My mom, since getting a new touchscreen phone (o ha! she's 64 years old and she's pretty groovy!), has decided to sell her 6-month-old Nokia E63. For my full personal review of this phone, you can check it out HERE.



The unit was issued from Smart for a retention plan and the Nokia warranty is still valid until April of 2011! Moreover, this phone is Smart-locked. You need to unlock it if you want to use it with another carrier aside from Smart, i.e. Globe or Sun.

 

The phone is in absolutely terrific condition, no hidden defects, and never dropped.
 
   

It has a few minor scratches though from everyday wear and tear.





However, for the price of just PHP 5.5K (with FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the Philippines!), this is a certified BEST BUY! Complete with box, charger, unused headset, manuals, etc.

Payment can be made thru Chinabank deposit or GCASH. For faster transaction, contact me at 09209004468.

So what are you waiting for!?




xoxo,
 

When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow."  Tomorrow is disease.  ~Terri Guillemets

So yesterday, I started watching my diet in addition to drinking the slimming coffee... but being careful I don't get anorexic like I did before back in 2004. I started to count my calories again and am so relieved that finally my new George Foreman grill arrived today! 



Woot! Now I don't have to worry about eating just tuna or bangus  everyday. So even if I eat chicken or beef, I get to use the grill and strip the fats away! Yessss!!! 

I cooked dinner tonight and I made Grilled Orange Chicken. It took just a couple of minutes to prepare the marinade, an hour to let it set in, and only about 10 minutes to cook the chicken! 

It was easy as 1 - 2 - 3. I was so amazed watching the fats sizzle and get stripped out. And I can't believe it still tasted with so much flavor!   

Best of all I didn't even have to worry about the calories much! 


Presenting my Grilled Orange Chicken. Cooked the George Foreman way! :)





I can even visualize it now... if I were married, I'd be a kick-ass housewife! ^_^

Also today, I exercised/ran/jogged/walked for 15 minutes. And this is all the Pedometer reported back to me...




Waaaaahhh... only 42 calories burned in 15 minutes! Gosh, I need to get my ass movin' some more! Anyways, it's a start. In 18 days, I swear I will be in tip-top shape, weighing 10 pounds less, and feeling healthy as ever! 


But why the obsession with my weight? Because I don't want to look like this...





LOL! 


I want to look like my old self again:





So... umm, good luck to me! Tee hee.


xoxo,

 

Barely two months before Christmas, I've decided to put up my Havaianas Gummy Lights! (Shout outs to HoneyHon all the way from Oz for sending me these babies!!!) They arrived just in time for me to get into the Christmas spirit.



They look so delicious. I'm so tempted to bite them jelly flip-flops!





I thought I should display them at SALA Lounge + Café so people can check 'em out. If I put it up in my room, then I'm the only one who can enjoy them.



So share the love!!!



Aren't they so cute? And you can even adjust the way the lights blink... They can go fast or slow.. or steady.. Whatever floats your boat!



Indeed! What a way to impress your fellow Havaianaticos and light up Christmas this year with glowing flip-flops!!! You should drop by here to check 'em out in person... They're really a sight to behold!



So kawaii.. I think if I had epilepsy or seizures I'd be having one right now because I just can't stop staring at them!!! Gaaaaahhhhh...

Once again, thank you so much to my dearest HoneyHon (you're-nothing-but-the-truth) for the very thoughtful gift!

xoxo,

Many of you should know by now that tomorrow is D-DAY for me. Yes, I am running for office... as a barangay kagawad/councilor. I know it's not like the most grandiose or prestigious position but we all have to start somewhere, right? It doesn't mean because it's a teeny weeny bit of status that I won't be able to do much. I beg to differ.



Now I am taking my commitments to a higher level now. Because I want to help people and the community, in ways that I am able to... is the main reason why I am even getting involved in this madness. I mean, come on. Let's face it... Is this really something I am inclined to do? Or is this something I am doing because my heart tells me to? The latter, my friends, is more like it.



So why not get involved in a charitable organization or what? Well, I don't have that kind of commitment yet. But I do have time for the smallest political unit in the Philippines, the barangay. District 19 is just a block with around 200 people (I think!) and living here my whole life (and no, I am not ashamed of *still* living with my parents... this is the Philippines for crying out loud!)... I think I have a good grasp of what I can do and how I can help my barangay.

Did you also know I was crowned Little Miss Cantubo 1989?



HAHAHA! Okay, I will laugh with you all you want... but really, it was fun and I believe small barangays like mine can benefit if we do this. Why did we ever stop having these pageants anyway? I don't know. I guess people (in office) got old and don't know what's fun anymore. You tell me. But I intend to bring back the fun and excitement in my community. But then again, it's really up to the people here to decide if they want to go on seeing not a lot of change in our barangay and even NO MORE BARANGAY TANODS... or they can give me a chance to bring it all back!!!

