How to enjoy & accept you're 45!

Hello families and friends! Just a sneaky video that makes me laugh. Hope it does to you as well... Just reminding myself that turning 45 doesn't mean turning into a boring, sophisticated, well mannered, educated, graceful adult. Have fun and let loose like kids sometimes. It's free! Make a fool of yourself. Friends understand and let me know if you disagree. I'm trying to purge and let good chi in to my 45th. Enjoy and welcome to my world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbVPnQsrWcE


Group hug!

Weekend iPhonography

Welcome back to my little world. After a lot of thinking, if I should keep this blog going, it should be for a good cause, (that was the original intention) and I intend to keep it that way. To share my little world most specially with my families and friends, who are not with me physically but whom I would like to be part of my humble little world. So life must go on and with no further ado, here are some of the weekend photos I took with my honey's iPhone4s which I dedicate most specially to my younger brothers, Jojo and Arnel who have unfortunately been very sick and still don't lose hope of their dreams that one day, they'd join me here in Canada. The last photo is kind of funny and ironic in a way because I was hoping that I would win the lotto max on Friday night so I can help them recover faster and get them to see Canada. Maybe next time, we'll keep trying--and dreaming, right?


I went on a walking spree and took advantage of the scenery while my honey was on job assignment right on that penthouse up on the building behind the Coast Bastion.


Spent my only toonie to explore the Museum after my exploration on each consignment shop opened along the way...


The Marina was at its peak, beautiful, blue sunny sky reflecting the water....


See that tall building up there? Had we won the lotto, my honey would have told the owner to pack and sell their penthouse to us right away. Since we didn't, you still have the chance to spend your 1.2 million if you want to live up where you can see the world around you. Gorgeous! Watch for his website, he'd be sharing a pano soon...


I walked and walked around and didn't get tired of this beauty....


The weather was just perfect: sunny and cooler. Fall is definitely around the corner.


I took another shot of Diana Krall's signature on the walkway by the Museum, and listened to the loud screaming noises of birds right on top of the building on the other side.


Couldn't find any sign if photography is allowed so I snapped away. That coin is supposed to tell you stories but didn't work for me.


Snapshot of the museum inside....


Snoopy, really? And those desks just reminded me of Elementary....


Here we met and ate, facing the Marina. It was late afternoon and we had time to dream...


Better luck next time and to my brothers, and to you my family and loved ones, hope and dreams are free. We'll hold on to them....

Hello Long Weekend!

A time to relax,
Time to play,
Time for fun and entertainment,
Time to catch up with families and friends,
Time to play over again,
Time to get things done,
Time to share this collage as part of the #photoadayjuly challenge I completed at Ms. Chantelle's FatMumSlim...


Pretty proud of the accomplishment of a more vibrant collage, more apps experimented, more of my fave cup snaps taken!
Time to greet are fellow BCers a very Happy Birthday, eh.
May you all have a funtabulous weekend!

What we did Saturday....

Yes, it was one of those temperamental days that once you wake up with dark clouds, you just feel like doing nothing but stay in bed!


But after a while, you realized that it can be worst so off we went for a drive just to get out, hoping for a better day....unprepared for this!


We ate dim sum for brunch at Shanghai City restaurant.
We decided to walk the oil and fats we just consumed.
We parked the car way far from our destination under the heat of the sun. (we found out that Nanaimo was sunny!)
We also found out that it was the bath tub weekend as we approached some people wearing pirate costume, with matching mustache and eyepatch, and a partner!
We watched and listened to 3 concerts going on side by side at the park, one with a soloist screaming his lungs for donation at the sidewalk.
We looked at military vehicles, machines and bombs on display and collected some free stickers and pens while at it.


We read a few of the plaques on the walls on our way to the park.
We decided not to pay the beer and watched along with youngsters what was going on at the main event since we could hear the live concert anyways, and we can tell some possible trouble coming.


We sat and wondered if those rocks are actually standing on top of each others' tips. What a balance!
We ate expensive ice-cream and watched the planes coming and going with passengers, and found out a new company opened with a sale of $65.00 one way trip to Vancouver. Cheap!


We found this big frame and hope to go back with a nicer photo framing the whole background with not many people around.
We realized that the iPhone was loosing charge so we had to go home.
Maybe next time or maybe you can take a better one if you get the chance. Until then, hope this rain will not stay that long... Hugs!

Happy sunny weekend!

Enjoy it!

