I just can't help but blog about the recent chat I had with my highschool buddy, Kath. We've only been together in Senior years after she transferred from Bacolod, but we were like lost sisters who have never seen each other for long. Separated sisters since birth, we are. hahaha.

Now its been 13 (thirteen) years after high school graduation and we are back-- connected atlas! Even if she is thousands of miles away from me now.

I have so many memories to write but for now, I just want to have this on the record that today, May 27 at 7am (PI time) I started my day with her.. just like the good ol high school days where we usually start and end our day talking on the phone hahahah

I miss you Kath and it feels so wonderful being connected with you again. Iba pa rin pag nagkakausap tayo sa telepono no? heheh. Bitin pag email or fb lang eh hehehe..

Kathy has been and will always be one of the few people whom I really can call Best Friend Forever. I love you Kath and blessings to you -- abundance, prosperity, good health, joy, peace and most of all Love-- all days of your life.:)

And yes, I am looking forward to the day that Kathy and I will finally meet and have coffee or choco latte in Manhattan.:) And Kath, yes, I received your blessings for me too. Yes, It's done! AMEN!

Last night ( May 26, 2010) was a date to remember. For the first time (as far as I could remember), Mama and I had a date -- just the two of us. hehehe. We headed off to GMall's cinema 6 (VIP) and watched IRONMAN 2. There were less than 10 people who were with us for the last full show. hehehe.

Since we were still full after dinner (chowking and pizza hut freebies), we never bought a snack inside the cinema anymore. After the movie, Mama was telling me that she already viewed IRONMAN 1, in which she said was not at all related to the one we just viewed. Confused, I asked her what she saw before and it turned out that what she viewed was THE MAN WITH AN IRON MASK with Leonardo De Caprio! HAHAHA! That's why she can't relay with the Ironman 2 because we are talking of two entirely different movie with just an almost the same title hahaha...

Anyhow, I just love that date.:) Sana maulit! hehehe.Sabi ni mama dapat 2 or 3 times nya i-view yun para hindi lugi ang binayad (php125 each kaya yun! at oo,. mahal na yun from this part of the globe hehehehe) at mas maintindihan pa ang ibang lines. Hehehe.. Next time uli, Ma. I love you and forever grateful for giving birth to me. You will always be my best friend. Mwah!!

By: Ann-Marie Murphy, Quizzle.com

Whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck or you have a surplus of savings built up, learning to budget your money – and maintaining an ongoing budget planner – is vital to proper money management.

There’s no one right way to budget your money. Some people like to jot income and expenses down on paper, others keep a sophisticated budget spreadsheet and still others prefer using a free, online budget planner that does most of the work for you. It doesn’t really matter how you keep your personal budget so much as picking a method that makes sense to you and one that you will maintain regularly.

To make sure your budget does what it's supposed to, be sure to avoid these 11 budget planning mistakes:

1. Not keeping a budget planner at all.

If you have no semblance of a budget planner and never write your income and expenses down, how do you know the state of your finances? How can you be sure you’re not spending more than you’re making? If you don’t manage your money, it will manage you – in the form of debt, interest charges, bad credit and other unpleasant consequences.

2. Thinking short-term.

A monthly budget is a great first start, but it’s difficult to account for less regular expenses that way. Think ahead at least a year and budget one-time items and other events – like holidays and birthdays – so your personal finances aren’t turned upside-down by a single occasion or large purchase.

3. Being unrealistic.

If your budget planner never matches up with reality, what’s the point of keeping it? The ideal personal budget tracks real income and expense patterns, and allows you to plan for the future. If your estimates are always off, however, your future finances are no more than a guess. To help keep it real, estimate what your expenses will be for the next month. Then, keep track of your actual expenses and at the end of that month, compare the estimates with the actuals. That way, you'll learn how you are really using your money so you can make better estimates for the future.

4. Spending more than you earn.

This may seem like an obvious error to avoid, but with U.S. consumer debt reaching $2.45 trillion at the end of 2009, according to the Federal Reserve, it may not be obvious enough. Keeping an ongoing personal budget will help you to track what’s coming in and what’s going out – and to make sure the first number is higher than the second one.

5. Saving too little.

Savings shouldn’t be an after-thought; it should be budgeted just like everything else. Traditional thinking holds that you should save 10 percent of your income. Whatever number you choose, add it to your budget planner and stick with it. Set up a direct deposit from your paycheck into a savings account, if possible, to make it automatic.

6. Neglecting to plan for a rainy day.

Aside from your savings, you should budget for a rainy day – an emergency situation for which you can’t necessarily prepare, like an unexpected medical expense, house or car repair, or job loss. Like your general savings, there should be a place for these funds in your budget planner rather than pulling from whatever might be left over at the end of the month.

7. Keeping an overly elaborate budget.

If you’re a budget nerd who prefers an incredibly detailed spreadsheet, kudos to you! But if you’re like most people, making your budget planner too labor-intensive and overly detailed will likely lead to budget abandonment. Everyone requires a different level of detail; find yours and stick with it. If you’re just getting started, begin with a high-level budget and add more detail as you need it.

8. Allowing your checking account balance to go too low.

When you near $0 with your checking account – or main bank account – you’re flirting with unnecessary fees and frustration. Budget yourself out of this predicament by setting a new zero. If you view an amount - let's say, $100 - as the new absolute minimum, you'll prevent yourself from losing any money. Plus, you'll have a safety net in place if you ever make a budgeting error.

