You're still the one!

Today, I woke up early and just laid in bed watching my sweetest while he was still in dreamland. It has been awhile since I last did it.

School is already over and now I have more time to stay in bed. I don't need to hurry up to go to work because I am now a certified bum [LOL]. And as I lay tracing his face with my fingers so carefully not wanting to wake him up... memories of some 4 years ago came flashing back.

Yes, four years ago... on this exact day... we said "I do". Yes, today is our 4th Wedding Anniversary. It has been fours years now and I can't believe that we are still together. Not that I wish otherwise, it's just that after all the ups and downs and all the things that we have been through, I can't believe that we still have the strength to hold on and not give up.

Well, we are just typical couples with typical problems like everybody else. We are ordinary people with ordinary trials and hurdles but we were able to conquer them in our extra-ordinary way. And we are just simple human beings not trying hard to be super heroes wanting to save the world but save our relationship the best way we can.

Today... I opted not to write him the usual I-don't-know-if-he-actually-read-or-have-a-clue-that-it-actually-exist love letter but rather sing him a special song that fits what I feel right now. Yes, this is the only way I can give justice to my singing talent without humiliating myself in the process. LOL. And this is also the best way to save me the time and the energy to think of what I want to tell my Sweetest on our special day.

So here we go... hmmmmmm [I started humming. Yeah!]

[Oops! Narrating first.]
I first saw you, I saw love.
And the first time you touched me, I felt love.
And after all this time, you're still the one I love.)

[Now singing with my eyes closed.]
Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

Bridge:
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

Chorus: [Banging my head now!LOL]
(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'

I'm so glad we made it
Look how far we've come my baby

My Dear Sweetest,

Happy Anniversary Sweetest. I hope you like my song. Tonight, I will sing it to you again... in the comfort of our bed... with the rhythm of the humming sound of the A/C [looks like it will be another humid night]... with the romantic ambiance of our bedroom brought by the calming and lightly lit Himalayan salt rock lamp... while watching CSI. [DANG IT!] hahaha. Whatever! But as you lay down to sleep tonight I want you to know that - I love you more than you ever know. Thank you for your patience for 4 long years. I hope it is renewable for another term. wink*

Your Sweetie.

Damn it! [Excuse my words, is just for impact]

I woke up early today even if I am was supposed to be working. Yes, I am officially unemployed so there is no need for me to be up and about. hehehe But still, no matter how I wanted to stay longer in bed, I couldn't. I didn't feel good for some reason. Damn alarm clock! Why didn't I turn you off? My Bad!

Well, it's not actually unusual for me to feel this way nowadays, so there is nothing to panic about. At my age, sleeping and/or getting a sleep is a huge problem now. I have a hard time getting a good sleep and when I did get to sleep, I would have to get up in the middle of the night to take a trip to the bathroom. Damn bladder! Why don't you leave me alone? LOL.

Now, "hot flashes" are on the attack. Oh yeah, I think I am almost there. My foot is already on the threshold. Again, nothing to be concerned about. Time will never stand still no matter how I wish. Yes, baby I am about to reach a milestone. Damn fountain of youth! Where art thou? LMAO

My Running BFF

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am happy to run outdoors now because I save a lot on my gym membership fee. [wink*] I like running on “real road” than on “moving belt” which twisted my knee and gave me an injury [thanks a lot for my ignorance]. And more importantly, I just love the feel of the cool breeze on my cheeks and the warmth of the sun on my skin. It does feel like “not winter” anymore. Yey.

 Well, I have been waiting all winter to get the chance to run outdoors but I didn’t realize that this spring will have a great impact on my allergy. But then, my allergy didn’t stop me from running outdoors. I now run with my new BFF – Wal-Fex Allergy for Indoors and Outdoors Allergies which is one of the Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products that I discovered which is very effective to me. It is not only effective but friendly too. Yes, it’s friendly to my pocketbook, that is.

This product gives me quick relief from sneezing, itchy nose, eyes and throat, runny nose, and watery eyes. And most importantly, it’s non-drowsy so I know I won’t fall asleep while I was running. LOL.

Well, I know there are lots of brand name products of the same medicine but I like Walgreens products not only because they are cheaper compared to others but because… Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are a great value, allowing families and individuals to save money without sacrificing quality or trust. With the rising cost of health care, saving money on over-the-counter medications can really benefit a family’s budget. In addition to being an exceptional value, Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products… are Walgreens pharmacist recommended… most contain the same active ingredients as other national brands… and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Visit http://www.walgreens.com/walgr… to learn more about Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products and the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™.

 And oh, by the way, do you know that several bloggers are giving away some Walgreens Gift Cards? Yup, so check it out: http://socialspark.com/Walgree… , who knows you could be one of the lucky recipients of these giveaways.

An Allergy-Free Day

For some reason, I am now allergic to almost everything. Could it be even possible at all?

I have lived a life free from allergies even when I was still in the Philippines. Smog, smoke, dust, pollen and air pollution never bother me. They never give me sniffles, headache and stuffy nose.