Hello Sunday

Just saying hi, letting you know that we're still surviving the heat and how time flies! Here's a collage of photos to share with you for the past 15 days of July in our little world. Hope you are having a great end to the weekend.... Cheers!



1. So proud to be Canadian! Thanks Canada for the never ending support to hard working Filipinos like us. We love you, eh! #photoadayjuly 1 self-portrait @fatmumslim, 2. Good morning, Monday off! It will be a busier day today.... #photoadayjuly 2 busy @fatmumslim, 3. Morning news, fresh brewed coffee, my blankie and family time with you, before heading to wrk. #photoadayjuly 3 best part of your day @fatmumslim, 4. Feels good to be home... #photoadayjuly 4 fun @fatmumslim, 5. The heat is on! #photoadayjuly 5 on the floor @fatmumslim, 6. Help! My rocking chair needs some fixing; the hole on the seat is about to burst! #photoadayjuly 6 chair @fatmumslim, 7. Good morning sunshine! Good morning summer blooms! #photoadayjuly 7 garden @fatmumslim, 8. Old el paso mucho fun tonight! Although it's my brunch @kevyskitchen.... mmm!mmm! #photoadayjuly 8 lunch @fatmumslim, 9. If you liked the photo I posted of the beach last, here's another version using 2photo apps. #photoadayjuly 9 big @fatmumslim, 10. Good morning, new summer dress fr Old Navy. #photoadayjuly 10 fave color (&pattern) @ fatmumslim, 11. This and some waiting @ the door as soon as I arrived home. Can you guess? #photoadayjuly 11 letter @fatmumslim, 12. Good morning, Thursday! Where did time go? Did you know we're almost halfway to the month? Oh, wake me up my coffee mug! #photoadayjuly 12 texture @fatmumslim, 13. Good morning! Lucky 13th to all... #photoadayjuly 13 open @fatmumslim, 14. Building my photo apps...#photoadayjuly 14 building @fatmumslim #iphonecamera #diptic #camera+ #instagram, 15. Making peace with the weather... We've complained so much about the heat but waking up to dark clouds, I would prefer the sunny hot ones. Peace and give me back Mr. Sunshine. #photoadayjuly 15 finger @fatmumslim

Ten Things on the 10th

Goodbye; farewell; adios; adieu; ciao bella June!!! Hola Julio! Hello ten things. Hello 10th of July. Today we are going to discuss about photo apps. However, this is not about me giving tutorial, it's about tutorials I found on the web and have been giddy to share with you. I'm sure a lot of you may have already found these non secret findings that have been making waves at the blog world but for those who are still on the search, this one's for you. So experts, move on to the next 10things blog post please, and let's give a warm welcome to our newbies or those who still want to know... Shall we?
1. Ms. Rhonna Farrer is my biggest idol when it comes to photo editing. My life was made easier when I took her advise to play more than the apps I've already been using since iPad1 came out. Once you get used to the editing thru different apps, it's instant, cheaper and more simple than having to use photoshop. If you have android phones, Apple products, or any smart phones and even iPad1, and you haven't tried any of these apps, then I promise you: your life will be more colorful and more fun after this. Try Ms. Farrer's Upgraded tutorial, then let me know how you make out, ok.

2. I've been having a lot more fun experimenting since I joined Ms. Chantelle's Photo a Day challenge. I get a list of photos that inspire me to be more creative on taking a snap of a daily routine. Like Ms. Farrer, Chantelle posted her own version of Beautiful-pics app tutorial. So go ahead and give it a try.

3. This tutorial by Ms. Amy Tangerine helped me to overcome the challenge of writing on my photos, instead of using the customized fonts on the apps, I can write on them thru this app called Skitch.

4. Then another tutorial on using one after another and another and another by again, Ms. Rhonna Farrer's Top ten . My first one above and two below are prime examples and I used 3apps on the first two and 4 apps on the 3rd photo.

5. I usually use instagram as my finishing touch and share it with my facebook and flicker friends from there. If you are still new to it, here's a simple and detailed tutorial by my favorite Pioneer Woman. Ms. Pioneer's Instagram tutorial will guide you thru on how to use those weird buttons on top.

6. Now going back to Ms. Amy Tangerine, she blogged about this collage tutorial that I really find playful and very useful on my facebook wall. I also use it for printing photos at home and putting my Photo a Day together. All you need is a Flickr account where you save your photos then this app called BigHugeLab.


