in Texas – just fill in the minimum and maximum price you want to pay, choose how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need, even suggest a location and they’ll do all the work. They will give you several choices of homes matching your search criteria and you can browse through them at your leisure. This is a great website!

Happy house-hunting, everyone!

Vegan Chocolates for Your Healthy Valentine

Find your way to your healthy Valentine's heart with these Organic Vegan Chocolate Valentine's Day Heart available from Kate's Caring Gifts. This lovely heart-shaped gift is filled with mouthwatering European style vegan chocolates. organic chocolate contains no genetically modified ingredients, no artificial flavor, color or preservatives. It is nature made chocolates – whoever said a chocoholic can’t be environmentally conscious at the same time has never heard of these products!

Is your Valentine hooked on organic food? There is a huge assortment of these eco-friendly food choices at Kate's Caring Gifts – please go check them out and help your special someone indulge without guilt this V-day!

The Stress Institute's Mindful Living Network

Yesterday while we watched the Super Bowl, my husband’s friend and I succeeded in keeping him in his seat and watching the game for the most part. My husband tends to have this instinct of taking care of everybody’s needs and making sure everyone enjoys the game that he misses most of it because he is mixing drinks or cooking something in the kitchen. Well, yesterday I think he truly was able to relax and enjoy the game with us. We succeeded in getting my husband to be present in our little football gathering, to be mindful of what is going on right then.

Dr. Kathleen Hall, CEO and founder of the Stress Institute, has made it her life’s work to educate people about Mindful Living. She defines mindful living as awareness, choice and energy. She encourages people to live their life, be present and aware of what upsets you and what keeps you calm and fulfilled. She teaches people to choose those things that enriches and nourishes their lives instead of those that empty them. And once they learn the power of choice, they find renewed energy to live a life free of stress, anxiety and harrassment.

When people are mindful, they are not easily angered, they maintain low blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. It can even slow the aging process and reduce obesity. Wow!

Dr. Kathleen Hall has launched the Mindful Living Network, a website consisting of edutainment media resources to help people live a mindful life. The website has video tips on interesting subjects like getting rid of vacation stress. It has a meditation room, a play room with online games, and even user generated videos. It also has a community with blogs and a message board to find other people trying to learn how to live a mindful life.

I think we need a website like this, especially now when the economy is adding to the pressures of our already hectic lives. We need to live healthy and mindful lives to be able to figure out solutions to the problems facing us every day.

So please check out the Mindful Living Network and find peace in your life. Happy destressing!

Super Bowl XLIII: 60-Minute Football

Unlike last year's Super Bowl where I really didn't have a favorite team, I was cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday.

Most of my friends thought it was a sure win, but in the pre-game analysis everyone was pointing out the Arizona Cardinals' strengths. My husband actually sided with the Cardinals just to make things a little more interesting while we watched.

It was quite a game! My favorite part was when James Harrison intercepted the ball and ran 100 yards for the longest touchdown in history. Woohoo!

The first half ended with a ten-point deficit, but in history teams have been known to come back from that number in the second half. And the Cardinals did not disappoint. They almost won if it hadn't been for that touchdown by Superbowl MVP, Santonio Holmes - the ballet-like tiptoe one.

But of course if they had let the Cardinals score after that, they still could have won. But the great defensive line of the Steelers would not let that happen. It was the most memorable 27-23 win in Superbowl history. Wow!

Congratulations, Steelers! I enjoyed all 60 minutes of that hard-fought game. The Lombardi was well deserved by the youngest coach in history to win a Super Bowl, Mike Tomlin. Definitely one of the most exciting piece of history I've ever witnessed!

Finding Love Online

It's the first day of February, there are 13 days left before V-day. People in a relationship are now scampering to find the perfect Valentine's Day surprise for that special someone in their lives. I remember when I was single, I cycled through wishing I had a special someone to wishing that V-day will be over already so it won't be so obvious that I was single.

