GIVEAWAY: Where in the world is tee [going]? Clue#1

I must admit once I finally decided where I was going I got pretty excited, and am secretly enjoying the fact that I'm not telling a soul. Except perhaps my travel agents ;) Who thankfully also happen to be my aunt and uncle, so I've got my emergency contact covered too!

So where in the world am I going you wonder? Well, I'm not revealing that easily, but I am providing visual clues beginning with the one above. Click on the image for a larger view :D

In fact, I consulted über-tall lil bro, and I've decided I should incorporate this into my first ever little giveaway. Truth be told, post-ecojotting days, I didn't think I could afford to host one. Then I figured, why not? While I can't promise the prize to be of an enormous monetary value, I promise it to be as we Filipinos call a pasalubong.

Pasalubong. [Pah sah luh´bong] The practice of giving little tokens of friendship and affection to loved ones after one has gone on a trip. [As quoted from: Ano Yon? Ano Yan?]

Much more than just a souvenir... If you manage to guess where I was by the time I return, I shall present you with a special pasalubong that I will have picked up during my mini sojourn.

Bonne chance mes amis !

xo,

tee.

Where in the world is tee [going]?

Originally uploaded by Pankcho

Perhaps instead of a Magic 8 ball I need one of those old school globes that spin...

What am I trying to decide you ask? Well in case you haven't caught any of my random, somewhat cryptic Facebook statuses or tweets... I am trying to decide where to go next week within a $1000 budget on a last minute getaway. Nope, rest assured I am not running from the law ;) I guess you could simply say a golden opportunity to take a little vacay has presented itself, and I wish to cease it!

So my first instinct, is to meet up with Michigan-to-Argentina Motorcycling Brother in El Salvador. Cost of airfare $746. Leaving me about $30 a day to live on.

Second, somewhat preferred option because the major purpose of the trip is to relax, is Cuba, Mexico or the like. Ideally with close girlfriend, good book, camera and tons of gossip over drinks.

Problem with preferred plan b is close girlfriends have to work or study. Why oh why is it always no money, lots of time, or the reverse some money, no time?

My last rant is... What's with the single discrimination? All the deals out there are double occupancy required. Where does that leave us hot single ladies who heart traveling?

Truth is. I shouldn't complain. I've done a lot of traveling, especially in the past two years from Europe to India (with people and solo). In fact I have a many couches to surf from San Fran, Vancouver, the Rockies, Chicago, NYC, Paris, Amsterdam to PEI. So I'm officially ceasing the whining and promise you this... I will pick a destination soon, and leave you to guess with the pics I post where oh where tee has ended up! Perhaps not quite Carmen Sandiego-style...

*Sigh* if only my budget were unlimited!

If you could go anywhere at a moment's notice, where would it be?

xo,
tee.

OM: To My Dear Nokia 6301

Originally posted by fated to pretend.

This week's One Moment (a.k.a. great online meet up started by À la mode Stuff) is of the simple, we, well I, definitely, take for granted variety... Appreciating the phone.

From Sunday to today, I called and received a many phone calls. Thank goodness for a nearly unlimited mobile phone plan! Of course, it's when I forget my mobile at home and am therefore kicking myself for being forgetful, that I realize how much I count on it, and being with me! This week, I appreciate it: period.

To My Dear Nokia 6301,

How I heart you. I've dropped you, misplaced you, scuffed you up, and handled you with sticky hands while I'm devouring gooey and delicious frozen yogurt. Yet still, always, you stay by my side. Not to mention, while your screen is not as fancy and touch sensitive as the iPhone or functional as the crackberry, you still provide easy access to mobile web. You wake me up each morning, and even allow me to capture special moments when forgetful me has left my digicam at home.

Your battery may not last forever, and occasionally calls are a bit static-y, yet through it all you're there for me. And this week, you

• Were my timepiece getting me to networking events and informational interviews on time;
• Delivered great news from recent job interviews;
• Helped me coordinate with a girlfriend who I was assisting move;
• Entertained me with gossip;
• Helped me strategize and do business;
• Comforted a friend;
• Made weekend plans;
• And tonight, you allowed me to hear from a good friend I hadn't chatted with in a really long time, who called out of the blue as she sat at Pearson's Airport in limbo between Prince Edward Island and Vancouver.

Thank you, Phone.

xo,

tee.

Oh and thank you for reading my OM of the week :) Bon weekend.

xo,

tee.

PS - More phone fun...

Above image: My girlfriend Penny Loafer has one (a cell phone receiver attachment) she once carried around in her small purse during a party. Brilliant conversation starter and not just when receiving a call ;) Made by FredFlare, just only it's no longer available on their website. However this is...

Above images: That's right a banana cell phone holder, which by the way, I am seriously considering purchasing! For $14 bucks I could look like a monkey as I walk down the street! Or...

Above image: If all you want is a brick phone like my dear dad used to own and as pictured below, that too can be arranged it turns out... I particularly the large-sized disclaimer at the top that reads: "These "Brick" cell phones are being sold for "prop" / display / gag-gift use only. While many of them will power up if the battery is charged, they would not be practical to use due to system incompatibilities, short battery life, etc." No way? Really? ;D

Cures to boredom, or its polar: too much distraction.

