I Have Won The Guylian Belgian Artisanal Chocolate Giveaway from Mommy's Little Corner!

Chocolates! Lots of chocolates! Who would say no to these tasty, rich and creamy Guylian Belgian Artisanal Chocolates from Guylian and Mommy's Little Corner? We wouldn't!

I have won from Mommy Liza's Guylian Giveaway recently and was surprised to see the huge thermo box delivered at my doorstep. The box was huge and if that wasn't enough to pique my sleepy head in the morning, then wait until you see what's inside the big box! Lots of Guylian Belgian Artisanal Chocolates!

You can eat it plain or with a nice cup of coffee or tea and the combination is great!

I would like to convey my gratitude to the sponsor - Guylian and Mommy Liza for hosting the giveaway and delivering our precious chocolates.  To know more about Guylian's products, you may visit their website - www.guylianbelgianchocolate.com

Buy #GuylianBelgianChocolates!

Winner of the CollageIt 3 Pro for Mac Giveaway

Congratulations to Bryan of Nebraska! He just won a free version of CollageIt 3 Pro for Mac. Thanks for all the participants who joined the recently concluded giveaway!

More giveaways coming up!

Do you like to have access to timeshare rentals for 2 years for free? Then, check out this giveaway right here at Riablahgs.com!

Oscar Winners 2011

Do you follow the Oscar Awards' night annually? I don't but sometimes I do hang for a while to see who's wearing what and who's taken to the red-carpet event. I only watch it when my favorites thespians or movies have been nominated. Otherwise, I just wait for the result.

Well, this year is quite different. The actors and actresses nominated are really good. I happen to like both Colin Firth and Natalie Portman and I am rooting for Toy Story 3 as the Best Animated Movie; so I watched the Awards' show. 

Without further ado, here are the top winners of this year's much coveted Oscar awards:

Best Actor - Colin Firth in The King's Speech (Yehey!)

Best Actress - Natalie Portman in Black Swan (Another Yehey!)

Best Picture - The King's Speech

Best Director - Tom Hooper in The King's Speech 

Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale in The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress - Melissa Leo in The Fighter

Best Animated Movie - Toy Story 3 (Why am I not surprised? Truly deserving!)

I think the selection is really great this year. Most of the top seeds have won the award. I was also rooting for Mark Wahlberg for his performance in The Fighter. I also think that Jennifer Lawrence's acting in Winter's Bone is one to note. She's young and already recognized by the award's body. I am sure she'll have a long way to go and she'll surely reach the top. I won't be surprised if she wins an acting award soon because she is really talented.

Anyway, I am not disappointed with the outcome this year. On the spot!

The Corporate Ladder - Is it Worth the Climb?

I have been working for nearly 2 decades now. I am beginning to feel the wear and tear of working donkey years in the corporate scene. These past few days have been enlightening and thought-provoking for me as I begin to unravel the realities of my career advancement. Why did I say that? Well, no matter what I do now, I can never seem to please the authorities around me. And why did I say that again? Just hear me out...

I just had an unpleasant performance review recently. I honestly thought that I had improved well in the gray areas highlighted to me by my supervisor during the last performance review. I was confident that this review would merit me a better rating. Imagine my shock when I saw my review. It was completely the opposite of my expectation. Talk about having false hopes! I will no longer go through the nitty-gritty details of the review but to cut the chase, it was not what I wanted to see if I plan to apply for a promotion or career advancement. Simply put, my chances for growth has been stumped.

So, let me get back to my question at hand, is it really worthy to climb the corporate ladder? I know many of you will surely say yes if you are driven by ambition, money, power and motivated by your bosses or for any other personal reasons. However, this is my conclusion on my view as a career woman-mom-wife who has been tied in a bondage for the last 18 years of her life in the cut-throat world we call the Office. NO. Let me say that again, NO, it is not worth the climb for me.

I just realized how blessed I am for having a stress-free life after office hours, a family and a house I can come home to, a daughter who keeps me up on my toes and a husband who still has the time to hear my woes and glee. NO, it is not worth climbing when my drive for success compromises the quality time I spend with my family. NO, it is not worth the climb when my relationship with the people who TRULY matters is affected by the demands of the work force. NO, it is not worth every money I will get if I come home to a daughter who I don't have time to nurture and guide, a husband I will be too tired to take care of, a house I can never clean because of weariness, friends I cannot see and call, activities I have to cancel and life I have to turn my back to. NO, if it means I will spend lesser quality time with the people I love and more time in a place where every dealing is superficial. NO. It is not worth it at all. So, I rescind my dream of any promotion, career growth or a shot at a managerial post because what matters to me is the quality of life I will live when I leave the corporate world. Surely, no amount of money nor company accolades can top that.

