My Map!!!

My Lakbayan grade is B-!How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!
Created by Eugene Villar.

Giveaways -- Win an Incredible Bag Organizer

I am the typical Girl Scout, always ready. Wherever I go, as long as I bring a purse or a hand bag, I seldom borrow things from others as I always carry my everyday essentials. And because these things are not few, I need a bag organizer to avoid being messy. It is also very convenient as you can easily change bags, transfer the contents from one bag to another without pulling out all the contents one by one. This bag organizer keeps your items neat and securely in place. It also has a special slot where you can hang your keys and specific slots for your umbrella and water container. 

Giveaways -- North Peak x MLS Giveaway

The World Wide Web has been flooding with so many giveaways. To past time, and to have things that I feel is a luxury and not a necessity, I patiently join these giveaways and contests. Thankfully, there is the Rafflecopter widget that makes joining these raffle easier. And then, as additional raffle entry, I only blog about those contests that I desperately wanted to win! :)

photo captured from North Peak

I have been eyeing the North Peak backpack for two months now, since I have seen it in another giveaway which I was not fortunate enough to win. North Peak is a bag brand that has been around since 2002. It aims to produce quality but affordable outdoor bags. Different designs, to fit each individuals' needs, are available. They have the Cruiser, Safari, Rebel, Traveler, Urban series and many more. I specifically like the Drifter series.

join here

This time, North Peak partnered with My Little Secret blog in this giveaway. You just have to fill out the Rafflecopter widget here to have a chance to win! Good luck!

Giveaways -- Win a Brand New 16GB Apple iPod Touch

Ever since the release of its first generation on September 2007, I have always wanted to have an iTouch. But, because I practiced being frugal and practical, I realized that this is an ultimate luxury for me, and not a necessity. Imagine five years of just looking at this gadget, browsing at Amazon, waiting for its price to go down. When it reached the current price, I can already afford it but still, I could not see it as a need.

So, I was more than happy to found that there is a current giveaway from Designrs Hub, with this product as a price. As they say, the more entries you send, the more chances of winning. So, I am taking my chances and crossing my fingers on this giveaway. That is why I have done all the steps required, including the posting of this blogpost. You too have the chance to win an iPod Touch by joining the giveaway here.

Personal -- My Travel Essentials

When there are spontaneous trips and I am to be asked if how long will it take me to pack, I would excitedly answer: "I am always packed!" Below are the things that are always ready for pick up and be put into my back pack.

Map 

I always see to it that I bring a map of the place that I will go to. Sometimes, I buy the map on the place itself or I will avail maps and pamphlets at the airport of my destination.

Contests -- An Amazing Grace Giveaway

Though not yet a mom, I am already a fan of blogs by and for moms. Truly Rich Mom is one of the mom blogs that I follow. I enjoy and am educated with the posts about parenthood, finances and random tips in everyday living. I also look forward to the giveaways and freebies that they carry out from time to time.

This time, Truly Rich Mom together with Human Heart Nature are sponsoring the Amazing Grace Giveaway. This is in line with the theme of "celebrating the gift of womanhood AND in preparation for National Heroes Day here in the Philippines (August 27)." All you have to do is fill up the Rafflecopter widget and for bonus raffle entries, you can blog about the giveaway including who your favorite Pinay heroine is.

Contests -- Challenge Accepted! 1000-1000 Travel Blog Challenge

It has been a long time that I really wanted to have my own travel blog. Friends and family have inspired me to create one. As stated in my homepage, the main purpose of this blog is to document my experiences during my travels. To share to my friends and to other people the places that I have been to and to urge them to start traveling.  

I never thought I could start to publish my travel blog. But then, I did and I am loving every minute of it. Now, I am taking another challenge, the 1000-1000 travel blog challenge.  Though this may seem impossible for me, but who knows? One day in the future, I might be blogging on how I won this challenge. Wish me luck!

meet the world, 

~S

Third time's a charm - I won a raffle!

I am still quite overwhelmed while writing this post. So please pardon the grammars, spellings or any error in the post.  You see, I have been following travel blogs since before I started to publish my own. As for other blogs, I follow those who are sponsoring contests and raffles.  

The first thing I won is a wanderlust travel journal from Nina Fuentes of Just Wandering and yes, I won again, this time 2 Anywhere Philippines gift certificate  from James of Journeying James. The prizes I received from these people may be small for some, but for me, these are treasures that I so love to have.  These people may have not known me but I know part of them by reading their blogs, every vacant time I have. Their blogs are therapy for me. I got to go to other places virtually just by reading about their travels. And I dream that one day, I can go to as many places as they have gone.

As they say, third time's a charm.  Indeed it is! I have been browsing over my twitter account when I read a twit about another contest from a travel blog. This time, the blogger is giving away 1 round trip ticket to any Cebu Pacific international destination. But you see, this contest is not as easy as the others where you just like, share and comment.  This blog is more than 5 years old, has 999 posts and the answers to the questions in the contest are from that 999 posts.  

I was getting discouraged already and ready to give up, I already spent 20 minutes and still did not found the answer to the first question.  Then I suddenly found the articles interesting and kaboom! I found the answer to the first question.  From that, I suddenly found the answers to the succeeding questions using my unique ability and talent as a part time web researcher.  Alex would be very proud of me.  

And the rest as they say is history.  Well, not quite as I only learned just 20 minutes ago that I have indeed won the said contest.  Browsing twitter, I saw the post about the winner of the said contest, and of course the 1000th post of Iron Wolf.  Lo and behold, while reading the post, at the lower portion is my name as the winner.  Afraid of just hallucinating, I called my brother to take a look to confirm my victory.  

And I was declared the winner!  For some, this may be a small victory but for me and my family, my cousin Methel and my friends who knew the wanderlust in me, this is very big already.  And I hope someday, that it will be me, who will sponsor a raffle and give you guys an opportunity to travel.

meet the world, 

S

Simple Mashed Potatoes

I was home alone and needed hot food for lunch, I saw several potatoes and voila! I made a simple dish of mashed potatoes with the following steps:

• ·         Peel and cut 3 small sized potatoes (local ones)
• ·         Cut in quarts and bring to boil for about 20 minutes , put some salt to taste
• ·         Drain the potatoes
• ·         Heat a spoonful of butter and 2 spoonfuls of cream
• ·         Put it in a bowl with the potatoes
• ·         Carefully mash the potatoes in the bowl
• ·         Add a spoonful of fresh milk
• ·         Add a little salt and pepper to taste

Contests -- Marithé + François Girbaud Gift Certificate

Oh!  I was opening my wallet today when I saw that I still have a gift certificate from Marithé + François Girbaud.  Contrary to what I have written in my Third time's a charm - I won a raffle! post, I have won not just three raffles, contests and promos this year. Well, that airline ticket is indeed my third victory from travel blogs.  Last January 22, I won a gift certificate from a twitter contest brought by Girbaud. 

I feel a bit guilty in this prize though. It is a trivia contest posted and must be answered in Twitter. The question was about the location of the first Girbaud store in the Philippines. I researched the web but have not found yet the answer when someone posted on the Facebook page of Girbaud. I "copied" the answer and posted it on Twitter. And after a few minutes, they confirmed me a winner.  I claimed the prize a month later at the branch nearest me. Until now, I still have not used it. 

Anyway, even though I just stole the answer, it should be the responsibility of the participants to follow all the instructions given. After all, we join to win so we must find ways to be a winner. Waahhh am I that bad? I just found the answer and posted it on the right location! Anyway, I have the GC now and I will spend it before it will expire.