posted by Jennie on Jun 24

Marriage and Beyond has always been my primary blog. With at least four updates a week, the number has gone down to two. As soon as we came back from Boracay a week ago, we all went right back to business. We officially started homeschooling last week and as we were on it, I was also posting articles across our web pages and beating deadlines in between. The housework and everything else are always part of the package, as usual. I really am just thankful for a healthier me this year that I am able to do what I am now doing and some.

Some? I have been pretty distracted with some applications over at this particular social network. That’s just on the side whenever I get to do the “alt-tab” exercise, which can become frequent if I do not watch it. I might be speaking jibberish but I know a lot of my friends (online and otherwise) who are into these online games can so relate.

Undeniably a distraction, which I also consider a pretty silly diversion. But truth to tell, it has this certain way of destressing me of sorts. Now that I’m back to regular programming, I have been pretty busy with online assignments and looking into articles I could write to post in my niched blogs. It occurred to me that it has been a while since I last wrote about TULA handbags over at my beauty and fashion blog, Kikay Corner. I love that the designs of tula accessories give a fresh and equally fashionable alternative to the public. Other pricier brands are not exactly the most practically things especially in this time of economic crisis. Tula has been around for over 30 years, keeping to the philosophy of designing fab leather handbags at prices that are definitely affordable. I love providing regular readers of my beauty blog alternatives to branded stuff that are simply overrated.

Aside from the updates in my beauty blog, I am also constantly adding up articles in my healthy blog and brand new personal blog. I know I have not posted my photo essays on our Boracay vacation. That will be next in line, due next week.

posted by Jennie on May 25

I don’t know about you, but I do get this endorphin high whenever I claim a brand new domain.  Could this be a symptom common to all probloggers?  The brand new blog is the oldest I have had in Blogger. I recently migrated all contents of my original online journal to

www.jenaspacio.com

For those who have formerly exchanged links with jenaspacio.blogspot.com, here I am asking for a favor to change the URL from your respective sites to www.jenaspacio.com.  All my other web pages are niched ones.  Understandably, I cannot just about pour anything random whenever I write.  The most personal that I could get is via this blog, Marriage and Beyond.  I love that I have my name in my domain this time.  I am a little behind, I know.  A lot of other bloggers claimed their first domain with their names in it.  In this aspect, I am a very late bloomer.  The plan is for me to be able to pour my heart out in that blog.

I decided to stick with its original blog title, so it goes…

What’s in the title? It sounds pretty ordinary right?  But having no other title in mind when I was trying to think of a nice one in 2004, for my multiply site, I just figured that it will be about my life.  Each day comes and goes.  I will journal things in my life.  Blessings and otherwise. The way I spend it, whether with regret or fulfillment, it will go whether I like it or not.  Not the most profound, I know. But it does make sense, right?  so it goes…

Hope you could visit my brand new site and maybe leave a line or two.

posted by Jennie on May 21

One of a webmaster’s ultimate nightmares is zero connection. It makes those times when internet connection is on intermittent mode, suddenly bearable. This is what happened to my connection yesterday. I had deadlines to beat and a handful of other tasks scheduled to take care of. 

The impatient me got to my old grouchy self and refused to call the hotline. I couldn’t believe I will be back to calling hotlines again. I reckon that our former broadband connection got me traumatized of sorts. We literally had to call several times a day, agents saying the same lines over again and not getting the connection problem resolved. Frustration to the highest level, to say the least. I was brought back to that instance. Plus the fact that I barely know what the hubby did back then when their technical team is with him on the phone going about all those crazy troubleshooting. One thing for sure, I was not in my best mood yesterday morning. The hubby was sweet enough to call the hotline himself before he left for the office and I was told that it was reported that there is trouble with the DSL connection around the East area and they are doing something about it.

Ever since our shift to this DSL bundle subscription from a previous crappy broadband, we have not had such major problems, until yesterday. We are paying a few hundred bucks more compared to the subscription plan we had with our previous provider and we did not really mind, we were happy with the service. More often than not, our connection is doing more than 1.5Mbps. That was before yesterday. It would really be sweet if we get something like that of Qwest high speed Internet and Qwest phone service. For $14.99, which is actually less than half the amount of our current subscription, a Qwest client gets to enjoy up to 1.5Mbps. That will be huge savings for us, if ever.

