Occassions of Joy 1st Blogversary Celebration

Being the Joyful Mom as she is, Joy is an Event Organizer, Author of Occasions of Joy, a Party Host, Event Planner, a Mom and a Wife.

Joy celebrated her first year anniversary in blogging as her way of thanking all her friends who have been on her side all through the years. I feel so lucky to be considered as one of her nicest friends and that goes beyond blogging. The party was very intimate with only her closest friends and mentors invited.

I arrived at the venue last Sunday at exactly 8am. As an early bird, I have witnessed how Joy works as an organizer herself and how she handles this job, the first to arrive and the last to leave the event. I was totally amazed when I arrived at the party and thought I was in the wrong place as it was so grand for a blog anniversary. I only had experienced virtual and online celebration. For her own party, I was not surprised anymore how she wants to put everything into details.

It was the 20th of February 2010 when she posted her first entry in Occasions of Joy. She already had the passion for writing even before she started blogging but she only opened her own account that day with the help of Pehpot. You can read the first entry here with a title, "The Day I Met Pehpot."


The first game in the event. Couples Jeff & Melody and Honey & Arnold gamely participated in a game, "Eat my Pandesal." The one who eats the fastest without holding the pandesal wins. Luckily Honey and her husband won the contest and took home the prize.


Another Pandesal game for mommies. "Pass the Pandesal." All moms won in the game. I was destressed that day. Laughters filled the party.

The first speaker was none other than our very own Pehpot. She shared the diary of a mommy blogger. Peh is a mom of four kids. Peh said that family should always come first before blogging and that everything will follow smoothly with proper time management. She added that she's always ready with a pen and paper to list down the thoughts that she wanted to write at the moment when she's not in front of computer and attending to the needs of her kids.

I got to meet Jonel Uy, the famous author of letsgosago.net and NomNomclub.com and more high ranked blogs. He was one of the speakers at the event. He is a blogger himself and an IT instructor at the same time. He shared etiquette tips on blogging. His words inspired me to write quality post and focus more in blogging.

I took home two loot bags from Nesvita and the Baby Company as an Early Bird prize. Yay! Photo courtesy of Jes. Thanks also for the Ainon gift pack!

More pictures from the event.

with Bee Mommy Peh of Make or Break and Jonel Uy of NomNomClub.com

with bloggers Techa, Josie and Fedhz

Jem Garcia in her violin rendition of "The Prayer"

with Peachy's little darling

bloggers Jes, Honey and Jing

surprise slide show for Joy created by Jenny

lunch.. lunch... heavy lunch

Mommies obviously enjoyed the party a lot. I am glad I belong to this community where sharing seems to be an endless thing.

Occasions of Joy would like to thank the following sponsors: Dona Maria Brown Rice, Ainon Baby Products, Baby Company, FunliPix, Mod Magazine, Riders Digest, Svelte, Clarity, Walter Bread, Love Blends Coffee, Graphixcel, Johnson &Johnson's, Elro Com'l, Baby Magazine, Nesvita, Me & U, Enjoy, Fun Ranch, Lactacyd Pink, Donuts Ads, Inc., Body Shop, A-Z Direct for Readers Digest and Rafael A. Mendiola Jr. "RAM Jr." for venue and buffet lunch.

Posing for MOD magazine.

So why Pandesal Party at the invitation? The reason. Joy loves Pandesal and all moms too. I actually took home two packs of them. The grandest Pandesal Party in the history of blogging!

I so love Walter Bread Pandesal!

Love Blends Coffee

The softest bread I have ever tasted. Hot pandesal from Walter Bread and a hot coffee from Love Blends were served for our breakfast. Aside from our breakfast, a scrumptious meal buffet from Joy's better half Rafael A. Mendiola Jr. , "RAM Jr." was served for our lunch.


Thank you Joy for everything that you have prepared for us. You truly bring much Joy to all mommies. I hope to be part again in your next blog anniversary. Congratulations again to Occasions of Joy 1st Blog Anniversary and more power!

Made to Order Blinds

I always find it neat when I see homes that use blinds instead of curtains. Blinds are a common thing in the office but in today's modern style, it is used also in every room in the house. Aside from the convenience of using this, it blocks off the light that directly enters in your house. Made to measure Vertical Blinds are now available online where you can pick the color and style of your choice. Practically, these blinds are very affordable and yet the quality are in highest standards. Try the blinds in your home and put down the traditional curtain for a while. Discover a new brightness and new look it will create into your home.

