Do you...

use your blog to gain revenue?

I do... or I think it's better to say that I try.

Yeap, I have linked my blog to generate revenue via Google Adsense and Nuffnang. It must be me... because when I have checked both accounts, I do not have enough to celebrate with a Mcdo meal (yes, even with the cheapest one or the kiddie meal).

Another reason can probably be because I am not that familiar with SEO writing. Yes, I should read more about it but I haven't done that yet - why? I don't know... (saying that makes me feel I am not really that productive)... wait! I know!! It's because I am being called by my oven to bake! I will try and post my products soon!

So, it's my fault.

I hope... I hope I can turn things around ;-)

I was suppose to

be blogging about toilets and show you the different bathtubs that caught my fancy however, in an abrupt change of weather (yeah, it was manageable at first then it became to sticky), it has taken over my mind and now, it has taken over this blog.

I just cannot wait and move to this new place where the air is fresher and less sticky.

Now, my mind cannot function properly.

I just want to document this.

*signing off* 

From Paper to Computer

I read a Poynter.org news feed from my inbox about the New Republic.

You can read the article here.

I have to warn you that it's a bit of a long read but it just made me realise how people behind newspapers, magazines and other forms of print media are trying their best to cope with new journalism which I believe is what we now call online journalism.

I remember when I was still in university, our professor asked us to create a magazine that will represent our group. We were given a month or probably less than that to come up with the magazine.

My groupmates and I argued, debated and brainstormed of what can be the main feature of the magazine and what will the other issues to be discussed as well. However before that we also needed to agree on what audience are we catering to.

It was torture because we then thought that the time was not enough because you have to book interviews, layout your magazine, get your facts and story right, blah, blah, blah.

With what I have been reading from Poynter.org and all the other news sites now, it is as if everything needs to be released in a matter of seconds (okay, well hours hahha!). If a news item is hot, there should be tidbits regarding the matter or issue until the writer and editor assigned to it feel confident to release the story -- online.

I think we cannot wait for stories to be written in print anymore. I remember how people waited for their newspapers to be delivered at their doorstep or their suking tindahan (convenience stores) so that they can read about the news (in depth or just plain reporting). Now, with just a swipe of a finger or pen (if you have a tablet), you can get your news.

It is a good thing I know because now, even news from Timbuktu (as long as their is internet) can be reported or read online.

Though I also wonder the struggles being made by traditional journalism and the journalists as well. This is what I have read or at least what was implied by the article. The previous person in charge left the New Republic because of the changes being made to the magazine.

This lead me to a conclusion that though it is cliche, it is true - the only thing constant in this world is change and this is what has happened to this publication.

According to Vivian Schiller, the New Republic seems to be going on the right direction and she looks forward to see them after a year if they were able to survive the game.

As for me, I may be a part of the milennial group (no age information to be divulged hahaha!) but I still am struggling to cope with the internet. At times, I also try to resist it (because you also need to filter what you read right --- now this thought grants another blogpost don't you think?!) and rely on what has been printed on newspapers but when news about a plane crash or an event has taken place and you really, really want to get information about it - you end up chewing up all the news the internet has to offer (admit it! You are nodding with me).

Makes me wonder if in the next few years, are we going to see the decline of printed materials being published? or will it survive and emerge as a winner after all?

Time will only tell.

One Liners

This is just what I can type right now.

The weather is really getting into me.

I need air.

It's so hot even with the rain.

I need to get out of the fan now.

See yah later.

Corazon at the New Shangri-la Wing

Note: This is already a late post because we have visited the restaurant last June, Father's Day. 

My sister and I decided to look for a new restaurant to try in the new wing of Shangri-la Mall. To be quite honest, there were a lot of choices to choose from.

We wandered around since lunch time is still a few hours away and we want to work on our appetite so off we go to discover this new wing.

Eventually, we ended up choosing Corazon.

Pardon the hair 

According to thespoiledmommy blog, Chef Florabel owns this establishment including other restaurants like Elias and Crisostomo to name a few (note: I tried opening Chef Florabel's website but I think it's undergoing some maintenance issues). A couple of years back, the family ate at Elias in Robinson's Magnolia for Mom's birthday and we enjoyed our meal there so I am hopeful that Corazon pleases us as well.

I think they only have limited seating inside the restaurant itself because we were guided to seat outside. I actually like the home-y feel of the place and what better way to entice me more? Seat me next to the desserts area!

I could not help myself but to keep eye of the Chocnut chocolate cake that was tempting me to have it even before the main meal is served.

This is love <3!

However, I was able to keep my composure and we ordered. The dishes that stood out for me was the Kilawin with Liempo (aka Toledo) and their Paella.

