Self-esteem lvl: 99999999999

Please allow me to humblebrag a bit because I am really insecure of my writing skills (yes, I do this for a living but really my faith on my work is at a negative percentage) but my client paid me 200% more than what we talked about and he just awarded me his new project.

Good God, You are real. Thank You!

#TeamReal

(on a different context tho)

(also the JaDine context but we all know that)

(maisingit lang ang JaDine #fangirl #alldayerrday)

Edit (1:30AM): Client just bumped me up to team leader. Thank You, dear Lord, for the abundance that is mine.

Day 12. #100HappyDaysV2.0

I love it when people admit that they are wrong. It's a simple gesture that will always be appreciated by moi.

It's been a long, long while.

A lot has been happening these past few weeks/months but I haven't bombarded this place with the nonsense in my head. I don't know why, actually. Probably because I'm having way too much fun with everything, despite the fact that some of the things that's happened actually tore me into pieces. I don't know, maybe I've finally learned to see the good in it even though it hurts.

So what has happened these past few weeks/months? Let's see…

• I've FINALLY been to Boracay.
• And I actually went snorkeling!
• And banana boat-ing!
• Although I didn't get a tan.
• But the Boracay sunset…ohmygod, it really is as pretty as everyone says it is.
• I went hotel-hopping. Mind you, these are not cheap ass hotels you find along Malate or something.
• I've managed to "dump" all the people that I don't want and need in my life, including the people related to them.
• I had a major falling out with my dad.
• But we're okay now. I think.
• I got a full-time online job.
• Brianna started and ended her summer class with flying colors.
• My friends now know how crazy I get when I'm in a relationship.
• I'm in a relationship.
• But not without a falling out that almost led to a "break-up" even if we weren't really together yet that time.
• Brianna celebrated her 3rd baptismal anniversary.
• My laptop died on me in the middle of a hectic week at work.
• Which led me to get a Mac. Which seems to be eating me up alive with every simple command that I can't figure out without the help of my brother or the Internet.
• I've started reading books again.
• I'm actually planning to buy a car.
• And to get life insurance. As in legit planning, with quotations and loans and stuff.
• I've achieved my weight goal and I'm actually maintaining it.
• I've enrolled Brianna for this coming school year.
• I hung out in a Starbucks branch all by myself after a really, really, REALLY long time. I think the last time I did that was in college. It was so refreshing, I want to do it regularly.
• I got a new pair of glasses that makes me look like a hipster, according to a friend.
• I failed to finish the #100HappyDays project which bummed me out…but not quite.
• A lot of items on my wish list/bucket list have been ticked off, thanks to my wonderful new boyfriend who just keeps on granting everything on my lists. I'm not going to elaborate on what the items are/were but he's been doing that since we first saw each other again last September and I can't stop thanking him for it. I mean, it takes a lot of effort (and money) to get some of the things done (of course, a lot of them are easy and free) but I never heard him complain.
• I might have found the perfect dress for my friend's wedding this November.
• Brianna told me that I'm "very awesome", which is probably the best entry here.
• Which I tweeted. I don't tweet as much, too, so there goes constantly documenting my life online.
• Also stopped reading my Twitter timeline/browsing through my Instagram feed 509375894072101948578461807492 times a day. It's oddly refreshing.

I guess that's everything. I don't know how to get everything out and I am not doing one post for each item so I made a list. It's not chronologically arranged or something. I just wanted to take note of how exhausting but at the same time, exhilarating the past few weeks/months have been for me. The short-term memory loss that general anesthesia has given me will probably wipe my memory clean by the end of the first half of the year, might as well document what I remember now.

I am quite thankful for how everything is turning out. Despite the many, many, many disappointments, I feel that everything is falling into place. How can I not be grateful, right?

I love my job. I really do.

Two weeks in and I am positive that I love my job...in love with it, whatever! I love the high that it gives me, the rush I get whenever my immediate superior - the CEO/President - compliments my work and the fact that a book publisher actually loves whatever it is that I write, the freebies, the very, very, VERY flexible working hours...EVERYTHING! Yeah, the pay's not really that high but the training they give me plus the opportunity to write a children's book are great compensations for it.

I don't know what I did to deserve this great a job but I am really thankful I have it. Thank You, God! You too, Universe.

Proof of how awesome God and the Universe are.

I tweeted these a few days ago:

And you know what God and the Universe gave me just a few hours ago? A full-time, homebased job with a freakin' book publisher! How cool are God and the Universe? If that's not gonna make you believe that some cosmic being is on our beck and call, I don't know what will.

Work-from-home moms, I need help.

People who work from home know all the perks: no need to wake up early/specific time to get ready and catch the shuttle/avoid the morning/after work traffic, free food, comfortable workplace, etc. It's the ideal work situation, really, because if you land the perfect job, you can earn up to Php80,000 per month. So, what is it am I complaining about?

