I signed up for the “biggest loser” contest in our company. Unlike the TV show, this contest is a team effort with several members of the team adding up to the total weight loss.

Unfortunately, after our trip to Bohol, I have not been sticking to my diet. In fact, I have gained a total of 4 pounds since our last weigh in. Tsk, tsk. I’ve been thinking if I should take an appetite suppressant. Again, I didn’t want to shop for clothes ‘coz I want to lose some more weight before I do.

Sigh.

I am a member of a parents group in our company. I’ve been seeing teasers on this “bring your child to work” day. They were even asking for parent/s to volunteer to help on the event. I was simply brushing it off. But then yesterday, I was asked if I can volunteer. Honestly? I was reluctant. Friday is my work-from-home day and I don’t feel like bringing Mikee to the office while I check on the other kids too. (Note: I said “check” not “look after” so it wouldn’t be too hard, really)

But I gave in. I am curious how Mikee would roam around the office while I work. This is quite different from the office Trick-or-treat where mommy was roaming around with her. Will she be excited (as much as her dad’s excitement on getting New York Yankees tickets)? Or will she get bored? Let’s see.

It’s time every one/Juan flies.

Weee! We have availed of the Cebu Pacific promo that runs from March 25-31. The travel dates are from June 1 to Dec 31 this year. Hurry! You might want to get your seats at a discounted price just like we did.

This is for our planned Hong Kong trip in October. Believe it or not, the ticket only costs less than Php5000 per head. That’s with travel insurance and reserved seating!

So I’ve been busy browsing for affordable hotels and/or hostels. I’m also checking the most efficient itinerary that includes ferry cruises to and from Macau.

The key word here is AFFORDABLE.

It was late last year when Ate Jen twitted about light painting. I think it is really cool especially when you’re really good at it.

Then the other night, I wondered if I can do it even without any knowledge on how to do lightpainting on your own. All I know is it should be done in long exposure (still, I could be wrong).

I did a couple of trial and error. The first few settings, the shutter wouldn’t fire at all. So just want to share how I did it in case you want to try it too.

Equipment used: SLR on a tripod or you can place your camera on top of something stable like bed frames perhaps; light source such as a flashlight. Although I used my mobile phone ‘coz like I said earlier, I did this on a whim.

Steps that I did, some of which may not be necessary hehehe:
1. I set up the SLR on the tripod on a place where it was dark.
2. I set the lens into manual.
3. I set the camera to the Tv mode / speed priority, and the shutter speed to 1/8
4. I set the ISO to 1600.
5. I set the camera’s timer.
6. I waited in front of the camera and drew a heart using my lit-up mobile phone when I heard the shutter about to burst.

This was the first photo that the shutter, with the different settings I tried, actually clicked.

I would have wanted a darker background and a nicer light paint. But this one isn’t so bad as a first.

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There’s another upcoming earth hour on March 28, 8:30-9:30 pm local time. That’s 8:30-9:30 AM EST. I think it’s cool that everybody participates in conserving energy. I remember our entire street supporting the earth hour drive last time. I hope there will be more participants this time. And I’m glad to know that the company I’m working with will be participating too.

Read more about it here, while I continue my research on the most affordable means of rv camping. Hope you’ll participate too. Let’s turn the lights OFF for Earth Hour!

My sister has borrowed our Sony M1 digicam. Even if the videos taken from it are almost faultless, I have warned her that the photos can be disappointing most of the time. I told her she’d better be back before our Hongkong trip late this year or else, well, I have no point-and-shoot to use as a backup to our SLR. Hehehe.

Then I just thought I could buy a better model online and have it shipped to her. I will just have to wait for any digicam Sale while she’s on business trip. I want something that has a higher megapixel and can take videos. Like I said, I want something that could serve as a backup to our SLR. Plus, I like to start taking videos again and upload them to my YouTube account.

I read some reviews and I think I like either the Canon Powershot SD970 IS, or the SX200IS. (I had to blog this ‘coz I kept forgetting the models hahaha) There’s nothing wrong with some wishful thinking, right?

Earlier, I asked Peachy if we are buying some stuff over at ON. Then we started talking about some sales of dresses probably few weeks from now. So I changed my mind and decided to just wait for a sale.

As it turned out, it was a good decision ‘coz Mikee received several sets of clothes from hubby’s aunt from Dublin later today.

We’ll be calling her tonight toll free to thank her. Aside from the clothes, Mikee also received a musical night light. All these has saved me a whole lot of shopping!

There are plenty of investments around. Most parents I know made sure they have invested on bonds that would be very helpful in the future in time for their children’s college.

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This was what our Bohol day tour comprised of. Since it’s summer, it was hot. I strongly advise to wear comfortable clothes (I wore sleeveless blouse and shorts) and shoes/sandals/flipflops.

1. Blood compact – fortunately, there was a japanese couple with a tour guide when we arrived. We were eavesdropping on the history being shared by the tour guide. I forgot it anyway.

2. Baclayon Church – if you like old churches, this one’s for you. I love it. Plus a little “art” here:

There’s a museum but we opted not to check it.

3. Chocolate hills – don’t expect brown little hills like I did. hehehe. They are greenish.

4. Butterfly garden – this one’s really nice! the tour guide tells you of the butterfly life cycle, and types of butterflies among others. they’d let you hold of the butterflies (but they will die after you held them, we were told). Mikee fell in love with the place instantly coz she loves butterflies. If I visit Bohol again, I won’t mind visiting this place again.

5. Hanging bridge – I didn’t cross it. I was too afraid to cross it. Hubby was supposed to cross it while carrying Mikee who was sleeping at that time. I backed out after 5 steps and told hubby that Mikee and I will just wait inside the van.

6. Loboc lunch / floating resto – This is a buffet lunch at P250. Too pricey don’t you think? There was no need to pay for Mikee though.

7. Tarsier – again, don’t expect to enter a forest to find the tarsiers like I did. They are residing on trees that are inside a souvenir store.

8. Bohol Python / mini-zoo – hmmm, I disliked it mainly because there’s someone there who performed and made the place look like a carnival.

9. Hinagdan Cave – Mikee stayed with her godmother outside while hubby and I checked the cave. It was my first time to enter a cave so I found it so cool!!! I wanted to get a rock there to keep as a souvenir. I was thinking I could polish it with rock tumblers. Then I changed my mind. As they say, take nothing but pictures.

There were birds flying at the top part which I first thought were bats. But the tour guide, who’s good in camera settings by the way, told us that they are birds. Well, I didn’t like the smell of the water. And we had to step on the water (up to ankle only) to go to the other part of the cave. But overall, I like the cave.