Oh well, I just hope that internet interruption will not happen again. My connection got back in a few hours. The internet geek in me got a little crazy over those few hours. So far, so good. No major problems since.

posted by Jennie on May 20

After almost two years of getting into internet marketing and five domains later, it could have been easier for me if I had chosen to get a multiple domain web hosting instead like what my husband did. I have learned since that it will not only make things easier but having one account for unlimited number sites will be the best way to go if I would like to get more domains later. Renewals will even be a breeze. Now, because I did not know better, I have to renew hosting for every single domain that I have.

Spare yourself the headache and if you plan to get serious with internet marketing, you might want to read the blog over at webhostinggeeks and choose the web hosting that will fit your need. There are a handful of list to choose from and best of all you can read through customers reviews and learn what others have to say to prospective hosting provider. It is always best to know you are with the right company, especially when you are doing internet marketing. It is hard enough to complete with a lot of web sites with thesame niche as you do, the edge of having a good host will always be a plus.

posted by Jennie on Apr 21

It really won’t stop raining these past few days. I have to confess, I am so loving it! I really love the rain more than the sun. I sometimes think that I am a Cullen. Haha! I guess what I love most about it is that we did not have to turn the air conditioning unit on for almost five days now. That is really something. Last week we almost had it on for an entire day because the heat was really crazy. Now, I’m dreading to get hold of our next electricity bill.

The downside to having rains is the internet getting ultra intermittent. I have to refresh the connection at least ten times a day and when downpour is heavy, twice as much. If only we have something like that of Hughes Net, locally, then I would not have to endure any of these. I have tons of deadlines to beat, plus a handful of web updating to do.

HUGHES.NET really gives out neat deals to their subscribers. Truth is, I am currently looking into some packages that they have, and maybe look into the same high speed feature that we might just have locally. I can really use an upgrade the moment we are done with our lock in period.  As I did my research with the ever reliable Mr. G, satellite internet apparently travels way faster than DSL. My current provider is a DSL and although this is a tad better than my previous broadband, I cannot say it is perfect and definitely nothing like Hughesnet. But with my work being internet based, I really cannot afford any down time. In as much as I love the rains, it can easily cause stress when it slows the internet down. It would really be sweet not having to be so torn anymore.

posted by Jennie on Apr 19

Less than two months. That’s practically all I have left to decide how we are going to go about our homeschooling set up here at home. The major things that takes up my schedule is the number of hours I work in the laptop, time with the little guy and the chores. Homeschooling should not take so much time everyday, especially so that we are just doing the preschool curriculum. But then again, it will still be an extra task in my already overloaded daily routine.

It really should not be so hard to figure out what should come down and what to do about it. But I still have these nanny issues and some concerns on getting a helper. Before I decided to work from home in 2007, I was a regular employee in one of those International companies in Ortigas.

Hiring the second nanny (the first one ran away with her boyfriend) was a mistake. My very own eyes witnessed how the one who was suppose to be the caregiver of my son hit my then one year old Jed with a balloon stick. Even with the mark on the child’s arm, she vehemently denied it! Que Horror! This is a nightmare to any parent. I swore that if I would ever have to leave my son to a nanny again, I am going to have one of those security cameras from GE home security. This is a tip from a former workmate. The very first time she left this hidden camera from GE home security system, was the time that she witnessed for herself the horror of leaving her son to the nanny who did nothing but abuse her son the moment she stepped out of their gate.

After what happened to the second nanny I took in, I just knew there was no way I am ever going to get another one to take care of my son. If ever I am to hire a helper, it will be for the chores around the house. It would also be nice if we install a GE alarm system, just to make sure that the burglary incident that happened in 1999 won’t happen again. The culprit mastermind then was our former helper. We later found out that she’s had this reputation of stealing from the people she worked for. We knew too late. You really can’t be so sure these days anymore.

posted by Jennie on Apr 12

After having transferred my beauty blog, KikayCorner.net to wordpress last week, I knew I had to get down to business and have the online store running after the long wait. It is inevitable. Countless of inquiries of beauty products that I endorse, I just knew I had to put something up for my readers to have access to a few of the rather scarce and not always commercially available natural beauty products.

