The Caterpillar and Me: An Inspiration to Dream and Move Forward

I was walking our dog Bitey Bear one morning when I saw a rather large caterpillar on the sidewalk. I run back to the house, grabbed my camera, focused and pressed on the shutter. What a beautiful creature it was! 

I took several shots while trying to keep our dog from gobbling up the caterpillar. Thankfully, one of the photos turned out fine. 

All of a sudden, it dawned upon me. I was not looking at a caterpillar. I was looking at a representation of ME! 

As I write this post, I am the lowly caterpillar. Crawling... feeling in all directions... tentative... vulnerable... moving in slow, coordinated movements. One step at a time. A continuous effort to move forward. To reach for something. TO FULFILL A DESTINY.

The time will come when I have to shut myself from the world... to build myself a safe haven... to allow change and to embrace that change. I will do this not because I am incapable of loving. I will do this BECAUSE I LOVE.

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It may take some time. I may be missed, or I may be forgotten. I will be patient and those who truly love me will likewise be patient enough to wait for me to come out of my cocoon. They will be there when I bask in the glorious brightness of the morning. They will welcome me and see a new ME.

I may not become the most beautiful butterfly. 

I may just turn out to be a moth. 

The important thing is I will grow my own wings and be strong enough to fly and reach greater heights. 

I will look back to my humble beginnings as a lowly caterpillar. My heart will be full of love and gratitude for those who are willing to wait for me. I will give them the honor of being the very first ones to witness the change. 

I will be blessed with the gift of flight. I will be a symbol of hope. 

I will reach my dreams.

I WILL SUCCEED.

Note: The caterpillar I photographed above is the larvae of the Daphnis nerii, or the Oleander Hawk Moth. 

"The strikingly colourful oleander hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii) is one of the most widely distributed Sphingidae species in the world. Adults of this large, attractive moth have intricately decorated forewings, displaying a mixture of olive greens, covered with small blotches of pink and white. They also have a pale streak on the tip of each forewing."(Source:http://www.arkive.org/oleander-hawk-moth/daphnis-nerii/)

Creating Music with High Technology Devices

There are a lot of talented youth trying to make their mark in the music industry. They form small bands, accept some gigs, and make every effort count to earn recognition and hopefully, get that much needed break.

Thankfully, technology has made revolutionary devices that help enhance original compositions. With the right software, you can make your own musical composition, and who knows, it might just be the song producers are looking for. 

The novation launchpad mini is a keyboardless MIDI controller, used in conjunction with the Ableton Live software. It contains a grid of 8x8 buttons, illuminated, to trigger sounds, effects and loops and other marvelous things. 

Its compact size enables you to carry it anywhere. Simply plug into your laptop or even your iPad (via the Camera Connection Kit) and create your music! No need for power cables or device drivers! This device is practically plug and play.

A shout out to parents supporting their child's dream to make it into the music industry, this is something that would help propel your child's dreams into reality! 

Lasting Friendships: 31 Years and Counting

Last week, I got a text message from an unknown number. I initially thought it would be one of those spam messages. To my surprise, it was a message from one of my college besties!

Oh.My.God. How did she find me? I have been wanting to find out how my best college buddies have been doing all these years, but for some reason, I lost contact with them.

Thirty-one long years! It was 1985 since we were last together. It was the day when we were given confirmation for graduation. 

Our class picture
(University of Santo Tomas, B.S. Zoology 4-C)

Initially, I was scared to meet up with them. I told my husband, "They might all be successful. They were filthy rich when we were in college. They might be even richer now. Look at me. What is there to be proud of in me? I'm nothing." Tears started to fall. I felt so insignificant. So small, so unsuccessful.

My husband said, "Stop thinking that way. You are successful. You raised your children. You sent them through college. That alone is a success. Go ahead and tell them you will meet up with them. Trust me, you will have a good time."

And so I went. We were to meet up for dinner at the Seven Corners Restaurant of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. On my way there, all sorts of thoughts were racing through my mind. I was both excited and shy. Excited to be with my friends whom I lost contact with for many many years, and shy because I felt I have not achieved much. 

And then it happened. We were all together once again and it just seemed like old times. There was a lot of catching up to do! The usual questions "How many kids do you have? How old are they now? Do you have pictures of them on your phone?" flooded our conversation.  

My fears flew out the window. This was nothing about achievements! This was not about how rich we became, or how many cars and houses we have amassed. It was about how we raised a family and what keeps us busy nowadays. We talked about how much fun we had in college, about trying to remember who our professors were and what we did after classes. We reminisced about our favorite hang outs and adventures. It was a fun, memorable evening. We all wished we could do this regularly, if our schedules would permit.

We talked about how each of us fell in love, got married, fell out of love, pulled through and stood tall. We found out about how two of us got seriously sick with cancer, courageously fought the disease and won the battle.

