Blogging Tips for WAHMs

Before becoming a professional photographer, I've been a WAHM (or work at home mom) for 3 long years, and one of my hobby as a WAHM was blogging. 

Credits: beautywithmary.com

Blogging is one of the best ways to start a WAHM business because it is so easy to get going. However, that does not mean that it is easy to make money from your blog. Don’t start a blog and expect to see money rolling in immediately. Blogging is an activity that will take time to build up to a profit level. It’s a good thing to start while you are working on other WAHM opportunities to let it build to a profitability level. With time and attention, your blog (or blogs) will grow into a business.

When you are blogging for profit, you’ll want to pay close attention to how you present yourself in your blog. There are literally hundreds of thousands of blogs out there, and there may be several hundred blogs that are related to your topic. If your readers can’t understand your blog and have trouble reading it, they’ll just move on to the next one. The following tips can make your blog more user-friendly and help you gain consistent readers.

First, pay close attention to the format of your blog. Readers want to understand how your blog works right from the start. Most blogging platforms have similar formats, with links and tags on the left or right margin, and the most recent post on top. Make sure to use the links wisely. Only put links up for blogs or content that is truly related to your blog’s topic. The point is to give your readers additional information on your topic. Keep the list short and sweet. There is no reason to overwhelm them with links to other sites.

Also, take careful consideration when choosing your blog’s background and font color. Although there are a lot of color choices that blogging programs offer, its best to stick with a light background and dark text. Studies have shown that the human brain can process this type of format better than light text on a dark background. Think about this before you commit to a black background and white text. It might look striking, but readers might not want to stay there for long. Also, use a solid background color instead of trying to use a pattern or design.

Proofread your entries before you post them to your blog. There is nothing that reduces your authority in the eyes of your readers’ more than bad spelling and grammar. The online world is a world of text, so take some time to learn commonly misspelled words and grammatical errors. 

Keep your blog fresh and interesting by posting at least once per day. With so much information available on the Internet, your readers may go elsewhere if you aren’t supplying daily content. If you aren’t sure what to write about, try posting a poll, a link to another blog, comment on a news story or post of list of helpful tips. Not every post has to be long and complicated, but you do need to post something everyday.

These tips will help keep your blog readable and interesting to your visitors. The more visitors you get, the more your blog will grow in profitability and importance. Just make sure to present yourself in a professional way and keep your readers coming back for more new content each day. In no time, you’ll have a profitable blog and then you can move on to create two or three.

Time And Tattoos

Last week, I decided to had my cover up tattoo. It was an impromptu decision. Good thing there's a real good tattoo artist around town. Session was long and a bit painful. Took 3 hours to finish. From preparation to stencil marking and everything. 

The moment that I wanted to backed out, cause the pain was already killing me.

 So, let me tell you something about tattoos and for how long have it been around. Did my research and found some infos that I am sharing with guys right now.

Throughout the course of time, tattoos have been used to personify and represent someone’s affiliations, personal preferences, and their creative outlook on life.  Tattoos are gaining in popularity these days as well with both men and women.  Research has shown that nearly 1 in 4 people have at least one tattoo on their body.

By definition, a tattoo is a permanent marking on the skin.  The ink is injected by needle under the skin, creating the image of the tattoo.  The needle moves very fast, puncturing the skin and depositing the ink into the epidermis.  As the ink is depositing into the epidermis, the skin captures the color of the ink.  The artist will continue to clean the tattoo as he works on it, wiping it off with antiseptic and disinfecting the wound.

Over time tattoos will chance with the skin on a constant basis due to the wind, sun, regeneration, water, and other things.  The way a tattoo looks and the design must also chance with the skin as it shrinks, stretches, and ages.  The pigment that makes up the tattoo must remain the way it is over time, although tanning and wrinkles can affect the color and clarity of the tattoo.

The overall length of time that a tattoo styles healthy and vibrant in color all depends on how well it was taking care of after it was completed and how the skin is taking care of.  Even though infection is always a concern with tattoos, you must also promote healing in the sense of retaining as much ink as you possibly can.  Most tattoos will heal completely within a few short weeks, although they must be kept moist to prevent scabbing.  If allowed to scab, the scab that forms will remove some of the color from the tattoo.

