Cryztal Clear

SingSnap is Fun!

2011-04-10T10:29:00.004-06:00

I like to sing when I'm bored or just to wind down at night. But I like doing it with karaoke. The thing is though, I'm too lazy to get up and pull out my karaoke machine. So I searched online for one where all I have to do is sing and record in front of my laptop. Yep, I'm that lazy. :D

Well, I found MySpace KSolo ... I was a member there for awhile, until I ran out of songs that I like to sing and record. So I searched again and found SingSnap. One thing I like about this website is that I can share the link to about anybody in the world and they can hear me sing. KSolo is not available in Asia, so my family couldn't hear my recordings at all, until I joined SingSnap. I also like their embedding feature, so if I do holiday blog, I can dedicate the song to them & agonize them with my singing. LOL! Anyways, just an example of how SingSnap works--

Mesothelioma: What is that?!?

2010-11-14T19:04:00.009-07:00

With the new technology today, we can skip much of the advertisements on our television by forwarding to our favorite recorded show. But sometimes I had to get up to use the restroom or put my laundry in the dryer or other mundane tasks that conveniently interrupts my "relaxing" time. So I leave the advertisements on to give me enough time to do my chores and come back in time for the show. But if you've noticed, as we get up to leave the room, the TV would start to "talk" loud blasting your ears with some illness called mesothelioma & how you should call a lawyer to get justice or something like that. But anyways, for months now, I thought about searching what mesothelioma is all about, but kept forgetting about it until tonight, when my TV mysteriously upped its volume again, like it was following me wherever I went in the house, to tell me about Geico and mesothelioma. There it was again. So I thought I'd better search what that is. Oh, I know what Geico is ... but not mesothelioma.

So I read--and in simplistic form (because I'm not really a medical savvy person), I learned that people who are around asbestos dust much more frequently are more vulnerable to be inflicted with mesothelioma. They are usually susceptible and has the highest number of sufferers of this deadly disease. The sickness produce bad cells in the mesothelium (oh, I had to search that one too--it's the interior membranes that covers your organs inside your body). What mesothelioma does is to attack the inside covering of your chest wall and lungs.

People who lives nearby or who have family members that work around asbestos-associated industries are also in danger of getting impacted by the illness, much like being around a cigarette smoker subjecting non-smokers to second-hand smoking. Furthermore, smokers that have access to asbestos via their occupations or their family members' occupations have the higher risk of obtaining mesothelioma.

Unfortunately, people with mesothelioma won't have symptoms of the illness until it is too late to cure them. The common symptoms may include chest pains, difficulties breathing, and weight loss. Others may display different symptoms depending on their situation. So wow, now I feel a little smarter. Hope this helps you somewhat too.

Can You Lose Weight Without Hard Exercises? The Right Answer!

2010-11-03T21:55:00.002-06:00

by Asem Eltaher

There is no doubt that losing belly fat is not that easy job. Indeed, thousands and thousands of people give up because they cannot afford making fat burning exercises everyday. Others are sick of all these fat burning supplements, which are expensive and do not offer any fun. Who can live day and night taking protein shakes or diet pills that have side effects? In this article, you will learn 3 easy ways to burn fats and get the dream figure.

1. Get rid of hunger:

Getting rid of hunger is one of the most important things you need to do in order to lose weight successfully. If you are always hungry, you will always eat, and weight loss will never happen.

It is strongly recommended to eat protein-rich foods, which help you to get rid of your hunger feeling for a long time. Besides, protein-rich meals help in building muscles that can burn your body fats.

2. Drink more water:

Do you know that over 70% of our body contains water? Have you ever been informed that water for our bodies is like benzene for cars? I cannot stress enough how much important water is, when it comes to losing belly fat. If you do not drink enough water, your body will store water inside it to face any shortage in the future. Drink enough water to avoid this situation.

Water helps also to improve the functionality of your kidneys. This way, your body will get rid of more poisons and unwanted materials. Adding to this, water helps to increase your metabolic rate. Briefly, water is an excellent aiding factor to lose belly fat and keep your overall health in order.

3. Hula Hooping:

If you want to lose weight without exercises, hula hooping is a fun way to do it. All you need is a $10 weighted hula hoop. Just twirl it around yourself for at least one minute at a time. You need to do this exercise for ten minutes everyday, but if you cannot do it all at once, do not worry. Just do it whenever you find a little time.

If you do it only ten times per day, each time spending just one minute on it, you will be able to lose weight. Plus it is fun to do. As you can see, weight loss does not have to be hard and scary. Follow the three tips above and see how easily you shed those extra pounds.

More Information:

How to lose belly fat fast? Are you interested to know how I got my dream figure in 4 months? Are you dreaming of the moment to get your dream figure? Then, I have good news for you! Reveal my secret program at: How to lose belly fat?

Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article221375.html

Avon Lady Became the First Millionaire Selling Door-to-Door

2010-08-26T07:51:00.004-06:00

Now this article answers the most popular question on search engines--"Can you really earn money from Avon?" And the answer to that question is -- YES!!

*Click here to start selling Avon.

In just six years, Debbie Davies has gone from jobless print worker to saleswoman worth £1.4m who employs 8,000 sellers.

A woman who was made redundant has become the first person to earn more than £1m selling cosmetics door-to-door. Debbie Davis, 31, who now has an 8,000-strong sales team, is the first Avon representative millionaire.

Her rise began six years ago when she was laid off by a Sunderland printing firm where she had worked since leaving school. She was unemployed for six months until she paid £15 to become an Avon representative. After selling £18,800 worth of products in three weeks near her home in Sunderland, she recruited her partner Dave Carter, 42.

She has achieved a cumulative turn-over of £9.3m since 2004 and earned £1.4m. She still goes out pursuing door-to-door sales but now drives a Mercedes SLK car and lives in a spacious house.

Davies said: "I have been able to travel the world, drive my dream car and purchase my own home – a far cry from the council estate I was brought up on."

*Click here to start selling Avon.

