Garden Additions

As mentioned in my previous post a few weeks ago here , the garden population might be increased... Here are some photos of them that I took... but soon, I guess their glowing flowery aura will stop when the cold weather starts.... but for now, here they are for memory...

Right Moment, Right Price, Right Brand and Right Scent

Last couple of months, I was able to buy a discounted perfume from Douglas, courtesy of the gift card a friend gave.. That was a great discount already from €40 to €31 for a pack of small NOA cream and perfume. And now, I have consumed that 50ml of perfume and needed to buy a new one.


I was lucky also that a colleague and friend introduced me to one of the biggest discount stores nearby. Today, I was lucky enough to buy a couple of "allowable" cabin bags for my trip to Barcelona next week, and at the same time, I was able to see great deals on perfumes!

The "Incidence", the discount was only around 50% having the price cut to almost half from €11.95 to €6.99 and the Elizabeth Arden pair of 5ml's (10 ml in total of two different scent) was discounted from €30 to 4.99! Wow! I got three stugg for only €11! I have learned some lesson: to look around with open eyes! There are just some stores and some discounts around waiting to be discovered!

What do you think? Can I say that I have adapted in my new surroundings now? Hope I can discover far more greater deals in many stuff..

Article City For Your Article Submission

One FrudY EVENING Grant was a bit late for dinner. In fact his mother has been calling him for quite sometime but he was so engrossed over something in his bed room that he has tried to call back telling that he's coming downstairs for dinner but it took him at least 35 minutes later before he finally went down.

When he went down, naturally the mother of this nine-year old boy was worried.

Mother: What were you doing up there? It's Friday and I am sure it's not your assignments you're busying yourself with.

Grant: You're right, Mom. It's actually something out of school.... at least for now. I mean, I have been reading this article Google and Blog Advertising and it did hit my interest!

Mother: Google? What's with Google? It's a search engine, right?

Grant: Yes, Mom. But you know, it's like it's the beginning of all the searches and Google may influence... well, that's  along story to tell Mom. Why don't we read together? Just before I went down here for dinner, I just started reading an article about it... as I said, about the big search engine and blog advertising. It's a great article and I might even start my own blog... a nine-year old's blog... hmmm.. cool idea.

Mother: A blog? What's that bow.

Grant: It's also written in the article I am going to show you. Articlecity.com has lots of them and we can read article to article and related articles on them. We will both learn great stuff now.

Mother: Okay, now eat your porton and let me see what's this blog thing and these interesting articles you're talking about...

Grant: K, Mom.

Beautiful Interesting Photo

I just love this photo, look at the color contrast, the feeling in the air and the combination of everything. If you click the image, you will as well see the story behind it together with other interesting great shots/photos and what they are talking and depicting... Great image, right?


Here is the beginning of my post.

I just love this photo! I love it! Congratulations to the one who took the shot of it! :) Who? did it?

Fantasy Football to the Rescue!

Grant was eating his favorite snack with his mother when he suddenly opened up a topic about sports with his mother. His mother was a bit surprised to hear that Grant has sports as a topic as he always talk about something that's more serious for the age of boys like he him... nine-year olds!

Grant: Mom, do you believe that Sports, or any game or a tournament is 90% mental and 10% physical?

Mother: Why is that Son? What made you think that?

Grant: Hmmmm... well, it's because whatever we do, it's still the brain that controls everything. It's a member of the nervous system.... Then, if the athletes are without brain, they'd usually fail, right?

Mother: In taht sense, yes. Hmmmm.... but why are you talking about sports this time?

Grant: Well, I just stumbled on a fantasy football website and this thought came to my mind. I find this site very educational plus entertaining. I learned some stuff that I can't find in other serious things like this site has Fantasy football draft software; *Fantasy football news , Fantasy football analysis, Fantasy football forum, Fantasy football research, Access to over 100 Local, FL team news feeds, Fantasy football rankings, Fantasy player comparisons and lots of other stuff.

Mother: Wow! I can't even understand those terms!

Grant: Well, I used to not understand them too. But now, I do. It's so much fun. Thanks for the snack Mom. Now I have to go back and continue experimenting with my fantasy football site.

Great Plant Sale at Discounted Prices!

Lately, plant's at albert heijn, I mean potted plants, big and small were hotly on sale. At least that is for our area here in Nijmegen, Gelderland in Netherlands. I am not sure about other branches but these plants sell so good as they are of the best quality for the price that they carry! Thus, if you happen to look for affodable plants, there might be some left in the store. I happen to buy really a big one with a very discounted price! I am so glad that I am sharing this information.

This is not for any advertisement or any promotion from the atore, I just want my fellow consumer to get the best that they can, especially in these times of crisis! Good luck everyone!.

Lazy Days....