The number one enemy of tattoos is the sun.  Just like other colors that are exposed to sunlight, the pigments found in tattoos will fade.  Yellow and red are the hardest colors to maintain over time, blue and black are the easiest and most stable to maintain.  Tattoos are considered to be part of the organism of living skin and need to be maintained to keep the color alive and fresh.  If you are going to be out in the sun, you should always cover your tattoos and wear a quality sunscreen as well, just to be on the safe side.  

Tattoos that have been properly applied, properly healed, and protected from the rays of the sun can remain their best for years and years.  Although the colors will remain vibrant as well, time and the sun are definite enemies for tattoos.  No matter how well you take care of your tattoos and protect them, there really is no escape from changes that come as a result of time itself.

Well, there goes something about Tattoo. And let me show you the by-product of the painful session, but i tell you, it's all worth the pain. 

The before and after photo. :)

Back to Working At Home

Aside from being a 24/7 mom, and a full time professional photographer, I am now back to working at home as a Virtual Assistant (again!).

I stopped working online when I got pregnant with my youngest daughter. Since then, I had a hard time getting an online job until I stopped applying.

Only last November 2014 when I was asked to submit my voice recordings to update my profile at some online job portals, then I got an email from the said online job site, informing me that I got hired. :)


Thank God that I was able to pull it through the interviews and all, for it's been more than a year that I've been "idle" as a VA.

Now, I am almost a month working again. :) Thank God for all the blessings.

My Sideline Tea Shop and Bar Experience

Been hearing this place for quite sometime now and I am intrigued with what others were saying.
So I decided to make this as one of the venue for my pre-nuptial photoshoot with one of my clients for December wedding.

Collections of teas were present at the Bar, with different kind of teas. :)

Added factor of a must-see gallery of artworks made by the local residents. You'll love the paintings and canvas hanging on the wall.

 A new place in town that offers yummy home-cooked tasting food!

They offer a very affordable beer!

I love their concoctions of teas fused with fruits and other flavors..

My clients were late that day, so i decided to try ordering some. food, backed mac and cheese and lemonade fused with lemon grass were what I ordered

A closer look of this flavor-full baked mac and cheese, personally made by the owner of the place, Miss Patty Bagano.

Oh by the way, their pastas are freshly made by the delicate hands of Miss Patty.. :)

I hope you guys can visit this place too, when you visit Puerto Princesa, it's just a few blocks away from the airport. :)

"Clean Your Plate" Is Not Always The Way To Go For Healthy Kids

According to obesity researchers, the United States obesity rate has more than doubled for preschoolers and adolescents-and more than tripled for ages 6 to 11-over the past 30 years. Obese children are at greater risk for health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, and often carry these problems into adulthood. 

So, how do parents help children, and the entire family, eat healthier, both at home and away-from-home?

"Talk to your pediatrician, family doctor or registered dietitian to determine the healthiest weight goals for the entire family," said nutrition expert Jenifer Bland-Campbell, "then make a plan to tackle the issue."

She offers these tips to help parents help their families eat more healthfully:

 Eat at least one meal together daily, at regular intervals to discourage snacking. 

Prepare healthy dishes for the whole family, not just special foods for an overweight child.

Don't use food as a reward, comfort or punishment.

Watch portions. "Clean your plate" is not always the way to go. 

Eat slowly. It takes almost 20 minutes for the brain to register that the body is full. 

Encourage water or skim or 1% milk instead of high-calorie, sugary drinks. 

 Getting kids to eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day will not be easy, but focus on the colors to make it more fun. Visit www.5aday.org for more tips.

Use low-fat or fat-free dressings, mayonnaise and dairy items at home as if they are the full-fat versions. Kids will take your cues. Ask for the same items on the side when eating away-from-home.

 Take the stairs. When you go shopping, park the car farther away from the store and walk.

Limit television, video games or computer time.

Replace mayonnaise and cheese on burgers or sandwiches with catsup, mustard or barbecue sauce.

Stick with items that are baked, broiled, steamed or poached-not fried.

