I have been contemplating to go back to school for a master. Although I am not sure how I can manage my time to physically attend classes 2 to 3 times a week. So I actually have started reviewing my options for an online degree instead. You see, it has becoming a popular choice already especially for busy people like me. Northwestern College for example is a known institution that specializes in Associate Degree programs in high demand fields of Health Information Technology, criminal justice degree and Business Administration which I actually would like to pursue. The program actually aims to establish their students to become a leader in their chosen career, making one bankable by positioing you for a higher salary and faster advancement in workplace. For me, I just want to learn more in diversifying and managing multiple business ventures. I hope to pursue this plan soon. Would probably review more about this Innovative Online Associate Degree.

Before I get disgusted after seeing some eczema pictures, which are not at all pleasing, let me gather my thoughts and line up the things I need to do for today:

1. Finish answering emails
2. Online banking
3. Meet a high school friend for lunch and then meeting, meeting and another meeting (3 more this afternoon!)
4. Plan out the checklists for the event this weekend
5. Complete signing documents for the contract for the business
6. Contact accountant for pending permits. Arg, I freaking out for the amount I need to renew all my permits!!! Ok, I’m a good citizen paying my taxes.
7. Blog, Blog, Blog
8. Upload pictures in Facebook and Flickr
9. Finish pending writing assignments. When I say pending = overdue already!
10. Contact Travel Agencies for our trip

I really wonder if I can finish all of these today

Among all the other careers I could have, my job now is the one I love most. Although it is stressful, I get to be part of other people’s turning point, their most treasured day, the big day, their wedding day!

Just like today, we would witness the union of two individuals on this lovely place in Thunderbird Resort, Poro Point, La Union. The place is sooo beautiful! It’s a replica of Santorini Greece. And I so so love the bed!!!!

This is one of the perks of my job, that’s why I so love it!

It’s indeed a great 2009…

We moved to the new house, a realization of a dream!
The husband did very well with his job. Kudos to him!  He ended the year with flying colors! 
I had a good number and quality accounts for my business.
The kids were safe and healthy despite having flu once in a while.
We had a number of celebrations with friends.
We had two out-of-the-country trips (HK and Guam).

And most of all, our family is complete and united. There are so many things to remember for 2009 and I just can’t count them in my fingers.  Life is happiness!!! 

Now, I claim that 2010 would even be better!!!

Have a fantastic new year everyone!!!

in the mall today, I would try to find some christmas decors already for the house. I plan to start decorating right after the halloween. I hope I could manage to squeeze it then. I also want to buy those pine tree or mediterranean fig scent from Alice Blue Candles. That’s a perfect scent for the season. In fact, got to really have those scented candles ready at home since we would have a number of parties and we can’t sometimes control that friends do some Black and Mild cigars. The candles would atleast help clear out the smell.

It’s a brand new week and its already the last week of October. Christmas is really just around the corner. How I wish I’ve got “NOTHING” on my to do list like the one above but that has never happened in the past years of my life! I am not complaining though. We should feel blessed with whatever work we have. Anyway, aside from personal to-do list I have like Bianca’s birthday next week in school, christmas preparations for parties, decors and gifts, and our upcoming trip, work for me is doubly busy.  As everyone knows, peak months for events are during the months of November till January.  I almost can’t fathom how I would survive this year’s peak season again as I have a number of “BIG TIME” events.  But let’s just say that I already made my preparations as early as August so I’m now ready for whatever battle.  We really made a right decision to build a home office in our new place that makes it easier for me to have the feel of a working environment. Aside from that, I have geared my home office with necessary small business office tools which are all essential if you have an almost virtual office like me. Most of our clients who are based abroad do rely only to my accessibility and responsiveness to their queries. All the tools I got are of big help for me really.  Now, I can only have faith to the Man Up There who will guide me all throughout.

that is how it is in real life!  

There is what you call, ” you can’t please everybody!” 

I am doing my job wholeheartedly!  

(yun lang!)

Indonesia!  Oh, not me, but another wedding planner friend. I envy her!  Apparently, I am supposed to do this wedding in Bali on December but the date just doesn’t correspond to a date on December that we are free. We need atleast 4days free in order for us to accept the work. The client is trying to figure out if she can still change the date since she really wants to get us. Unfortunately, we really have to turn down already since we are committed also to some events here in Manila already, so I just referred another coordinator friend to do the wedding. But I would love to do such kind of destination weddings. I haven’t tried overseas but we always do something out-of-town. I would have loved to do a wedding in one of the Karisma Hotels. A wedding happening on a white-sand beach of Riviera Maya would be a romatic event. In fact, most of the Karisma Hotels even offer a new-gourment menu concept. Their facilities are widely known also to meet the expectations of elite and the affluent. Its truly a relaxing moment when you can have your wedding guests stay in their ocean view rooms.   If we would have such, it would be one of our most memorable event in the history of our business.  Oh, I hope we could bag one as well!