From L-R: Kilawin, Crispy Hito and Paella

We also ordered the crispy hito (aka Huelva). It was also good but I like the Thai version of this (the name of the restaurant escapes me at this time).

And because we were close to the dessert area, my sister and I drooled and had 3 different cakes (with a bonus received from the restaurant for a booboo that happened).

We got the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake, the Chocnut cake (I think it was torte), another chocolate-y cake and the complimentary cake.

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake and Chocolate-y cake 

I have to say the Chocnut cake / torte is perfect with coffee. The chocnut blended well and the cake was not too sweet though I feel it should have more chocnuts but oh well. The Dulce de Leche cheesecake ranked #2 for me because of the sweet and salty combination of the cake. Most probably similar to a New York cheesecake but better.

Over-all, the dishes were good but it is the desserts that really hit the mark for me.

My dad enjoyed the meal but would want bigger portions to fill him up (oops!).

Happy Father's Day Pops! 

paid this meal ourselves :) 

A family of two

I have been observing the blogging / online world for a few months now and I realized that most of the launch that I have seen are for moms - be it first-time moms, moms of twins, super mom, second mom, work-at-home moms and more.

I admire the launches that I have seen because now, I feel that mothers are being properly celebrated for raising their children, making sure that their needs are met. There is even an online group of mommies who support one another, by giving out suggestions from what they read or based on their experience - if what they are doing is good for their child or not.

However, I notice, there isn't any blog or group that celebrates women who are just wives for now - no children as of yet. I do not know if this group falls under being a career woman?

I mean have you read an article or a blog about a wife being praised for a good meal? Or any advise being given to a newly married woman about what are the do's and don'ts when you do the laundry or when you go to the wet market?

Probably there is that unspoken rule wherein married couples need to jump to the next step almost immediately - to have a baby.

This can be a rant for some people who knows me but to be honest, I thought of writing this blog as my way of just "thinking out loud" and I guess wanting to know if there is someone or anyone from the other side of the world who agrees with me about this.

I know a family of two is only a stage of beginnings (when you are just starting out a family) and on the near endings (when the kids have all moved out and have their own lives to live) but while the transition takes place, I wonder if women in this stage (like me) needs or wants to have a group to be there for them - to hold their hand when the first steak they have cooked was as hard as a rock or when they thought they were pregnant but it was a false alarm and so many life stages that will be experienced while in the family of two.

The answer can be that the other hand that holds you is your husband but is an outside support / perspective also valid in this instance?

I wonder.

City Living

When we were still in Dubai, I like the city - the hustle and bustle, the lights that you see when you pass by buildings, children playing in a small community park near our area. There was a lot of open space that you don't really feel congested even if literally Dubai's population has doubled or maybe more since 20_ _ (can't really reveal how long we stayed there but it was looooong).

Before you read my rant about Manila, please note that I want to re-discover it however frankly for now, I am still trying to get used to how the routine life is. I guess it is safe to say that this was not the city that I have known when I left. The streets were not overcrowded, you can still maintain a personal space when you walk inside the malls (the only time you lose this space is when SM is having their midnight madness sale!), you can find an empty seat in the foodcourt, MRT or bus (it will be there even if you walk as if you were carrying the Ms. Universe crown). I can go on and on of how I left the city but I can never get it back.

Everything and I think everybody is cramming here - them and their families.

A few days back, I saw this article from Huffington Post about how city living may be harmful to your mental health. I was reading the article and find myself nodding to some points. How the city makes you feel stressed and sad.

One of the suggestions the writer made was to take a hike. I paused and asked myself, where can I actually do that here in the city? When we were driving about last week, I did see one or two people jogging or walking on the sidewalk of a very busy street. I don't think I am going to do that. I then realized that we do not have enough parks or a piece of property that you can just walk around and enjoy the peace and quiet of just being on your own.

Then I realized, I miss the parks in Dubai.

photo from Zabeel Park, one of the many Christmas parties held

Zabeel Park, this park is in the center of the city as you can see the metro train just outside the park 

Still in Zabeel Park, just want to show you how vast the park is 

I commend places like Capitol Commons in Pasig, Greenfield District in Shaw and the Fort development for thinking of having a green patch of land where people can sit and relax... be one with nature. Going back to that article from Huffington Post, they have mentioned that people need to disconnect from the tech world and be one with the natural world. I agree or if you cannot really contain the pressure of the hustle and bustle, you can always move to a much quieter area?

And with this, I say, that is our current plan now. There is something on the works for us to move about and see what is out there on that location. I am not saying we are giving up on the city life but it does feel great to disconnect once in a while right?

I hope that this move will also be a good start (imagine, doing two major moves consecutively - I know, crazy right?!). Well, I guess if both of you are up for it and are more than willing to take the plunge, why not right? ;-) as long as there is a lot of greenery and the air is crisper and better.