Character

“Of all the parts of a person’s body, there is none more excellent than the pupil of the eye. The pupil cannot hide someone’s wickedness. If within the heart everything is proper, the pupil is bright. If within the heart everything is not proper, the pupil is dull. To truly listen to a person, listen to his words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a person conceal his character?”

- Mencius (Mengzi Meng-tse)

Paint a masterpiece daily. Always autograph your work with excellence.
- Greg Hickman

Reason For Getting Better

I do not try to write better than anyone else.

I only try to write better than myself…

I am the sum of the information that I have chosen to accept and act on.

Cheers,

Tara

Success

An adaptation of a poem by Bessie Stanley, published in 1905.

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

lotsalove,

Tara

New Logo

Hi, would like to share here a Hubport logo that was designed for us recently.

This is how it looks, and quite a cool switch from the previous yellow and blue one.

Thanks to Harley of the Creative Department and to Em who passed this to me.

Cheers to the writers of Hubport!

- Tara

The Writer Is A Gardener

At last, I completed my trellis project last Saturday. It’s some kind of a rustic trellis which had to be built because my white grape vines are beginning to become unruly. They would climb the net that was installed to shade the orchid plants from excessive sun.

Now, my 2 grape plants are in their leafing season and already the ants are quick to climb them. My husband learned that the sap from the buds is very sweet. That is the reason why black fruit ants are so busy trailing the vines.

So, that would be about 1 year before I can see a big improvement like fruit bearing. I still have to learn how to prune them in order to get the best berries.

When the trellis is all covered up with leaves & vines, then it would also be good shade for my other plants,  like the dendrobiums and foxtail fern because they love cool surroundings. At my free time, I always give effort to go around and pick some leaves that have yellowed or dried.

Tomorrow, I would find time to trim the Chinese hollies to maintain their round shapes, and will be checking on my bougs.

Fave Scents

Best choices on scents that I use:

My latest discovery:

The Body Shop’s Pomegranate Hydrating Body Spray. It smells so fresh, yummy, and not overpowering.

These are the usual ones that I have been using:

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea

Bath & Body Works Sea Island Cotton

Max Mara

Eternity

Denenes

First Paypal Withdrawal

Another rush of joy is sweeping me today, since I have made my first withdrawal from Paypal. Wow, this is really, really great. I have always known that the Web will give me something wonderful.

Yes, there are more opportunities than I have imagined, and it makes me strive for more excellence in my work, but my heart is with HP and it’s my priority.

Now, I am so thankful again for seeing these things handed to me.

I want to make the best, striking while the iron is hot, use the faculties that were given to me to make life better, to help and inspire others to be the same.

Still Thankful And Counting

I want to share my thankfulness because I just got my raise from Hubport today, and am so very grateful to the Giver of Blessings.

I know things are unfolding for me, everything in my life is working together for good.

Because there is a Hand that leads me,  Someone greater than life.

– Tara

I Got it!

What makes today special? It’s just that I received my salary for my articles, sent through Paypal.

Thank you, thank you!

Feels good to be compensated for your labor, and getting $—-.– is pretty good! Yeah, words do have their dollar value after all. =) yey!

The Pink Girl

I am excited today.

My sister Maitz and Nicole will be coming over tomorrow. Yesterday, I went to Victo to get the little girl something of a pasalubong from me when she arrives.  That is how I welcome these little nephews and nieces when they come to visit me and their Tito Ed.

What did I get for Nicole? It was a Strawberry Shortcake coloring book with stickers in it.  I’m sure the little girl who loves pink things will also love this one. Her penchant for anything with the pink color in them is amusing to me. Since she was a toddler,  we noticed that she liked pink. And she is the girl who knows how to sing “Alone” by Heart. At 5 years old, (she is 6 now), she knew how to sing that! It makes my heart smile.

She would be seeing her doctor at the Philippine Heart Center again, for another round of check up. I’m praying that everything will be alright, and that her closed-heart surgery will be scheduled soon. Right now, the family is really praying that she will get the right treatment for her Atrial Septal Defect. But I know, God is always there to see us through this.

Some two Decembers ago, I brought her a blue pencil sharpener, but I call it a pencil grinder ha-ha! When I handed her the little box, she just stared at it.  Well, funny,  I forgot that she really liked pink.

Sandals, pencils, notebooks, flipflops, earrings, dresses, ponytails, headbands… all in pink.  So yesterday, I made sure that I got the right color. I also got her a set of crayons, and a pink crayon tin box. So Tita is all set to present her pink presents to Nicole tomorrow. I hope she likes it.

I’m glad that they are visiting me (”,)