Days are so dragging... I feel so lazy, not so efficient and the time seems to move very slow. Is it the weather? I used to wake up very early and today, I woke up at 7:30! Incredible!.
Although it might be cause by the fact that yesterdayday night we stayed late out, I still can't imagine waking up this late. I think it's normal for everyone or for most of peple when summer is ending and autumn is entering. I am only about two years here and Europe and I can compare what I felt last year... almost similar....

Saving A Portion of the World With A Shirt!

One Saturday afternoon, Grant stays in his room for quite some time. Maybe it's a couple of hours or something. His mom got a little concerned and tried to see what's going on with her beloved son.

Mother: Son, what's going on? You did not come down for your snack.

Grant: I am reading about this Global Warming thing, how it works... how it affects us... what's the opinon of Mr. Gore on it and how others claim it's only a hoax!

Mother: And you could not leave it just for a while and tell me downstairs that yo could not take your snack? That must be "something" for you!

Grant: Yeah, Mom! You're right! I even forgot about the time as I was deep into it. It's so interesting!

Mother: Here you go again with your adult topics. Many grown ups don't even care about these stuff and you're only nine years old, Son!

Grant: Well, I want to take a part for this cause for our mother earth. I want to do something!

Mother: How then?

Grant: At least by spreading a news about it. Especially in my school. I bet, as you said, young people like me don't care a lot or they/we don't know. Thus, I want to disseminate the information.

Mother: And how are you gonna do that?

Grant: Simple, Mom. I'll just take a few shirts from custom shirts store with all these Global Warming and earth-saving theme and if I am good enough at the designs, I am sure my friends and school mates will be interested enough and I can explain to them what it is all about. Or, they may also take their own initiative and search about the subject of Global warming or related items, right?

Mother: You always have irresitible ideas Son! You're brilliant!

Grant: Thanks, Mom. But please pay for the shirts I mentioned.

Mother: You always deserve it, Sonny!

Grant: Thanks again, Mom. You're the best!

Congratulations, Authors!

WOOF Contest – Top Picks - Poetry - Zorlone – “Train Heart” - A conversation that occurred between a man who have just been reunited with his not so ordinary best friend. - Dragon Blogger – “Dinner Mishap” - Comical poem about spilling food at the dinner table, uses the great phrase "Murderous Meatball"-- Jennifer M Scott – “Censor Me” - A poem  celebrating the freedom of speech for my poetry challenge found on thevoicesinourheads.com

Presenting the finest of the writer’s blogs by the bloggers who write them. Highlighting the top posts as chosen by the August 14, 2009 WOOF Contest participants. Want in to join the next WOOF? The next contest ends Aug 21. Submit a link to your best writing post of the last 3 weeks using the form on this page. Participants, repost the winning link list within a week and you’re all set.

Other WOOF Contestants for 08/14/09

Poetry

Redrogue – “Autumn Poem: Depressing When September Comes” - Anticipating the gloomy season coming soon...

About Writing

Paulnatic – “True Joy and Happiness” - True joy and happiness are valuable. If one does not survive, no joy and no happiness are obtainable

Survey: Are You a Dude or a Babe?

Please click any image where you want to answer. The position of the survey is highlighted in red.

A Great International Ladies Night

It was a wonderful gathering! It started at around 6 and ended not so late but it was filled with fun! There were seven of us and the little gather started Peruvian drink mixing... strong liquor! I forgot the name but I liked both the sweet mix and the sour (lime/lemon) mix. The food were international: Polish, Bulgarian, Dutch, Peruvian, Filipino. Each one of us contributed/cooked our share of food and it was a fun and delicious night.
Food and latin dances, so cool! Yes, after dinner, we tried to digest better with the lead of our two ladies from Peru! It was a great grrove with their native dances. It was so fun that as of now I am hunting for the music and the dances in youtube. In fact, the music and basic steps is like the video you see down but of course, we were just learning the basics!

Our very gracious host, she is from Peru and used to teach dances in the United States! Wow! No wonder!



To sum it up all, I did have a lot of fun! I have learned a lot of things as well, from buying stuff around, learned the taste of the food, the various styles, presentation, and the problems we encounter in this country as women or as consumers or as expatriates. These things however will not all fit in this post, so till the next time. :)

Cheapest Text Books: The Means of the Genius!

When Grant was browsing online one weekend, he wanted to buy extra text books just for curiosity purposes. He does not need these text books but if he could find them affordable enough, the nine-year old intelligent child plans to ask his mother to buy him some. He want to learn a lot and text books are always a great help when his regular school text books cannot answer his unending questions about a lot of things.

He was browsing around for cheap textbooks when a language book caught his attention.

Now the genius wants to learn Spanish! Grant was thinking that if he knows Spanish, his future would be somewheat more secure, with Spanish and English as his native tongue, it's already a great asset, plus his very very good track records in school, it would not be bad for his future.

This nine-year ols just thinks too advance for his age.

Grant (calling over his mother from down stairs): Mom, could you please come over my bed room?