**This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 19.30 BST on Wednesday 25 August 2010. A version appeared on p4 of the Main section section of the Guardian on Thursday 26 August 2010. It was last modified at 19.46 BST on Wednesday 25 August 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/aug/25/avon-lady-first-sales-millionaire#history-link-box

APA Groups: Casting in 'The Last Airbender' is 'Whitewashing'

2010-02-25T10:02:00.007-07:00

Last night, my daughter was talking to me in my sleep asking me where to find casting calls for the second installment of Avatar: the Last Airbender. She wants to audition for the role of Toph Bei Fong.

With her kung fu and dance background, and her latest role in "Gentlemen Broncos" I don't think she would have any problem auditioning for the part of Toph. But when I stumbled upon the article below, I second-guessed my daughter's chance of having a call back from a casting director who probably won't even take a look at her the seconds she walks into the audition room.

APA Groups: Casting in 'The Last Airbender' is 'Whitewashing'

The film's one main Asian actor, Dev Patel of 'Slumdog Millionaire,' will play a villain.

By Melissa Chua, P.C. Web Reporter
Published May 15, 2009

Hollywood is doing it again.

In the wake of "Dragonball: Evolution" and "21" - films that ignited controversy over their casting of mostly Caucasian actors in roles originally written for Asian Pacific Americans - another Hollywood movie studio is drawing similar criticism.

M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming movie "The Last Airbender," based on the Nickelodeon television series "Avatar: The Last Airbender," isn't set for release until 2010, but fans and APA advocacy groups are already accusing the production of racial bias in its selection of white actors to portray Asian characters.

The popular animated series takes place in an Asian fantasy world inspired by Asian cultures and themes. The characters practice East Asian martial arts and dress in traditional Asian attire. They even write with Chinese characters.

Yet in the film adaptation of the series, white actors play three out of four of the main characters. Dev Patel, of "Slumdog Millionaire" fame, will be the sole Asian face in the upcoming film version of "Airbender."

Among the critics are members of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), the Los Angeles-based theater East West Players, and Racebending.com - a Web site launched in response to the film's casting.

"People need to realize that recasting Asian actors as white actors is institutionalized discrimination that affect children who perceive white as the norm, even in a world that is Asian-based," said Loraine Sammy, public relations coordinator for Racebending.com.

"This was a chance for actors from our community to be represented, but that chance was taken away," said Marissa Lee, also of Racebending.com.

The "Airbender" casting sends a message to the public that white actors are more qualified and entitled than APA actors to play Asian characters, added Lee.

So far Paramount Pictures, the studio backing the film, has remained tight-lipped about the casting process.

"At this time, Paramount does not have a comment to share," said Michael Agulnek, vice president of national publicity and the film's lead publicist.

But in a statement, "Airbender" producers said they "envisioned embodying the 'Airbender' universe with a large and ethnically diverse cast that represents many different heritages and cultures from all corners of the globe."

"Diversity is good, but not when you're making the background more diverse and the foreground less diverse," said Lee. "The more this happens, the easier it gets for Hollywood to get away with it."

In December when news of the casting broke, outraged fans began protesting with a letter-writing campaign, a petition and a direct response Web site.

"Fans, most of which identify themselves as white, Latino and black, are really concerned that this racial discrimination sends a terrible message to children especially Asian children because they can't see themselves on screen," said Guy Aoki, co-founder of MANAA.

Community leaders also expressed outrage when the film's casting director Deedra Ricketts told the Daily Pennsylvanian that she had asked extras auditioning for roles "to dress in traditional cultural ethnic attire ... if you're Korean, wear a kimono. If you're from Belgium, wear lederhosen."

In response to Rickett's comments, East West Players' Tim Dang wrote a letter to Paramount blasting the studio.

"Besides the ignorance of confusing Korean hanboks with Japanese kimonos, Ms. Ricketts' call for extras to come looking ethnic and foreign could not contrast more sharply with the casting of whites for most of the leading roles."

Also at contention is Patel's character, Zuko - a villain.

APA activists say movies like "Fu Manchu", "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Sixteen Candles", show that Hollywood has a long record of casting actors of color as villains or stereotypical characters.

"Very rarely are Asian people allowed to be cast heroes in the story," said Aoki.

MANAA and Racebending.com are calling for a boycott of the film when it is released next summer.

"We can refuse to support movies like these that are willing to sell actors of color short for whatever reason and to deny what they've done by casting people of color as extras," said Lee.

For more information: http://www.manaa.org/, http://www.racebending.com/

Is Computer Male or Female?

2009-11-22T09:00:00.007-07:00

I recently got a "forwarded" email from my high school classmate. I find it really funny. So I'd like to post it here for every one to read ... and you can give us your opinion too.

A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la Casa.'
'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'

A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer' ?'

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two
groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether computer ' should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ( 'la computadora' ), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;

3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you
find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ( 'el computador' ), because:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;

2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;

3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won.

So what do you guys think? Is computer male or female?

Gentlemen Broncos: An Instant Classic That Is Much More Than The Sum Of Its Parts

2009-10-27T12:48:00.005-06:00

An Instant Classic That Is Much More Than The Sum Of Its Parts
23 October 2009
Author: merrilltoyco from United States

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1161418/usercomments

I saw this movie last night at a sneak preview in Jared Hess' home city. It totally ruled. It was full of laugh-out-loud scenes, with comedy on every level, excellent performances, and a sneaky plot that Scorsese would have been proud of. Everyone in the audience seemed to love it, lingering to cite scenes to each other long after the film was over. Even the press seemed genuinely giddy to be there.

Everyone who follows comedy knows what a big hit Napoleon Dynamite was, and although Nacho Libre was extremely funny, it lacked some of the kitschy style that made Napoleon more than just a comedy. Gentlemen Broncos seems to be the calculated result of a wise decision to return form. If Napoleon Dynamite has nerds, Gentlemen Broncos has Supernerds; if Napoleon Dynamite has touches of the 70's and 80's, Gentlemen Broncos has dropped you off and left you there.