Well, I'm not really complaining. It's more of acknowledging the problem? (Palusot) Anyway, it's about how I work full-time but at the same time, I need to fulfill my duties as a full-time, breastfeeding mom. I have a beautiful 2-year old daughter who I love dearly but cannot wean from feeding from me. It's my fault, after all. I wanted to feed her exclusively during her first year and didn't teach her after her 1st birthday. Anyway, that's not the problem.

The problem is I get burnt out probably from breastfeeding her and guiding her through her terrible two's and this insane heat the country's going through. Add the personal problems I have been pondering on for a couple of months now and you've got Monster Mom. I don't know how to contain my anger and I sometimes yell at her when she does something wrong. I know I'm making some moms and early childhood specialists cringe with my reactions but when I'm filled to brim, I get so carried away by the stress that I cannot stop myself from yelling.

I do go out every once in a while to grab a few drinks and catch up with friends but that doesn't seem to help. I mean, it does for a day or two but after that, I go back to my grumpy mommy self. Work-from-home moms, I need your suggestions. How do you guys make it work? 'Cause I really want to live up to the title "work-from-home supermom" I bestowed upon myself.

I don't know if she meant it the way I mean it but I know how she feels.

I want a new place where I can work. Home's fine but I want a different view. I've always wanted a different view since I decided to work from home. Ironic, I know, but home gets tiring after a couple of weeks. I mean, I already live here...

Shet, labo.

What a great day!

Despite the semi-bad vibes I sent out earlier today, God and the universe decided to give me a little reassurance that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and that I'm pretty good at it:

Thank you, God and the universe! The best kayo! <3 p="">

Offended.

I've received feedback from my current client regarding one article I wrote and she said it had a lot of errors. When I saw the "edited version" of my article, I can't help but feel offended. I understand their need to replace business words here and there since, to be honest, I don't understand half the terms I was writing about but actually changing the tone of my article and my approach to the topic is a different story.

It's not that I cannot take criticisms gracefully; I just got offended, that's all. Pagbalik ba naman sakin ng article ko, di ko na mamukhaan e...

Taking this writing thing seriously.

This morning, I realized that if I wanted to take this writing thing seriously since it's one of the most convenient jobs ever - and not to mention I love doing it and blabbering on even if nobody's listening/reading/giving a damn - I had to sell myself like other businesses do. Apart from asking friends to recommend me to people they know, I thought I needed to produce business cards, too, so that people I do not know and have no connection to will hear of my services.

Here are some designs I made in Phoster (I don't know how to use Adobe Photoshop, okay?). Which one should I go with?

I know, I know. The landscape ones aren't the actual business card size but I had to make do with what Phoster has. And I don't know how to remove the icons at the bottom of the pink design so just pretend it's not there.

I wanted a clean, fuss-free card so I ended up with these three designs/templates. Personally like the pink and the last one though I don't know why I put an ampersand there.

I'm also thinking of removing the URL of my blog in the contact details because to be honest, this isn't a place where they can find something that can actually help them with any problem they're having, since that's what blog apparently is for now.

So, what do you think?

Things are starting to get better.

Last month was definitely not a good month for me but I think March will be much much better. For one, I've finally landed a full-time online gig that pays better than most of the jobs I've had before and the team I am currently a part of is really friendly.

I'm not supposed to be blogging because it's "office" hours but the person who will be giving us our orientation still hasn't gotten back from her breakfast break (eh?).

Next up: THAT date/hangout I've been looking forward to since November last year.

Unemployed.

So right this very moment, I am unemployed. Long story short, the company I am working for as a senior content writer just decided to cut its whole employee list off and not even pay them for the things they've worked on from October 16 til last Friday. It's kinda depressing, yes, but I won't let it get to me that much.

I am currently looking for a (homebased) job so if you need a web content writer/virtual assistant, I will be willing to apply for the post.

Zalora Brand Ambassador

Yes! Me! I am officially a Zalora brand ambassador. You just need to check out the badge on my side bar and you'll know how official it is. Okay, I know how lame that sounds. Sorry, I'm just so excited when they told me that I was on board! I wanted to write a post about it right away but I wanted it to be final first before I wrote about it and this morning I've finally received the confirmation so here we are.

Anyway, I've heard about Zalora from Lau but that time Zalora hasn't launched the online site here in the Philippines yet so I was in no way gonna buy something from the Australia site because of all the things I've heard about taxes and all those government stuff so I've decided to let it go. Fast forward to probably half a year after out conversation: The buzz about Zalora Philippines was taking over Twitter and it got me excited. I've made my first purchase in Zalora a couple of months back but that's for an entirely different entry.

For now, please let me enjoy this new title I have. I feel so lame but I can still feel the rush. While I smile to myself like a fool all day, why don't you visit Zalora right now? You can use the voucher code Aletotski0 [Aletotski(zero)] and you'll get a 5% discount for a minimum purchase of Php500.

What are you still doing here? Go while I sit here on my bed and smile at Brianna's Hello Kitty stuffed toy for probably an hour more.

