This is really not an update

Whoa... my last post was October 2015, so it's been more than a year since I updated this blog. I was approving/publishing comments awaiting moderation earlier when I saw this one comment accusing me of being biased because I supposedly only approve comments that paint a negative light on the "service" that I reviewed.

Biased agad? Di ba pwedeng MIA lang kaya di na-approve agad yung comment. Hehe.

Anyway, I'm all for transparency and hearing other people's side of the story/rebuttal, especially on this blog. Most of the things/reviews I post here are my opinions based on my own experiences. Very, very few posts are sponsored or influenced by a company, and I will do my best to label them. But as for other people's comments, those are not my words. If they are mostly negative, I have no control over those.

Yes, I can choose which to publish, but I assure you that unless I deem it as spammy, I will publish it. Intay lang po, busy lang ako.

Anyway, moving on. I realized that this blog desperately needs attention. Lots of broken links, lots of things to do. I'm also considering getting a custom domain again and maybe host it under my webhost. But I'm not decided yet.

I'm not really sure if I have the time to maintain this blog. Sometimes, I feel like I'm spreading myself too thin by wanting to do so many things. So I have to ascertain first that I will be able to keep this going before doing anything, especially anything that involves time and money.

Back as a New Mom

Yes, I am a new mom. I got pregnant (again, thank God!) and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last January 8, which is why I was in hiatus for months. I don't know why, but I'm allergic to computers when I'm pregnant.

But now, I'm back and since I have a baby, you can expect lots of baby products reviews. As a new mom, I still have a lot to learn but I'm getting the hang of it. And certainly I have my favorite baby products - which I was so glad we bought, products that didn't live up to their promises and products that I think I can do perfectly without. I'll be blogging about them soon.

For now, let me enjoy my baby.

Sheng Explains Her Long Absence

It seems every blogger is compelled to explain sudden blogging hiatus. And that is exactly what I'm going to do.

So what happened?

Well, first I got pregnant. I am currently nearing my 5th month but the first 3 months were kind of rough and difficult. I believe it's what we call the "paglilihi" phase. One of my pet peeves then was exposure to bright lights. Any of these: sunlight, fluorescent lights, LED lights, and even the light coming from my laptop screen - gave me terrible headaches so I needed to stay away from my computer for a while.

Then on my 3rd month, my OB told me that I should have the cyst in my left ovary removed. I had this cyst before I got pregnant and we had hoped that the pregnancy will at least stop it from growing, or better, shrink its size. But the opposite happened until it grew to a size that the OB deemed to be risky. So on my 15th week, I underwent a major operation (surgical laparotomy) to remove the cyst.

I was really scared, especially on the days leading to the surgery. Having a major operation is scary enough, but undergoing it with a baby inside me is almost unimaginable. But my OB assured me that the procedure is safe. Now, it's been a month after my surgery and we're both okay - my baby and I. The OB told me that it was a good decision that I decided to go through with the operation because my condition was a little more complicated than she initially thought. As a result, they also had to take out my left ovary and fallopian tube because they were already damaged.

Good thing that my baby stayed strong during the 2 1/2 hour procedure. Right now, my biggest concern is how to take care of my baby and to stay healthy for the next 4 months so I can carry this pregnancy to its full term.

And I can use the computer for hours again without having pesky headaches.

So, does this mean that I will start making reviews again?

Actually, because of the pregnancy and the operation, I use less products (I haven't tried or bought anything new for fear that it might have a bad effect on my condition), confined myself inside the house (because I need to rest) and experience fewer things (because I'm suppose to take it easy) - which means that I really have nothing to review.

Maybe I'll think of something. But for now, this is the best that I can do.

Thanks for all those who still dropped by this blog. I hope to resume my normal posts soon.

Sheng Joins a Swimsuit Contest

Haha. The title is misleading. No, I'm not joining a competition where I need to parade in a skimpy swimsuit but I'm entering a blog contest where the prices at stake are swimsuits from Cocomo. And that's what this post is about.

If you remember, I blogged about my two Cocomo swimwear pieces here. I adore them, and I feel it was such a great deal that I got them for half the regular price. But winning another one (read: getting one for free) would be the best deal yet! This is the reason why I'm joining Here, Tishie Tishie's Anniversary Giveaway, hoping I can win my third swimsuit from Cocomo. One can't have too many swimsuits, right?