So how good could it get?  This is one of my birthday gifts! My L-shape office table arrived already yesterday.  PLDT DSL already installed as well.  And I am happy that my airport express was working so our house is now wi-fi!  Ah, gone are the days when I have to work in the garage area just to get a good signal using the smart-bro! I am a happy camper now working on this home office.  I’m inspired! Hihihi.  But I am thinking that I still need to get a new light fixtures to make the room cozier.

Joy…Joy…

An advance birthday gift! I couldn’t be any happier. So if you assume that it’s a “new bag,” well, it is not! But it’s about bagging a “new account!” And I’m so proud and jumping for joy after receiving a phone call just now! It would eventually allow me to get more “bags!” lol!

Kidding aside, it’s a great opportunity and what a relief that my effort have paid off!

was a blast last friday, March 20 in Fernbrook, Alabang.  Apparently, all roads lead to the place despite the heavy traffic in SLEX.  Wedding suppliers were mostly dressed, and mind you, we all love dressing up.  It was good to be with company of friends in the industry.  There were production numbers prepared by some suppliers like the rocking Single Ladies by Teddy Manuel a.k.a Beyonce and our association, Philippine Association of Wedding Planners (I’m one of the performers, yeah).    There were also awarding of the Top 10 Wedding Suppliers and down to Top 5 and proclaiming Cecilio Abad (designer) as the voted Top Wedding Supplier by w@wies for 2008.  Hall-of-Famers were also asked to received their plaques.  These were the previous Wedding Suppliers for the past 5 years.  And there were also best-dressed of the night from w@wies and wedding suppliers alike.  No one can beat Jason Magbanua as he was very dashing on his tuxedo.  

Pictures and videos (even our dance number) were all over facebook so if you have an account just look for it!  lol.  

Anyway, here are some pics from my camera:

1.  As we arrived in the venue by the paparazzi wall (with Mimi Ferrera of Sasha Clothing)
2 and 3.  Before our dance presentation (PAWP members:  Bangs Zaldivar, Liza, Alviedo, Marex Gaba and Jairus of Complete Work, Inc).  We danced Wishing and Hoping.
4 and 5.  With friends from PAWP.
6. With Chinkie Agregado-Uy, Ernest Pascual, Liza Alviedo and Joyce Aguilar.
7. With Marex Gaba.
8.  With Liza Alviedo and Joyce Aguilar.
9.  Again with Liza Alviedo, Joyce Aguilar and Bangs Zaldivar.

crazy week.  Have been neglecting to update my blogs and also have not been abreast on what has been happening with my blog friends. Sorry as I am EXTREMELY BUSY!  It is even an understatement.  Business matters were just tremendous.  Well, this means that 2009 has a good start on me.  I just need to manage time wisely.  And dreamhouse construction has been on its high gear.  Weekends are occupied in canvassing around for furnishings and finishing materials so as meeting with the aunt, who happens to be an interior designer.  This week, we would need to decide already on wood flooring for the second floor. A number of things have been revised from the original architectural plan.  But we enjoy every bit of the house planning.  Sketches from the interior designer are being finalized.  Would love to share those here soon.  For the meantime, I just need to get a quick nap as I have been sleeping for like 5 hours only maximum every night since I always work late nights for pending paperworks.  Oh, been thinking to get a personal assistant already!  Let’s see…

is all about this week.  You can tell from the minimal posts I have for the past couple of days.  Seems like everything was deadline yesterday.  A corporate event is killing me.  Well, I shouldn’t complain because they are paying me a lot which can definitely add to my christmas budget.  But I just got pissed yesterday when the promotional products I ordered for their party was rejected! I just broke down in tears as I have been working hard to have it done in time for the party next week. Now, I have to doubly work hard and closely monitor that the artist gets the right color for their logo. I’m sure next week would be a whole lot more stress, with that party coming up, some other weddings and a cousin from Canada who will arrive also next week in time for her wedding on January, my calendar is so filled up. Just thinking about it makes me tired already. I hope I could get by. God help me!

I went out with friends yesterday in time for the launch of the premier edition of Martha Stewart Weddings Philippine Edition. Did you know that it is the first international edition of the said magazine? Cool huh. I heart the launch. I saw a lot of good looking people and friends from industry. I heart the set-up of Conservatory of Peninsula Manila. It was so Martha! I heart the cocktail food, overflowing desserts that were all so yummy with matching champagne or tea to choose from for an elegant afternoon tea affair. Too bad, I wasn’t able to take any picture of the event as you know I was carrying my ultimate “C” purse! Camera can’t fit!

But anyway, what actually I love most about the event were all about the inside stories, the scoops going around. Gossips can really easily get around and yes there were talks about some lousy suppliers, some breaking-rule guys who are apparently hooked up currently with a drug rehab institution. My lips are sealed but we feel bad about hearing some news. We hope these people who are involved can actually recover and benefit from alcohol rehab they are attending.

Words can really get around and if you are not present in such event, likely you will be the talk of the town! So I make sure not to miss any of these! Hihihi!