It is not easy to be a webmaster of a handful of niched blogs and put rich content on them on a regular basis. A challenge, to say the least. But I’m definitely loving it! Especially after having seen that my experimentation with yet another new blog (another niched one) is topping the search engine. I get really giddy, when some of the newly acquired SEO skills of the hubs is passed down to yours truly and actually see my posts rank. We really hope that we grow forward to becoming better webmasters.

Meanwhile, as I go about my business in keeping this online shop, I have yet to create a merchant account and maybe later add in some other girl stuff like Marni necklace and who knows I just might get back to making my very own Swarovski crystal blings and sell them online.

I used to design and create my very own swarovski crystal jewelries six years ago and they sold like hot pancakes.  Literally! I even customized for some clients and even had the items shipped abroad.  I doubt I could still take in the same bulk of work, unless of course I  outsource.   It is  neat that shipping is made easy by a local courier who picks my merchandise for free and have them shipped anywhere in the world. Sweet!  

posted by Jennie on Mar 31

When my younger sister informed me today of the Conficker C attacking on April Fool’s Day, which is tomorrow, it was rather easy to shrug it off just like we should have, the Y2K virus. When she said that an officemate from the IT Department told her that they will be shutting down their whole system due to the worm Conficker C threat to attack computers, I knew this was something else.

I was in for an even bigger surprise when I learned that the Conficker C has been covered by no less than the CNN already. Another reporter from CBS tells how this deadly worm could possibly attack computers. A clicked link from a friend connected with you on some networking site is the trigger to get your computers infected. Hackers then can get into the information they need to wipe out bank accounts. Sounds crazy? Think again. As for me, I am going to play safe and not use the computer for the whole day tomorrow. It is better to be safe than sorry.

So what really is said to happen tomorrow? Click here for the the detailed report from CNN.

Computer expert Ken Colburn tells you how to find out if your computer is infected with the computer worm Conficker C.

posted by Jennie on Mar 25

It has been a good five years since I started web blogging and with four domain babies that I currently have, I can say that I am more than just enjoying it. My first blog entry was posted in one of the free Baby Journal sites, then I shifted to a social network site. It was in that social network site that I have done blogging –full blast.

Marriage and Beyond was the first domain that I claimed. After four hours of looking into parenting/marriage related domains, I almost gave up until I found peace in the domain Marriage and Beyond. I claimed it at around 4 A.M. and the other domains came all in from like the same sudden surge of inspiration and vision.

My other babies are HandyTipsandHints.com, ReviewsCorner.org and KikayCorner.net. I claimed the latter via a free platform around the same time I claimed Marriage and Beyond, but for some reason, I killed it in its first month. I thought a blogger can only write so much, retreating to the thought that I have not got a lot to write about the particular niche. It was neat to have found the same name still available after ditching it a couple of months before. Now I have gotten various posts on beauty, fashion and every possible article on women’s interests. Believe it or not, there is a reader that has even asked me to write some information about vaginal dryness. Articles like these take time to research on. But so far, I am thoroughly enjoying the ride. 

As of late, I have considered taking web content writing to the next level by accepting an e-book writing job. Considered, but not yet convinced that it is the road for me. With a homeschooling job to add on to my current schedule in the next few months, the decision has to be well thought of. Prayed about, like 128 times, at least. I swear if I knew web blogging is going to be this fun, I would have started right from when I was first online- when I was in middle school.

posted by Jeff on Mar 22

The hubby is the most athletic 33 year old that I have ever come across with. He always feels sluggish and gets tired easily whenever he misses his workouts at Marikina Sports Park. There is just this need for him to go run miles. He comes back refreshed and energized. For that I admire him more.  

Remember my quest to being healthier this 2009, which defines that I do my part of working out even via my ever reliable game console? I have quit for a month now. I just cannot get myself to go back to the exercising routine. With the schedule crammed up, there is just no way I could squeeze it in. I know it is so easy to find all the excuses in the world. Maybe I really have got to do some soul searching especially about this matter. I remember feeling so much better, physically, whenever I do my workouts. My back is starting to hurt again like before.