Like the best Wes Anderson films, Hess has the ability to identify and isolate a lovably weird segment of our society and walk right on that line for the duration of his films. In this case, it's the soul-drying, bad sci-fi stories that I used to see when I was a kid but don't anymore. The lone, laser-gun-wielding hero standing on a world with three moons and a tight, lit-up grid pattern for ground; the farming space station that's been overrun by cyborg apes; etc. The kind of bad stories that couldn't even merit a hardback release, let alone a movie– and now can't even be found new. Capturing that odd energy and riffing a clear story on top of it earns Hess bonus points right off the bat.

He also has a gift for making good actors great at being bad, on purpose. Mike White has never been even nearly as hilarious as he was in this film (watch out for snakes), Jennifer Coolidge was in top form (as usual), and Sam Rockwell got all the way on board with a career burning phoenix of comedy that covered the polar ends of the spectrum. And because Hess pays special attention to each character, Hector Jiminez and Halley Feiffer are given equal opportunity to steal the show, and turn hilarious performances.

Now let's start a new paragraph. Shame on whoever dissed this movie before I had a chance to get here– you shall fall into the pit which you dig, because you seem to have forgotten one important detail: Jemaine Clement is in this movie. You can't give anything with Jemaine Clement in it one freakin' star. It's against the laws of physics. And when people see that you've done that, they'll only question whether you really even saw this movie at all. One of the funniest people alive, Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchords) reproves his very real character-acting abilities, swanning over the film in full form as a tightly wound, bad-jeans-wearing, writer-bearded egomaniac who is so cheesy that you can smell the leather conditioner coming out of the screen. He was the obvious heir to the throne, for the whole show, and turns in what I think is his best performance so far, by far- which is really far. He's a full-blown comedic genius, and still seems to have been able to go even further under the direction of Jared Hess.

But the real satisfaction ends up coming from Hess knowing to place Michael Angarano right up front to show everyone what he can do. Clement is no surprise, when his greatness comes through- that's just normal. But to watch Angarano hang ten on his own terms, through his own scenes, was magnificent.

I caught Michael Angarano in several films, starting with Seabiscuit. But it was in the family favorite "Sky High" that I noticed how well he was starting to do subtle comedy as a farce's underdog, a'la Ben Stiller. Apparently Hess noticed him long before that, and was able to capitalize on Angarano's rising talent, to have it perfectly coincide with Gentlemen Broncos. He builds up the pain in Angarano's character so smoothly and steadily, that when he finally explodes it's about as pressured as Travis the Taxi Driver. Except replace the mohawk with a woman's clownsuit dress and the gun with a bean pillow in the shape of a blonde, mustached tranny. And throughout the wind-up, Michael Angarano plays everything to a tee, walking brow-first above bloodshot eyes, seeming to be struggling to keep down his own intestines at the sight of the limitless tragedies that are happening to him throughout the bulk of the film. He's so likable and well-paced that you just can't believe it either, and can't imagine anything getting any better for him- until he goes off in a blaze of glory.

Now I realize that all of these descriptors may sound like Hess may have sacrificed the inspired randomness of Napoleon Dynamite in order to make a more structured film. But let me console you in saying that, somehow, surrounding this Coen-worthy plot is so much perfect silliness that most people won't even see all of the true plot steps until they come together for a perfect showdown and a winning finale. In fact, the movie is so wild that some will mistake it for trying relying on sophomoric humor, which it sells fresh and hot throughout (when the majority is more intelligent situational and quotable line humor, with which Hess is a born natural). But analyze it honestly, and you'll see that the emotion-based story is top rate in it's rawness and simplicity, like all the best films.

In short, Gentlemen Broncos is just like it's name- a sophisticated, well-dressed animal that kicks naysayers repeatedly in several places. I wish I had the connections to be able to see it again right now. Thank you comedy Gods, for giving us Jared Hess.

Gentlemen Broncos Trailer

2009-10-10T20:47:00.003-06:00

Here's the trailer for "Gentlemen Broncos." We're all excited to go and watch this. :)

Was He a Ghost?

2009-09-16T10:03:00.001-06:00

November 28, 2008--an acquaintance's dad passed away of a stroke. This acquaintance has a very promising future in show business. I am not going to divulge his name to protect his identity, so I am just going to refer to him as "Harry."

Harry and I are not really "friends" ... just acquaintances, because he and my daughter go to the same dance school. When I created my Facebook account, I requested him to be my friend. Being a good young man he is, he accepted my request. That's how I found out that something bad happened to his dad, because his friends were commenting about it, wishing his father well and be out of the hospital soon.

Two weeks after that, I saw Harry, his younger brother, and his dad coming out of the dance studio. I was parked right in front of the door of the studio, so I saw and heard Harry talking about his car trouble. His dad asked if he checked the battery and something about the water. I was elated that Harry's dad is finally better. My mom was sitting on the passenger's side, so I commented to her that Harry's dad is finally okay ... although he still looks frail and pale ... that he should be resting at home. While I was making those comments, my mom kept asking me, "Where?" because she didn't see Harry's dad at all. All she saw were the two brothers walking to the truck. We both thought she probably was just looking at the wrong direction. I even teased her for being "blind", because they walked right passed in front of us. After a few minutes, the two brothers went back to the dance studio but this time I didn't see their dad with them. I thought he probably left to go home and rest.

Several weeks later (maybe about 4 or 6 weeks later), my daughter chatted with me online while I was at work. She started out with, "I didn't know Harry's dad died. No wonder he was going all emo on Facebook." She was right. His Facebook was always full of comments like how he has to stay strong for his dad, etc. I thought his dad was probably still not too healthy to do many things and Harry had to be the man for him, while he was recuperating. So I asked my daughter when and where did he pass away. She checked the http://www.wikipedia.com/ and told me that he passed away while he was at the hospital due to medication error. Needless to say, I was flabbergasted! If that is the case, who did I see talking to Harry and his brother about their car trouble?

