KZ Tandingan For Once In My Life

KZ nailed it again with her amazing rendition of For Once In My Life which,by the way, is one of my favorites. KZ Tandingan came out the #11 in the results this time. Way to go, KZ! You're indeed the reason why viewers watch X Factor Philippines!

KZ Tandingan Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Such great talent in Digos rising star KZ Tandingan! You've got to watch the full video and you'll be impressed at her talent! She sure has her own style, my family are in awe of her... ang galing!

Music Monday - Your Song

Music Monday time again this week for me and my blog. Whoa! It has been awhile!

I just missed "Your Song" from the Moulin Rouge movie when I heard this other rendition by another Youtube star. I love the way she delivers the song here. Happy MM everyone!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.



PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

February's Best Reads

Back again for the Best Romantic Books of all time, which are wonderful to read whilst getting into the romantic mood for Valentines :)

Download all of them as freebies for February! (click on the Titles)

A Walk To Remember

Beloved
Dating for Dummies

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Love Story by Erich Segal

*to successfully download pls key in the password 'qwer'

Currency Converter

To buy any ebook from the complete list here send a paypal payment to: paperworksgalore@gmail.com

Also follow me at http://donyarific.sulit.com.ph

http://myworld.ebay.ph/pink*jeep

http://twitter.com/pinkjeepebooks (watch out for my regular freebies!)

http://pinkjeep.multiply.com

Happy Music And Songs For This New Year 2012

Just this New Year's Eve it suddenly occurred to me that this is the best time to create a vision board of plans, thoughts, dreams, goals this 2012. How perfect it could be if I can create an affirmation video with uplifting and inspiring songs to match. So here are my choices at the moment, and I hope you enjoy them too. (I would also like to ask if you have any suggestions)

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye
Blessed - Elton John
Simply The Best - Tina Turner
What A Feeling (Flashdance)- Irene Cara
I'll Tumble 4 Ya - Culture Club
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Lean On Me - Club Nouveau
Walking On Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Holiday - Madonna

We Go Together - Song from Grease
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
Holding Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler
Jump (For My Love) - Pointer Sisters
Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle

Download these songs with password qwer

To get any ebook from the list send a paypal payment to: paperworksgalore[at]gmail.com

The new prices from now on will be: (for international rates, please use the conversion rate found above)

For each ebook title
Php5.00 (local)
$ 0.11 (USA)
€ 0.07 (International)
10.31 yen (Japan)

For each ebook bundle
Php50.00 (local)
$ 1.15 (USA)
€ 0.75 (International)
103.12 yen (Japan)

(for international rates, please use the conversion rate on the mainpage)

Also follow me at http://donyarific.sulit.com.ph
http://pinkjeep.multiply.com

Happy New Year!

Rachel Crow's Survival Song "I'd Rather Be Blind"

Rachel Crow sang so well last night, with much gusto and emotion for her rendition of "I'd Rather Be Blind" by Etta James. I was really impressed that she has remained in the competition after all the eliminations. Though I was also shocked of the ending. My heart goes out to her for her loss. 13 is still a very young age to be rejected, yet it was a risk and better accept at 13 than at 31, they say. As of this time though, I'm hopeful for her and happy that there's been news that Disney wants to sign her! Way to go, Rachel Crow! This is not the end, but the beginning!

To get any ebook from the list send a paypal payment to: paperworksgalore[at]gmail.com

The new prices from now on will be: (for international rates, please use the conversion rate found above)

For each ebook title
Php5.00 (local)
$ 0.11 (USA)
€ 0.07 (International)
10.31 yen (Japan)

For each ebook bundle
Php50.00 (local)
$ 1.15 (USA)
€ 0.75 (International)
103.12 yen (Japan)

(for international rates, please use the conversion rate on the mainpage)

Also follow me at http://donyarific.sulit.com.ph
http://pinkjeep.multiply.com

Music Monday - Endless Love

Most memorable song, also much loved by most of my hopelessly romantic friends and a few nephews and nieces. :) The song is so touching, and makes me wishful indeed.

