Where to buy gadgets online?

Convenience is what online shopping can boost about. Online stores are popping up here and there. They are all over Facebook and Instagram but how do we know that we are buying from legit sellers? Well, I am not really sure about ways of finding out how. My only way is by RECOMMENDATION... and not just by anyone but by someone you trust. 

I hope you trust me on this one. :)  I know of two legit online gadget stores: 

kimstore

I have heard so many good things about Kimstore. Its owner was even featured in a business show in ANC sometime last year. They have so many brands to choose from but I have no experience with Kimstore. It is featured on national TV and is recommended by many. That is, I guess, enough to gain a trust.

dbgadgets

What I am really recommending is this DBGadgets. I have made two major purchases from this store- a DSLR camera and a laptop. I have no complaints whatsoever. I highly recommend this store for the following reasons:

1. Their website is very comprehensive. Everything is there! All the questions in your mind are there but if you're so not in the mood to read a lot of instructions, don't worry because

2. They are very accommodating. They answer sms quite promptly. From my experience, they answer every message however petty! They even answer calls at times which other stores don't allow.

3. Theirs is the lowest price I know. For instance, a laptop which costs Php 59,900 in malls and Php 51,000 in Kimstore is only Php 49,900 in DBGadgets. The model, kit and warranty services are exactly the same. I don't know what is the catch with the price difference. If you do, please enlighten me. A thousand or two difference is still so much for a buyer like me. 

4. Shipping fees vary depending on the gadgets purchased. Delivery to General Santos City is 300-500. They also make insurance optional but of course, I suggest to pay the 10% peace of mind. :) 

5. Shipping and delivery is faster than a bullet train! :) After a day or two, purchases are right on your doorsteps.

And oh,

6. They have few payment options. Cash is the fastest way to transact but they also accept credit cards with a number of documents required.

Be wise and be careful! If you have other trusted online stores, please share. I feel that we owe it to the world to spread some good news! :) Happy shopping! 

Frozen Blue Birthday

Some people are worth melting for.  Olaf is definitely right! I'm melting for the ever sweetest Math and IT people who put up a Frozen-themed party for Laiza and me! The floating snowflakes, the flying Olaf, the Elsa and Anna cake topper, the colorful balloons! Wow!

It is a usual phenomenon in the office to create something for the celebrators. Thus, I was not supposed to be surprised anymore. Although I did not have expectations, I still felt that they surpassed my expectations. That feeling!!! 

Ems as Elsa and Laiza as Anna :)

Frozen birthday party

Everyday, I am grateful for this job and the people who surround me in it. It is not always a perfect working relationship, like any other relationship but we manage to grow together through love and respect. You are all so special to me!!! Thank you for your creative minds and hands. It was another sweet surprise!

For the record, Laiza and I did not talk about our color of the day. It's just that great minds think alike. :) We were feeling extra playful that day so we thought of having an impromptu photo shoot. Coordinated dresses, birthday balloons, a scarf turned table cloth turned picnic mat, a natural  green backdrop, a willing photographer, and we were good to go!

 

It was too much fun for a first time!!! Birthdays are the second most wonderful time of the year!

Scarf It!!!

Scarves are part of my life as far as I can remember. They are a staple in where I live and work for protection against the sun and the dust. It never came to me that a scarf could be an accessory up until recently. 

I learned how to match the color and style of my scarf with what I wear. I used it as a neckpiece during a Baguio trip to keep me warm. On other travels in not so cold cities, I used it to boost a plain ensemble. I love the fact that it does not only give a different expression of a person's fashion style but it also is very functional. What's more, there are no strict rules on how to wear one. Thank goodness! If there were, I'd not be as brave to play with one.

Here's me and my little scarf obsession.

And here's Jessica Alba in her amazing scarf fashion!!! Speechless! Awed! 

She is everywhere and so are her scarves! Love! She uses it in every season and maybe for every reason! I think she always makes an excuse to use one. *Sigh! There are more tons of photos of her with a piece of cloth hanging on her neck! She now is my scarf peg! 

I'm feeling the need for some upping. Good thing I found this very helpful tutorial in youtube on how to wear a scarf. Note, there are no rules, just fun ways! And the lady in the video shows 25 awesome means for an awesome-looking scarf! (Redundancy alert!) :)

25 ways to wear a scarf

Bunny ear looks inviting. I will try that and more on the new scarves I received for my birthday. Thank you to my mom and my brother's girl. :)

I have a new travel mantra: Scarf it!

I Miss My Happy Place!!!

It's been 8 loooooong months! How I miss this place! I don't want to justify my absence but 

1) My laptop was in a coma for so long. I did not want to get myself a new one because of its sentimental value. You see, I have letting go issues and Lappy (that's HER name. Yes, my laptop has a gender.) has been with me for 5 years. I just don't want it question its value to me when a new laptop comes. 

2) I felt uncomfortable spending too much time in the family's computer because my parents just learned using FB and I knew they had to update every once in a while... no, often! They were still so giddy getting updates from their grade school classmates from 50 years ago, who got married to whom, counting apos, etc.

3) I was so busy with work.. Well, not really true. :)

4) I was busy with other things.. Well, not also true. I realise I have not learned a new hobby the past months. :)

EXCUSES!!!