I talked to Harry and his brother a week after I got the news. I told him how sorry I was for not even knowing that his dad has passed on. And then came the hard part (because I didn't know what his reactions would be), I told him what I saw. He clearly remembered that afternoon, but he wasn't talking to his dad but to his brother. "Well," I said, "he was there with you that afternoon." I could see tears at the corners of his eyes.

So what do you think, folks? Was I hallucinating that afternoon, or did I really see a ghost? Tell me what you think.

Online High Schooling

2009-08-30T14:34:00.014-06:00

School started for my daughter this Monday--at Open High School of Utah. Although, she's been a home-schooler since Kindergarten, being in High School and having actual online teachers made her very nervous. I assured her that it would be okay and having teachers would be wonderful. After all, mommy is also a student of University of Phoenix Online.

After several hours of downloading her materials to her laptop that was issued to her by OHSU, she finally started her classes. It was actually a little late, but as soon as she started clicking her first course (the one that finished downloading first)--Algebra, her anxiety subsided. Not only her fear for Algebra diminished, her love for her Math teacher increased as the hours passed. She made Algebra seemingly a fun class to be in.

After those initial hours of getting to know her courses, she already has established her favorite classes and teachers. Her excitement went through the roof ... and needless to say, she stayed up till 3 a.m. to do her first homeworks!

For more information on online high schooling, visit Open High School of Utah.

Looking Young at 40's

2009-07-22T11:49:00.008-06:00

This is no joke. Before I hit 43 years old on June 30th, I started to see some sagging on my face. I was devastated, because I thought for sure I would be able to boast of my "young" look for awhile.

Before I go on to my discovery, let me clarify that recently I signed up as an Avon rep because my mom is totally an Avon jewelry and clothing fan. She asked me to join so she can buy at a discount every campaign. Yes, EVERY campaign. Anyways, while I'm going through this "saggy" bout, I frantically searched online how to get rid of them without resorting to botox. Yes, seriously, I thought about botox ... that's how desperate I was. LOL.

I couldn't find anything that is convincing. So I laid there in bed one night, really deeply thinking. Obsess about my look? You bet I am. As I was deeply thinking, I remembered an Avon item that was sent to me 2 or 3 campaigns before. I did not pay attention to it because really ... "it's only Avon." I believed Avon Products, especially their cosmetics and facial products, to be a joke.

But remember, I was desperate. So I got up and rummaged through the Avon boxes (yes, it was still in one of the boxes) and found this Avon NEW big thing to make you look 5-10 years younger! "Ha-ha ... what a joke!", I thought. Well, it's FREE sample for me to try out. Nothing can hurt my face now. So I unbox the item, read the instruction, and marked my calendar on May 23rd--"Anew Derma-Full ... first day."

What do you think happen? After two months of use, I can tell you that I will never ever make fun of Avon Products again! Yes, it worked! I see it with my own eyes. My mom is quite impressed. And get this ... my Golds Gym trainer thought I am only 24 years old! Okay, enough of my bragging. Below, I am posting more information about this wonderful product.

First for Avon: Injectable-grade facial filler, now in a Serum. This super concentrated serum has 3X the level of injectable-grade hyaluronic acid for dramatic filling & plumping. To buy this product, you can visit http://avon-online-store.com/

* Use after PM cleansing, before moisturizing. 1 fl. oz

In just 3 days, begins to reduce the look of deep folds.

In 2 weeks, 82% of women saw more youthful fullness in the cheek area.

In 4 weeks, dramatically reduces the look of deep facial folds and hollowness.

GET THE FACTS ABOUT Hyaluronic Acid

What is it?

Naturally produced by skin, hyaluronic acid provides moisture and fullness from within - but production decreases with age.

Why injectable-grade?

It is the same high-quality hyaluronic acid pure enough for dermatologists to use for facial filling injections.

How does ANEW use it?

ANEW has formulated this product to stimulate filling fibers, helping to restore youthful fullness and fill in deep folds.

"I use injectable-grade fillers in my office. People pay hundreds of dollars for these injections. It's remarkable that now Avon is able to provide injectable-grade filler in a topical serum at an accessible price." - Dr. Cheryl Karcher, board certified, nationally recognized expert in aesthetic dermatology with a high-profile New York City practice.

*Compared to Derma-Full Facial Filling Cream.

**Based on those who expressed an opinion. To read all the reviews about this product, click this link.

Remember Michael Jackson

2009-07-09T12:48:00.004-06:00

The passing of Michael Jackson came as a big shock to all people around the world. I am not a die-hard fan of MJ, but his passing seemed to have affected me for several days--the void I'm feeling that I couldn't explain. Maybe because deep inside, I know that whatever music of his we have enjoyed will now be memories.

Visit "Remember Michael Jackson" for a FREE $250 iTune card, and enjoy his music as much as you can.

Jizelle: the Latest Teen Sensation

2009-03-18T14:43:00.003-06:00

Utah Dancesport Championship 2009: Junior Ballroom Company

2009-02-15T16:08:00.007-07:00

Utah Dancesport Championship 2009: Junior Ballroom Company

Last night, Center Stage's Junior Ballroom Company did their first performance at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi. The kids were extremely nervous but I think they did really well at next day's Utah Dancesport Championship 2009. They took 2nd place!

Center Stage 2009 Showcase: Junior Ballroom Company

2009-02-06T14:23:00.005-07:00

February 6th, Jizelle's ballroom team, the Junior Ballroom Company, showcased their number at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi. The performers were a bit nervous, since this was their first performance of the year. They all commented of not having done it well. But I think it was pretty impressive that many of the kids danced better ballroom than many of us adults. LOL! Anyways, check out the video below.