Mother (calling back): Why Son?

Grant: I have something important to show you.

Grant's mother rush upstairs. She knows that Grant has discovered yet another useful thing related to learning.

Mother: What is it Son?

Grant: May I learn SPanish?

Mother: But you're too young to do so. Then, there is no school nearby, the nearest one is a few miles away.

Grant: No worries, Mom. All I need is abook with all the tricks. It's displayed for sale in a text book website, in fact it is cheap. Could you please...please, Mom.... buy me the book?

Mother: How much is it?

Grant: For less than $30.

Mother: Oh Son! No problem! I thought it must cost a fortune. Call me after my new expirement in the kitchen is done and we'll purchase together from your desktop. Maybe after 35 minutes.

Grant: Sure thing, Mom! Thank you! THANK YOU! You're the best Mom ever!

Mother: You always deserve it Grant.

Autumn Poem: Depressing When September Comes

September here you come;
with your arrival
you push away the sun,
the sun of the warm summer
and you place the autumn nearer.

This is the reason why;
yes, indeed, the reason why,
why i feel so blue
so depressed within:
with the blow of the cooler wind
with the fall of each leaf
with the darkening of the skies
you depress me, September.

Should I hate you?
I certainly cannot afford to!
Would you like to know why?
Cause you're the ninth month
and ninth month it is...
So bad the number nine is my favorite!

Oh September!
You leave me with no better choice
but to embrace you
whether I like it or not,
as you are part of the perpect cycle.
Without the depression you cause
I would not be able to appreciate happiness.

Biking With Some Buddies on Sunday for Tea!

Saturday, I am still on wake up mode now. I have been free dancing for week but I am not sure if it's effective but at least I feel lighter. My food intake, I did try to balance them but the fact that I sit for so long really does not help. The whole week was quite busy. Now I just want to relax but I also want to shed out some sweat. Unfortunately, I don't go out and run anymore in the morning. I just find it so heavy with my body not so much in-tuned with weather out: It's either too warm or two windy.

Maybe it's human nature in the morning: groggy and lazy! Thus, I only dance these days, waking up at five to 5 thirty to start myself saking up. At least this one, no much preparation needed. All I need to do is take the laptop to the other room and lock the doors and start! It's also fun! I do enjoy it. I have done it for a week only but I think I can really go on normally without any problem at all.

And tomorrow is another chance to burn some calories. Scheduled for tomorrow is a biking meet up with colleagues to some nearby village to see the place and take some tea. I am excited to go around in bike and all I wish today is that the weather would be on our side tomorrow.

I do love biking and knowing that it helps my health, I am even more glad to do it!

Ik Spreek Geen Nederlands! Mi Dispiace!

Amore and I had our appointment yesterday about having Dutch lessons this September. Although we are both exempted from taking the "inburgering" or the integration program here in Netherlands, we are both happy to know the Dutch language of course! Wow! That would really make me multilingual in due time! I can't wait for September to come!

My only concern is the fact that I may have my Italian lessons as well to start in the same month. Both are evening classes as I am a full-time employee in the finance department of the Company I am working at. I just cross my fingers to the max and hope that the schedule would not conflict.

Speaking about languages, I really want to learn more. I just hope this decision would be fruitful and I could speak Dutch by at least October. I have no idea if that is possible but I just hope I have the time and energy to do two language classes while working full-time.

Why I do this? Another language or more languages I would know, it's always a very good self-achievement. And why should I do them altogether? I don't want to waste time, I am not getting any younger and I want to have as much as I have before I really turn old. Darn, I already lived for 24 years in this world, thus, I should hurry! :)

Addendum:

I would like to thank May, my colleague for sharing with me this valuable information about learning Dutch for free.

As for the title of this post, for non Dutch, non-Italian speakers, It means literally "I speak without/no Dutch!" "I am sorry". The first sentence is Dutch and the second in Italian.

Cutomized PostCard Prints and Other Stuff

Lately, I have been crazy about personal photos, customized postcards and other stuff. In fact, I just ordered a photo flipbook and it arrived last Thursday! The photos were taken from all over the world; Philippines, Malaysia, Italy and Netherlands and I bought the prints from the U.S. of A. It took a few days about arriving. But I was thrilled all the same. Then, postcards came next. I was able to design personal postcards, customized with the photos of my desire and these 4 post cards are on their way to the recipients.
That was personal-related stuff however. And I was thinking, "what if I would like to send to some business acquaintances instead?" It would not be proper to send my personal stuff, right? Thus I also started searching how could I create and send custom business cards. Yes, I always liked customized things as it gives a great deal of value added thing in it if it's personalized.

I then stumbled 123Print. I think it's even better as UK is nearer than the US so I bet I better try this one as well. It really feels so cool when we can do things right at the end of our finger tips! In my case, sending business post cards, beautifully customized just by sitting and designing them myself at 123print.co.uk.