As I am learning each day, photographing plants and flowers involve knowing the lights, creating a backdrop, knowing how to manipulate a certain item to give you an effect you like, etc, and learning terms like focal points, apertures, and many more. When I take pictures of flowers I always take shots from different angles just to see which one is better. I also enjoy taking macro shots of the flowers. But of course it’s good to have a certain knowledge in the craft of close-up photography. I prefer using my 55mm when I’m taking macro shots not only in flowers but the food pictures as well. I really love the bokeh  effect in the background that 55mm gives.

Thankfully in the blogging community, there are so many tutorials in photography now that make it easier to learn taking better pictures with dslr cameras. I actually have the Nikon D40/D40x For Dummies as one of my guides also. And for posterity’s sake, I revived my photoblog site –PICTURESQUE- to serve as a repository blog for photos I take. I would like to upgrade my D40 to one of the newest versions like umm the D3S but chances are that won’t happen anytime soon. Like my husband said, that camera is like an “investment” . That’s ok because I’m pretty happy with the D40 and I don’t think it’s a good investment to get a $5199 camera with my limited knowledge in photography. I still need to learn the most basic stuff..hehe.

I got mad, even cried coz the jobs I lost were practically my “babies”. I was also sad for my colleagues. We didn’t just lose our jobs, we lost our sense of community as well. But the truth of the matter is, that sense of community went missing when some changes happened a year ago. Interestingly enough though, that community is now back because like they said, there’s always a rainbow after the rain.

As for me, after taking the time to react as calmly and professional as I could and reflect on the whole situation, I had to do something. Looking for new opportunities was the first step. Doing job searches on a web directory is part of the first step. Fortunately, there are a lot of free web directory out there that helps out in searching for blogging jobs. From Google, I found the Blogging Jobs twitter which posts various blogging and writing job opportunities online. Another place I’ve been searching at is of course the Yahoo directory. I’ve discovered from these directories that  there are a lot of opportunities there waiting to be clicked and considered. My former colleagues and I are also helping each other out by passing along any information we could gather in our searches along the way. We’re all experiencing the same thing and taking this new journey in our lives one day at a time so.

We may have gotten our pink slips twice, thrice, 4 times, 5 times, or more (1 blogger usually have 3 or more topics they write for), in a manner which leaves a sour note, but we are driven, knowledgeable, and hard-working people so we’ll definitely be fine. Most of us have now  ventured into striking on our own by building our own blogs. Nothing is going to keep us down. This whole experience has empowered us to strive for something better and greater with our head held high. So Watch Out Folks……

click to see larger image….

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But that’s not what this post is all about. It isn’t? Nope. After chowing down the burgers, my husband asked me what I’ll be making for dinner. WARNING: This is not for the faint of heart or uptight people, heh.

HUBS: What’s for dinner Babe?

WIFEY: How about my fist in your face?

HUBS: Oh you mean my fist with a side of your face?

WIFEY: With a kick in your ass for dessert

HUBS: Can I have crushed nuts on top of that too?

LIVE LAUGH and LOVE!! =P . What’s with the title? I dunno, I just felt like saying it .

I have been in an organizing mode lately. And cleaning too, heh. I polished our bathroom clean last Saturday. The His and Hers sinks are shining like they’re for Kings and Queens. I organized our office too. I can see the floor again . It’s amazing what breaking down boxes can do instead of just piling them up on the floor every time the FedEx and UPS delivers.

Next project is to organize the show closet coz that’s pretty much half of the boxes in the office were. Maybe I can finally take a picture of the shoe closet. Oooh, exciting, no?

Get it!

Nahhh, I’d tear it up

Bitch, just get it. If you split it in half, at least it was only $9.

You’re so mean. Fine, I’ll get it. You better pray it fits or I’ll kick you with my heels

Puhlleeaazzeee. Just suck that tummy up and make it fit.

The thing is, I didn’t try it on at the store coz I was afraid I’d freaking split the damn jeans in half and end up still having to pay for it. At least in my house, where no one is looking, if it splits, hey, the humiliation will remain between me and myself. Yah know. I sure wouldn’t blog about it, heh.

Well, I’m wearing my skinny jeans right now, and have been wearing it since 1pm. I’ve had lunch, and a couple of cookies for snacks. My skinny jeans haven’t split. And I look pretty darn good if I say so myself.