Ask for nutritional information when eating out. 

Look beyond the children's menu, often limited to fried, high-calorie, high-fat foods. Split one healthier adult entrée between two children.

Ask for a takeout container and put some of the food in before you eat.

Ask that bread, beverages and tortilla chips be served with the meal, not beforehand.

"Parents can help children reach wellness goals by first making healthy changes at home, then teaching kids what to do away from home," said Bland-Campbell. "Healthy eating does not happen overnight, but children take cues from their parents and will learn behaviors over time."

All About Allergies And How They Affect The Human Body

If you have ever tried inhaling some pollen from plants, or eating something and finding out afterwards that you’re covered in red blotchy spots or some other nasty effect after you eat, then you have experienced firsthand the effects of Allergies.

When you ingest something that causes an allergic reaction in your body, the immune system is said to be hyperactive to this material, and with that, the immune system activates to quash what it sees as a threat. But it’s actually not, and is quite harmless and garners no excess bodily reaction in other people.

In common usage, an allergy is an adverse reaction toward what is called an allergen, or specifically,

the material that causes the allergic reaction. 

What Happens When You Come In Contact With An Allergen?

Once the body’s immune system releases antibodies as a response to the allergen, it causes the release of histamine into the bloodstream, which is what causes you to get teary-eyed and have a runny nose or whatnot.

Common Allergens In People

Probably the most common source of allergic reactions in most people is in their food. Whether its

shellfish, or mushrooms, or even something mundane like a vegetable, allergic reactions from food are quite common.

And if you’ve been stung by an insect and notice excessive swelling from the locality of the bite, then

you’ve got an allergic reaction from that bite.

There are even cases of extreme allergic reactions to bee stings, resulting in anaphylactic reactions.

Chemicals and medicine also fall into the category of being a common source of allergic reactions.

If you’ve got to have antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor, make sure that your body doesn’t have an allergy to materials in your medicine.

Treatment and avoidance of allergies

Should you suspect that you’re having an allergic reaction to something, consult your doctor so that he or she can refer you to an allergist, which is a type of specialization for doctors in the field of

allergies.

He or she can do the testing on your suspected materials and verify your suspicions and prescribe

medicines or give your advice on what to do about your reaction. But sometimes, antihistamines are not enough, though that’s the most common medicine to combat allergic reactions.

Sometimes you have to avoid contact with the allergen at all costs, as enough exposure could possibly lead to disastrous results in your body.

Make sure you know exactly what materials you are allergic to so that you can avoid even trace quantities of it in other things.

Avoidance is also a good method of preventive treatment, since you won’t have allergic reactions

when you aren’t exposed to allergens.

One method of treating allergens is to give a person immunotherapy, exposing the person with the allergy to minute quantities of his or her allergen.

The immune system learns to cope with these materials, developing immunity and preventing future allergic reactions. This is particularly effective for airborne particles, less so for food allergies, which might cause reactions even though you’ve undergone treatment.

Almost all people have allergies of one sort to another, and it varies widely when it comes to what

they’re allergic to. Once you find out your allergen, you can avoid it and prevent unpleasant reactions from your body, or even get treatment so that you can develop immunity and remove the allergic reaction from your body.

Atmosphere Lounge & Restobar: Classy Yet Inexpensive

Another night out or date night with my dear husband. We first had our dinner at one of our fave Vietnamese Restaurant in the city (Bona's Chaolong House).

Then we decided to have a short drink. We first went to this bar and grill and had a bottle of beers each..

Then we moved to another bar, until we decided to finally transfer to a more intimate lounge, Atmosphere Lounge and Restobar, which is located at Baltan Street.

Was a bit surprised for the so affordable foods and drinks here, and the cozy place it is. Love the songs they're playing, it's as if it's a dream date my hubby gave as gifts for me.. :)

You can see on their menu that the prices are very affordable, but I tell you, the food they served us are so delicious! :)

Tips for Helping Children Finish their Homework

When a child start school it can be inevitable that they can start doing homework. Homework is important to stimulate a young child's mind and supplements the teachings they learned in school. Homework may also help them learn personal time management and staying organized while having a deadline.