Endless Love was an old movie way back in the early 80's, which I was able to see during 1986 at a local moviehouse in our province. It's a movie that I watched 3 times that week, I guess. First, awed by Brooke Shields Pretty Baby's beauty - who in my book - has the prettiest face ever; Second, getting goosebumps by the love Martin Hewitt and Brooke portrayed on screen; Third, having my own personally intense feelings of being in love with love itself. Ask me why, perhaps those feelings were taken from all the tv shows and movies I watched as an adolescent - during the tumultous times in my life.

As I look back now, yah, now that I'm almost 40, does such love ever exist? Or does that kind of love fade after many years? Where is indeed the first love, if the foundation has been topsy-turvy from the start? Thanks to this movie, I'm looking back to what once was, how I tried to find it before and how I found it at last. I pray, may the peace, love, harmony and happiness live again! I dedicate this song to all the romantics - err, and especially the hopeless romantics!

Endless Love

My love,
There’s only you in my life
The only thing that’s bright

My first love,
You’re every breath that I take
You’re every step I make

And i
I want to share
All my love with you
No one else will do...

And your eyes
Your eyes, your eyes
They tell me how much you care
Ooh yes, you will always be
My endless love

Two hearts,
Two hearts that beat as one
Our lives have just begun

Forever
I’ll hold you close in my arms
I can’t resist your charms

And love
Oh, love
I’ll be a fool
For you,
I’m sure
You know I don’t mind
Oh, you know I don’t mind

’cause you,
You mean the world to me
Oh
I know
I know
I’ve found in you
My endless love

Oooh-woow
Boom, boom
Boom, boom, boom, boom, booom
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom

Oooh, and love
Oh, love
I’ll be that fool
For you,
I’m sure
You know I don’t mind
Oh you know-
I don’t mind

And, yes
You’ll be the only one
’cause no one can deny
This love I have inside
And I’ll give it all to you
My love
My love, my love
My endless love

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Doing Your Christmas Shopping The Day After Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving is commonly referred to as “Black Friday”. This day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the years and for many it signifies the first day of Christmas shopping. While the term black Friday was originally used to represent the day in which retailers returned to profitability, many who work in the retail industry use this term as a way to describe the crowds and chaos which accompany Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Also consumers expect significant sales to go along with the large crowds which flock to stores.

Thanksgiving Preparations

Almost every country and every culture celebrates a day of giving thanks. In America it began over 400 years ago and was celebrated in the form of a feast within the original colonies. But, that does not mean that everyone celebrates Thanksgiving Day the same way; as the traditions of one country may be completely different than those in another.

For example, in the country of Greece they do give thanks, but it is a 9 day harvest festival dedicated to the goddess of agriculture, Demeter. They also engage in other activities after the harvest. For example, all married women build huts made from plants and leaves and then decorate the interior with cushions. They continue into the second day with fasting and then on the third day they host Thanksgiving in their own way, by presenting a big feast complete with meats, sweets, nuts and fruit.

Thanksgiving Day in China was first celebrated during the full moon that appeared during the eighth month on the fifteenth day, as per the Chinese calendar. They would celebrate it by making moon shaped pastries to exchange with each other, as they considered this the moon’s birthday, and followed it up with the less traditional Thanksgiving dinner of fruit and ham. In England they celebrate the harvest festival during either late September or early October, followed by a church service and prayer.

In Egypt, they celebrate Thanksgiving by paying honor to Min, the god of fertility and the harvest. Originally celebrated during the spring, the time when they harvest their crops, they would pretend to cry while harvesting so that the god would not be upset with them for taking it. The history of Thanksgiving Day in Canada dates back to 1578, and is also a celebration of thanks and family gatherings, and is held on the second Monday in October. Cerelia was a harvest festival that the Romans celebrated to honor the goddess of grains, Ceres. This festival was always held on the 4th of October and the fruits of the harvest and roasted pigs were offered to Ceres. The celebration continued with a parade, music, sports and games and, of course, a huge feast.

Although many people agree that the original intent of Thanksgiving in North America was to take one day to give thanks for a good harvest and good life, now many believe that Thanksgiving Day is more about spending time with loved ones; by giving thanks and being with your friends and family in order to celebrate the day and time of year. Most also feel that it really does not matter what each country chooses to call it as long as time is taken to give thanks and spend time with those that they care about.