We exchanged email addresses, added each other on Facebook and Viber, and took pictures to remember this day. Lots and lots of pictures! Several pounds, grey hair and crow's feet after, here's what we look like now.

We used to be able to eat anything and everything, but now each one of us has a special dietary restriction.

Pose for posterity before we parted ways again.

Just like old times!

I got home at 11:00 pm that night. My husband asked how it went and I told him I had a good time and it was nice seeing my friends again.

However, the most important lesson I learned from this experience is this:

Success is only a perception of how people see the life you live. 

Having money and being rich is not success.

Holding an important position is not an effective measure of success.

It is how you stay strong despite the adversities 

It is how you manage to smile through the pain

It is how you have come out from your battles with your head held high.

Today, I achieved success.

I have reunited with long lost friends and kept that bond of friendship alive.

"Learning" ~ My Word For The Year 2016

Learning is a continuous process. There are new things to discover everyday! From simple tasks to trivia, learning is so much fun.

I have been working in the corporate world for as long as I can remember, and mind you, doing a full time job, raising kids and running a household is no easy task. However, as tight as my schedule is, I always make time to improve a skill through online training.

There are numerous websites offering free courses, however, based on my experience, they do not offer much information and are sometimes not user friendly.

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Great news is I have a found a great website, Career Academy. They offer a unique Online Learning Membership for a low annual fee of only $29! Once you become a member, you will be getting unlimited access to over 1,100+ online courses for Information Technology, Project Management, Cyber Security and Business Skills. I have browsed the website and there are a lot of courses that I would be taking advantage of. I'd start with courses for Business Skills and follow through with Project Management!

This would also be a big help for my son who is in college majoring in Information Technology. There is a ton of knowledge he can get from Career Academy's expert trainers! More importantly, he may be able to earn 257 Professional Development Units (PDUs) and 30 college units that he can use to earn his Bachelor's degree! For $29! Awesome! Great savings right there!

One more thing that makes Career Academy better than the rest is that they offer a Member Referral Program. For every friend you refer and successfully completes the sign up process, you get to earn $10! There is no limit to the opportunities to earn through their referral program! You can even earn an additional $50 if you get 10 successful referrals in a month. That's an easy $150 in your pocket! 

What could be more amazing than having unlimited access to online courses and earning at the same time? Make 2016 the year to improve ourselves through learning! Remember, learning knows no age, no race, and no limits! 

Let Career Academy fuel your efforts to achieve success. Make that small investment towards a better, brighter future for you and your family! Make "Learning" your word for the year too!

Note: This is a sponsored post for Career Academy powered by Sponsored Reviews. I have been compensated for my time. All opinions contained in this article are 100% my own. 

My Grandson's First Month Slideshow Made Easy With Kizoa

I am a proud grandmother to Alfonso Miguel. He was born on the 6th of December 2015. I have never felt so complete!

Holding my baby's baby in my arms gives me that overwhelming feeling of joy that is just so surreal.

He recently turned one month old and my daughter and her husband had a big clock digitally printed on a huge tarp. They laid the baby down on the tarp exactly on the part where it says "1."

We took lots and lots of pictures and I used this free online slideshow maker called Kizoa to put together a mini slideshow. It did not take long at all. I had a professional looking slideshow finished in 20 minutes or less!

Here's the finished product: 

I am so loving this grand-parenting thing! I know I will be taking will be tons and tons of pictures to document his every milestone, and I will definitely be making more slideshows!

If you have lots of pictures from a memorable trip, or just family pictures you would like to view over and over again, I would suggest you make a movie clip or slideshow out of them. At Kizoa, everything is fast and easy! Just drag and drop your photos, add animations or transitions and your choice of background music!

Hope you all enjoyed the slideshow. Isn't he a cutie? 

Read about my journey as a grandmother in my other blog entitled, "From Parent To Grandparent."

7 Ways to Help Your Child Get Over A Break-Up

Going through a break up is an unpleasant experience. I am sure most, if not all. experienced it at least once in the past.  My first marriage was not successful and I was more than relieved when the father of my children left. I was alone in my task of raising three kids. I stood firm and moved on. I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this article if I did not pull myself out of the rut I was in.

Strong momma. That’s what my friends have always known me to be.

I am a mother of three, a daughter and two sons. My daughter is married and has a son. I would say that she found herself a good husband. However, it is a different story with my two sons. They have been in and out of failed relationships. I’ve seen how they’ve had their hearts broken. I’ve seen their tears, their frustration, and the loss of self-esteem.

I’ve seen them through their pain, and it hurts me so much to see them suffer.

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If your child is going through a break up, how would you handle it? Here are some tips a strong momma should do:

1.       Stop the blame.

Do not find fault in either your child or his/her girlfriend/boyfriend. Remember that before the break-up, they were so much in love with each other. Bad-mouthing the other party will only bring more pain.