What I want to win: Cocomo's Vienna Swinsuit

Fancy joining? You can check out the details here.

Sheng Joins Yet Another Contest!

So why am I joining all these contests all of a sudden?

It just struck me that I missing out on these great opportunities to win fab freebies. I have a blog so might as well use it to win some prizes. And who knows, I might host a blog contest, too.

Sheng Wants Fossil Ladies Watch. Be Mine!

It's been a while since I last posted in this blog. But what got me blogging this time is not a product, place, service or anything that I'd like to rave/rant about. It is for a chance to win one of these two beautiful Fossil Ladies Watches or this chic Kate Spade pouch:

 Aren't they so pretty?

The contest holder/blogger is so generous for giving away these prizes:

1st prize - Fossil Ladies Watch
2nd prize - Fossil Ladies Watch
3rd prize -Kate Spade kikay kit (orange)

And I'm hoping to be one of the lucky winners. (Please Random.org, hehehe)

The contest started last Oct 12, 2010 and will run until Dec 18, 2010. What a wonderful Christmas gift it will be. So what are you waiting for, you still have 5 more days to join.


Click here for the complete mechanics.

Sheng Speaks About MJ

He died. Millions mourned. Each has their own tribute. Each has their own story to tell, as if offering a glimpse of who Michael Jackson really is. Because for many of his fans, he's just the King of Pop, with his trademark suit, his trademark dance, and of course, his trademark voice. Then to some, he was also Wacko Jacko, whose eccentricities were caught on camera and being laughed at all over the world.

I am a fan because I love his music. His dance songs make everyone dance. His ballads make everyone cry. He's like no other.

But countless times, especially after numerous child molestation controversies plagued his popularity, I wonder if the Michael Jackson being portrayed as someone who cares deeply for the children, the environment and the world is the same Michael Jackson who moonwalks and cries Aw! Isn't it just a ploy to make the global pop icon closer to being human like us?

Engage with Grace: A Very Touching Video

My grandfather is in a critical condition right now. I hope that he recovers soon and we, as his family, won't have to deal with a situation where we need to make THE decision for him.

We never really talk about this, among families and relatives, but this video, Engage with Grace from Health 2.0 on Vimeo, has illustrated a strong point why dealing with it sooner than later is important and how it helps to ease the burden on our part and on the side of the one leaving us.

But my grandpa is not leaving us anytime soon, I just thought it's an interesting video, and I'd like to share it with you. And if you're fired up, you can also check the on-going dNeero conversation about it.

Website: GirlTalk -- Where the Girls Are Taking the Floor

I can't stress enough how important discussion forums are in one's online experience. Forums are about the most honest and most reliable source of information there is in the info-crazy world known as the internet.

Anyone can drop anything on cyberspace--a golden nugget, a worthy campaign, a piece of junk, a fake product testimonial, a self-serving comment. It would be helpful if a community exists that can somehow steer you to the right direction.


Luckily for us Filipina, there's GirlTalk, a subdomain and the official forum of FemaleNetwork, an online Philippine magazine targeted at the female audience. But don't be fooled by the name or the site's theme, GirlTalk is not limited to the girls, ladies and women only. Male members are welcome and equally appreciated.

Although I haven't flipped through the pages of the online magazine, I frequent the discussion boards, whether as a lurker or as a poster, and consider myself a GirlTalker. The sisses are generally very friendly, very smart and are more than willing to dish out their two cents and no-nonsense opinions. You can find various topics that will engage your attention and will soon entice you to post and join the community. From the mundane to the interesting, from the funny to the serious, from beauty secrets to fab finds, from looking for this item to selling this product, from kikay trinkets to the techie gadgets, from online to offline, there's something for you in GirlTalk.

So, what do I dig about GirlTalk?

It's the warm, friendly air that is so evident in the community. It's the weight of information that you can acquire from collective posts and replies. It's the reassuring confidence that forum members will help you in any way that they can--to give you what you're looking for, or tell you where you might find it.

Best of all, it's the way that GirlTalk understands what it means to be a girl or a woman today.