A Wonderful 2008

2008-12-31T21:02:00.007-07:00

What can I say? 2008 is an another wonderful year! I am so grateful for every good things that happened in my life. I am happy that --

* My daughter got casted in a movie, Gentlemen Broncos, earlier this year.
* She became SAG-eligible.
* She got invited to meet a prestigious LA casting agent.
* My part-time businesses are booming despite of the recession.
* I met many new good friends. In fact, one of them became my bestest friend!!
* And many good things that happened each and everyday of 2008.

I wish you all a happy and a prosperous 2009!!!

Supernatural: Jensen Ackles Doing "Eye of the Tiger"

2008-10-25T19:16:00.006-06:00

This is one of the best Supernatural episodes I've seen! And if you like Jensen Ackles, you'll love this outtake where he lipsync'ed "Eye of the Tiger" with charm! ROTFL!

Watch the rest of the hilarious scenes below:

Staying Slender & Looking Young at 40s

2008-10-12T21:36:00.012-06:00

Couple of days ago, I was waiting for Jizelle to finish her singing class. While I was sitting outside her classroom texting my very best friend, a gentleman in his early 80s came out of his office and joked that I needed a permission to sit on his couch. Then he asked if I was waiting for my turn to sing. I told him that I was actually waiting for my teenage daughter. He looked at me intently and said, "You have a teenage daughter? You don't look old enough to have one." I laughed and I told him that I'm already 42. He looked shock and asked, "What? You're 42? You're kidding, right?" I told him I wasn't. He, then, responded, "You don't look 42. You look like you're only 25! What's your secret?"

I didn't really know what to tell him, but I said, "Thank you! I'm quite flattered!" Many of you (my friends) have asked me the same questions--my secrets of looking young & staying slender--weighing only 104 lbs. to be exact, at the age of 42.

I don't have secrets per se. All I can tell you is to watch your calories intake and exercise. I don't do a lot of workout myself, except sit ups and ballroom dancing.

I don't have any vices either, specifically smoking. Sure, smoking can keep you from gaining weight because nicotine in cigarettes acts as an appetite suppressant, but it can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. These skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking and are irreversible. So what's the beauty in that? You're slender yet you look like a grandma at 40!

I know it sounds simple ... but it does take a lot of self-discipline. So, that's it! That's my "secret!" :)

My Hickies

2008-08-29T21:07:00.005-06:00

Today, I left work early because I had an appointment with my doctor. I don't feel sick or anything like that, but at 42, I think it's wise to have an annual visit with him.

As usual, waiting for him to come in this tiny little room was boring. I read all the charts posted on the wall and had them memorized already. So I took out my phone and text-messaged my best friend who is kind enough to read (or maybe even secretly ignored or deleted) my pestering messages I'd been sending him all day. I told him I was bored, and I was hoping that he'd reply back so the boredom will end. But no such luck for me. So I continued to read the charts half a dozen more times. LOL!

Finally, the handsome doctor came in! Yes, he is handsome. Sssshhh, don't tell my husband that 'coz he hasn't met him yet. He checked and told me that I'm perfect. Then he asked if there was anything else I wanted him to check and I told him that I was bothered by the skin tags on my neck. He checked and then laughed. He thought I was crazy that I was so concern about a few skin tags on my neck, but he offered to freeze them for me anyways.

He left the room and brought back the liquid nitrogen. Pssssst ... went the liquid nitrogen as he applied it on my neck. It made the slushy drink headache feel like a drug rush! I sat straight quickly, but then he dabbed more on again! Whoa! I thought I was seeing my whole life flashing back! Not that I'm dying or anything, it just stung like heck!

After his dabbings, I drove home still feeling the sting that had gotten worst when I turned the AC of my car on. When I got home, I went straight to the mirror and checked out my neck ... and hah! I now look like I got hickies! I'm just glad that it's a labor day weekend ... I can opt to stay indoors for 3 days!!!

Without Hope or Agenda

2008-08-24T15:08:00.005-06:00

Last month, a dear friend of mine told me that one of his favorite movies is "Love Actually." And as dim witted as I am, I thought he was trying to say something and didn't finish his sentence. In my mind, I was asking, "... love actually what?" waiting for him to finish his sentence, until it dawned on me that he was giving me the title of the movie he thinks I should watch! LOL.

It's a 2003 movie, I know. But hey, I'm always 5 years behind in so many things. So yesterday, I got the DVD via mail from Blockbuster. I watched, I laughed, I cried--it was indeed a great romantic movie! One of the best scenes, in my opinion, is when Mark went to see Juliet on Christmas ... without hope or agenda.

Dr. Ronald Chevalier

2008-07-29T18:11:00.004-06:00

The movie, Gentlemen Broncos, is now in post-production. Fox has created a viral marketing website for its main character, Dr. Ronald Chevalier. The site's content is pretty hilarious. Check out the video below to learn the Dr. Chevalier's Art of Relaxating, or visit his site at http://www.ronaldchevalier/ for more information about his upcoming book that he "claimed" he wrote.

Ernie Lively: Ashley Tisdale's Acting Coach

2008-07-13T22:33:00.010-06:00

On May 27th and 29th, Jizelle attended Ernie Lively's Acting Workshop in Orem, Utah. According to her, it was pretty basic. So after the 2-day workshop, I didn't bother to enroll her again. I know how much she hates it if she had to do something that's not quite challenging.

On June 12th, Jizelle got invited to Ernie's extensive acting class training. According to the invitation, these classes were not open to the public and were by invitation only. That he personally selected her to be a part of these special classes!

The classes were held on June 19, 23, 26, and 30. That's right, 30th! It was my birthday, but I was at the studio waiting for Jizelle until 10:30 pm! LOL! I didn't mind a bit as long as Jizelle was having fun.

After these classes, I decided to make this her regular schedule. I enrolled her again to 3 more sessions before Ernie flew back to Los Angeles for a movie project. She learned a lot and improved a lot more in her acting skills. According to Ernie, Jizelle is ALWAYS good, and that she is a very SOLID actor. She really makes mama proud! :)

Typhoon FengShen (Frank) in My Hometown

2008-06-25T01:22:00.008-06:00

On June 21, 2008, Typhoon FengShen (Frank) hit my hometown, Iloilo, Philippines. I didn't realize how bad it was until I read the news that it caused a massive flooding in Iloilo resulting in severe damages to homes and businesses ... and death. Off the shore of San Fernando, Romblon, it capsized and sunk a ferry, MV Princess of the Stars, which had at least 860 passengers on board.

