GIVEAWAY: Bloggers Collab International Giveaway!

I've recently collaborated with three lovely bloggers to form an international giveaway. And yes, we are giving away cool prizes, so read on!

Bloggers:

• Lhyzie of lhyziebongon.com
• Mimi of mimilamour.blogspot.com
• Eurethel of eurethel.com
• Rainy of psychologyofrainy.blogspot.com

Our sponsors:

Sponsors (Online Shop):

• Out of the box PH
• SoftSkinLab
• EazyKlik Onlineshop

Prizes:

Versace Kimono (1 winner)

$10 PayPal Cash (1 Winner)

Soleil Skin Care Set (1 winner)

Fashion Loot (1 winner)

Beauty and Fashion Loot (1 winner)

Giveaway Details:

• Giveaway will start from August 7 – September 7, 2015.
• Winners will be announce by 2nd week of September.
• International Giveaway
• Winners should email me their shipping information at lyzettebongon@gmail.com
• Giveaway winners have 48 hours to contact me or else I will choose the winners again.
• Make sure you do all the mandatory instructions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Transform yourself with Schick

So after watching Iron Man 3 with hubbie a couple of weeks back, I found out that another superhero movie is coming out in the theaters again! This time though it will be everyone's all time favorite superhero: SUPERMAN. Also known as Man of Steel. Yup another man made of iron, but probably more classic than Iron Man himself.

I was actually looking forward to watching this new film but I was not quite sure when it will come out yet. Thank God for Nuffnang and Schick!

Schick. Free Your Skin.

I just received an e-mail promo from Nuffnang and they're giving away two (2) free tickets for the movie screening of Man of Steel this coming June 14 at the Shangri-la Cineplex. How awesome is that, right? Here's the cool promo banner:



I highly encourage that you join their blog contest if you want to win tickets for the premiere, too! It's actually pretty simple, just answer the question:

“If you had the powers of MAN OF STEEL for one (1) week, how would you use it?”

Well, here's my own take on how I would use Superman's powers:

If I remember it right from the Superman comics I've read when I was younger, Superman had the superhuman intelligence, superhuman breath, x-ray vision, combat skills and of course, how can anyone forget the superhuman strength and solar battery that he possessed?

Using these powers in particular would actually help me in my personal mission to help the NBI track heinous criminals and their masterminds to help eliminate crimes in our country using all of the mentioned superpowers.

With the superhuman intelligence I could easily help the authorities to track down petty criminals to big time, mafia-like chieftains, especially those who are involved so much in the drug business.

Along with it, is using the physical superpowers in defying those who would try to fight back to the authorities.

I would totally kick-ass. IF this DOES happen, I would make sure that I have my own tight and hot superhero outfit. LOL

But these superpowers should not all be used in fighting crime (and looking hot haha) but it should be also used in helping solve other issues such as using the superhuman intelligence to help scientists and doctors find cures for various diseases such as cancer, lupus, polio and AIDS/HIV.

Also, helping in assessing and assisting the children with special needs and the mentally challenged would be of great help to those who needs it for free, since assessment and caring for our physically, mentally and genetically challenged brothers and sisters costs so much. I guess the super strength would also help me train batch after batch of volunteers that would also like to help in caring for our brothers and sisters in need, as training is also pretty expensive for the volunteers.

Apart from these, I'd use my superhuman intelligence to figure out a process that would help extract solar energy from my body so that people who are not fortunate enough to have electricity would have one from my solar powers.

Last, but not the least... I'd fly all the way to Mindanao to talk to the rebels and try to make them understand that violence isn't the only key to protect one's land, heritage or to show off their powers. It is about the things that they can do to make their place a safer place to live.

And those are the things that I would do if I were given the powers of the Man of Steel for an entire week. I hope you'd participate in this too, I would love to read about what you can do. :)

Per DTI-NCR Permit No.1843 Series of 2013.

Online Tutorials

With the rapid growth of technology it is impossible for kids and teenagers to keep up and focus with their studies, especially with the new video games that are coming out of the market frequently.

Computers made it impossible to force children and teenagers alike to pick up a book especially when they can always Google all the information they need, but although it is good that information is just within reach, there is still a negative side to it.

The down side of this is that children and teenagers would lack the real skill they need with their studies such as social interaction and being inquisitive. They might even fail to develop enough learning skills if they just depend on searching for quick answers.

Another is that not everything we find on the internet is credible enough to be a source of valid information as anyone can post anything online these days.

So is there a solution to this?

Solution is probably a big word for this type of problem, but remedy is just the right one.

If the children cannot be easily taken away from the computer why not install educational softwares that they may find fun and interesting. This is very helpful for children whose age ranges from 4 to 10 years old and although this is just a temporary remedy, (as children would later on find it boring as they age) parents might be able to help their children develop some of their basic skills in reading and solving minor math problems.

Another remedy is that giving children 2 to 3 hours of computer usage per day. In this way, children will be disciplined enough to manage their time well between their chores, homework and leisure time. Doing this might also help your children to go out more and interact with other children to develop their interpersonal skill.

