Close Encounter with California and the Joshua Trees!

Kumusta from California! Yes we made it in the {not-so} sunny {windy, rainy} state of Californication! After an eventful encounter with TSA in Charlotte, a gruelling 5 hours flight spiced with subtle turbulence above Colorado, an earache { partnered with howls and screams by you know who}, an annoying experience with Budget rental cars, an hour drive from main city LA to the high desert ~ Yes! Our visit a.k.a "vacation" have officially culminated!

Me and the famous Joshua Tree ~ indigenous in the Antelope Valley

and behind me on the horizon is downtown LA

Traveling with My Child and the TSA-induced Frenzy at the Airport {and some useful tips}

Have you flown lately? Have the TSA's new security protocol dampened your spirit about flying especially during these holidays and intimidated you enough to NOT fly to protect your children? Well, you're not alone! These are my sentiments exactly. But my family braved it and flew anyway. Here is where it gets better.

From Our Yule Log to Yours...Merry Christmas

Wishing you all A Blessed Christmas!

Warm Yuletide greetings from my fireplace to yours...

Keep warm and enjoy your holiday!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...

I'm off to California with family for Christmas and in a couple of hours we're leaving on a Jet plane and flying the friendly skies...crossing fingers and toes. Below is a video dedicated to those who don't fly. Experience flying in the comfort of your own couch through me - without the motion sickness! Enjoy!!!



I'll catch up with you in Cali!

My Best Birthday Gift Received - The Gift of Giving

I'm sure you've heard of the Birthday Toy Drive I did two weeks ago and who it was for and why I did it. Well, my special day finally came. Today is my birthday and what makes it so special is the opportunity to do something selfless. Instead of celebrating mine, I celebrated the life of the homeless children in my community with the help of family and friends. It maybe so cliche' but it's wonderful to do something that's superficially unusual to a dedicated philanthropist but something that I don't do on a regular basis and NOT at all "about me" this year.

An All-out War with the Germies

I feel like I'm in a fierce battle these days, I literally have to go off the grid to face the enemy! Cold. And what's annoying is it's not even mine. I hate it when the weather changes and conjures up these evil sniffles, cold and cough germies. What I hate more is when my daughter gets sick with them and she suffers inconsolably. I suffer too! Yes, suffer is right. Sleepless nights, endless bickering to get her to blow her nose and an overflowing supply of tears! Hers not mine, but enough to make me pull all my hairs out! Don't get me wrong, I love her to pieces but last time, she refused, she ended up with an ear infection! Brought both of us misery! Trust me, I'm not having any of that cr*p again!

Dial® Diaries: My "Me" Time Challenge - Week 4 Final Diary Entry

You know that cliche' "The sad part of saying hello is saying goodbye"? Well, that pretty much sums up this post which is my last entry to my Dial^® Diaries Healthier You 4-week challenge. This week is the final week! Week 4's challenge is to find a "ME" time! Sounds simple, yes? Nope. Not when you're a working mother and also doing Social Media projects on the side. Finding a "me" time is as impossible as going to bed before 2am! But as another cliche' would say... "If there's a will, there's a way" and way I did find!

Enjoying a "Me" time while multitasking and relaxing

Mobile Shots: Oh Christmas Tree!

We never had a real tree. Six Christmas years... But this year, it's going to be different. We're getting a real one...Our very first real Christmas Tree! A surprise my dear hubby concocted for the family for Christmas this year! So, our loyal fake tree remained stowed in the attic as the quest to find the perfect live tree ensued...

Blue Christmas Tree @North Lake Mall

Dial® Diaries: My Skin Care Challenge - Week 3 Diary Entry

Just like Amy Hendel, I myself can't believe we're already on Week 3 of Dial Healthier You Members Program 4-week challenge. Time sure flies when you're having fun! Week 3 proves to be my favorite though. I'm a woman and admit it, if you're a woman, your skin is one of the things you're quite vain about besides your looks! So to me, having an effective skin care regimen that helps preserves my skin and keeping it healthy is a must!

Random Acts of Zhu Partnered with Zensible Mama Gives 2010 to benefit homeless Children

When I decided to hold a Toy drive for homeless children in Charlotte to celebrate my birthday differently this year - which is happening today, Random Acts of Zhu {RAZ} immediately stepped up to the challenge. Cepia LLC, makers of renowned toy Zhu Zhu pets have endowed me with 104 pieces of Zhu Zhu pets to give away to help bring happiness to underprivileged children in my community.