Finally, got the chance to just visit this blog.  Been terribly busy both with work and family life.  A lot of things are happening that I want to blog about.  I just can’t find time to really sit down and write the story.  Please pardon me if I haven’t answered your tags and comments.  Really hoping I can do so.  I am swamped with work and that matters to me.  I would like to finish all events work before the week ends.  

Last night, I was dead tired that I barely had time to take a shower.  Margaux had an accident in school yesterday, more about it in another post.  But thank God, nothing serious and she’s better now.  I had a terrifying experience last week in Greenbelt Parking area.  Will make a separate post also about it.  I have yaya concerns!  Whoa, Life has been really busy and chaotic at this time.  Dicky has been suggesting to me that I should get a secretary already to help me with all my admin jobs. I am really considering it now especially that peak months are coming its way.

Will allot time later to blog!

I juggle work with family life.

It’s tough! But I’m just cut for it.

Hopefully, I’ll get time to do tags, answer comments, write assignments, bloghop and scribble some updates. 

Was so busy last Tuesday, August 19 for a photoshoot of our association, PAWP (Philippine Association of Wedding Planners).  Madge Lejano did my make-up.  I love it! The shoot happened in the posh presidential suite of Peninsula Manila. We had 3 change of outfits!

Gee, with all 16 wedding planners in one room, it was chaotic! We were all directing the day! We and our big mouths!

Pat Dy made us pose like real models.

Few of the shots from that fun, fun, fun shoot!

One of the pictures here will be released in bridal magazines with tag line…

“Pick among the best…and enjoy a wedding of bliss!”

The new website of my company will be launched soon. I’m excited about it cause Joy did a very good job on it. It is wordpress-based so easy to manage unlike my previous site that’s why it is so hard to update. But now, I’m hoping I can easily update everything in pictures, stories and other stuff. In fact, I instructed Joy to create free online surveys and polls in the site. Easy-Poll is an alternative to make easy and effective way to add online service for any website to make it more interactive. No need for own database, no software or IT support needed. Everything is managed and calculated on their servers. They also offer 100% Free Counters & Best Statistics for any website. It only takes two minutes to sign up and create surveys and polls. And it also works on different platforms. I might really use their services for the new website.

LOTS!

1.  Unpack luggages and sort out items bought.

2.  Download pictures from the Singapore trip.

3.  Check and answer emails.

4.  Finish tasks.

5.  Fix workstation.  Sort out lots of paperworks.

6.  Bring the kids to the mall.  We are making up for the 4 days we were out.

7.  Prepare for an event next week. 

8.  Check out Barbados villa rentals for my aunt who’s going for a trip this October.

9. Call up the invitation supplier for my client’s mock up of invites.

10. Prepare for my meetings next week.

Looks like it is a working weekend.

where I can get those company logo shirts? I need to order few pieces for my team and the models since we have an upcoming corporate event this august that would require us to be in the mall for one whole straight week. This is in time for the launch of a new product. Today, we would have a go-see of the models which the client would pick. I’m sending about 25 models but client would only choose 10 from them. I always enjoy facilitating the go-see. I feel like I’m Tyra Banks hosting American’s Next Top Model! lol!

Do you know where I can get a telemarketing list? I need to furnish one of our corporate accounts with telemarketing lists which they can use for the new campaign we are launching. A new drinking product will be launched in the market and we are working on the marketing portfolio of this company so I cannot mention yet the product. Our client wants to send out samples if we can can get a direct mailing list like that from Direct Contact Marketing Group which offers quality mailing and telemarketing lists. I wonder if there is something like it in our country.

I think I have mentioned before in my other blog as to what kind of couple we are in terms of money matters. I have not been very good in savings so I need a little assistance on that aspect. Although I am leaving behind something for me in the future, it has come to the point that I want to invest on “somethings” or at the very least save some more.

So last week, the husband and I have been making plans on how I could achieve my financial goals. He is actually very good at that. Thank goodness he is, there’s a balance between us. I also have plans of growing my business and making more businesses. He helped me in working on my own “excel files” as what we call it. And I’m very happy about it. I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. Hahaha. So officially, I have agreed that the husband would be my new financial adviser. As he came on board just this week, he seems very serious on putting me down on track. I’m gladly accepting it, as long as we have a deal that he would still allow me to buy “once in awhile” some more bags. Hahaha.

This afternoon, I got an email from him. See what’s written…

From: Dicky Liwanag
Subject: ….financial forecast
To: “Jody Liwanag”
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2008, 3:10

See attached file. Email me the following info every Sat so I can send you the updated report:

1. EEs Bank Balance every Sat.
2. Remaining expenses for the month.
3. Closed Sales indicating the name, service subscribed and initial payment made.
4. Actual forecast for the month.

Let me know if you have questions.

Love,
DICKY

Wow, seriousness! The email looks like coming from a BOSS. But at least he still put “love,” at the end!

I’m just grateful I married the right guy!