But before that, I think I have got to pull the hubby again to get me a pair of running shoes. For some reason, whenever we go to sports depot, I just won’t find the pair that suits me, or atleast the one that I would really like to wear for some time. I think my tiny feet look awful when I try on bulky shoes. The ones for me are those hard to find shoes that are fit for tiny ladies like me. Since rare and hard to find shoes are not all that popular in the malls, I visited shoebacca.com and there I found some perspective pairs. Online shopping can really be fun.

posted by Jennie on Mar 10

As much as I enjoy watching Amazing Race, there was really nothing in this lifetime that could have me join anything close to that kind of game. I have a confession to make: I’m a weakling, physically, that is. I have always been exempted from any strenuous and/or physical activities right from when I was in grade school. It’s either I faint easily or I get migraine bouts from too much sun. When the rest of my batch would stay under the sun for their CAT drills, I’m right there on the bleachers, killing time – as a medic.

So you can just imagine my uncertainty and second thoughts when I found out that the Detour: The Island Cove Adventure is actually going to be similar to Amazing Race. The hubby would see right through me as I read the description emailed to us by the cool Yehey! people.  My cousin would laugh her head off with the very thought that I would even think of joining such activity.  She actually thought I was kidding.  Jeff knew right then that I was on the verge of quitting. Jeff was all set and thrilled, being the soccer athlete (of Marikina United) that he is, I was sure he can more than just pull it off. Knowing his speed - at 33, he is still able to go around and jog the Olympic size oval of Marikina Sports Park, eight times without stopping – he really has the strength to endure, not to mention the wit and leadership ability.  I was almost sure that whoever is going to team up with him will land first place.

shortly after all six team leaders were called

Just when I thought my fears were all unfounded. In my heart, I really hoped that it was going to be no more than just a tour with little surprises here and there. I decided to give it a shot – I was with my ever reliable man anyway, nothing could go wrong. Imagine my disbelief when I was called to be one of the six group leaders! I cannot even bring myself to imagine how I’d be able to endure the race, let alone lead a team! I could have concluded right there that the odds are certainly against me. As my fellow team leaders and I picked one name after another to join our respective teams, I was praying so hard for the heavens to redeem me by having the hubby in my team. It was probably the fourth name that I picked when I saw my hubs name in my hands. Never was there a time J-E-F-F-R-E-Y spelled so sweetly! Seriously. It was in all caps and I knew God’s favor was still in me. I was okay.

It proved that more than my being settled, things are going to be fine. The GREEN TEAM was composed of wonderful people like Fitz, Audrey and Bryan. If it were not for their willingness and cooperation to do the tasks, we still wouldn’t have made it as a team. The Green Team finished the race in 50 minutes. The only team that made it under an hour. We later found out that we incurred a penalty, like every other team had. So we were down to 52 seconds, which still wasn’t bad.  The best part of the whole race was the fun that we had as a team. As slow as the two girls were always tailing behind (Audrey and me) throughout the race, we still made sure we all had fun along the way. It was altogether FUN!  

In my heart of hearts, I really saw divine intervention right from the start. When I was called and I was so unsure of myself, there was just one thing that could keep me on track – FAITH. You ask why? Aside from the hubs being placed in my team to boost my morale a tad, we were practically the slowest when the race began. I was the last one who got the very first card carrying the clue what we were suppose to look for and the last group to have gotten hold of the bag, as well.

Here’s the thing, the bag was practically handed to us by one of the other groups (raise your hand please, so we could properly thank you- I was too disturbed to have taken note who that was) who happened to find two bags. If that was not an instant provision, I don’t know what that is. That same scenario also happened when half of the mask that our team was assigned to look for was handed to us by Joriben. Thanks Jori! Those two instances cannot be just shrugged off to nothing. I have always believed that God uses people to be channels of provisions to those who he wants to bless. That is just the way I see it and I cannot go about all this story without testifying about God’s faithfulness, even in what could have been thought as such a trivial pursuit.

That being said, the message was sent straight across my being – it is actually faith that can move mountains, not mere physical strength. So regardless of how wimp we can be physically, if we would allow ourselves to be a willing vessels, things can happen.  

I am happy to report that the Green Team, which was led by yours truly won the Detour: The Island Cove Adventure. Yes, against all odds. And the first odd right there was the leader herself. So I really can’t take any credit for winning. If anything, I must have delayed my team almost fifteen minutes for running too slow. Each member of the team won 1,000 worth of GC (Island Cove), 500worth of GC (TGiF), an Island Spa GC and a Complimentary Day Island Cove Tour Pass (good for three). And because the hubs and I were both in the same team, that makes our winnings times two. What could be sweeter, really?