Brown paper packages : originally posted by Evie Marie

For as long as I could remember I have been fond of pretty packages, yes including brown paper ones tied up in string ;) Yes these are indeed among my favourite things! Working in the architectural and design industry for over six years has likely only fueled my love for design-y packaging.

Thus my excitement upon discovering the wonderful blog world of Francesco Mugnai last month, courtesy once again of my design expert friend of Sali Tabacci and art director extraordinaire of Azure Magazine, Melissa !

All she had to say was: "Mmmmm... beautiful chocolate: http://tinyurl.com/chocolate-packaging" and I was hooked!

So how pleased was I to stumble-upon "The Dieline (Packaging Design) Awards" and Best of Show Winner : Help Remedies by Chapps Malina?

Not only did I adore the simple, clean, colourful packaging of these handy little first aid companions (which also happens to be green (made from biodegradable paper pulp and corn resin by the way!) but I discovered I was fond of their entire branding scheme even more: Website address: www.helpineedhelp.com

Enter the Boredom Cure: Simply click on the bored? button and you will be transported to a magical cheeky online glossary of cures from "Help - I want to quit smoking" to "Help - I'm not sure which fork to use." A personal fave "Help -I'm curious."

Warning: This magical cheeky online glossary can suck up a couple minutes to a couple hours of your day, easily! The solution?

Enter the Distraction Cure: Restrict temporarily yourself access to it. Highly recommended by high school senior sweet pea sis who claims this is ideal for those in finals with no self-control, introducing SELFCONTROL by Steve Lambert.

Warning: This is not for the faint at heart. A Mac OS X application. SELFCONTROL blocks access to incoming and/or outgoing mail servers and websites for a predetermined period of time and can't, I repeat can't be undone.

As Steve explains, "For example, you could block access to your email, facebook, and twitter for 90 minutes, but still have access to the rest of the web. Once started, it can not be undone by the application, by deleting the application, or by restarting the computer – you must wait for the timer to run out."

I shall test it out tomorrow, when I should be finishing a project and not procrastinating on my favourite guilty pleasure sites: YouTube. Only google and my internet provider will ever know how many hours I've wasted, ummm, I mean have done research there ;)

Happy Helping Yourself !

xo,

tee.

My 'One Moment' of last week: Sibling Reminiscing.

Preface: You're probably wondering who the cuties are down below... Well up at the top is lil' sweet pea sis. The guy with the mustache in the Pampers box is my Michigan-to-Argentina motorcycling brother. And the third photo? Well that would me along with über-taller little brother and big brother G.

Know the song Sunscreen - Everybody's Free performed by Baz Luhrmann? Well there's this line:

"Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future."

And it's so true. Not to mention I feel so fortunate to have four links to my past and reinforcements in the future!

The thing is we five siblings are scattered across the globe. Yes, currently my Michigan-to-Argentina motorcycling brother is doing just that. In fact, he just wrapped up some volunteer work in Guatemala :) As you may know sweet pea lil sis is in Michigan. And über-tall little brother, well he just arrived in Toronto from the Philippines, and it's been nearly two years since G and I have seen him!

Excited therefore we were! So when one of us began unexpectedly recalling our oldest childhood memories over dinner one night, we just couldn't stop. After all we all had such great childhoods... You know, tattle-tales, fights (of the water and screaming variety) and all. Cue cheesy music and tearful thank you to mom and dad here. Yet, seriously that moment was definitely worth taking in and appreciating, hence... My One Moment of last week: Sibling Reminiscing.

While all five of us weren't together to remember:

• the lemonade stands turned lemonade franchises (we were entrepreneurs even back then);

• the make-believe games complete with make-believe Monopoly money customized with our faces on it (courtesy of mom's photocopier);

• and the grocery store trips that ended with two overflowing grocery carts and I don't know how many bags of milk (dad contemplated buying a jersey for the backyard);

To name a few... I certainly can't wait wait for the day when we are crying from laughing to hard at all our wonderful, memorable (mostly silly!) childhood stories!

Have any sibs? And/or just plain awesome childhood memories to share?

xo,

tee.

Not sure what all this One Moment mention is about, click on the button below to learn more about this great online meet up started by À la mode Stuff.

"Look at me! ME!"

Am still putting together the photos for last week's One Moment (hopefully before finding myself two weeks behind in the meet-up!) In the meantime a graphic fortune cookie fortune...

Not sure who the artist is. But Sweet Pea Sis forwarded this to me and I thought it post worthy. Bottom line: Don't be shy. Start by smiling at that cutie over there! It might just be me ;)

xo,

tee.

Introducing... Adobe Photoshop Cook.

b e t t y by *Cinnamon

Put the KitchenAid away, it's Adobe Photoshop Cook all the way...

Adobe Photoshop Cook from Lait Noir on Vimeo.

Video sent to me by my dear bff The Penny Loafer. I've missed blogging. Tomorrow, all about last week's One Moment. Hope you're all well!

xo,

tee.