Thanks Shawn T for the Insanity Workout that has been kicking my ass everyday. I hate it that I have to workout in the weekends which I never did my whole life but hey, I’m wearing skinny jeans which I never thought I would  EVER wear either. My ass still looks big but I like it, and I think my husband likes it too  so I’ll keep it. And my first skinny jeans .

I cried on a few scenes. Ahhhhh. The movie, as the title pretty much gave away is about a war between two brides. The catch is that they’re actually childhood BFF. They’ve dreamed and planned about their wedding day for as long as they can remember. Who knew they were going to engaged at the same time and the only June available date at the Plaza where they’ve both envisioned their weddings to be was the same year and day. This is where the culture of Bridezillas come in. Who cares if they’ve been bestfriends their whole lives, this is their wedding we’re talking about now.

While the movie’s story heavily revolves around weddings of 2 bestfriends and the culture’s obsession on the idea of a “perfect wedding”, the movie also delved deep into the friendship of these 2 women who happens to be so different from each other yet each is a backbone of each other. This is where the tears will come from. They each discover  things about themselves and their lives in the midst of fighting and sabotaging each other’s wedding. The antics were hilarious yet both women also realize at the end of the day how sad the whole situation was, and how much they needed each other.

Bride Wars has all the elements of a good chick flick to entertain you on a quiet Saturday afternoon or a movie time with friends. If you cry easily like me, then I suggest a couple of Kleenex nearby just in case .

(Image: IMDB)

Well, there’s Scissorhands to start with, then he was Willy Wonka, Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean. Hubs disagreed that Jack is not really “creepy”. He’s right, not really but I’m talking about creepy as in a little out there and wearing all sorts of make-up. Stay with me . Then there was Sweeny Todd, and now it’s The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. Then I added his character in Secret Window. Hubs argued that that was not creepy under full of make-up look. I said, but he was creepily bad there which is creepiest of all because he actually looked like your neighbor. Who knew he’s capable of doing bad things?. He makes you want to lock all your doors. Now that’s creepy so Mort Rainey from Secret Window makes the list . BTW, can you believe Scissorhands is now 20 yrs. old?

In regards to the Olympics..

We of course watched how Shaun White totally kicked ass on Men’s Half Pipe event last night and won his second Olympic Gold Medal. The kid is AMAZING!! Anyhooo, one athlete’s name caught our attention. On the standings his name was recorded as I. Podladtchikov. It’s actually Iouri Podladtchikov but written as I.Podladtchikov to shorten it I’m sure. Here’s what ensued:

HUBS: His name is IPod, hehe. I wonder if he gets called that all the time. “I.Pod, I.Pod…”

WIFEY: His girlfriend probably says, “I want me some IPod” every time she wants something..

HUBS: Oh oh.. “I want and IPod Touch”

I wonder what we’ll amuse ourselves with from tonight’s events.

(Images: IMDB)

Anyhooo, Insanity Work-Out is this crazy-insane work-out routine created by my favorite Hip Hop Abs guy Shaun T. And it is literally INSANE. You’ll have to click on the link to read more about it coz it’s hard to explain except that it’s freaking kicking my ass these days and today is only my 3rd day. It starts with a Fit Test to test your stamina and what you’re capable of. Insanity is a 60-day program of hard cardio and all sorts of stuff that will make you sweat, fit, and  throw up in some instances, heh.

I’ll let you know my progress once I reach my 60th day .

The last week of January was bad for my New Year goal of working out 5 days a week. I started out really good on January but towards to end was tricky one coz I had my PMS and well, I just didn’t feel like doing anything. Then the first week of February was the period week so that wasn’t good either. But I’m back. Monday started out well with a 7am wake-up time. I drank my cup of coffee while I checked my e-mail, 30 minutes after I did my exercise.

I started my day with the Pilates DVD, complete with a yoga/Pilates mat, bottled water and of course fitness outfit. Oh and yes, I’m not wearing socks. This New Balance 410 sneakers fit me so perfectly that it hurts to wear socks with it. I can move around it so freely whether I’m doing Tae-Bo, Hip-Hop Dance or the Latin Dance. This NB sneakers have been my fitness companion and I love it. No, my feet doesn’t stink. I take care of my feet, thankyouvermuch .  Anyhooo, by noon time I did my Hip-Hop ABS work-out as my second work-out routine  for the day.

Today was 30 minutes Tae-Bo early in the morning and freestyle dancing in my office, I think I might jot down what I’m doing daily to help me be more consistent. My body hurts a little bit but it also feels good.