HolidayRecipes-Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving-Dessert-Recipes

Holiday That the Whole Family Will Love Recipes

Wordless Wednesday - Winter Dreaming

For more Wordless Wednesday entries, visit:

Keeping Your Teens and Tweens In The Holiday Spirit

Young children anticipate Christmas with wide eyed wonder, but how do you keep your teens excited over the Holidays? The belief in Santa has long passed, but kids are never too old to experience and share the Holiday Spirit. Teenagers naturally break away from the family and assert their independence. Let them use their self-expression and independent nature to add to this year’s celebration.

Engage in Church Events – As busy as you are at home, the church can always use an extra pair of hands during Christmas. Teens, who enjoy the arts or have good organization skills, can help with one of the Church productions. Whether it is helping organize the Christmas potluck, assisting with the kids’ choir concert, or helping making costumes for the nativity play teens can use their talents to engage.

Donate clothes – Teens are still finding out who they are. As a result, they try on different styles and looks while they figure out how to accurately express themselves. One of the most popular gifts for teens is apparel or money they usually use on to enhance their wardrobe. They can use this opportunity to go through their closet and pull out whatever they no longer want or need. Let them pack everything up and donate the rest to charity.

Volunteer – Teenagers have the habit of being self-absorbed, even during the Holidays. Volunteering will help teens take the focus off of themselves and contemplate a greater purpose. There are many charities to choose from. They can work at a soup kitchen, volunteer with a kids group or help at an animal shelter. Making a difference will increase their self-esteem and make them much more positive and thankful.

Put Them in Charge – Include your teens by showing them you appreciate their taste and trust their judgment. Make them completely responsible for a special Christmas project. Let them put together all the Christmas music to play during the festivities or plan the games for the Christmas Eve party. Put them in charge of designing this year’s Christmas card. Whatever you chose they will play an integral role in the celebration.

Help Younger Siblings – Teenagers may not experience the same excitement for Christmas activities that they did when they were younger, but they can enjoy them in a new way. Plan for them to take their younger siblings to the mall and shop for the parent gifts. Teens can also help them make personalized Christmas ornaments or help bake the cookies while the younger ones decorate. This way they can take a lead role in the activities.

Share Story time- Christmas is a time for caring and sharing. Pour two mugs of hot chocolate and have meaningful conversation with your teen. Tell them about a personal childhood Christmas story you never told your teen. Start the conversation then sit back and listen. Ask them about the first Christmas they remember, what they plan to do with their friends during Christmas vacation, and what traditions they would like to continue when they have their own families. It is a great way to build a family bond, share traditions and cultivate the Christmas spirit.

Pacquiao Vs. Marquez This Sunday November 12!

The country is once again excited to watch the Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3 this Sunday, November 12, 2011 Time: 9PM Eastern Time or 6 PM Pacific Time.

We are hoping and praying for Manny Pacquiao's another victory in his boxing rematch with Juan Miguel Marquez. May the pound-for-pound boxer win again, may there be another victory for Manny in this Pacquiao Vs. Marquez 3 bout!

Surely this match will stop time in the Philippines this Sunday, where the streets will be almost bare and the Filipino people will keep their eyes glued to the boxing match on television. And most of you Pinoy netizens would subscribe to Pacquiao Vs. Marquez 3 video live-streaming to watch it. Wah, I sure wish we have cable TV or we could get a pay-per-view offer to watch the Pacquiao Vs. Marquez 3 live telecast. I heard from my hubby and my son that watching Manny Pacquiao's fight live in the ring is filled with cheers and excitement, how I wish I could experience it someday too!

God bless Manny, may you make our country proud again!

Photo Credits: Kirbylovestacos.deviantart.com

Congratulations To The Philippines' Miss World Pageant First Runner-Up!

Our country the Philippines is again cheering for our Miss World Pageant candidate Gwendoline Ruais for winning First Runner-up in the recent Miss World Pageant 2011 in London, UK.