Back then I worked full time, went to the gym during my lunch hour and went to school for graduate studies at night. I was active in church during the weekends and spent time with my family in between. I would more likely go to a restaurant than a bar in my free time. It’s not exactly a great schedule to meet someone.

Working as a web developer, I spent a lot of time online – and used the internet to catch up with friends more often than not. I met my husband online. We didn’t meet on a dating site, we met on ICQ – an instant messaging service that was very popular at the time. A lot of people are very cynical about online dating and I understand why, but I think it is safer to get to know the person online first before actually going on a date.

Rather than going to one disappointing date after another, why not screen your potential dates first and see if you’re compatible. I’ve reviewed a dating site for work once and was pleased to find that dating sites have now created niches where you can choose to join an online dating community that caters to people sharing the same hobbies, passions or beliefs.

If you’re an equestrian and you feel that your soul mate should be one who shares your passion, equestrian cupid is a great place to check out. Meet people who share your passion. The website include great tools that lets you verify the identity of the person you are meeting – verify income, education, occupation, photo and age – the things most people fib about, right? Watch equestrian videos, read equestrian blogs and join in the discussion. They are currently offering FREE sign-up - just in time for Valentine’s Day.

What is your passion? Find it online and connect with like-minded individuals. You might just find a great friend or soul mate along the way.

Creative Byline: Get Published Easier

When I was forced to be a stay-at-home wife the first nine months of my married life while I waited for immigration to issue my green card - I explored the process and procedures of how a new writer would submit a manuscript to a publisher. It was not an easy task.

You need to find out the format, the publisher wants your manuscript in. You need to find the publishers that are actually accepting submissions. And then you needed to make sure you have the copyright to your work. Then you mail your manuscript in and wait and wait and wait...

I found this website called Creative Byline on Facebook. Writers can sign up for free during their beta testing period and pay $19 per submission. You will gain expert reader feedback and reviews - the expert reader will tell you if your work is ready to go to an editor. You can keep track of the progress of your submissions and find the editors who are specifically interested in your genre or subject of work. If the editor likes your manuscript, you can go directly to negotiating to get your work published. Now isn't that easier?

So to all you aspiring novelists out there, you may want to check out Creative Byline. Tell me when your book gets published!

From $1 to $45 Million: The Ly Family Story

I was reading The Costco Connection magazine this morning, I was drawn to their cover story entitled Bakery on the Rise. It was a story about the rise to success of the Ly family business, Sugar Bowl Bakery.

I love baked goods and the Sugar Bowl Bakery madeleines are one of my favorite treats. Although they are sold in wholesale quantities, they taste as though you got them from your local Starbucks or hotel coffee shop. Yummy! Of course, Sugar Bowl Bakery supplies both Starbucks and hotels - even Las Vegas casinos.

In these tough times, I keep myself motivated by reading inspirational success stories and today the Ly family success is my favorite. It started when 24-year-old Andrew Ly immigrated to America from Vietnam with $1 in his pocket. They were part of the exodus of "boat people" refugees after Vietnam was taken over by Communists.

Andrew had four brothers, Tom, Binh, Sam and Paul who came to America separately - as well as his parents. They took on any job they could find, saving every penny to buy a business. Five years later, by combining their savings, they came up with $40,000 and bought a small coffee and doughnut shop in the Richmond district - Sugar Bowl Bakery.

Every family member pitched in to keep the business going. They made sure that they produced quality products. Andrew Ly says that "Marketing opens the door, but quality keeps it open."

By 1986, they were selling not only to shop customers but to convenience stores and other coffee shops. They diversified and found themselves supplying hotel bakeries, Las Vegas casinos and other businesses in Northern California. They now have three plants producing their baked goods and have been named Bakery of the Year by The Consumer Business Review for the past 10 years.

It's an amazing story of persistence, vision and family. They escaped persecution, worked their way to buying their own business and worked together to turn a small coffee and doughnut shop into a $45 million company. Wow!

Have you been inspired today? Read the Ly family's story at the Costco Connection.