But if a child or a teenager is really finding it hard to cope with his or her studies due to excessive usage of the computer or other distractions he or she might have, it might be best to hire a tutor for the child as to have someone to guide them with their academics and also to have someone to constantly remind them about their schoolwork. Doing so might also develop the child’s skill in communication and expand his or her knowledge by having someone to ask information from.

It is best to hire a professional teacher for the job. When in doubt, ask for a resume and contact the character references the applicant listed. Parents may also want to consider hiring an online tutor for their children who can work with their children after school and even during the weekends as to not bother with having someone coming over and covering extra expenses such as transportation and food allowance.

This is also an ideal way to help children cope with their academics when their own parents are busy enough with work and house chores while still using the computer. This unconventional way of learning is in no way promoting excessive usage of the computer for children, but it is just simply to help children learn while being able to do what they like to do and that is be in front of the computer.

If you can't break them, join them!

Online learning is also a good way to help a child develop his or her's inquisitive skill as the child may have someone to ask and clarify details and information from. It also adds extra interaction with another person to develop their communication skills well.

Although it is still strongly encouraged that parents give their children limit in using the computer and let them play outside and interact with other children, still it wouldn't hurt to let the children learn while doing what they like to do.

If you are considering online tutorials and don't know where to start, send me an e-mail at miavenus[AT]hellokitty[DOT]com. I'd be very glad to send you my resume. :)

Book Review: Bohemia by Veronika Carnaby

Sometime in mid-December last year, I received an e-mail from Ms. Veronika Carnaby herself, asking me to write a review for her debut novel, Bohemia. Along with the e-mail came a free digital copy of the novel itself, and I couldn’t be more grateful about it.

I still could not believe that she chose me and my blog to write and feature a review about her novel; it’s such an honor to be one of the chosen few. So enough of raving, here’s the book’s plot:

Book Summary:

In her debut novel, Veronika Carnaby picks up where the Beat Generation left off. Set in 1960, Bohemia chronicles a group of twenty-somethings who defy the "ideals" of a mid-twentieth century society to seek creative fulfillment. In the process, they spotlight the creative path that artists of all mediums tread, all the while depicting the challenges faced by youth in the decade that changed the world.

My thoughts:

Bohemia is really my type of novel, considering that I have this burning passion for everything nostalgic, and it’s really not that hard to fall in love with it. Veronika Carnaby’s way of weaving words, events and characters together is totally capturing. It was as if I am slowly being taken back into time in the 60’s and watch everything happen before my eyes. She really did paint pictures with words, and that’s my number one basis of a great book.

Bohemia is very realistic as well. Considering the time-table of the story, I think it was really difficult for a person to write something based from a very different era, but everything came naturally with Bohemia, from the jargon, the culture to the fashion. It’s that sort of book that makes you crave for more as the story progresses and leaves you disappointed in the last page because you think there should be more to it.

Veronika Carnaby was able to bring back the 60’s in this modern world and introduced it to another generation with downright success through her debut novel.

Bohemia is a very easy read, in my opinion, it’s not too long but it’s not too short as well, and it’s really capturing. I personally recommend it to anyone who’s planning to build a reading list, or to add it to their existing ones as this is really a great addition to any booklover’s shelf.

About Veronika Carnaby:

American writer and poet Veronika Carnaby carries a vintage charm about her that transcends well into her written works. Recognized for her Beat-style prose and innovative voice, Carnaby’s pieces have gained international recognition after appearing in such publications and functions as The Ed Sullivan Show, Empty Mirror Magazine, Dan's Papers Literary Journal, SESAC Magazine, SXSW, and the SESAC New York Music Awards. In past projects, she has worked with the likes of Archie Shepp, Ben E. King, and prolific Nashville songwriter and co-owner of Bug Music, Roger Murrah, among others. Since receiving the 2001 Young Authors Award for Excellence in Short Story Writing, she has welcomed the opportunity to share ideas of literary merit with the circles of Sir Paul McCartney, Roger McGuinn, Nancy Sinatra, and Roger Waters.

Channeling the caliber of her greatest influences, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan, Carnaby infuses her writing with a poignancy and passion for literature, music, and twentieth century culture. Whether through her feats or her unprecedented knack for the written word, Carnaby has etched an indelible mark as a pioneer in her own right.

You may check out Ms. Carnaby's personal website here. You might also want your own copy of the novel. It's available on Amazon.com for only $9.99. ^_^

Weight Loss Options

Most people I know are desperate to lose weight, especially now that summer has come. Those people I know have considered dieting, exercising and even surgeries! Yep, believe it or not, my good friend has seriously talked to me about a series of surgeries wherein the doctors take out a part of your stomach to make you eat less.

Such surgery is risky, I know and so I made a little research on it to share with my good friend. Upon browsing the net, I have come across a site called My Surgery MD wherein I found a couple of information about the procedure that my friend and I were talking about and found out that it is called “Bariatric Surgery”.