7. The same idea given by Ms.Chantelle on her Collage tutorial.
8. For more Apps ideas, hop out at Ms. Elizabeth Kartchner here. You might want to explore around her blog since she has more interesting things to say about photography in general.

9. Well guess what, I ran out of tutorial finds to post so I will leave you with this Calendar app that loads the first photo you take in a day automatically on this Calendar app.

10. Last but not the least, since we all love freebies, you might want to save this Siteon your faves where gone-free-apps are featured everyday. Enjoy!

Happy Friday!

Just in the middle of work at home and thought I'd wish you all a happy long weekend esp. to those celebrating our dear Canada.


What are your weekend plans? I know for this girl, there won't be much fooling around because we will be busy entertaining some special guests very soon. So I will have to say ciao for now and hope the rest of you will take it easy and have some fun.


Happy Friday!

I wonder....

As I was watching our flower garden the other day, I was amaze to find this hole dug on my bed of flowers! I wonder if it was that wild rabbit's hole that ran from here in the morning?


Meanwhile, ever saw a raccoon doing his thing while he stares at you taking photos of him?


This little town of mine makes me wonder at times... with all the little creatures I get to discover everyday, I'm a little wary even in the daylight! What's the strangest thing have you discovered in your area lately?

Weekend Foodie

Sunday was another craving for some exotic food around here. The one thing you have to know about our little town, it may be more popular to the Asian community than the year I moved here 6 years ago, but there hasn't been any good Chinese restaurant to go to, to satisfy that craving. So we headed on to the one we discovered the best not long ago, 25 minutes drive from Parksville. Say hello to Shanghai City Restaurant!


So far, they offer the best Cantonese/Shanghainese food we ever tried in the mid-island of Vancouver.


We didn't have any intention to have Dim Sum after the bad experience we had in one of the most crowded places in Victoria. But the lady owner who was rolling her cart around was so friendly to pass. The restaurant is owned, managed and served by this friendly Chinese family.


I could see the smoke coming thru the baskets and as soon as our friendly server pulled out the first basket, I was in! You can tell the scare on my honey's face....


But to our surprise, the first bite of our "har gou" was fresh and delicious! The Shanghai meat dumplings were meaty and juicy. The pork spareribs won my honey's heart. The shrimp "siu mai" was less fatty than the ones I had before. Our friendly server also introduced us to their new recipe of dumplings that wasn't on the menu. The dough was thicker but more tasty than the rest, and delish!


We were full, happy and in heaven. But with my craving for the sticky rice, I couldn't help to ask for more...stuffed tofu included.


The "gai lan" was just refreshing with all these heavy carbo and protein we devoured. Next time, we know where to go for dim sum.


And all that, it only cost $37.00 some odd dollars, with tip, not bad. Besides, my fortune cookie re-assured me that....


With happy tummies and smiley faces, I think we're set to face this week's challenge. Have a great one and thank you, Shanghai City!

What's in it this Weekend?

It'd be nice to enjoy that morning sun and still play and get some work done! Have a fab Sunday and thanks for the visit....

Oh, snap!

Rewind.... I had this post edited because whatever I did there, I lost my original post. Apparently, Google made an update, or it might be the new computer that the server is not supporting blogger any longer. Don't you just hate technology sometimes? but I still wanted to post this so I guess whatever drama I wrote earlier, it won't be as dramatic any more. Oh well, who wants it? It's weekend and most of you must be off work today so hope you'll enjoy your weekend. Whatever you do, remember to snap a few photos....

So as I was saying... There's nothing like a good collection of things we capture from our lens. There's nothing like a good set of equipment to capture the utmost beauty that come our way day by day. But over the years, I've realized that there's nothing compared to daily practice with whatever type of equipment we use to capture that moment. We, or at least I, have learned to appreciate whatever device I use that has camera to help me capture that moment. My humble little Nikon has been used, abused and overused to its utmost and ...I miss it. Looking back at what it captured for me throughout its entire journey would bring tears in my eyes. I have had a hate-love relationship with it but in the end, love prevailed and I am so glad I stuck with it to learn what I know now. As few features as it can offer, the vast learning experience it gave me, brings so much joy watching my photos: In honor of my Nikon CP995, which is officially retired, I  want to share with you the last batch of photos it captured for me in  bokeh, silhouette, macro, portrait, landscape, lighting, speed, composition, etc... 

Just a few of my favorite things... Thanks for watching with me.