Choose a Good Domain Name

I own one domain site and soon planning to buy domain for my other three blogs. When I first placed my order for my domain, the name that I originally wanted for my site has already been taken and the only available extension were, .info, .net .org and more. So I decided to add names in the title of my blog just to get a .com. I ended up with a very long domain names and did not consult the internet for a good choice of domain. My domain blog sucks. But all I can do now is regret. I cannot change it anymore for domain names are meant to be its name registered forever.

There are many things to consider in choosing a domain name. If possible, stick to .com extension especially if you intend your blog for business. Although there are successful blogs with ".net" or ".org," still, most internet users search for a ".com" domain. Another thing is domain with shorter name. It is easily remembered and when people ask your domain, you can say it with ease without even repeating a confusing domain.

CordLife

Who would have thought that umbilical cord blood, which is usually discarded along with the placenta and umbilical cord itself, can be used to save life?

Learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime decision. Find out how your baby's umbilical cord blood can be used to treat over 80 diseases. Please visit www.cordlife.com/ph.

PPC Agency

New business online looks for a ppc agency that will put their site into a search engine. If your site is just a month old, it is very unlikely that people will find your business into a search engine. Paid traffic is sometimes the first option that you will consider. In finding a business today, people use this at once. So, this kind of marketing strategy will help them find your name, business, contact and your product in search results.

Most businesses want an agency that will take care of their traffic. You must make a thorough research first on what agency to take since it will act as an extension of your marketing team. You should pick an agency that offers something unique and is passionate about their clients . You will notice this when they do a research and understand what your business is all about. Paid traffic is the best way to keep your business soars up high. For all the costs you take, the price of getting an agency will ensure you a positive return on investment.

High School Week

You will all agree that high school days are certainly the best days of our lives. Last weekend, I met my high school buddies and reminisced days while we were in high school. We talked like it was only yesterday and memories came flooding back. We laughed out loud remembering how funny we look like then.

Photos posted above are my daughter's. This week, they celebrate High School Week where students are given activities to discover more of themselves outside their classroom.

-o-

I asked my daughter why she didn't even bother to comb her hair. She explained that she's sporting a chic messy bun hairstyle. It is intended to be improper and messy. Messy bun is a hairstyle where hair is twisted with a ponytail wrapping it around itself in a mess. I never knew there is such thing as messy style. I am familiar only with this kind of hairstyle when I'm home in my holed shirt and busy enough to iron my hair.

About Logo and Design

You will remember a product if the logo and design are done in a very creative way. It is important for one business, whether big or small to have a logo that will stand out from the rest. If you think about getting a cheaper design or a design that you never give much detail, think again. You are only wasting your money for the logo that you will never benefit at all. Try the best logo design where people will have a great recall on your product and your business as well. Most of the time, a logo with unique design gives a strong impact on the consumer. Let me cite a website I've visited few months ago yet it is still vivid in my memory. The design of the website left an image in my mind. Please remember that that an effective logo should convey the message clearly to the viewer on who you are and what your business is all about in just few seconds.

Overheard

Today, daughter came home from school rushing to see her pet. She hugged her pet and said that she missed Majic so much. It's not so unusual to me anyway.

overheard: daughter to her pet

"I think about you when I'm at school and worried that somebody might leave the door open and you escape. Please don't ever try to run away when you want to play around with other dogs outside. I know that you want to be free sometimes, I just can't bear to think how it would feel if you lost yourself way home."

Please mom, don't let him run lose around the house when I'm away. It is safer if he stays inside the dog crib.

Now, I am starting to browse the page about dogs. I need to get more tips about dog's health, their life span and how to cope up the pain on losing pet. Right now, we enjoy the moment while he's around licking our feet, watching on us and doing his best tricks to impress.