Couple of days after the typhoon, we received a call that Johnny's sister, Melyn and her family, were one of the flood victims. The flood water rose quickly and covered their 2-story home forcing her husband, Leo, and their daughter, Chryzta to climb up to their rooftop. Melyn was at work when this happened. She said she was worried sick not knowing what was happening to Leo and Chryzta. There were no communications between them for several hours causing her to worry up to the point of almost passing out.

Although they lost everything in the flood, we are thankful to the Lord that they are safe now and are doing their best to getting back to a somewhat normal life. Unfortunately, not all victims have the same stories. My classmate's father-in-law died during this ordeal due to hunger and insulin shock while marooned on his rooftop waiting for the flood water to recede.

Watch images of the disaster --

So What's Up, Mimi?

2008-05-30T20:41:00.014-06:00

I know, I know, you want me to feed you with more exciting stories ... but honestly, I don't have anything much to say lately other than I'd been busy at work and my mind is always tired and empty.

Anyways, this month I attended couple of shows--the Vfactory concert and Jizelle's dance recital. Both were good shows! I enjoyed them a lot.

The Vfactory's Jared Murillo is a native of Utah. His dad co-founded the Center Stage where Jizelle is having all her dance classes.

Jared was our substitute teacher in ballroom class. He is a really good dancer. He and his brother were principal dancers in High School Musical. He was also the assistant choreographer in High School Musical 2. And of course he is the boyfriend of Ashley Tisdale. Anyways, go check his and his band's sites at http://www.jaredmurillo.com/ and http://www.vfactoryonline.net/.

Dance Away Your Boredom

2008-04-24T22:26:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, while at the set of TNT's movie "Blank Slate", most of us were sooooo bored out of our minds. After doing two scenes with Eric Stoltz and some actresses I don't recognize, everyone at the extras holding were so tired of waiting ... hoping that a crew would come in soon and call it a wrap or call us to do another scene ... anything, just anything to get out of the boredom. But instead we were told that we had to wait another 2-3 hours for the final scene! Uuugh!

So we were there sitting ... going crazy from boredom ... at least, I was going crazy -- I don't know about the others. I stood up and walked around, partly because my right foot fell asleep from too much sitting and mostly because I was bored! One background actor, Jessica, suggested that I teach her folk dancing. She stood up and I showed her some Chinese folk dance steps. Dickson stood up and joined us ... then Jaron and his wife, Kristin joined us also. Pretty soon, I was teaching them the complete choreograph of a Filipino folk dance, "Alay." Ah, dancing--what it can do to and for you. We danced away our boredom, we had our exercise, ... and most of all, we became friends that night. :)

Our Trip to Hollywood

2008-04-02T21:06:00.008-06:00

Our trip to Hollywood on March 29-April 1 wasn't just all work ... we also had fun! :D Aside from meeting with Jizelle's talent agent, we also shopped, visited the Walk of Fame, watched superstars coming out of their limousines to attend the red (blue) carpet movie premier of Nim's Island, walked up and down Sunset Blvd., and pigged out in different restaurants. We also visited with our family in Las Vegas. We had fun there too. Oh, oh, we also spotted Joseph Gordon-Leavitt on Sunset. Check out our family pictures!

Jizelle in "Gentlemen Broncos"

2008-03-19T23:01:00.006-06:00

So I'm just going to skip to the good part here. Last month, Jizelle auditioned for a featured film, "Gentlemen Broncos." After 3 callbacks, she was offered a principal role--the Troll-like Girl. Anyways, it was Jizelle's first audition for a movie, so having been offered the part was very exciting for us all!

March 18th--her first day at the set. Jizelle experienced what it's like to be a principal actor and not a background extra. In her own words, she wrote a lengthy email to her agent describing her experience, which I am going to share with you also. :)

Hi ... this is Jizelle! I had a really fun experience at the set of Gentlemen Broncos! I had my own trailer, with a bathroom, sink, and tv XD. It also had my name on it, which felt really special. When I went to wardrobe, they dressed me up in several different outfits, and each time the lady took a picture of me. She showed the pictures to Jared, and he decided on which outfit I should wear... (and he picked a really dorky one but that's my part so I can't blame him hehe.)

When I went to the makeup trailer, Jemaine was there, but I didn't recognize him... until he asked me "Are you the girl who writes about trolls?" in his really cool European accent. I said "yes" and he put his hand out for me to shake and said "Hi, I'm Jemaine" and I was like "OH OH, you're the bad guy... the ronald... che-che something guy!" Yeah, I was completely blanked out hehe. He was all "yeah I am". I was kinda surprised... how did he know I was the troll girl? I felt really special by that time hehe.

Soon, I was called to the set, and I got a ride... even though the set was like, only 20 feet away from my trailer ROTFL...

They filmed Jemaine over and over again... and he changed around his lines each time. By the 10th time, I had already memorized his lines LOL
Soon, Jared approached me and told me to say a new line... which, like my mom said, "triggered a comedic line/response from Jemaine." I didn't know what he was going to say, so after I said my new line, Jemaine went on to his, and I was kinda caught by surprise... his line was HILARIOUS and I was about to explode from laughter, but luckily I didn't... til the director said "CUT" and the entire room burst with laughter LOL. Then the director declared lunchtime.

After lunch, (and the tofu was DISGUSTING, let me tell ya O_O) we went back into the room, and Jemaine did his hilarious response to my new line once more... but, it took about like... 2 hours or so for him to go through his line without any mistakes, because he kept cracking up in the middle of each sentence. (Yes, it was that funny!)

