Musings...

MIA

maialancholy — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:01:01 +0000

I apologize because I’ve been missing in action! My 30 day blog challenge is a 3 day success, but I’m restarting soon, don’t worry!

In the meantime, enjoy browsing.

Happy Story: Hug Someone Today

maialancholy — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:49:29 +0000

I discovered that when I get hugged, I feel wonderful. I can attest to that more now that I am a mother, and more than getting hugged, I give even more hugs! I like to give hugs not just to my husband, my son, and my whole family but to my friends as well. Beats getting hugged myself.

There is power in hugging. I can’t begin to write about the benefits of hugging, hug therapy, touch therapy, whatever you might call it. I know only one thing. It makes one’s day. At one session of The Feast, Bro. Bo gave everyone free hugs, and everyone hugged each other.

It feels great especially if you have this cute little boy giving you a hug when you are feeling down and sentimental…

I was a bit down the other day (perhaps PMSing) and my husband gave me a hug. But that’s my husband, he knows when to give me a hug and he always does and he likes hugging already. But my son who is just around two, who still don’t know how to hug on demand, suddenly comes up to me and lo and behold, hugs me without being asked! Now this is not the common ‘Mommy carry me, then I hug you while you carry me’, it’s a genuine hug. I was standing still after N hugged me to make me feel better, then little J saw I was sad, he ran up to me and then hugged me. Aaaw. Pure joy.

Today’s my third day into the 30-day blog challenge. Have you hugged someone today? Go ahead, it will make not only their day, but yours too.

Happy Thoughts: Vision, Mission, and Passion

maialancholy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:52:45 +0000

I’ve always tried to live my life with a vision of what I want to end up in. Through this I have come to determine what my mission is here on earth. And everywhere I go, be it to company seminars, leadership trainings, or personal retreats, I hear that vision and mission are important. We even have our vision and mission statements, eh?

But however we put our vision and mission in writing, however we reflect on it, pray for it, sometimes we still can’t get the knack of living up to our statements. I for one, more than once, twice, or thrice, has deviated beyond what I have defined as my vision and mission for my life. At one point or another, I felt that it’s just that. A bunch of statements.

Earlier today, I was blessed by a priest. He has opened my mind to what was missing in my vision and my mission for my life. It was passion. Vision, mission, and passion should go together, for us to live meaningful lives. Passion is what makes you go on, when you feel that all your effort are put to waste in accomplishing your vision. Passion is what makes you feel adrenaline rush whenever you are living your mission to its fullest. Passion.

I’m grateful for this today. I am reminded of what I really love to do. I am reminded of all of God’s abundance. I was bent on counting my blessings too much, that I forgot to share them. Passion is what drives me to share my life and love.

Oh, and this is my Day 2 of my 30-day blog challenge. I’m excited because right now, more happy things are coming my way!

Happy Food: Twister Fries

maialancholy — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:00:42 +0000

You probably know by now that Twister Fries are back! After around two years of absence in the market, this crunchy goodness is here again. I know it’s been two years because I was still fat and pregnant the last time I tasted its yummyness. Now, J is almost two and I’m just fat. Lol.

I think McDonald’s did pretty well in its marketing plan. They capitalized on the product’s loyal followers and they succeeded with making us wait and get excited and scramble to get our hands on it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned with the Twister Fries story, its that life is like that. You are here today and gone tomorrow. You can be on top one second and be at your lowest the next. You will have successes and defeats. Yin and Yang. Am I successful at comparing the fries to something or what?

I like Twister Fries because it brings me good memories. I think that’s why I like the thought of Twister Fries being back because whenever I get a chance to eat one, I remember all the fun times I had in college when Twister Fries first came out. I remember how it saw me through my first job. I remember how I shared it with good friends. I also remember the start of forever. Then I remember the fun times of being pregnant and being excited to eat Twister Fries because the baby in me was jumping up and down when I do eat Twister Fries. And now, that baby is a toddler, old enough to share the Twister Fries with me and his dad.

I guess Twister Fries will be gone again soon after the promo ends, but it sure did add up to my happy memories. And in 30 days, I would have written more about the happy things in my life. This is Day 1 into my 30-day Blog Challenge. With good friends and family with me, I know I’ll make it.

Site Overhaul

maialancholy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:04:40 +0000

I have a new theme, a new look, and a new beginning! I know, this is the nth time I replaced everything. I almost also jumped on to a new domain because I was inspired by a good friend, but I had a really wonderful time at the Plurk Mommy EB at the Shang and they knew me well because of my blog… So, I wouldn’t want to change it.