Ok, my list could go on but I wanna stop because there was really no valid reason why I stopped blogging for that long. I even haven't visited my site  for quite sometime because... Ok. I'm now stopping. I'm just very happy to get a new laptop which means more time to create posts! 

Whoever you are who's still interested in my world, who visits my happy place, thank you!!!!!! Hang on there! I'll give you a good ride. :) 

One thing I regret about not writing is failure to keep memories. When I read my posts from few years back, I was thankful I was able to express my thoughts in words. Pictures were great, yeah. But my feelings were more important. I may have forgotten how I really felt at those times but there were written words which reminded me and helped me recall how wonderful the experiences were.

The next few posts will be my backlogs, the numerous unfinished drafts, some of the memorable travels the past year such as

Yey! Hello again my happy place!

Caela turns two!

As the cliche goes, "Time flies so fast." Our baby just turned two on Philippines' Independence Day. My sister and I decided for a green polka dot and stripe pool party. Mint green was on my mind while planning the party - for a feminine touch. It turned out that bookstores in Gensan have scarcity for color variations. Oh, craft stores, I wish you exist on this side of the world! But a trying hard good craft-maker is resourceful. :) Thus, we made use of whatever was available and I think everything turned out to be beautiful. Love is on the handmade details.

Customized polka dot and stripe balloons

Polka dot and stripe balloons

    I pumped the balloons using a balloon inflator sold for about Php50 in a local department store. These big balloons were sold for about Php100 per dozen, balloon sticks about Php30 per dozen. I accessorized the balloons with white polka dots and stripes using bond papers.

Bunting

    My sister made the bunting from used cartolinas and bond papers.

The Number 2

   My brother-in-law made the giant number 2 from a used styrofoam - the one from an appliance packaging. Who would have thought something good could result from an almost trash thingy. 

Cupcake toppers and monograms

    My sister is such an artist. She designed the cupcake toppers and the monograms for the loot bags. She even made those pretty ribbons.

Loot bags

   These striped yellow green loot bags were made from wall papers. The bear key holders were bought for super cheap prices.

   
Cake and cupcakes
    The cake and cupcakes were made by Caela's ninang Marian. I also made some banana muffins but failed to take a photo of them.

 

The prettiest pool in Gensan is in Gensan View Resort. It was just fitting to celebrate Caela's birthday there. They have clean pools, well maintained landscapes, photogenic venue and most of all, friendly staff. They did not give us a hard time booking them. :) I really like it when the crew of a business establishment are accommodating and extra caring. It means to me that they have good employers who don't just want put up a business for the sake but to offer excellent service.

Happy birthday our smart and pretty little one. I'm excited for the day when you can read Tata's blog and find this post. :) As of now, enjoy your water colors and colored pencils. You already know how to draw rainbows, pigs, and stars, at least in your eyes and ours. :) You also draw faces of Papsy, Nana, Mama, Papa, Tito Jan, Tito Bobet, Mommy, Ko May, and mine. We say that you're doing good at it although we only see scratches of small circles and spirals all over your crumpled bond paper. Keep up the good work baby girl. Surprise us in your next art work. You are loved! :)

White Water Rafting in Cagayan De Oro City

Right after we attended a wedding in Bukidnon, we took a 3-hour bus ride to Cagayan de Oro City. The city is famous for its white water rafting. Well, it was not really white that day because it rained the night before. They said it was a good thing because water level was high so there was low probability of our raft turning upside down.

Low probability. How low is that? 10%? 20? 22.4? C'mmon! I am such a sucker for certainty. I don't want to be confronted by unexpected circumstances. So tell me right now what to expect. *Sigh. But of course, life offers so many uncertainties which sometimes go with beautiful opportunities. And even if I feel helpless, I choose to jump into the experience.

My friends are the bravest human beings I know, while I'm the most coward. These people like life-threatening activities - the exact opposites of my kind of adventure. I only want to watch the sunrise and the sunset, walk the city streets, and see the landmarks named in my grade school history book. But I thought, I  already traveled 11 hours from General Santos to Cagayan de Oro, so I might as well give it a try.

We took the beginner's course of 14 rapids for approximately 3 hours. I never thought I'd try the river rafting. I did not know where I found the courage to paddle forward and back, to scream when the rapids are extra tough, to hold on to the ropes and right after, laugh. "High five!", was our scream when we passed a rapid. There were only 14 rapids but I think we had 50 high five's. Kudos to our very humorous guide, Kuya Dodo (or Jojo) and his buddy. The still waters almost bored us but Kuya Dodo acted like Vice Ganda and washed away all the boredom. 

Believe it or not I want to do it again or even better, try the advance course! Haha! (Yabang ah.)

Thank you friends for giving me little pushes (ok, big) to convince me to do this. I would have missed 1/3 of my life. :) Thank you for all the many knee-trembling, heart-pumping exciting moments we've had.

I am not your typical adventurous girl but I would like to believe I'm turning into one. :) Well, at least about 30.2%! :)

P.S. Great White Water Tours gave us above satisfactory service so I would like to share their FB page here.


Rates for beginner's course: White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro City

• P700 - 14 Rapids, rafting only, short course, no meal, 5 pax min (or P700 extra for every emtpy slot), transfers, guides, gears
• P900 - 14 Rapids w/ Meal and Snack, rafting only, short course, 5 pax min (or P700 extra for every emtpy slot), transfers, guides, gears