When the camera got focused on me, I had to interact... with a piece of tape. Sure, I was ok with that... a piece of white tape. Yeah. How hard could that be? Until... a crew member drew a smiley face on it that had a smile of... a cat being pet by its owner for the first time in 3 months. It was difficult, because in the story, Jemaine gets angry at me, and I can't really concentrate that well on the feeling I wanted to portray because the piece of tape that I am interacting with has this really peaceful smile that just says: "I love you. You are so pretty." and you can't really feel what you want to feel when you stare at that happy piece of tape. Jemaine was right behind the piece of tape, and I could see his face/emotion a little, so sometimes my eyes kinda shift so I can see him, but then I remembered: "PIECE OF TAPE. MUST LOOK AT PIECE OF TAPE."

During the entire time I was on the set, this guy kept taking pictures of me... like, the same angle, pose, and expression, but he took pictures of it about 8 times. Sometimes, I wasn't even aware, then I'll notice about a minute later, that he was right in front of me, snapping pictures. Sometimes, he'll tell me to look someplace else, then he'll take about 10 pictures of me looking away ... it felt like you were being mugged by paparazzi. hehehe.

It was fun, and plus, the crew kept complimenting me, and so did Jemaine and Michael. They actually talk to you when you have a part, unlike when you're an extra... also, extras don't get food til lunchtime (and sometimes I have to wait til 3 pm!!) but when you have a speaking role, there's this huge table filled with precious items that entertain your taste buds... and you can eat from it... ANYTIME XD

Now I know what it's like to be on the other side of the fence... and dude, the grass on the principal side... IS DEFINITELY GREENER. :D

~Jizelle

Doing Background Acting for a Disney Channel Movie: Hatching Pete

2008-03-05T16:08:00.003-07:00

Tuesday, March 4th -- Jizelle and I went to a filming of a Disney Channel movie called "Hatching Pete." It was a really long day ... we headed up to Salt Lake City at 6:30 am, checked in at 7:30 am, sat around in the extras holding until about 10:00 am. Then we were called in to a school's gym. We saw 3 main actors there--Mitchell Musso, Jason Dolley, and Brian Stepanek.

Anyways, we were cheering for the "Rooster" team ... and did that till about 9:00 pm. Everybody was so bored and tired. The only consolation for us, I guess, was when Brian Stepanek posed with Jizelle for a picture. There's rule against approaching the celebrities when you're only an extra for the movie, so Brian posing with Jizelle was a treat. Aaaaaaah, the life of being a background extra ... :)

Mom's Overture by Anita Renfroe

2008-02-26T22:14:00.003-07:00

Jizelle showed me this video from YouTube.com. I think it's really funny and I'd like to share it too!

Get up now! Get up now! Get up out of bed!
Wash your face, brush your teeth, comb your sleepyhead.
Here's your clothes and your shoes, hear the words I said,
"Get up now! Get up and make your bed!"
Are you hot? Are you cold?Are you wearing that?
Where's your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and gloves and your scarf and hat.
Don't forget! You gotta feed the cat.
Eat your breakfast, the experts tell us it's the most important meal of all.
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall.
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at 3 today.
Don't forget your piano lesson is this afternoon so you must play.
Don't shovel. Chew slowly. But hurry, the bus is here.
Be careful! Come back here!
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside, don't play rough, will you just play fair?
Be polite, make a friend, don't forget to share.
Work it out, wait your turn, never take a dare.
Get along! Don't make me come down there.
Clean your room, fold your clothes, put your stuff away.
Make your bed, do it now, do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay?
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone!
Get off the phone!
Don't sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table.
No more computer time tonight!
Your iPod's my iPod if you don't listen up.
Where are you going and with whom and what time do you think you're coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me makes you welcome everywhere you roam.
You'll appreciate my wisdom someday when you're older and you're grown.
Can't wait till you have a couple little children of your own.
You'll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly.
But right now I thank you not to roll your eyes at me.
Close your mouth when you chew, would appreciate.
Take a bite maybe two of the stuff you hate.
Use your fork, do not burp or I'll set you straight.
Eat the food I put upon your plate.
Get an A, get the door, don't get smart with me.
Get a grip, get in here, I'll count to three.
Get a job, get a life, get a PHD.
Get a dose of,"I don't care who started it!
You're grounded until you're 36."
Get your story straight and tell the truth for once, for heaven's sake.
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump, too?
If I've said it once, I've said at least a thousand times before.
That you're too old to act this way.
It must be your father's DNA.
Look at me when I am talking.
Stand up straighter when you walk.
A place for everything and everything must be in place.
Stop crying or I'll give you something real to cry about.
Oh! Brush your teeth, wash your face, put your PJs on.
Get in bed, get a hug, say a prayer with mom.
Don't forget, I love you.
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom's work never ends.
You don't need the reason why.
Because, because, because, because.
I said so, I said so, I said so, I said so.
I'm the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom!
Ta da!

Zack Wilson: Another Rising Star from Utah County

2008-02-10T14:58:00.002-07:00

During our Fil-Am meeting yesterday, there was an excitement among officers about a Filipina being in Dance War. That we should vote for her, etc. etc. The girl is Mariel or Jessica Sarangay.

When I got home I searched and found another Dance War celebrity from Utah: Zack Wilson. No offense Mariel, but I think I'm voting for Zack ... for many reasons ... and because I'm biased :D

He lives in Saratoga Springs. I'm in American Fork. (Utah County)
He's a Mormon. I'm a Mormon.
He is a BYU Student. I'm a BYU alumni.
He is a member of BYU Young Ambassador. I was a BYU International Folk dancer.
He is a pre-med student. I graduated in Psychology.
He can sing and most of all dance! I can sing and also teach/choreograph dance.
He went to Center Stage Performing Arts Company. My daughter and I are still with Center Stage Performing Arts Company.
He is friends (& was engaged) with Julianne Hough and I'm pretty sure, Ashly del Grosso. I am friends with both.