Seems that the Philippines' bets are getting better and better in each international beauty pageant. Gwendoline Ruais now joins the Philippines' representatives like Shamcey Supsup, Venus Raj andCarlene Aguilar in making our country proud!

I also congratulate the Miss World Pageant 2011 winner from Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, whom I think has a striking resemblance to Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria. I am awed as well especially reading her life story as an orphan. A very much deserved congratulations to you too, Miss World!

Amish Recipes - 65 Tried and Tested Recipes

Thanksgiving and Christmas is quite so near and planning meals for the coming holidays are on the way. I'm sharing this traditional 65 Tried and Tested Amish Recipes which hopefully may help you in planning the holiday meals. These recipes are mostly done from scratch, yet you may improvise or alter as needed.

Here are a few ones... Enjoy!

Book Description:

Many of the great breads, cookies and dishes that my grandmother used to make, were actually Amish recipes! I thought everyone should try these great recipes, so I have put together a collection of 65 of my favorite Amish recipes in an easy to use eBook that anyone can afford. Here is what I have included:


Cakes, Bread, and Muffin, Corn Fritter Recipes:
AMISH BREAD STARTER
AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD
AMISH COFFEE CAKE
AMISH LEMON SPONGE
AMISH PUMPKIN BREAD
AMISH MUFFINS
AMISH CORN BREAD
AMISH POPPYSEED BREAD
AMISH YEAST ROLLS
AMISH CORN FRITTERS
FAMOUS AMISH FUNNEL CAKES
AMISH APPLE CAKE
AMISH BLUEBERRY CAKE
AMISH ROLLED OATS CAKE
AMISH SHORTCAKE

Cookies
AMISH SNICKERDOODLES
AMISH PUFF COOKIES
SOFT AMISH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
DROP AMISH COOKIES
AMISH OATMEAL COOKIES ....Much more..

SOFT AMISH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 lg. eggs
1/2 c. milk
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda (place in the milk)
1 (12 oz.) bag chocolate chips or butterscotch chips
Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and milk with soda. Mix together
and add baking powder. Gradually add flour and stir well. Stir in chocolate
chips or butterscotch chips. Place on a greased cookie sheet about 1
teaspoon of dough. Bake at 400 degrees until the edge is lightly brown.

* * *

AMISH ROLLED OATS CAKE

1 c. oats
1 1/4 c. boiling water
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
TOPPING (use on warm cake):
5 tbsp. oleo
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. milk
Mix oats and boiling water; let stand 20 minutes. Cream together
shortening, sugar, eggs, vanilla and add cooled oats with dry ingredients.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Boil 7 minutes. Add 1/2 cup coconut
and 1/2 cup nuts.

GET THE EBOOK HERE FOR ALL THE RECIPES INCLUDED

Ghost Story Of 2003 Hammersmith London

Switch on the tv these days and you wil find most shows and human interest segments featuring ghost stories or halloween-ish topics. leading videocd rental stores also feature horror and suspense movies on their shelves. You can bet on my children -and hubby too - of renting those movies despite my protests.

To be very honest, I'm a teeny-weeny bit scared too of encounters like that. I never was a fan of scary movies as a child. Thank God I've never experienced seeing one - or i would really scream out loud and go nuts! I heard you can go "mental hospital -crazy" when you see one!

But I've experienced odd encounters before- only fleeting visions that resemble white light or just thin air. I won't even realize at that time until hours later that it was a spook. I usually encounter those incidents in my house or in a place I frequent - a light suddenly shuts off, a faucet turns on, a white spirit just passing by to go under the stairs, glasses moving for a toast (no, I'm not kidding , although THAT is funny). If I remember any more I'll leave it as an answer to a comment later.

My most odd experience occured when I worked as a salon receptionist in London in 2003. It happenned at the Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith where you can find Skinsense Salon.

A tired-looking lady dressed up in a scrubsuit, er, hospital gown- came in to book for a massage. I still remember her name. It was Alpa Dodia Zidane, kind of unusual. She asked for an appointment slot in two days because she says she will be needing a massage that bad.

