Largest Master's Sand Sculpting Competition in the United States

Wanted to see BIG sand sculptures for real just like these?

Then, you need to be at Port Aransas, TX these coming April 17-19 and see with own naked eyes how big they really are.

Master Sand Sculptures all over the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, and Ukraine will be competing with their special talents in making an incredible work of art using sand. It should be amazing to witness how they make it and be stunned by the finished results.

My mother-in-law is the one who told us about it and we all love to go but probably not this year, hopefully next year or whenever we can. If you need more information about the said Sand Festival, you can check it out from www.texassandfest.com or www.sandfest.com. They also have their official Texas Sand Fest Newspaper given away at Port Aransas and that's where my mother-in-law got theirs.

Addicted to Friendster....again!!

I can't believe that I'm into Friendster AGAIN. I'm just at home all the time, with my son, and I just can't think of anything else to do but to be online. Then, all I usually do online is to blog. But these past few days, I'm back to friendstering again.

Well, I'm not as addicted as what I am when i first sign-up for it and when it was first became a big trend. That was way back when I was still in college. I guess it's somewhere in 2003. We used to go in an Internet cafe, with my college friends, and go online as long as we can afford to (money wise). I am such as friendster fanatic that I always have profile updates every single day, whether it could be new pictures uploaded or template is changed.

Now, I don't upload photos and change background that much but I love to post and answer surveys in the bulletin board. I just enjoy doing it. Sometimes I answer it seriously but sometimes, just to have an answer in it (hehe), but it's all about fun and I don't think the people who read them thinks that it contains 100% serious answers.

So, if you have friendster account, just visit my profile at friendster.com/jonaver and add me as your friend. I'll see ya there! :-)

Jona's Online Apparel Store - Good Quality Apparels in Affordable Prices

I am trying to start an online business by selling Good Quality Apparels in very Affordable Prices. And since it's winter season, here are some knitted sweaters for y'all to keep you warm and comfy.



These are brand new Debbie Morgan Longsleeve Knitted Sweater with Turtleneck design comes in blue or red colors. Design for comfort and for keeping you warm during the cold weather.

MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED PRICE: $34.00

MATERIALS: 100% acrylic

MADE IN: China

WASHING: Machine cold wash with same color using mild detergent. Warm dry in a laundry dryer. Do not iron.

To purchase, just select which color and size you'd like then type in the quantity in the space provided. Then click the "BUY" button. You will then be directed to your Shopping Cart, then will ask you to sign-in to your PayPal account for payment. You will not be charged immediately. Once you click on Place Order button, that's when you'll be charge on your PayPal account. It's 100% Secured 'cos the shopping cart is powered by Mercantec E-Commerce Express.

Product	Price	Quantity
Sweater (Red) Size:   Small  Large  X-Large	$7.95
Sweater (Blue) Size:   Small  Medium  Large  X-Large	$7.95

These products does really have good quality that would surely last. You won't regret buying any of my items.

PAYMENT: Accepts PayPal and Google Checkout.

SHIPPING: Will be processed on the same day the order was made and fully paid. Will only shipped in 50 US States.

Standard Shipping (5-7 business days) - $5.00
Fast Shipping (3-4 business days) - $10.00
Express Shipping (1-2 business days) - $15.00

For any questions and concerns, don't hesitate to leave me a comment or send me an email at admin@jonaverslife.com

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Getting paid to blog as my favorite part about blogging

It's been a year since I started this blog. Honestly, I didn't realize it until today. I couldn't even believe that I have been expressing my thoughts, talking about some part of my life, and appreciating good things in life through this blog. What I like most though about blogging is getting paid to blog. I guess, most bloggers do, right? I mean, c'mon! Who would not want to earn by simply blogging?

Anyway, being paid to blog is just one of the few advantages in blogging. I met a lot of good people in the cyber world and learned lots of things. There are lots of good things that you can get from blogging. So, if you haven't started blogging yet, don't be left out, start now! (wink).