"When you leave them in the morning, they stick their nose in the door crack and stand there like a portrait until you turn the key eight hours later."
Erma Bombeck

Email Newsletter

I've been thinking lately on how to maximize my earnings online and saw this e mail newsletter. It says that they provide all specifications needed for email marketing and more. I'm a bit hesitant at first but when I clicked the website, I found myself browsing the page and reviewing on what more benefits can the site offer. I am honestly into blog hiatus these days. I've been awfully busy offline but will definitely focus more on this in the coming days to help me with my network. I'll check on what could be the best plan I can recommend also to a friend who just started her business online.

oh my high school life

They are my high school buddies. Glenda is smart and frank and would always speak her heart out. Jinky is accommodating and vibrant. Anna is a sweet and silent type. The ugly ducklings in high school days bloomed into pretty swans today. Reactions are welcome. You deserve these praises ladies.

It is unusual to set a meeting early in the morning but for us, waking up early to meet old friends after 25 years is just as easy as waking up to claim four-digit winning numbers in lotto. What is waking up on early weekend morning to meet friends whom you never see for more than two decades now? Such a long period to catch up. We have the same hometown but we never bumped with each other even once.

We all agreed to meet by 9am at Tagaytay. The three pretties were thirty minutes earlier who came all the way from Batangas. Anna was still floating in the air that time who just arrived from abroad and only had few hours of sleep. She has never embraced her home sweet home yet when the two ladies dragged her out of the house and headed Tagaytay. She was still suffering from a jet lag but it was the only perfect day for us since Jinky who is based abroad is set to fly to SG the following day. The weather was very cooperative anyway that sets our mood into a perfect wandering and reminiscing day.


I was not surprised anymore with these four ladies (yes, including myself) who obviously smile a lot and that makes our wrinkles not visible at our age. Or are we good at hiding? I am not exaggerating but we are blessed with big smile even if we're not gifted with a towering heights. I clearly remember during school's flag ceremony when we would always fight on who's taller and who should be in front of the line. Haha.





Age is just a number and it clearly shows that the moments we shared were just what normal teenagers would love to be doing. We are all mature in our own ways, but the good things in life like friends and simple joys of strolling at the park are just awesome to cherish. High school moment is one exciting part of our life. Good and bad times, giggling moments with crushes and getting nervous when bullies were around. Yes, we thank them too. If not for them, it would be boring and soon forgotten years. Though we already experienced memory gap from time to time, those who bullied us were clearly remembered. Haha. Just to cute to reminisce those days.

We laugh like we own the park. The food is the only witness to our moment, laughters and loud conversation.

I hope that this meet up won't have a part two by the time when we're already safe belted in a wheelchair, in adult diaper and an arthro to survive the park. Golly wow! I can't wait till next. Count another ten months and we're going to celebrate the life begins moment. Too bad, we missed to hear Glenda's voice once again. She sang pretty well even in our grade school years, unaccompanied. I wanna hear her sings again, belting out in a loud digital videoke machine this time. Yey!

Thanks to Anna & Jinky for the treat, souvenir shirt, heavy lunch and chocolate and Glenda for the joyride. Til next!


What I realized.

high school days are exciting. we never had any pictures together in our high school days, not one.. :( it is okey to be bullied in HS and laugh about it today. we all miss our high school classmates even more. Mark Zuckerberg contributes a lot for connecting old friends. not to wear sandals. you'll never know what adventure you're going to take into. to bring a tripod.

Chris Chronicles 1st Blogversary

Yes! I'm joining the contest! Chris Chronicles is celebrating its 1st Blogversary this February! I hope I win in this contest. Top three winners will have a chance to win cash prizes.

1st winner will get $100

2nd winner will get $50

3rd winner will get $30

and 4th winner will get a two-column Blogger or WordPress template, color of winner’s choice.

I am just as excited as other participants. If ever I'd win the contest, I'd save the money for our summer get away, yehey!

Thank to the following sponsors of Chris Chronicles for making this contest possible.

Pinay Mommy Online , Proud Mommy of Three , The Domain Angel , Life's Digital Moments , Eat, Drink, Blog , Caffeinated Muse , Reviewer's Haven , Janet Speaks , The Travel Diva , Sketches, Yam's Files , Mum Writes Again , Travels and Musings , Viva Pinay ,�Small Kids Big Dreams , Azumi ? Kawaii Princess' Story , Fab ? Momma , Kawaii Princess , Samut-Sari , Joys in Life , Paula's Place , WAHM sa Pinas , Pop Ups of My Mind , Nursing Uniforms , Kero's Celebration , blankpixels - The Geek Side , Certified Foodies , jared's little corner of the world... , Travels and Explorations , Designer's Depot , Work at Home Dad, Noobfoodie , The Smart Shopper , Living Life to the Fullest! , Happy Home Working , Life of a Filipina Blogger , Wahmaholic Designs, The Miscellaneous Me, Family and Home Living

To join this giveaway:

1. Simply blog about this giveaway on your blog that is at least 3 months old.

• Please make sure that your post has a link to the contest page.
• Please copy the sponsors list and include it in your post.
  