2.  Let the feelings flow.

Crying does not make your son less of a man. The same goes with your daughter. Crying will allow them to let go of the pain.

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3.  Empathize

Be the person willing to listen to what they have to say, no matter how senseless it may seem. Teens and young adults going through a break up tend to talk about the issue incessantly and they need someone to listen. Be there when they need to talk. Hold their hand and hug them. Be understanding when they don’t feel like talking yet. Always reassure them of your love.

4. Exercise and Endorphins

If you child enjoyed sports before the break up, encourage them to get back on track. Better yet, plan a family activity – hiking, a trip to the beach, even riding the bike a few times around the block. Exercise can stimulate the brain to release endorphins, also known as the “feel-good” hormone. An increased level of endorphins in the blood can lessen the physical manifestations of pain and therefore, your child will be able to manage stress better.

5. Prepare his/hers favorite healthy meals

Exposure to stress can give rise to poor eating habits, which in turn may give rise to disturbances in the body’s function.  Make sure he/she follows a regular eating schedule. Treat him/her to their “comfort food” - a bowl of chicken soup, a cup of hot cocoa, their favorite casserole or pasta dish.

6. Let them get enough sleep

Make your child realize that staying up will not change the situation there are in. A good night’s sleep will help repair the body, and make their thought process function better. When my child suffered his first break up and had trouble sleeping, I made him do this simple trick to fall asleep. I told him to lay on his back, arms on his side and legs straight. I told him to imagine that he is a sandbag and that the tips of his fingers and toes have little holes in them and the sand slowly escapes through those holes. I told him to concentrate and imagine that the sand slowly escaping represents all the hurt and pain he is feeling. It worked wonders for him. 

7. Be Positive

Be the "C" mom he/she expects you to be - cool, calm, collected. Remind him/her that everything happens for a reason, and that is what they need to find out. Encourage them to meet new people. Help them regain their confidence in themselves. Let them know that jumping into another relationship, just to spite their ex is not a good move. Let them heal their wounds first, pick up the broken pieces and be whole once more. The best advice I got from my parents was "Love yourself first. When you learn to do this, you will be able to love others." I use the same advice for my children, and I usually tweak it with, "Someone on this earth was born for you to love and love you back. Find that person. Be happy."

I know raising kids is not an easy task. Just take a step or two back and look at the issue from a wider perspective. Count to 10. Breathe. Relax.

Trust God. Everything will be fine.

After the Engagement and Wedding Rings, I’m Getting a Mother’s Ring!

My husband is a unique gifter. Whenever a special occasion comes along, He asks me what I want, or what I need. Sometimes, he suggests something and asks for my opinion. I guess the phrase, “I want to surprise my wife” is not in his vocabulary.

This Christmas, he asked me if I would be interested in jewelry. Honestly, I would rather go for practical things I can use every day. However, I think this time, I would love to receive a beautiful piece of jewelry for a change. I asked him what he had in mind and he said, “A mother’s ring.”

I know there are college rings, class rings, engagement and wedding rings, but I have not heard of mother’s rings! My husband’s face lit up, and I know he was excited about this “mother’s rings.” He explained to me that Mothers rings are special because they include gemstones for each member of the family.

My husband showed me where he got this gift idea. He told me to go online and search for Joy Jewelers mothers rings.  I have never been so excited over jewelry until now! The pieces were lovely! I could even design my own ring! I was interested in the stackable design, which means I could get little rings, each engraved with the name of my husband and my three children. If the budget would allow, I could even have their birthstones added. My husband’s birthstone is Opal (October), my daughter’s birthstone is Aquamarine, my two sons’ birthstones are Peridot and Emerald.

My husband pointed to his choice. He said he planned to order two rings for me. The Love’s Course Ring, which will have our birthstones, Opal and Topaz; and the Candeza Ring which will have the birthstones of our children, Aquamarine, Peridot and Emerald.

What else could I say? I said, “Yes, yes, yes, I’d love that!” I gave him a big bear hug! After a gazillion “thank you’s,” my husband said, “Anything for the best wife and mom!” Awwww. Isn’t he sweet?

Here’s my tip to you ladies. Leave a hint to your husbands by keeping your computers turned on with the homepage set to Joy Jewelers mothers rings, or keep singing any song with the word “ring” in it. Sometimes, men just need some clues. J

Betaderm for treatment of infant’s eczema

            Skin changes, which we call children eczema, are characteristic for individual who have atopic constitution characterized by extremely dry, sensitive skin and respiratory mucous membrane. We can easily treat this condition when we buy Betaderm online. Condition usually appears between sixth week and second year of life, it makes parents restless and baby agitated because of its long, persistent symptoms. Even if it fades away at one point, it will probably appear once again in future. Like many other medical conditions, genetics plays the most important role. People who have predisposition for allergies are most likely to have allergic baby.