I do know that I have far exceeded my Lord's expectation by giving the very best in what I do with the sincerity of my heart. I may not get the promotion I deserve here but in HIS eyes, I am a winner.

In a Flash

People talked so much about the Pacquiao -Hatton fight since Pacman (as Pacquiao is often referred to) defeated De La Joya last December 2008. The fight came yesterday and with suspense looming, we gasped in excitement and disbelief that the much-awaited fight ended in a flash. It was so quick I didn't get to warm my seat enough!

Pacman gave it to Hatton on the 2nd round and the latter dropped after getting the left hook from the little man of the Philippines.

Wow! I wouldn't get in the way of Pacman for sure!!! Congratulations Manny Pacquiao! You make us all proud!

(Photo from: Will Hart/HBO.com )

Let Your Inner Winner Shine

Here are few steps to make us reach our dreams a step closer by having the right mind-set and attitude.

1. Be passionate
This is one of the moving factor to make us achieve our goals. When we set our self to what is comfortable then we become reticent and accepting to what is available and that can be limiting. It is not a bad thing to be reticent but have passion to accept change and rise to the challenge.

2. Believe in yourself
I find this sometimes difficult to achieve. I also feel that my morale is affected when things go wrong and when there is not much to affirm my positive points. However, I learned that we can never truly achieve things when we doubt our capabilities. Doubting is debilitating to our confidence and will get us nowhere. Believe.

3. Positive thinking
Try not to focus on the mistakes or imperfections or the problems. Think outside the box. Envision. Don't waste your precious time thinking and wishing you are someone else because that is never going to happen.

4. Have a makeover
It pays to have a good posture and style. Throw the drab work-clothes and get new ones if you have to. Be a little daring. If you have worn your hair in a bun for - like forever! - it's time to ditch the do and make a new hairstyle. Change your wardrobe colors. If you're into the basic gray, black, white and browns, now's the right time to add a little pizazz. Put color in your life. Wear make-up. Have a nail-polish. And if you're a guy, get a new haircut or try new hairstyles too. There's nothing to lose, maybe just few bucks...

5. Be courageous
The best way to have courage is face our own fears. We'll just waste so much time waiting for the right moment when we muster our confidence. By then, all our dreams will be gone and opportunities gone out of the window.

6. Motivate, motivate, motivate
I have problem with this one though I try my best to overcome being demoralized. What I do is I achieve a goal at a time, never all together or a lot in a single moment because I will lose my focus and drive and will leave with cold pants. It pays to also share your dreams with someone or to your close friends and families because then you become committed. Who wants to fail when all eyes are on you?

7. Be smart
One thing we should learn is that our goals should be S.M.A.R.T, that is: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and have a timeline. Be smart. So when you are trying to achieve a certain goal, do it step by step. Our bodies don't adapt to changes overnight. It takes time before we can get ourselves accustomed to something. So, be kind to yourself. Take it slowly but surely.

8. Expand your horizon
Networking is important whether you are looking for a new job or adjusting to a new environment. Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Labor in the US indicate that 70% of jobs are found through networking. Start mingling. Go out and spread your wings.

9. Keep at it
Try and try until your succeed! That's it.

10. Blow your own trumpet
I find it rather awkward to blow my own trumpet or carry my own chair. They both mean the same thing - talking about yourself. However, I noticed that those who got ahead of me were really "smooth talkers." Most of them are just empty talkers but they managed to get the promotion. So I think, it's okay to let the world know about your achievements. Talk to your managers. Give them your quarterly report of achievements. Suggest how to streamline a process. What I do is, I email my suggestions to my boss and copy the top honchos, for their info. So, if my suggestions are considered and put in place then they know who initiated it and I get the credit. Get noticed. Speak up and don't let others steal your thunder.



(From Aquarius - Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey added with my own take on the subject based on experience)

And the Winner is... (Guess How Many Mini Contest)

Drum roll please!Congratulations Posh of Posh Post Reviews for getting the answer right - THREE (3). I have 3 fat and cuddly guinea pigs in the cage and they are (from L to R) Brownie, Lola and Ugly Getty.


Also, I am giving 2 weeks free 125 x 125 ad spot for the winner in my 3 blogs: It's My Party, The Fashop and In My Home.

As for the first 3 who left their comments, I am giving 1 week 125 x 125 ad spot for the same blogs.

1. Life, Marriage and Kids
2. {girl}forall status
3. Shiela

Congratulations to all. Posh, don't forget to contact me or leave a comment here for your email address so I can send the prize. To the other ad winners, please send me your 125 x 125 graphics before Dec. 18, 2008 so I can post them right away before I go on my holiday leave. Email me at msculit@yahoo.com . If not, then I'll post your ad buttons on January 2009 ;)

Thanks for joining. My next contest will be coming soon...