My mother was a barangay captain some years ago and I remember we even had this barangay garden that our neighbors actively help to maintain and the Tanods were a great help in minimizing the burglaries in the neighborhood. But alas, those two are nowhere to be found this time around. And I would very much like to see them back here in District 19.

One thing that's bugging me a little though is the fact that people are doing extreme means in campaigning. I think I am successful at getting their attention with my tarpaulin and posters. It's not every day you see a campaign poster that looks like it's a tourism promotion or a product ad! Tee hee.



But that's where I draw the line. Of course, I did my house-to-house campaign to ask voters to give me a chance to serve and even sought out those voters who don't live here in the barangay anymore but are still registered to vote in the district... but that's it. What am I getting at? Well, honestly, I do not like vote buying. And even if the other candidates are doing it, I firmly refuse to do so. Obviously, we have the means to do that (maybe even double what they are paying the voters?) but I told my mother, who isn't a neophyte at playing the game of politics, that I refuse to disrespect people by buying their votes.

It stresses me to think that some people keep hinting that they would like to receive money in exchange for votes. And every time, I close my eyes and say a little prayer asking God to enlighten these people that it is just plain WRONG. Nothing good can absolutely come from it (aside from winning more often than not) and isn't MONEY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?

Okay, I know this is all so idealistic (you know what happened to the KAABAG PARTY last May Elections, right?). And buying votes is the way of the trapos and it's like the secret formula to winning most elections. Believe me, my international readers, it works here in the Philippines! But I never gave that any thought, plus the words of Gandhi reverberates in my mind loudly saying, "Be the change you wish to see in the world". Also that's why I am running as INDEPENDENT, not under any particular party.

So here I am, leaving it all up to the people and to God what will be the outcome of tomorrow's barangay elections. Win or lose, there has to be a reason for it. In other words, if I lose then it just goes to show that people here are quite content with the current barangay situation and that they don't need my help or they're insane and happy to give their votes in exchange for a mere 50 bucks. Then I'll have to find other ways of helping my fellowmen because I truly want to help people... but in fun ways that I can. I think you all know that over the years you've been hanging out here in my blog. :) So if ever I win, well, it is gonna be a different story... and you can expect me to blog about all I'm gonna do in the months/years to come!

In the meantime, I'll just have to lift everything up to Him as He knows what's best for me and pray that the people here in District 19 will give me a chance to serve them the way they should be served. Can people just stop politicking and just do what's good for everybody? What's up with all the personal gain!? Geez.

Que sera. Que sera. What will be... will be. Wish me luck, guys!!! And good luck to all my friends who are also running for office in their respective barangays. Aja aja, fighting!!!




xoxo,

Come on all you beautiful people, especially Ormocanons/Ormocanas...!!! Here's our chance to show the world we DO have style!

Please vote for our very own DARLEEN ELAINE HOPKIRK!!!



Let our powers combine! VOTE VOTE VOTE at StyleBible.ph!!!

Click here: http://www.stylebible.ph/style-star/preview-at-15/1#ssfResultsMain


xoxo,

Two months ago, I was bugging NoodleBoy about not having a wifi-enabled phone. Yes, it's true... When I sold my iPhone 3Gs, I was left with a Cherry Mobile P1, the MyPhone Q21, an 8gb Nokia N95, an old Nokia 6233. I know it's a lot of phones... but really, I wanted something like my Sofie. I can be really annoying when I want something... and I'm not even going to blame my star sign or horoscope for that. It's just me.

NoodleBoy, in all the 23 years that we've known each other, know this and I'm lucky to have someone who understands this disturbing trait. And so, as an anniversary gift... He bought me a Nokia C3. (Maybe because I was PMSing, too?)



Initially, we looked for a red phone but we couldn't find any that was worth the money. I picked the dark C3 and bought a red jelly case for it. Then we named the phone, Chichi.

The best thing about Chichi, if you haven't read the reviews for the Nokia C3 yet, is the fact that it's quite the affordable kind. It has wifi and you get the Nokia Communities right on the active display with Facebook and Twitter integration!

Plus it has Conversations so the messages are threaded. WOOT! Now I don't miss my iPhone 3Gs anymore :)



And mind you, Chichi runs on a Symbian S40 OS so it's pretty fast and the no-frills kind. And I love, love, love it!!! The only downside I found with this phone, aside from it being the stripped down version but still fully functional (and even more!) compared to Sofie, is the fact that I can't adjust the brightness of the display! Come on, Nokia! What were you thinking? It hurts my photosensitive eyes with long use and when in the dark!