                Data provided by You! Drugstore claim that there is about 2 to 4 % of European population suffering from this issue while in USA, 10 % of people have this kind of allergy. Besides genetics, our environment and lifestyle are also very important. Air pollution, chemicals, spores, different cosmetic products and fibers can all lead to development of the illness.

                Child, who has atopic constitution, feels itch all day long due to dryness of his skin. But, given that brain cannot constantly work and send this feeling of itchiness, child will in time stop feeling the irritation and continue living normally. Because of the dry skin, infant will lose a lot of liquid during the day making the problem even worse. It is very important to continue drinking a lot of liquid and use products for hydration of skin. At the same time, it is important to reduce sweating because it can only increase itch and with it scratching of the skin. Ultimately, this scratching will lead to irritation. Important advice for parents is not to dress child in too much clothes. Instead, it should be half naked allowing his skin to “breathe”. When days are cold, dress him in multiple layers so that you can take some of them off if it’s too hot in the room.

                Children suffering from this issue should wear cotton clothes. On the other hand, wool is known as one of the most irritating fabrics for skin. Avoid it all cost. Therapy also includes good hydration. Baby will need to be washed with gentle stream of water (around 35 degrees Celsius), by using special soap, never bubble bath. Infant should never get in touch with volatile chemical matters. Nowadays, products for cosmetics can cause various issues. Try natural solutions whenever you can.

                One of the best ways to treat your baby is to use medication. Corticosteroids such as Betaderm are great for skin because they reduce inflammation and with it, all the other symptoms. Besides eczema, this medicine can be used for dermatitis and rash. Make sure to apply it 1 to 3 times per day. Nevertheless, if you condition persists after 2 weeks, contact your doctor. Common side effects that may appear after using Betaderm are: stinging, itching, irritation, redness, dryness, burning. In some cases, child may get stretch marks, acne, extreme hair growth, hair bumps and skin thinning. If any of these issues occur, contact your doctor immediately.

The Legacy Lives On: Bass Guitar for Beginners

My friend's husband was a bass guitar player in a small time local band. He was gifted with the talent and the audience always showed appreciation whenever he plays. I had the chance to watch him once and he was really good!

Sadly, he passed away at such a young age. My friend Annabelle was devastated to be widowed and left with two sons to care for. After a time, she was able to pull through and managed to live comfortably. 

Her youngest son, Kurt, recently showed interest in his father's guitars and asked if they could afford guitar lessons. Annabelle, of course, was more than happy to oblige. Her husband's talent is once again coming alive in her son.

Annabelle opted to get a new bass guitar for Kurt and was ecstatic to find a great selection of beginner bass guitar at thehub. She showed Kurt what a great find these guitars were and she made him choose which one he would be interested in. With some credible advice from her husband's former band mates, I know Annabelle and Kurt will be able to come up with the best decision.

This is going to be a great Christmas for them. I am happy for my friend! Pretty soon, Kurt is also going to be up on that stage, strumming his guitar just like his father did. 

A Birthday Poem by Yours Truly

Its my birthday today. It's Friday the 13th and I don't care. I was born on a Friday the 13th too. Does it make me unlucky? Not at all. I have been blessed more than I deserve.

This morning, I sat here, in front of my desktop, typing "Thank You's" to all who greeted me on my special day. I guess when you feel all the love, an overwhelming sense of creativeness manifests itself.

Here is a special poem I wrote, as a way of expressing my thanks to God and to the wonderful parents He gave me. I know my Dad is celebrating with me too. I have celebrated 23 birthdays without him. Oh how I miss him so much.

So, here you go. Sharing with you a heartfelt, spur of the moment, literary creation by yours truly.

Today's my birthday
I'm now older by a year.
I woke up and prayed,
"Thank You, my Savior Dear."

My life, I'd say, is truly blessed
Despite the trials and lack of rest.
Three wonderful children, a grand-baby on the way
And hubby so caring, they are enough to make my day.

And so I reflect back on the years that passed
I've been a daughter, a student, and both mom and dad.
I battled with diabetes, and I'm battling it still,
I take it all in stride with needles and insulin.

Today I am grateful to my Lord and my God
He gave me my life, and all that is good.
He gave me the greatest Mom and Dad
Who loved me and gave me all that they could.

Mama and Daddy, I know that you know
How much I love you and to you my life I owe
There are times I failed you, times I made you cry
And in my trials, you said, "You can do it, go ahead and try."

To all my family and friends
I love all the well wishes and greetings you send.
My heart is happy,
My soul content.

It would also mean much to me if you could also say
"Thank You" to my mom and dad
They are the reason a birthday
Is celebrated today.

"A Birthday Poem"

Written by Eileen Layno

on her birthday

13 November 2015