Since I mentioned about my favorite part about blogging, which is getting paid to blog, let me tell you the easiest way to do so, it is by using sponsorship on your blog. It's pretty easy. To understand more, you can read the blog post, Use Sponsorship To Earn Money Through Your Blogs! from PayingPost.com. And to start it right now, just simply sign-up to PayingPost.com if you already have a blog. Why PayingPost? Because their opportunity creation fee is 50% less compared to their competitors.



I am a stay-at-home Mom so paid blogging gave me the income while being at home and taking care of my son. And with the income I had, I was able to buy some things I needed without asking my hubby (grin). What more can I say? I just love blogging and love it more because I am earning from it. How about you?

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Planning a business

I am planning to start a business anytime from now. I've always been interested on eBay selling business, but I just don't know where to start yet. Until yesterday, I saw my Victoria Secret bra that I bought for my wedding dress and didn't end up using, then I decided to sell it on eBay for $50.00 'cos I bought it for $82.00. But it will be FREE shipping. I just posted it yesterday and no one had placed bid on it yet, so I don't know how it will turn out. I hope someone will buy it though.

Anyway, since I started selling on eBay, I was thinking of pursuing it and sell more. Actually, I already bought some nice long-sleeve tops online that I'll be selling on eBay or hopefully with my own website. Slowly but surely, I'd like to build an online store and buy apparel in a very affordable price. Once, I'll get the tops that I bought online, I will post it here for y'all to see. But I need to make sure first that it has a good quality too 'cos it is always the most important thing about selling something, having a good quality product. And having a worthy price is a plus.

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I'm pre-occupied as of the moment

Yes, I'm pre-occupied as of the moment. I have been very busy transferring and tweaking our website, Love In Distance. I just got very excited because finally, I was able to make use of the domain andyjona.com that I bought last June. Oh yeah, FINALLY! Dumb me, I just realize that GoDaddy has a Free Hosting for every domain you buy from them. So, now, I made use of that free hosting. Though, I am looking at the paid hosting too but I just can't afford it for now. Better make more money online first before I invest for another site.

Anyway, though the hosting I have now for our website is free, I am still enjoying it because I can do a lot of things there. Now, I have added a Forum page. I am still working on it though. I am not an expert about it, but I am learning. I helped a few Filipinas in their visa processing. Though I didn't do a lot for them, but I am trying my best to answer each question they have since I already experienced the same process. Hopefully, with the forum, more Filipinas who already went through the same process would be able to help other Filipinas who are planning to get their visa to be united with their loved one here in the US. And at the same time, we would be able to socialize online because we all have something in common, married to a US citizen.

I also transferred my Love In Distance ~ Blog to Blogspot so that I can easily (hopefully!) update it since most of my blogs are in Blogspot now. Only one is hosted by Wordpress actually. And thanks to BTemplates again for the Free Template. I like it so much! Now, 3 of my blogs got their templates from them. They are all so awesome.

Now, my concern is, how am I be able to keep all my sites up. Actually, my online addiction is driving me nuts. But I can't help myself. I really love to blog, make sites, explore the net, etc. If only I always have enough time. But a Mom like me? Nah...I will still do the best that I can though to be an active blogger and take care of my family at the same time.

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Motorcycle parts

Cruisercustomizing.com is a best place online to shop for motorcycle accessories. You can find any accessories for any brand of motorcycle. Name it, they have it. So, if you are looking for any motorcycle parts and accessories, don't go anywhere else, go to cruisercustomizing.com.

In fact, I just bought saddlebags from them that my brother asked from me. And before I forgot, their products are affordable prices too.

Price or Interest?

I know that most of the bloggers now are earning money through paid posts. And those who do so, they know that there are limited opps out there. Well, depending on their PRs. Because the higher PR you have, the more opps you get. I know that because I don't have PR before and I was struggling to catch some opps everyday even if I have a few resources for earning through my blog. Even if I have PR now, I still struggle sometimes to catch some opps. Lucky to those who has high PR's because I guess they have unlimited opps.