• Indicate in your post why you want to win in the giveaway.

2. Follow her blog using Google Friend Connect.

3. Subscribe to her blog via Email.

Please check the link above for more info. This will run from Feb 1 to Feb 15, so please join now!

Diaper Rash Ointment - Boudreaux's Butt Paste

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

Choosing the most reliable diaper cream was hard for me when my children were still babies. I always picked the best and the most expensive diaper believing that it won't cause rashes on their skin. Dealing with this kind of problem especially for babies' sensitive skin is hard for a mom like me. Just seeing reddish skin makes me worried so much and no matter how often I changed their diapers, still it leaves a reddish and irritating feeling to my babies. Today, my sister told me about Boudreaux's Butt Paste that is really best for babies and are available now in the market. It definitely leaves the skin of our precious angels a fresher and light feeling.

This product, as recommended by a pediatrician, goes on and cleans off easily. This is also available in convenient sizes in flip top cap (tubes) or handy travel size. It has a pleasant scent and skin protectant. Boudreaux's Butt Paste has 16% zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam that treats diaper rash and soothes irritated skin instantly.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste was featured in popular shows like Oprah, Tonight, Today Show, People Magazine, ESPN and While You Were Out TLC.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste® was specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care. The product is available at 1oz, 2oz, 3oz and 4oz tubes and 16oz jar. Hey, please visit the website now and get your free sample of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. Let your baby experience a diaper rash free moment.

ParenTin I Love My Family

Parentin.tv, the first Online Philippine Online Parenting Show, hosted and created by Christine Bersola Babao, celebrated a pre-valentine event with the theme "I Love My Family" last February 6, 2011 at The Podium. My daughter and I, together with other mommy bloggers attended the event and enjoyed the company of other ParenTin members.


The host of the event, Ms. Rosell Velasco-Taberna, (wife of Anthony Taberna) with Ms. Tintin Bersola-Babao presented the three winners in make over contest.

Three mommies who won were very nervous but at the same time excited for their soon make over.

Parenting expert, Ms. Maribel Dionisio shared tips on marriage and parenting.

Dr. Arvin Faundo of Cordlife Philippines talked about the stem cell research and the importance of cord blood banking. Did you know that Cord blood banking can treat more than 80 diseases including leukemia and lymphoma? Please check out the website and learn more about cord blood banking. www.cordlife.com/ph


Marriage Consultant Tibbs and Vangie Eballe gave us a 30-minute seminar that afternoon. They discussed about five languages of love and these are words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch.

Chrystal Henares, daughter of Dra. Vicky Belo and General Manager of Belo Essentials. She shared tips on how to properly take care of our skin like how to protect our skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Baby Company's Mom Card. A cardholder can earn points for every purchase from Baby Company.

Askim, the pretty daughter of our blogger friend Jingke won in Mommy and Me Art contest.

Kid's Corner

Kids were given their own area to play around and do their own art work.

Art by Angel Hukom. Even kids were amazed how this little hand painted on the spot.

Angel Hukom and her paintings

Eureka's performance

The Rainmakers.
I was completely amazed with their performance on stage. Truly a premium performers! You can catch them live on February 18, 2011 at the Music Museum.

Finally, the much awaited make over of three mommies.

How I wish I won the contest too. I could have experienced the make over by David Salon. Their clothes were provided by Bayo and they were given gift packs from Belo Essentials.

Photo op with Ms. Tintin Bersola-Babao.

My younger daughter with Tintin


Mommy bloggers with Tintin

Before heading home, I treated my younger daughter to David Salon.

She only wants David Salon for her hair styling. Look how confident she is now with her new look. I'll post more of the side story in my next entry.

Please log on to http://www.parentin.tv and be a member of Parentin.tv Community. Learn more about smart parenting and have fun in future Parentin events.