My team mates were true to their winning factors. Audrey’s ability to face challenges and her being calm in any situation. Bryan’s and Fitz’s ever willingness to go the extra mile. Jeff’s wits and speed. I claimed “my being reliable, responsible and teachable” as my winning factors. And boy, did that race taught me something! 

The Green Team’s jump shot by FlairCandy.com

The body aches that lasted more than a couple of days were all worth it. I almost swore, I tore a tendon somewhere but I am good now. Our heartfelt thanks to Yehey! and The Island Cove for coming up with such fun time for us bloggers. No other venue would have been more appropriate for such race. I have been to a handful of resorts, but this place is a real hit – more than just because it housed that fun adventure. A grand time is the least you could expect from this 36 hectares, ISO 9001:2000, DOT accredited hotel and leisure park.

photo by AzraelsMerryland.blogspot.com

Please check out other BloggerVenturer’s entries:

Jennie’s Multiply

Noemi
Earth
Karla
Lace
Jane
Patay Gutom Goes To Island Cove
Chris A
Azrael Multiply Photos
Hannah’s Photos
Aerin’s Multiply Photos
Edelweiza Photos

posted by Jennie on Mar 6

We just got home from the Detour, Island Cove Adventure!  Guess what?!  Our team won!  You could only imagine my dismay when my name was called when all six team leaders were called up front early yesterday morning, in the dining hall of Sangley Point in the island.  I swear I would have drove home fast, if only I brought a car with me.  We did not. We rode alongside fellow bloggers in vans provided by the island resort.  A post coming up about the event. 

We’re pretty tired, true.  But when we got to Manila early, I knew we could still swing around the mall and do a couple of errands and maybe window shop randomly, like for some wholesale ipods.  Apparently, sale is still ongoing in this time of the year.  But guess what I ended up doing?  I pampered myself for the first time, with this recommended specialist salon by my friend, Frances and got myself pretty lashes extensions.  It’s so lightweight it almost feels like I was born with it.  I have got to do a review in my Kikay Corner page.  Watch out real soon!

posted by Jennie on Mar 6

posted by Jennie on Mar 6

March 4, 2009

As fun as I know it is going to be, I am so threatened by the fact that I am no way qualified to join the race.  This Detour, bloggers’ adventure that is going to be held at Island Cove in Cavite tomorrow, obviously is a physical game and I am no way fit to join the pack.  I don’t know what happened. But for some reason, at least three pounds have been added to my weight, when I checked today at the hospital where my sister is confined.  This explains my clothes failing to fit me like they used to.

But then again, I have already RSVP’d, have arranged my folks to take care of the little guy and have my once a week cleaning lady to come and do some general cleaning for me.  All is set, except for me.  My heart is still there, I think despite the knowledge that I might just risk my team’s chances of winning, I do wanna have fun and meet my online buddies.  Besides, I will be going back to no more dirty rugs, but a spic and span home. I’ll have my trusty cleaning lady do her job without my supervision this time.

posted by Jennie on Mar 2

SM Marikina invited 200 bloggers to test their mallwide WiFi coverage last February 28, 2009. The first thing I noticed was they changed the name of their connection to SM Marikina Free Wifi from its former Happy something name. As a frequent visitor of SM Marikina, I have always enjoyed the free wifi coverage across the stretch of the mall, except for those times I had to go to the innermost parts of the department store. The second thing that I noticed was at around 2 PM, the connection was ultra fast.

I browsed through websites and chatted via YM from my E63 simultaneously, without fuss. We literally went around the mall and shopped while browsing the net - talk about multi-tasking! At around 4:30 PM, the speed went intermittent and I lost connection altogether.  I heard that the connection was possibly reset.  

Congratulations to Sha for winning the Asus netbook and to Azrael for a successful event! The best thing about this event is meeting fellow bloggers face to face. Although we were not able to introduce ourselves to half of those who attended, it was still fun!

Enjoy SM Marikina’s mallwide free wifi coverage! The two malls closest to SM are  Robinson’s Metro East and Sta. Lucia. Both of which have no very strong coverage. Very intermittent, to put it lightly. SM Marikina’s is stronger, hands down - even prior to this testing event.  Kudos, SM Marikina! Looking forward to the sequel of this event as what was announced last Saturday.