Now, to those who has an average amount of opps, sometimes, you get the chance to choose which opps you're going to take, especially in PPP because you can only make 3 posts per blog a day. Other paid-to-blog resources will give you unlimited but they don't always give opps everyday. So, when you take opps, do you go for the higher price or those you are interested with?

If I have a choice, I normally go to those that I can relate to because it is hard to write about something that you don't have any idea what it was about. But if you write about something you know, it comes very easy. But sometimes, they don't me a choice, so I will just grab any opps available and struggle to write something about it. Most of the time, I would seek help from Google, just to have an idea what it was about. But if there is something worth a big amount of money and it requires only 50-100 words, I would surely grab it no matter what is it about or it came from planet Pluto. Because I have 2 objectives on my own blogging: To earn money and To invite readers. But my main priority os to earn money. We're not rich and I don't have a job, so I do blogging to support my personal needs and other stuffs if necessary.

So, how about you? What do you go for?

Working on getting a new computer

This is impossible! Before, it is hard for me to update all of my 4 blogs, but now it is even HARDER because our laptop that I am depending on because it runs faster that the desktop has not been running properly since a few weeks ago. Plus I have a new blog dedicated to my son which I have lots of things to post there. Now it is really impossible for me to updates all my blogs.

This is blog is always my priority since this is the oldest one and it is finally ranked by Google a few days ago. It is even hard for me to do all the post that I needed on this site.

Now, I am working the whole sh*t out of me to be able to buy a new computer. I hope I can do it sooner because I really wanted to do the regular posting on my other blogs because my ultimate goal is to get them ranked and earn from them as well. I hardly can't do anything now but to do update this one single blog. I am really upset about the laptop but there is nothing else I can do for now but to work and work and earn money to buy the computer that I wanted to have.

It is alright for me to be a WAHM forever as long as I am blogging if everything would work out well for me.

New Look for my CREATIONS blog

I am back to changing my blog template again. I used to do it before when I was still in the Philippines and I have all the software to use it. But I didn't bring those software here that is why it has been a while since I made another template.

I admit that my template are not good-looking whatsoever, but I feel contented to see that I can make a look for my blogs with my own ability. So, here is the NEW LOOK for Creations blog.



Credits to ShabbyPrincess because the main background is from her Promise Collection

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Back to digiscrapping: Our First Dance

It has been a while since I made a digiscrap. I just didn't have the chance to do so eversince I got here in Texas for couple reasons. One, I don't have photo editing software here, and two, I don't have much time. But yesterday, I was able to use a Corel Graphics Suite X2 Free Trial, so I took the chance on making one digiscrap.



That is our First Dance and it was during our Wedding Day. It is between the ceremony and the reception. We had it at Andy's parents lawn and we danced with the song of David Pomeranz's On This Day.

A few years before my wedding and I first heard that song, I said to myself that that would be the song that me and my future husband would be dancing with on our wedding. But in our church, dancing in the reception is not allowed, so we didn't wait for the reception for us to dance. We didn't care if anyone was watching or not when we dance as long as we'll dance. Of course, Andy's mom and sister was there and took some pictures of us. Thanks to Andy he made one of dreams come true for dancing with me on David Pomeranz's song on our wedding day. It meant a lot to me.


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Our Papang, Our Hero

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Dear Papang,

I know you will not believe what I am about to say, but please trust me when I say this because though I rarely say this but it always comes from the bottom of my heart.

I am very proud to have you as a father. We may not be the best buds and I may have not treated you the way you wanted me, but I hope that you realized that every smile, laughter, and jokes that we share, it feels like heaven to me. I always wanted to laugh with you but I know that you're too busy to do so. I may be wrong or right about this but I can see in your eyes that you love it when you're making me smile and I feel the same when I am making you smile or laugh when I share to you the funny experiences I had.

We have been through lots of trials in our family and I admit that I hurt you so much in so many ways, but it was you who taught me to be strong and always fight for what I believed in, sad to say, I used it to stand on what I believe against you. I felt really bad and sorry about that and I know that you have always forgiven me for whatever bad things I did to you.