Good that I found her a vacant hour in two days. As is required, I asked for her contact number. She just looked at me clueless so I quickly added that we need it to contact her for any cancellations or rescheduling. She went, "Okay, if that happens just call me on 5th floor South wing. They know me there." Always to please and not wanting to upset customers, I just took note of it and said "Ok, thanks, see you then..."

Her scheduled appointment came, she didn't show up. So I called on the hospital switchboard to connect me to 5th floor. Her name wasn't on their roster. The 5th floor receptionist whom I phoned asked me if I was sure she worked there, so I quoted the client's exact words "They know me there."

"That's odd." she said, "Wait, could you come up here to 5th floor south wing, please."

I went, took the lift to 5th floor. But hey, I was with two other people on the lift going to 5th but the blasted thing took us all the way up to 11th floor and back to where we wanted to go. I thought to myself, seems to be malfunctioning.

Finally met the receptionist on 5th. She was actually smiling at me. "Oh, I found her name on the roster. She doesn't work here, she was admitted last week and released two days ago" What! I frowned, impolite of her not to cancel, she must pay a cancellation fee for this. I asked, "Is that so? Where can I contact her, do you have a number?"

The lady smiled, "No...no, you don't understand - she died two days ago when she booked with your salon" Say what? er...

Waah! I'm not taking that lift anymore! I'll just take the stairs, thank you!

.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....

Pulled your leg, didn't I? Of course the story isn't true! I was just kidding as one of my old old pranks in 2004, but the story was close! Yet it was made up out of the salon small jokes when clients don't show up :))

HOW TO TELL A GREAT STORY - In 7 Easy Steps, An Absolute Beginner To Storytelling Can Transform Plain Stories Into Great Stories. Your Family And Friends Will Love, Admire And Cherish Your Stories - Even If You Have Never Told A Story Before.

Wordless Wednesday - Aurora Borealis

Is Freelance Employment The Right One For You?

Freelance employment: Do you have what it takes?

More people are finding freelance employment aside from their regular day jobs. They leave the security of their regular employment to move on to the challenges of freelance employment. Freelancing has become a career choice for many who people who enjoy the benefits that it offers. Freelancers often attribute their interest to freelance employment to the following factors:

* Wider range of job opportunities;
* Fast turnaround of projects;
* More freedom to choose projects of choice;
* More flexibility to work on different jobs on a simultaneous basis; and
* High income rates

Do you have what it takes to go freelance? Before you take the plunge and begin the journey of working at home, read through the following steps and tricks.

1. Determine the amount of money that you’ll need to earn to sustain your expenses. If you have a day job now, you will be saving a great deal of money once you make your shift to freelance employment. If you begin to work at home, you will save a lot of money from commuting, food, taxes, and more.

2. Take a self-assessment test and list all your skills and experiences. Include your hobbies and interests too, as doing this will determine what types of freelance jobs you can take on. Do you keep a personal website? Then perhaps you can on freelance web design. Do you keep a personal blog? Then you can take on writing jobs. If you know how to do searches in the internet then you can write about any topic that may be given to you.

3. Visit internet web sites offering freelance jobs to see what jobs are currently offered. Take notes and keep a list of these jobs. You should also be on the lookout for companies and organizations that use freelancers for their projects. Look at how much they pay freelancers and take note of the different rates they offer for different projects. Keep a list of these important details as they will surely help you later in estimating how much you should charge for any given project.

4. From the notes you have gathered, try to create an estimate costing of the projects you have identified should the projects be given to you. Keep in mind the number of days given to the projects you have identified. When you have done this, you will be able to see how much you could potentially earn.

5. After doing all of the above, you can now start applying for the freelance jobs that you have identified. These jobs will help you earn some amount that you can later use after quitting you day job.

6. Once you have confirmed that the projects have been awarded to you, use a table to plot specific data about them. Write down all the information about these projects such as contact persons and their contact details and number of days to complete the projects.

7. As you begin freelance work, you will start to feel the flow of freelance employment. Bear in mind that you will not get all the projects that you want so you should apply for different jobs. However, be careful when taking on several jobs. Remember that you should not take on more jobs than you could handle.

8. You are now ready to quit your day job when you have developed an effective system of doing freelance work. But since you are doing freelance work, you should be able to track your jobs and their payment schedules.