When I came here in Maine, I may be bothered by the extreme weather but still that doesn't give me reason to take any anti-histamine.

Well, I would have a little stuffy nose every now and then, especially early in the morning but that is because of sinusitis but that's all about it. I don't even have to take anything for it to go away because I think it goes away with the ticking of the clock.

Now, I need to take non-drowsy anti-histamine to survive the day without headache and watery eyes. I love the outdoors especially now that I am into running. I just hope that I will be able to run everyday without worrying about the pollen.

The Challenge of Motherhood

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CryoCell International for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Motherhood - that is something I believe will not happen to me anymore.  I learned to accept the fact that there are certain things that other women who either love or hate doing will not be my things. Things like preparing food for school lunches, going to soccer/football/basketball/hockey/and what-have-you-games, attending PTA meetings in school, hosting sleep-overs and most importantly… driving a mini-van - will only be a dream. LOL

Motherhood – is a very important stage in a woman’s life but not all are given the chance to experience it. But I have no regrets. I am just happy for those who are pregnant like three of my friends. Although I know how hard it is to carry a life inside, it is worth every pain when the baby is born. And I know that I will not be able to experience that too. And with the recent advancement in medical research, I will not be able to participate in CRYO CELL’s signature U-Cord service. Oh how cute it would be to get that special stroller for my new born. Wink

Well if you do not know what Cryo-Cell Signature U-Cord service is, here are some of the facts to enlighten you on this important subject in advanced medicine:

Since 1992, Cryo Cell has helped more than 230,000 clients worldwide preserve their newborn's umbilical cord blood for potential use against many diseases. Along with cord banking, Cryo-Cell Cord Bank is pioneering the way in research, to find more solutions to preserve stem cells in a noncontroversial way. Cord blood is just the first step in new medical advancements.

So if you are pregnant right now… you are what they are looking for and this is what they believe in…

Cryo-Cell knows that as a new mom, it's hard to find time to exercise. We believe that Cryo-Cell moms really understand the importance of safeguarding the future health and well-being for both their newborns and for themselves. With the award-winning Baby Jogger City Mini stroller, new moms can work out as they enjoy time in the beautiful outdoors with their new baby.

Well, what are you waiting for? There is no better way to celebrate the birth of your baby than to commit yourself to stay healthy to take care of him. The clock is ticking, enroll today in Cryo-Cell’s signature U-Cord service and get a Baby Jogger City Mini for free. It’s only a limited-time offer so don’t waste your time. Sign up and get your jogger now!

It's my Sweetest Birthday, today!

It's my Sweetest birthday today. I wasn't able to greet him this morning because I was so sleepy when I left for work. The guys who did our dining/kitchen flooring worked all night. They were still there when I left for work at 5:30 am.

So today, I just texted him to say Happy Birthday. And since I have not written to him for a long time, this is the best time to do it now.

Dear Sweetest,

Happy Birthday. What else can I say? hahaha Well, I can come up with lots of sweet words and stuff like that, but I guess we are passed that stage now. We have been together for 4 years already. I remembered I came here in Maine 2 days before your birthday and you said... I was the best gift you ever had on your birthday. That was sweet. wink*

Well, it's already the 4th year that we have been together so we don't have to do the math. I will just ask you a question. Am I still the best gift you ever had? No, you don't have to answer that question [since you don't read my blog anyway and I'm afraid the answer will be worse. LOL]. We have been through a lot. And a lot of times it was not that good. We have ups and downs just like any other normal couples do. But we are not normal, are we? hahaha

Life is tough and our relationship has been put to test a lot of times. And a lot of times, we never give up. I just hope that we continue to hold on and work out on it. I don't want to be cheesy this time. We are passed that stage too. 

Just want you to know that I LOVE YOU... point blank! Not as if I don't have a choice. I do have a choice, right? And I chose you so deal with it.

I love you Sweetest... more that you ever now. Happy birthday. Come home early... we'll have a dinner date. 

Don't worry it's on me. wink*

Love you always,

Your Sweetie

New Profession?

So I am having a backlog on my blogging activities here [so, what else is new? LOL] - most especially in this website. I admit it's very irresponsible of me. As I have said... I am busy... really busy. And yet, I was able to start a new website about a couple of months back dedicated to my new career - running. hahaha

NO... I just love the way it sounds - Professional Runner. Well, I might be trying hard to run, ain't that one of the characteristics of a Professional Runner?

But NO... it's not as if I am giving up my day job to concentrate on running to make money. Well, the last race I participated was awesome. The first finisher bagged 5K for the 5K [translation: 5,000 dollars for the 5 kilometers run]. No way I can come close to the first 100 finishers. But at least this time around I wasn't the 5th to the last who crossed the finish line. hahaha.

So here is the update on my blogging whereabouts. My new website is called the high-heeled Diva's RUNNING bLOG.

And NO... I didn't run in my stilettos. I ran in running shoes. I am a professional, you know! hahaha

Memorial Weekend

Happy Memorial Weekend, everyone. Hay, I know... I know. It's been a long time since I last posted anything substantial or worth-reading here. It's hormonal this time. hahahaha

Well, you got to blame somebody but yourself. Yes, I am having some hormonal attacks lately. Yes, aging is inevitable. And yes, I can't stop it no matter how hard I tried.