You may not be a good person to everyone else but know that for me, you're always the BEST FATHER. You never failed on doing your part as a father. I know you always wanted to hear this from me and I am sorry, I am not that vocal (I also got it from you), but no matter what happen, no matter what they say, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU PAPANG and you will always be the father that I would seek whenever someone done bad to me. You may not be aware of it, but you are always MY HERO, not just to me, but to your GRANDCHILDREN as well.

Your grandchildren: Epay, Lolong, and Abi, though they may be miles away from you, but they will always remember your love for them for all their lives, that is a proof, you are always be the BEST FATHER to me and GRANDFATHER to your grandchildren.

We love you so much Papang, I hope you know that and would never forget that.


Your rebellious daughter,
Gagang (it's me!)
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

This is my entry for this week's of Pinay Mommies Community.

I am very glad PMC made this theme because I was able to express my gratitude to my father. I am not vocal in comes to my father, so it is hard for me to initiate it for him, but with this theme, I was able to say it (type it rather).


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Team Irish, my Link2Support Family

Earlier I went to my previous workplace, Link2Support, Inc. to get my last paycheck from them. I was so happy to see my Team Irish team mates again. Team Irish was the team where I stayed the longest, more than half of my stay in Link2Support was with them so I had became close to my team mates there. Though I was expecting that I would see them because I know what time they go out from work, but I was still surprise to see them all again after almost two months. Nothing has changed with them though except that Chatty is slimmer now and Jane is bigger now (lol!), but I really miss them so much.

Anyway, I was looking at my pictures again and I was happy to see lots of pictures of me with the team. We all love one thing -- picture taking. hehehe. Here are some of our pictures together.




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Can never get satisfaction with the background

As you have observed, I have a new template again and maybe some of my blogger friends would think that they're hopping in a new site. lol! Yeah, I've changed my template again. As what I have mentioned on my previous post, Changing my site's background again, that I will be playing around with my blog's HTML. I also love using the Photoshop and I am still in the stage of exploring it. I find it interesting and a fun thing to do. If the time would come that I will be tired doing it, I would probably ask some of my blogger friends who are specializing in making fantastic templates to give mine a make-over, because they're very good at it. By the way, if you are interested in having your blog a make-over, check Carlota's Web-Blog Designs and Designs by Vhiel. I really admire their work.

What inspired me to do this template is the Photoshop's Special Effect brushes, like the butterflies in my header. Yeah, I just started making my header then I decided to change the whole template. hehehehe.

So, here it is, my plain and simple template, still with a touch of pink.

Changing my site's background again

Here I am again, I guess you've notice that I already develop this bad habit of changing my background from time to time. ehehehe. Well, that is because I love playing around with it but sooner, I will have a background that I would really use permanently (about 10 years from now? lol).

Anyway, this time, I just want to play around with the new brushes that I have in my Photoshop and these brushes are the ones I used on creating my Floral Vector background. Again, I got these wonderful brushes as a freebie from Brusheezy, Hawksmont Universe, and Deviantart. As what I have commented on them, "I can't imagine a Photoshop if without their wonderful brushes". Yes, that is true because they really have huge collection of wonderful brushes and they're giving it away. That's how generous they are and I wanna thank them for that.

My Template: Pretty In Pink

Here I am with my template-itch again. I just can't get enough with my template so I am making a new one for this blog. At last, I am finally done with it.

As you can see, my theme now is PINK. I'm been longing to have a PINK page though it's not actually my favorite color but I really admire pink pages. It looks petty to me.

The background and the header I used are scrap materials I got as a Freebie from Vamp Production. It is from one of their originally made materials, the Cutie Petutie Kit. I wanna thank the author for making such gorgeous materials and as I promised to her, here's my post to say THANK YOU to you.

I will hopefully post the steps on how did I make this template on my Creations blog because that blog is intended for all my creations. And hopefully again I can be able, at least, help you to create your own template because that is one of my goals why I keep changing mine (*grin*).