9. Relying completely on bank and credit card statements to get it right.

Don’t assume that what’s on your bank statement or credit card statement is 100 percent correct. Banks and creditors make mistakes too and if you don’t at least occasionally double-check with receipts, you may be forfeiting your hard-earned cash.

10. Never adjusting your budget planner.

Your personal financial situation is bound to change. Update your personal budget with new sources of income and new expenses, and make sure to adjust your budget to align with your spending habits. Keeping an archive of your budgets is a good idea too, as it allows you to look back and determine spending patterns and what adjustments you should make.

11. Not accounting for interest.

Neglecting interest charges on credit cards and loans in your budget planner will likely lead to a budgeting shortfall, especially if you’re paying hefty sums in interest each month. You don’t have to get the amount of interest exactly right in your budget, but it’s smart to make a best guess. Estimating interest will allow you to really see how much you’re paying to borrow money from creditors and lenders, and will help ensure that you have enough money budgeted to cover these payments.

Again, thanks to YAHOO for this very informative article. I realized that after all I am vain, especially if we talk about my hair! hahaha.. I am blessed with shiny, strong and black straight hair. Thanks to my mother who has equally or maybe more beautiful hair than I do! hahaha. So when I got this article, I immediately thought of sharing this to you and maybe it will help you achieve that shiny hair you ever wanted!

Or you may check this out too: 17 hairstyles that take less than 10 minutes!

Best Kept Secrets for Shiny, Strong Hair

When you see a certain drugstore shampoo commercial where the woman (always, always) has amazingly shiny hair, do you find yourself yelling "fake!" at the TV? (Don't feel bad; I'm totally there, shouting at my TV with you.)

Turns out, it's time to stop the cynicism. You actually can have totally shiny and strong hair in real life (er, unless you live in one of these 13 worst-hair cities) -- you just need a little help. Check out the tips below or take this shampoo quiz, and don't be surprised when the shocked and awed looks start.

Shine Cocktail
Celebrity hairstylist Marc Townsend (he does Natalie Portman and January Jones' hair, among other goddesses) has the perfect recipe for shiny hair: The night before you need extra shine, mix a silicone-based shine serum with deep conditioner, apply to your hair (fine-haired chicks will want to skip their roots) and leave it on for 15 minutes (or all night if you don't have a deep love for your pillow cases). Rinse it out thoroughly and have your sunglasses on hand to shield your eyes from your hair glare.

Skip the Heat
It's tough, I know, but whenever possible avoid the blow dryer and flat irons. You'll minimize the damage and split ends, so your hair will be stronger and lay smoother (smoother hair reflects more light and looks shinier). Can't avoid it? Then use one of these 14 top-rated drugstore conditioners.

Get All Martha Stewart-y
For a cheap and easy hair and scalp conditioner, massage olive oil into your scalp and down your hair. Put a towel over your pillow and sleep with it in (try not to dream about Italian food too much). Rinse it in the morning. If you'd rather have a sweet dream, try this recipe instead. Once you get all shiny-haired, now what? Here are 17 a-doooor-able hairstyles you can actually do at home. (I tested them out myself.)

I just want to have this link recorded for future references. I got this from Yahoo and for a not-so shoe fetish me, I think I should consider this before buying my next pair of shoe:

It's no secret that women adore shoes. When you are blue, buying a new pair is an instant mood lifter. When you feel great, you make a trip to the shoe store in celebration. And on special occasions, you must have something special to wear. The truth is, there will always be a good excuse to add to your shoe closet. Here are 9 tips on expressing your personal style — through your footwear.

Photo Credit: Studio D

1. Don't Be Hobbled by Discomfort Even if you love a pair, if you can't walk in them, don't buy them. Limping around in heels is decidedly ungraceful.

2. Dare to Wear Brights An electric hue can amp up a look, including outfits in colors other than black and denim. Try colored shoes with white, khaki, and pastels. A scarlet-red dress, however, calls for neutral footwear.

3. Wear What's Appropriate Open-toe sandals may be too risqué for a conservative suit, while a flat may be too casual for a cocktail frock. Keep your sneakers relegated to gym clothes or casual jeans. When in doubt, it's hard to go wrong with a classic black pump.

4. Going Outdoors? Say No to Stilettos It will be difficult to walk when your heels keep sinking into the ground, and you'll ruin your shoes. Flats are fine, but if you want height, wedges are an ideal option.

5. Make a Statement A spindly stiletto sandal is all about looking sexy, while a bow-emblazoned kitten heel veers more toward cute. Know what look you're going for, and go full out.

6. Va-va-voom Shoes Have Their Place Nighttime is the right time for attention-getting shoes. If you still want to wear a knock-'em-dead look during the day, choose a closed-toe or peep-toe pump.

7. Pair Sky-High Shoes with Tame Hemlines When going for major air, keep your hemlines at an inch above the knee. But when wearing a short skirt or dress, wear a lower heel or flat — it will balance you out and keep you from showing altogether too much leg.

Photo Credit: Studio D

8. Wear Flats with Properly Hemmed Clothes Make sure your clothing is tailored or you'll risk looking sloppy. A trouser leg should fall at or above the ankle, while skirts or dresses should end above the knee.

9. Think About Balance (And we're not talking about the kind you need to walk.) A thicker-heeled shoe grounds a heavily layered look, when something dainty could look off balance. The reverse also holds true. When wearing a wispy frock, a thin-strapped sandal is an appropriate match.