A parent's involvement is important to find out how their son or daughter has been doing in school as well as make sure the child is focusing on their class. For several working parents it is sometimes difficult to have additional time to help their children with homework. Here are a few methods on how to have maintain a quality time with children. 

Spare the time

There should be a dedicated or allotted time in the evening for the kids to do their homeworks. For some kids, they're most productive in finishing their homework just right after coming home from school. Some children have difficulties staying focused. Parent may allow their kids to take a rest every 15 to thirty minutes to warm up and stretch. Another method is allowing kids to look at television if they are completed to let them have something to look forward to. 

Create a breeding ground

Children can be distracted so it is best to keep these things study in the place where they're able to keep a clear head. This area needs to be well lit with little distractions. This could mean turning the telly and stereo away and off to make room quiet. 

Get Organized

Ask the little one what homework assignment they've got. Write them down from the order these are due. Children can estimate enough time it will take these phones accomplish these tasks and cross them out while they accomplish them. This can teach them time management techniques skill and it will have them organized for future assignments.

Look for Resources

Many homework assignments require outside resources as opposed to just making use of their school books. They might use encyclopedias or Internet resources. The Web will not be the safest place to go for resources due to inappropriate content. However, a web-based library has several sources for information. Parents can find a childrens library which may have the knowledge a child needs without needing to concern yourself with stumbling across something they should avoid seeing.

Motivate The Minds Of Men

Take the time to make certain kids stay on track and take care of their assignments. It's easy for children to fall behind if they do not have the proper support. Research has found the youngsters who may have parents linked to their homework are more inclined to succeed in college.

Rainy Days and Fridays

So, its been raining for days. I heard there's a low pressure within the country, hence the raining thing.

It's been a week that it rains every after lunch.

And this day, we woke up on a heavy rain.

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Raining hard at this part of the Philippines..

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It is such a lazy day that we all woke up late and didn't want to get up and move. It's very cold and we all wanted to stay under the sheets.


Days like this makes me want to just squeeze in under the blanket and sleep all day. But, we have to do some works and regular stuffs on a Friday. Hubby will go to work and the eldest daughter is going to school. :)

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Good morning #groufie hahaha

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 So me and my little darling, who was left at home decided to put up our little Christmas tree, putting on the lights. Little girl was mesmerized that she wanted to get a photo of herself with the tree.

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Christmas Tree is Up. Next month a bigger one.

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Shakey's Pizza Making Workshop

Last month, I had a great time bonding with my eldest daughter. I enlisted her and registered her to Shakey's Pizza Making Workshop ( Shakey's Rizal Avenue, PPC Branch).

Too bad, it was already the last batch for the year and that they already had 4 batches prior. 

The registration fee was just Php100.00. But the worth of the workshop was more than that.  Participants will create a solo pan pizza with three flavors to choose - chicken bbq, Hawaiian and pepperoni. My daughter loves Hawaiian flavor, so I chose that one for her.

The certificates, given after the workshop.

Kids will also learn how to make friends and communicate with fellow participants for they offer fun games before the actual pizza making starts.

Of course, all the kids had fun playing. They've won some prizes plus a free ICE CREAM!!

After the fun-filled games, a short briefing and little introduction was made by the host/instructor.

They they started the workshop by teaching what to do with the ready-made pizza dough.

They actually showed the step by step process in making pizza. They also explained that it is no longer necessary to wear gloves while prepping the dough, because the bacteria will also be killed when cooking the pizza at the convection oven.

There were crews assisting participants too. Showing the kids how to properly knead the dough. Assisted the participants in putting oil on the screen,etc.

After doing all the process properly, now it's waiting time. It's just a couple of minutes before the pizza was served. 

My daughter showing off the pizza she just made. Now, it's time for her to eat this one. :) Served with a glass of iced tea and their free ice cream!

 

Good thing I brought her here, she had fun and wanted to repeat this one. I just hope they'll have more workshops like this in the future. 