Again, this is one of the proof for my being crazy about PHOTOSHOP and digi-scrapping now. That's why I love blogging so much because you get all the chance to explore and learn.

Making the Second Template for my other blog, CREATIONS

Now that I already have my second template for my other blog Creations, I would like to share to everyone how was I able to come up with that template. I put all the steps I did in making that template of my Creations . Well, it may be not be the best template there is but I hope the steps would be of help to anyone who would like to personalized their blog templates. Click here to see the steps.

That template is only for NEW BLOGGER. I have never tried messing around with the XML Editor of WordPress or BraveJournal. I have accounts there too but I am still trying to explore them since I am used to BLOGGER.

My second template is really a personalized one because as what you've seen there that I put the pictures of my loved ones and to tell the world how complete I am because of them. So, if you want what I want then you may like the steps that I made just for you. If you have questions or any suggestions, don't hesitate to leave me a message and I would do my best to help you with it.

New Template of my other Blog, CREATIONS

It brought tears to my eyes after I was done with the template of my other blog Creations because it is the template that I always wanted to have. Now that I have achieved it (finally!), I would like to think of another template that I would want to achieve again.

I am very much crazy about blog templates ever since I started blogging. I always admire those personalized template. That is why I am teaching myself about HTML/XML/XHTML and Photoshop because they are the most important thing on making templates.

I would like to give credits to the sites where I learned about the things I used for achieving my template.

○ w3schools -- HTML/XML/XHTML
○ Photoshop Tips and Tricks -- I learned how to make my header from them
○ Free Digital Scrapbooking -- paper I used for the background
○ Translucent -- the only place where I found the see-though background

Digital Scrapbooking Tip for Easy Navigation

While working on my digi-scrapping, I made lots of experimenting and one thing I notice and wants to share with you now is how to make the navigation through your files easy.

When I first started digi-scrapping, I have all my pictures saved on My Picture folder and my digiscrap materials are in one folder saved on my desktop. But I realized that it can be a waste of time going to Desktop then My Pictures folder. To minimize your time in making your digiscrap (aside from decorating it because I am taking too much of my time changing the decoration from time to time *wink*), here are some tips that I suggest:

○ Make up your mind. Before you start digi-scrapping, think first about the theme that you want to apply on your page. For example, if you want it to be floral, hearty, in the beach or summer look, girly, or whatever that comes into your mind. Having a theme would help you decide what materials you need to use, starting with the papers then the decorations.

○ Put them all in one place. Just like making a scrapbook manually, you need to group all things that should come together. In digi-scrapping, since we are working on the computer (obviously *grin*), we need to create a folder for each group. For example, if I make a scrapbook for my baby boy, I would create a folder with a folder name of scrap_bbboy, then inside that create sub-folders for the pictures(if you're using multiple pictures in one page), the papers (the main background and papers that you need to cut-out for decorations), frames, embellishments, and letters.

○ Lastly, open the folder that you created so that it would appear on your task bar and minimize the window, then open your Photo editing program such as Photoshop or Corel. Start making your digiscrap by opening the folder (you made) then click the material you want to use, drag it, and drop it in the Photo editing program working area.


That works for me for easy navigation rather than having all the materials needed in separate folders then open them from the Photo editing program by clicking on File > Open > Browse each time you want to add something in your working area. You can save time and won't lose track of what you're doing.

Take Advantage of Adobe Photoshop's Features

When I first use Photoshop, I thought that I can never learn using it because it seems to be complicated to use. That was my first impression. Good thing that "first impression never last" for me because I proved it myself wrong. Thanks to the Internet world to where some experts can post their ideas and starters like me can get those ideas. That makes the world go round, right?

I saw a website while I was browsing for more tricks that I can do more on Photoshop. Speaking of experts, I saw this Photoshop Tips and Tricks website where some of the experts about Photoshop program share their ideas about the wonderful features of Photoshop. There is a forum too to where you can address any problem you're having in using Photoshop and they can surely help you with it.

I just saw the website today and while typing this post, I am also exploring it and so far, the best! :-)