One of the surgeries I found under Bariatric is Gastric Bypass Procedure. This procedure is said to be for extremely obese patients who have found little to no success at all in a weight loss diet. This particular procedure decreases the stomach size of the patients, which then in turn becomes a gateway to successful weight loss.
This procedure also costs around $18,000 to about $30,000 and would depend upon the surgeon who would be performing the procedure and the technique that he or she is going to use.

Another was Gastric Sleeve Surgery, some tend to call it Sleeve Gastrectomy and this particular procedure that costs around $10,000 to $25,000 involves the removal of the large portion of the patient’s stomach.

The last procedure I found is called Lap Band Surgery. This procedure involves a silicone band that would be wrapped around the patient’s stomach to limit the amount of food that they would be eating. This procedure costs around $15, 000 to $20,000.

Just imagine that. My friend’s eyes literally bulged at the tremendous amount.

And although these procedures do have their benefits, still nothing is better than the natural way of trimming down other than proper diet and exercise.

Drunk Driving Lesson

I know a lot of people who drink and drive after spending the entire evening at a friend’s house and it scares me that most of them might be involved in car accidents in the future, or worse—being caught in act by the authority.

Considering the fact that a person driving under the influence of alcohol is against the law, they might not be involved in a car accident (yet!) but they can be legally charged for DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) when they get caught by the police. While first offense only charges the offender a misdemeanor DUI, a repeated allegation would result to felony DUI.

Being caught DUI or DWI is like being in an accident as well, in the financial sense that is. Just diminish the finances involved in getting the area cleaned up and the medical fees, but in the same way the offender will still be charged for the crime he or she has committed. The offender would need to hire a special DUI lawyer for his DWI defense and that lawyer would need to let the offender understand the sentence of a repeated DUI offense.

See, all these commotion only for drunk driving. So friends, please do drive safely and sober!

I once dream of...

being a theatre actress.

That dream started when I was in the sixth grade when I was asked by my music teacher to star as Mary Magdalene in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. It was really a nice experience, and exposure if you ask me. Even if my teacher literally dragged me to the first rehearsal. LOL. I carried that dream until I was in High School but eventually dropped it when I found out that writing and web design is my forte in life.

But I still go to opera productions when I have the time these days, or when our school invite theatre groups to perform in our school. When I watch a production, though, I make sure that I inform my elder sister what I'm going to see, especially if it is going to be a musical. She lives in the states, and is a sucker for musical plays, I don't know why.

She also happens to love off-broadway shows, which I think are pretty cool. She would often send me photos of the tickets she bought for a show that she would watch, yeah... that really get me envious as I don't have as much free time as her. Pfft. :blackcloud: haha She often get her tickets online from Ticketamerica.com , she said they have many tickets for all different genres of music including musicals and or plays, plus off Broadway productions and all opera and classic music.

Sometimes, when I watch a production I still day dream that I am one of the people performing. I guess, my love for theatre never left me after all, perhaps I'll give it a shot again when I get the chance. Who knows right? :)

Concerts in 2012

Mac have always dreamed of going to a concert with me, so when he found out that Katy Perry is playing Manila again, he asked me if we could watch it together. We both agreed that we'll try our best to save up for at least the bronze ticket, but since we have a lot of things to save up for first, the California Dreams concert thought was put aside.

But a couple of days ago he told me that Evanescence will also be having a concert in Manila next month, knowing for a fact that I used to be (and I guess I still am) a huge fan of Amy Lee. I nearly hyperventilated in excitement, believe me I'm not exaggerating. ;) But I already figured out that Evanescence would be more expensive than Katy Perry.

I have not been in a concert for over a year, and it's a sad thing for me because way back in high school I used to follow my favorite local bands around Manila, and even in Cebu. LOL I miss screaming like a sissy fan girl on a Hale concert. Ha-ha! Came college, the only time I could watch a gig or a concert is when local bands are playing in bars nearby, or if the council invited one. I miss watching concerts, it's been a great part of my life at some point. It's my other way of winding up on a Friday or Saturday night after a week long of stress from school.

So I decided to Google other upcoming concerts, and found out that a great deal of artists are coming to the Philippines this year. YAY! I've also just been informed by my good friend May that A Rocket to the Moon will be having a mall tour next month, I guess there's a fat chance that Mac and I could watch them. I'm still trying to look for something bigger that would happen during the summer like Death Cab for Cutie, they'll be having a concert in Taguig on March 5th. I guess it would be much better since we could have enough time to save up for it, and we will most probably be not too busy. But we will definitely watch A Rocket to the Moon! Ha-ha! Not only am I a fan, but also because I want to do something good for Mac. <3 In the mean time, I'm thinking of watching local bands with Mac, I was thinking of Pupil, Bamboo, Urbandub, The Dawn, Franco or better--KAMIKAZEE! Ha-ha! But I haven't looked into their gig lists yet, I might do it tomorrow.

BTW, I updated the site pages and added some new content in the Visitor's page. Finally have FREE WORDPRESS THEMES for you to download! Tell me what you think.