[Press Release] Introducing: G.I. Jane Collection by BUM

MANILA, Philippines – On Monday, September 22, BUM Equipment will unveil its launching of G.I. (Girl It’s) Jane collection named after one of its youth brand ambassador Jane Oineza, who is fresh from her successful third finish in a recently concluded Pinoy Big Brother All In Edition, a hit reality show of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

BUM’s move to provide Oineza with a collection named after her does not just spotlight the young star’s crowd-drawing potentials, but as an inspiration to the youth of today to be uniquely strong and brave amidst any criticism.

There are two categories for this particular collection—The Statement Shirts and the Skater Tops with Skirts.

Jane Oineza’s Statement Shirts

Once there was this quote that perfectly describes Jane, “It’s hard to be yourself in a world that wants you to be like them.” But when she was just one of the housemates, she was brave enough to hold onto what she strongly believed in. Thus, the statement shirts were born.   

The statement shirts texts will read: ‘I am Misunderstood’, ‘I’m Real’, and ‘I am Stronger’, respectively and are all printed on black shirts. These speaks of Oineza’s transformation for the past months, which truly defines ‘who’ she is as an individual, as a young talented celebrity. 

Oineza, being a youth brand ambassador is a reflection of a young woman who is brave enough to face all the critics and stay true to herself, no matter what. 

This collection will be the first one to come out in the market on the said mentioned date and can be purchased at all BUM boutiques nationwide.

Jane’s Skater Tops and Skirts

Being a young lady, apart from being a celebri-TEEN, she prefers the preppy look. Jane is the ideal image who projects that aura of a ‘privileged’ lifestyle. She stays simple and fresh-looking with her choice of clothing combining it with the accessories without overpowering her real personality, that’s what she is.

As young lady who just blossomed after celebrating her 18th birthday inside the PBB House, Jane Oineza along with BUM, a thriving brand apparel is launching three variants of skater tops and skirts under the G.I. Jane collection as well. 

Though black in theme, the Skater Skirts comes in three designs; black skull print, white skull print and diamond pattern print. While G.I. Jane skater tops are spandex long sleeves with accentuations to differ one tops from the other. These items can be bought in pairs or can be bought separately.

The said girly-themed collection will soon be available in November this year. Also, these will be exclusively available in all SM department stores. 

Jane Thoughts on these Collections.

“I am excited with the collection. And it truly is me. It spells out who I am on and off camera,” Jane shares.

The collections are something that any young lady would grab and own several pieces because of its message and the design. The G.I. Jane collections do not just reflect Jane’s personality but can be identifiable by any female growing up in the world of ‘peer pressures’ and stay committed to her ideals and do not conform to the standards dictated of the ‘world’ around her.

“I do hope that even with the line of clothing via BUM, I can be a living testimony to girls out there to standout and not just be one of the many girls corrupted by any sort of ideals.”

To know more about BUM latest collection-- G.I. Jane, visit its social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram via @officialbumph or visit its official website www.bumequipment.com.ph.

ABOUT BUM: 

With its humble beginnings in 1992 producing apparel exclusively for boy’s teens, tapping the market segments B, C & D levels, BUM EQUIPMENT, INCORPORATED trademarked and patented a totally different entity from the imported Brand of the same name and had successfully grown into a full line of apparel wear. It continuously upgrade new product lines and creates extensive marketing and advertising methods  to  determine the customer’s needs, wants, and expectations. It offers goods with services, programs and activities that would eventually institutionalize the brand BUM

Visiting the Local Museum: The Palawan Museum

Since my first born have no classes for 1 week, I decided to bring her to our local museum. For her to know something about our heritage, our history. 

Tagging along her little sister, who enjoyed sight seeing. But there's one thing she's afraid of, the lady mannequin doing the "Pagdiwata" dance. 

Looking at those old jars and life-sized creatures on display amazed the little one.

Big sister was all out of carrying her little sister, for the latter to see those tall displays. :)

We spent at least half an hour roaming the 2 floors of the Museum. Also on display but not in photos are the artworks of our local painter, Jonathan Benitez. 

The Palawan Museum is located at H.Mendoza Street, (Old City Hall Building). Right wing side of the Mendoza Park Stage. Entrance Fee is Php10.00 for kids and Php50.00 for adults.