Nevertheless, the phone is a great buy and because it's a gift from my NoodleBoy, I shall cherish it with all my heart. So don't expect me to sell this phone any time soon or at all... :)

On September 18, I received a very interesting email.



Without really thinking, I went ahead and applied for a new postpaid line to get myself reserved for a unit. I am happy with my less than a month-old Chichi and there's absolutely no need to get a new phone! Or at least that's how I convinced myself...

But NoodleBoy, clever as he is, was not convinced. He knew I wouldn't shut up about it and go on and on like I did back when I wanted the iPhone 3Gs... He knew what was coming. I think he even prepared for it.

On September 21, Globe called me. I wasn't even the one who answered the phone because I was grilling burgers that time. NoodleBoy was the one who took the call and eventually handed me the phone when they asked about my application, et cetera. On September 23, Globe called and asked me to resend the documents required for application, which I did like 6 times just to be sure!!! LOL! (I guess it might have been detected as spam?)

Then on September 24, I received e-stubs and the invite to pick up the phone at New World Hotel. Wow! That's like a thousand miles away!!! So I sulked...

a) There's no way I can fly to Manila on such short notice.
b) I don't think I have the money to pay for the phone AND the tickets.
c) Pray for a miracle?

So it's NoodleBoy to the rescue. No, he didn't book us any flights but he did, however, tell me he'll pay for the iPhone4 if it gets delivered here to our local business center. And so, I summoned all my powers and stormed into the Philmug forum (in desperation), that the phone be sent to me instead of me going to get it.

September 26 went by and a week later, I was all giddy and practically fluttering towards the Globe Business Center here in Ormoc City to claim my iPhone4... of course, NoodleBoy in tow who was also very excited for me. He says it's priceless to watch me and he wouldn't miss it for the world. Awww... (Gugma!!!)

And of course, he's paying for the phone. So...



TA-DA!!!

Yes, the spoiled little brat has done it again. With the powers of my charm and persuasion, I have a new toy!!! (Which at this point, I am still immensely enjoying and no news of the upcoming iPhone5 can even sway me!)



It's camwhoring time!



And with a simple back-up restore from my 3Gs, my iPhone4 now dressed up with a matching red jelly case like Chichi's is ready to rock en roll, pare!



Easy does it!



Got my contacts, messages, apps (most importantly, the iPeriod because I have no idea when I'll be getting it anymore since I gave up my iPhone 3Gs!), and what have you...





Alright, I guess that wraps it up. Hope you enjoyed this piece as much as I am enjoying my two babies right now. ;)



xoxo,

My NoodleBoy kids me sometimes. Whenever I tell him, "I feel so complete now. I have you in my life." He jokingly adds, "Yes, me... and your phones." Instead of getting mad at him for not taking me seriously when I tell him how I feel, I just smile because I guess it's true. I'm not in denial.

I don't know why I have so many phones (both expensive and cheap ones)... I mean, I can't come up with a valid reason but I do know that they make me happy. That seems valid enough for me.. and for NoodleBoy, as sweet and understanding as he is, he is happy that I am happy! Materialistic, yes... but I try to do my corporal works of mercy nevertheless.

I remember the time I bought two phones through Sulit.com.ph in a span of two months!



I must have been delirious... but deliriously happy I was! The thing that most people don't really know is that eventually I sell my phones and replace them with new ones. So goes the cycle in the life of a phone-atic.

Case in point:



Yup, I was able to sell my iPhone 3GS through Sulit.com.ph. It was so difficult to find a buyer for an expensive phone but because of Sulit's wide reach of audience, a buyer from Manila found me and told me he was scheduled for a business trip to Ormoc City and would like to check out the iPhone. And I was like.. Whoa! This is so cool... a complete stranger will be buying from me after I posted my ad in Sulit! Previously, I only sell my stuffs to friends or acquaintances because I don't want to deal with trust issues from strangers. Indeed, this was a pivotal moment. And Sulit was a big part of this!

I registered with Sulit.com.ph back in February 2008 because whenever I try to do a search for things I'd like to buy online, I always get redirected to a Sulit page. If they ranked well in Google, then I guess they're pretty reliable then. So I went ahead and registered.

After some months, I won something from them! And I was like... "Wow! This site has potential!"



From then on, I referred friends to Sulit.com.ph and they too have found it very good as they even have categories for automobiles! They post ads for cars!!! And my cousin also bought a laptop from Sulit.com.ph!

The stories of a phone-atic doesn't end here...Because of online shopping, I don't think I see any ending anytime soon. ^_^


xoxo,