So, life goes on here in my part of the world in northern New England despite the unpredictable weather. And just to give update on my current whereabouts [pretend that I have a fan base who cares about that, lol] I am cooking up something. I will not give a hint because eventually the whole web wide world will take notice.

So for now, I just type a quick "the-big-brown-fox-jumps-over-the-lazy-dog" to test my new keyboard. Happy Memorial Day, guys and yes, go easy on the bbq and the chips.

The Gift of Independence

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NMEDA for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 I have a new passion… running. It all started with a walk… the Mary’s Walk, which is a fundraising for Maine Cancer Research. Since then I became inspired to run. I am now training for my 2nd 5k and hopefully I will be able to do a full marathon.

I am so lucky that I can walk, much more… that I can run. It must have been disheartening for all those who are physically challenged and wheel-chair bound to just even go around their own backyard, so I thought. But during my very first 5k race, I was humbled by one of the race participants. He crossed the finish line 10 minutes ahead of me. He was wheel-chaired bound but you cannot see in his face that his disability is a big obstacle in achieving his goal. I was amazed at how he crossed the finish line with total confidence.

After the race he was assisted by another guy to his specially-made vehicle and his specially-made-for-races wheel-chair was carefully wheeled inside the vehicle too. As they drove away, I was totally so inspired to work harder on my new passion because I thought, if he can do it… why can’t I!

Well, speaking of that specially-made vehicle. It is indeed great that with this kind of vehicle is available to our physically challenged friends and loved ones so they can to go places safely. It is also good to know that these kind of vehicles are available through the help of NMEDA who makes sure that vehicles like these are easily accessible by wheelchairs.

To know more about NMEDA, here are some additional information:

- NMEDA is a non-profit trade association; they educate consumers on buying products from a NMEDA qualified dealer.

- NMEDA DOES NOT SELL ANYTHING: NMEDA is the only association that promotes safe driving and equipment for disabled people. They are non-profit and their members are required to adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NMEDA dealers (members) are the ones who sell handicap vans and vehicle modifications for disabled people.

- No two people with a disability are exactly the same. Beware of adapted wheelchair vehicles sold over the Internet or through catalogs. After a personalized “in-person” evaluation, you can be sure you are getting the right driving solution customized to your specific lifestyle and needs. If you need additional training or product refinements, your NMEDA dealer is there to help you.

- NMEDA has Dealers AND Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers.
* The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. It is based on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality.

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Caring for our loved ones with disability is a tough job but it is nice to know that a NMEDA qualified dealer can help us in our daily challenges in dealing with them.

If you are a Health Care provider who needs this kind of special vehicle for your clients or a caregiver of a physically challenged loved one … visit nmeda.org now and on its homepage, type in your ZIP code on the box provided at the dealer’s locator and see if there is a qualified dealer near you.

The road to independence for our disabled loved ones starts now… with NMEDA… and with our desire to give them the gift of independence.

This Time of the Year

I feel a little edgy lately. I can't help it. It was around this time of the year when I miscarried.

It has been 3 years already and I'm still not over it. I still grieve. I still cry every now and then especially when I hear stories about miscarriages. Though, I became a mom for a brief moment, it was such a wonderful moment in my life.

Three years have passed, but I still feel the pain of losing my precious little one. 

But I try move on though I still grieve, it doesn't necessarily mean that I am hopeless.

And I try to be happy though I still cry, it doesn't always mean that I am lonely.

Then, I try to be free though I still feel pain, it doesn't really mean that I have given up.

One day, I will let this time of the year pass by... celebrating the joy of acceptance.

B.A.S: Blogging Anemia Syndrome

My Bad!

I have not written anything here for a long time. I have no alibi. I am plain lazy!

I am working only part-time and have more free time everyday and yet, I can’t convince myself to write anything lately. Having 6 blogs finally took a toll on me. I do write every now and then, and that is because I am writing paid posts for 3 blogs [this, my breathing space and hubby's blog where I am a ghost writer. lol] I need extra income, you know. But still I am not doing a-ok on that department either, unlike when I was still a stay-at-home wife where I could write 10 to 12 post a day on PPP and 1 post for each non-PPP blog.

While my other 3 blogs are suffering from blogging anemia [together with my newest baby except for the photoblog which I share with my brothers Japol and Gary - thank God!], commenting and blog hopping to other bloggers' websites seemed to be unacceptable, as well . 

This thing or shall I say… phase… is not entirely new to me. I have been there a lot of times and I am so familiar with it. Laziness is my twin sister. We have a love-hate relationship and we have a strong bond together when life in the fast lane is too tiring to bear or in my recent case - becomes monotonous. But unlike my siblings, Laziness and I can get tired of each other and eventually can soon get rid each other as fast as we could.

So for now, I will just take things easy and enjoy my sweet life in the slow lane. And hope that people will be as forgiving as always.