But what I want to start doing is to change my whining, ranting, and condescending tone into a happy and grateful beat! I’m too blessed to be stressed anyway so I’m going to be overhauling my blog.

And that’s why you have Blog Happy! Welcome to my happy blog!

One year wiser and older

maialancholy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:47:18 +0000

Last year, I got to spend my birthday twice. Yes, twice. It was fun, sorta like A Walk to Remember (being in two places at one time) but I was away from my loved ones. I was on a plane going to the other side of the world to work. So, everybody on this side of the planet greeted me happy birthday while I was battling jetlag. On May 1 over there, I was working, for their Labor Day was way in September. They did surprise me with cake and a birthday dinner. I finished work that day at 9pm but the sun was still up. Amidst all the excitement, I was missing my then six months old baby and my understanding hubby.

This year, May 1 falls on a Friday. Long weekend wooohoo! Having missed so much last year, I plan to make it a special day for my family. Sorry, I won’t be coming to work, and will be on leave the next day lol.

Being away made me realize that family is so important. The feeling of belonging and the comfort that you are cared for and loved will never replace all the excitement and adrenaline rush I originally wanted. I guess I had to go through that to realize these. One year older I am. But I am also one year wiser.

More reason to love Crocs!

maialancholy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:53:01 +0000

Okay. J’s feet are getting bigger and his Crocs are getting smaller. Since I failed to line up during the Crocs Megasale before, the hubby and I went to the mall to get him a regular pair. But I really can’t fathom shelling out 1.2k for smaller Crocs when I got mine for almost the same price (hehe, selfish mommy…)

Anyway, I was internalizing the price I needed to pay for J’s Crocs since they are really so comfy (yes, we’re late adapters) when I chanced upon this article from a colleague’s twit (where I lurk). Crocs is predicted to be one of the 12 major US brands to disappear by end 2010! Revenue fell to only 126 million from 225 million in the last quarter of 2007.

What does this mean to me? Aside from getting J and N their own pairs, I need to get that Prima while they still have stocks at SM!!! I will have to put this in our budget for immediate consumption. Hehe.

Or I hope Crocs just send me a complimentary pair. Wishful thinking.

Lovin' Crocs

maialancholy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:59:55 +0000

So, there was a Crocs Megasale the past week and I’ve been dying to go. I have long wanted a pair of Malindi’s for moi, but was hesitant to get them at their original price (I know, I’m kuripot) so the Crocs Megasale was just in time to satisfy that desire. Unfortunately, the line was too long and the crowd too many, that even though I live just around the corner from Megatent, I was not able to go.

Good thing that I wasn’t able to go. Malindi was not part of the models they put on sale. So my initial frustration of being unable to line up was turned to hope again. There was just something about this model that got me going gaga over Crocs. I know that imitation Crocs wasn’t the way to go for me, my feet can tell whether the plastic can’t carry my build, and my soles hurt fast in these scenarios, so no, no trip to St. Francis for me. But I just can’t get it out my of head.

Thank God for husbands who understand their wives. My financier gave me the go signal to buy one for me, but being the martyr that I am, I held back for a few more days until finally, I can’t contain it anymore. But no more, today, I am happily wearing my silver Malindi Crocs. It was really meant for me, it was the last pair in that color, and right my size. Okay, enough justification for my almost 2k purchase.

But weeee! I got Crocs!

Microsoft AdCenter Analytics Beta Closing

maialancholy — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 01:34:03 +0000

As an analyst, I want to get as much exposure to the different tools as much as possible. I use Omniture Site Catalyst the most, Google Analytics second, so when I first heard of Microsoft AdCenter Analytics, or Gatineau as it is more popularly known to web analysts, I wanted to be part of the beta. You need to apply to be in, and just as we were approved (well, BusinessGeeks was approved), we get an email that the beta version is closing at the end of the year.

The email is supported by the news popping around the Web Analytics world. I’ve seen, err, read much speculation on what’s going to happen to Gatineau, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed. That the closing of its beta version will pave way to a bigger launch.

Or is it just me being optimistic?

Increase your Google Analytics IQ and be qualified!

maialancholy — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:27:37 +0000

The whole Web Analytics world is buzzing with the news now. The Google Analytics team has posted a very important announcement on their blog. Google’s Conversion University if offering a free online course that will help you learn more about Google Analytics. Individuals now have a chance to be Google Analytics Qualified. After taking the online course, you are more equipped to take the Google Analytics IQ Test which you need to pass to earn the qualification. Once you pass the 90-minute test, you can proudly put on a badge on your site that tells the world that you are Google Analytics Qualified.

Hmmm. I’m thinking of enrolling me (and my team) in the online course and eventually take the exam. More information about the Google Analytics IQ test here.