Edit:
If you sign up now, Zalora will give you a Php250 introductory gift to help you save on your first 1,500-peso purchase.

The life of a home-based writer...

The downside of being a home-based writer (or a home-based worker, at that) is when laziness strikes you, you can't help but succumb to it. I mean, you're already at home, lying on the bed. Next thing you know, you're waking up from a 3-hour nap.

American Pen Names

My current boss actually asked me to think of an American pen name last week. That will be the name that they're going to use to sign my articles online. So far, I haven't decided on what name I will be using but my boss thinks I should use this:

It sort of like my name but not quite. I just can't get the thought of it sounding like a hooker's name out of my mind.

What have I been up to the past week?

It seems like I've been too busy to even breathe this week. I feel so exhausted but I ain't complaining. I actually am thankful for everything. So what have I been up to? Working two jobs that I still am struggling to manage even if I am on my 5th day into it.

I have a regular 9-6 job and I have a part-time gig that doesn't have times in and times out but has a two-week (now one) deadline due next Friday. The 9-6 is doing great but by 6pm, my brain and my eyes are too exhausted to work for the other gig because of the online marketing training. I have 5 websites to finish for this week and so far, I'm not even done with the first one. I am kinda panicking over it because this weekend will be pretty crazy and next week, I'm gonna have 5 additional websites to work on and the deadline's on Friday already and I will be going out with friends on the 29th and I cannot afford to slack off anymore...

WOOOOOOOHSAAAAAAAH!

See? I am panicking now. I need to finish 4 websites tonight. For real. I know I've been saying these things a lot lately

but I still haven't done anything significant for the second job. I know I can pull this off. I just need to work outside of the house, so far away from the bed tonight without anyone with me except the laptop. I am planning to work in a coffee shop in Ortigas to finish everything. I just hope I don't bump into anyone I know until I finish everything.

After 3 years...

Those people who are nice enough to actually pay attention to whatever it is I am saying know that it has been my lifelong (well...) dream to be a part of the ABS-CBN Corporation team. I felt it was the right job for me. I wanted to be a part of a very dynamic work environment and I wanted to be a part of the "difference" television made. I was willing to start from the bottom; to work long hours without them having to pay me anything higher than the minimum wage, to be thrown into a far off place with nothing to eat, everything. I was willing to sacrifice my health to be a part of the team.

The last time I sent my resume to ABS-CBN was way back in '09 when I got forced to work. It was 3 months after graduation and all I did was drink day in and day out. They called me for an interview and got another call a week after for a second interview. I never got another call since then. I got into TVSTYLE, got pregnant, have given birth and now, 3 years after my last application with the company, they decided to tell me that I have been chosen to become a part of ABS-CBN Global. Quite frankly, I don't know if I still want it.

Don't get me wrong, though. It's still the dream but it's not the priority as of the moment. If they had called me exactly 2 years ago, I would've said yes in a heartbeat but now, things are different. I have another mouth to feed (literally). I have someone who needs me to be beside her all the time and that is entirely the reason why I am actually making this work from home gig work. I'm still quite young and in a couple of years, when Brianna starts going to school, maybe I can give the ABS-CBN dream another shot but now, that dream has got to take the backseat.

So as much as I want to, I'm gonna have to decline. There are some more important stuff than building a career. Maybe in a few years or maybe not. If we're meant to be together, we will be together.

God is good all the time.

As I've mentioned here, one of my (full-time) projects is about to end soon. You want to know what God did? He asked Jane Formoso and Rosemary Zalewski to hire me and work for them full-time! Just got off Skype with them.

He is really good all the time. :)

Staff.com

In my pursuit to make my work-at-home dream a stable reality, I have joined several (i.e. A LOT) online job search sites that offer mostly home-based jobs. There's oDesk, Freelancer.com, Elance.com, TeamLauncher and Remote Staff just to name a few. Yes, these are the sites I remembered registering in. There are still loads that I forgot about because I unsubscribed from their newsletters.

Click photo to register with Staff.com

Anyway, to add yet another online job search site, I've just registered with Staff.com. Staff.com is practically the same as those websites I've mentioned already except Staff.com offers mostly full-time jobs which definitely got my attention. I work with TeamLauncher for 8 hours in the morning and I know that I can still handle another 8-hour job after that. Plus, my contract with TeamLauncher will end soon so I need to go look for another full-time, work-from-home job again so the timing of which I knew about Staff.com couldn't have been better.

I'm sorry if I keep shoving these stuff to your faces but working from home is really relaxing compared to a corporate job. The income is the same, the benefits are the same... The only difference is I work on my bed and you work on an office table.

You know what will be really great?

I have been working my ass for two years in oDesk and I have always been wondering if they offered medical plans to their freelancers. Good news: They do. Bad news: They're only offered to US citizens.

I really hope they offer this to other suppliers, too. I guess it's safe to say that majority of the contractors in oDesk are mostly based in another country, right?