Dial® Diaries: My Exercise Challenge - Week 2 Diary Entry

So I survived my Week 1 challenge which I'm so happy about. And what's more exciting? My diary entry made it into the Dial Healthier You  Dial® Diaries section! Call that an added motivation to move forward with enthusiasm for week 2 challenge: EXERCISE!

Enthusiasm is right. I hate exercise with a passion! But I also know that I need it. Kinda like I hate vegetables that's why I eat them! This is why I exercise as best as I can in spite of a very challenging schedule as how Amy Hendel described it. I'm a working mom and that pretty much tips my busy scale to high! So what do I do to exercise? I walk every chance I get. It doesn't matter if it's a mini-walk or a full-pledge walk. I gotta walk! Now the question is, am I walking right? 

Snowball delights - Endless Yum and Yum and a $100 Giveaway!

During Summer, I was privileged to take part in the Summer Rice Krispies Box Recipe challenge and now the 2010 Final Holiday challenge is up and the HEAT is on! Well, mostly in my kitchen anyway which is good for me since it is friggin' cold outside! And so my kitchen and my stove is abuzz lately with recipe experiments, it almost makes me feel like I was Dexter in his famous lab! So, with multitude of hit and miss, I finally found one original concoction worth the spotlight. Winter = snow = snowballs = snowball fights = ??? Endless delight! A winning formula! I present my 1st recipe: Snowball Delights!  

Aren't they gorgeous??? 

A Holiday Showcase Party Fun!

I had the privilege of putting together another FUN party intended for kids in the neighborhood and their moms which initially had a huge sign-up and everyone was excited to attend but ironic and strange as it was, everyone started canceling on me on the day of the party! Saved by one attendee, I ended up with a two-fer. And just like a real trooper, the party went on and we had a blast nonetheless! AND no despair here. The toys are going to make a comeback on my birthday Toy Drive! {You're Invited!} And why not? Toys are just too fun not to enjoy over and over again! See for yourself!

Meet my Pedro's Siblings: Cinnamon Swirl Bunny

and Peace Bear. Build-A-Bear Workshops cuddly SmallFrys!

How To Be CheerFULL with Hallmark Christmas Goodies!

Can you believe it? Christmas is almost here! It doesn't seem that long ago when during Blogher in August, I was invited by Hallmark to party with them to celebrate Christmas in August! One that proved to be quite an eclectic experience! An entire hotel Suite decked out with Christmas decor' in the middle of Summer! Hallmark is a prominent brand in Asia when I was growing up and one that became a part of every special occasions in my life back then... and now.

The only difference back when I was younger is that, Hallmark was particularly known for its' quality greeting cards. But no more...they got better! Hallmark has evolved through the years as evident with the products they now carry.

Boiron Arnicare Arnica Gel Review and Giveaway

WINNER UPDATE: Congratulations to mverno number 1- via random.org. Thank you to all who entered!

Growing up as a child, taking medicine when I'm sick always was a traumatic experience. I hated medicine! The yukky taste, the side effects, it was just too much for me. This stayed with me as I got older which got me to opt for alternative medications like homeopathic or herbals that proved a better option for my liking. One of the brands I peruse when I'm getting the flu is Boiron. A brand we trust at my home. Recently, Boiron asked me to review their Arnicare Arnica Gel which I was happy to accept.

We are big Arnica-based medicine users in my household which we use to treat your common muscle ache and pains or bruisings. Arnica is a flower related to Sunflower. We've been using a specific brand for years and it's interesting to see how Arnicare's Arnica Gel will pass our test.

My Birthday Blessings - A Toy drive to Celebrate the Life of Homeless Children

I was born 3 days before Christmas and you know what that means when it comes to gifting! Most often that not, I would get one gift for both my Birthday and Christmas. Though I hated it then, I'm thankful now that I was able to celebrate my birthday and get gifts when I was growing up. One thing that is considered a luxury growing up in Asia and being poor. Truly, it was a blessing to be able to celebrate my birthday every year back then.

I'm older now. I no longer celebrate my birthdays nor get gifts for it but that doesn't stop me from making a difference in honor of my birthday by paying it forward to the homeless children in my community who could not afford to celebrate their birthdays or even Christmas this year! So me gives!