Anyways, here is an article from Deseret News regarding Zack, etc.:

Utahn's star rising as he sings, dances on hot reality show
He's making waves as he sings, dances on ABC program
By Tad WalchDeseret Morning News
Published: January 22, 2008

OREM — Last summer, Saratoga Springs resident Zack Wilson was touring China with the Young Ambassadors performing group from Brigham Young University.
Now the hunky 25-year-old is the steamiest item on ABC message boards as a top contestant on the network's reality show "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann," a spin-off of the smash hit "Dancing With the Stars."

Why is Wilson so hot? For one, he's been engaged not once but twice to Julianne Hough, who has won "Dancing With the Stars" not once but twice, first with Olympic gold-medal speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno and then again with Indianapolis 500 champion driver Helio Castroneves.
Some fans eat up Wilson's tie to Hough, which threads right back to the Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, where Wilson and Hough both trained and where Wilson and Hough's brother, Derek, were buddies.

Others complained the link gives Wilson an unfair advantage with Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba, the judges on "Dancing With the Stars" who picked the "Dance War" contestants and are the team captains on the new show.

Wilson clearly is a favorite of both judges for his combination of singing and dancing skills. The show could have been titled "Song-and-Dance War" because it requires the performers to do both, a combination of "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars."

Wilson called the show his final chance to make it in show biz before moving on to dental school.
"This is kinda like my last shot," Wilson said before his audition in Los Angeles, part of the show's first episode. "I just heard about this audition and wanted to give it one last shot."
A few bars into "Feelin' Good," Wilson forgot the words, but the judges didn't care.

"He's got a different feeling, like a gentleman," said Tonioli, who later called Wilson "so strong, a real leading man" who could be the show's version of Justin Timberlake.

Inaba praised Wilson's "All-American appeal" and said his acrobatic dancing is done so effortlessly that "he's like a ballerina on his feet, he's so light."

Wilson's friends and family back home in Utah Valley are watching with pride.

Young Ambassadors director Randy Booth started working with Wilson when he was 3 and sang "The Little Drummer Boy" in "The Gift of Christmas" at the Promised Valley Playhouse. He had a very different role on the BYU group's tour last year.

"He was the heartthrob for all the girls in China," Booth said. "Zack's a great dancer, a really solid singer and a fun personality. He's a born leader, very charismatic, lots of fun. People are drawn to him, whether in an audience or in person, and they want to be like him."

Wilson attended Young Ambassadors workshops in junior high and high school and began working at Center Stage when he was 14, studio co-owner Alex Murillo said. "Right away we knew he was special, so we gave him more responsibility in singing and dancing, and he handled it."

Wilson served a two-year mission in Ghana and Sierra Leone for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that Booth said turned him outward toward others. Tonioli singled him out as a leader when he made Wilson the first pick for his team on "Dance War."

The show pits Tonioli's team of six against Inaba's. An audience vote based on Monday night's live performances will determine which team "won," and next week the losing team captain will have to eliminate one team member.

Tonioli is convinced that with Wilson leading his team, he has "a slick, lean, song-and-dance machine."

ABC has to be happy with the show, launched in the midst of the writers strike. The show drew 11 million viewers when it debuted Jan. 7 and 10.5 million more for the second episode on Jan. 14.

During those first two episodes, Murillo was struck by Wilson's change from long, curly hair to a short cut, a five o'clock shadow and sleeveless shirts that show off his biceps. "That's a new makeover," Murillo said, laughing. "He's just having fun. When you're having fun, you will succeed in the arts. If anyone deserves to be on stage, it's Zack Wilson. He's worked so hard and has so much talent. The world is about to find out."

Whether Wilson wins the competition, the spotlight should boost the careers of several of the contestants, Murillo said. "That show will lead them to a recording contract, an acting career or Broadway. They're showcasing both their singing and dancing skills at the same time and their stage presence. Zack's getting a chance other kids don't have."

Details about the contestants on ABC's 'Dance War'

• What it's about: The format of "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" is simple. Each of the two judges from "Dancing With the Stars" started with six singer-dancers on their team. The two teams compete against each other. The losing team after each performance round must eliminate one team member.

• Utah ties: Two performers on "Dance War" are from Utah. In addition to Zack Wilson, cast member Mariel is listed as being from Chicago, but she has lived and performed under the name Jessica Sarangay in Salt Lake City, an ABC spokeswoman said.

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com

Go, ICE, Go!

2008-02-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

It's another ho-hum day at work. Oh sure, it's Chinese New Year and Rosi's birthday--two reasons to celebrate a little during our lunch break. But an event worth talking about was the plethora of ICE agents in our complex. Sure, we knew for awhile that the Detention facility for Homeland Security is somewhere nearby our workplace, but we never thought that they're actually next door to us!

Two big vans bearing the name "Homeland Security" pulled up our parking lot this morning; every parking stalls were full and 100s of officers were swarming the warehouse complex. "What's going on next door?," someone asked. I thought and said, "Maybe they made a raid this morning and those vans are full of illegal aliens." Little did I know that I spoke the truth. I was too busy to check CNN.com or KSL.com ... so when I got home I searched the news and I was like "Oh, wow! I was right! They did make a raid!" I wish I took a picture of the action ... but I didn't. :(

Anyways, here's the news taken from harktheherald.com:

Thursday, 07 February 2008
Fifty illegal immigrants arrested at Lindon plant
Grace Leong - DAILY HERALD

Universal Industrial Sales' HR director faces criminal charges More than 50 illegal immigrants working at a manufacturing plant in Lindon were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents earlier this morning.

Universal Industrial Sales Inc., a Lindon-based maker of guardrails, bridge rails and sign structures, was charged with 10 criminal counts of harboring illegal immigrants "for commercial advantage" between January 2003 and December 2006, according to an indictment unsealed today in Salt Lake City.

The law enforcement action, conducted by more than 100 ICE agents at 8 a.m. today, affected more than half of Universal's 100-plus work force.

A second indictment, also unsealed today, charges Alejandro "Alex" Urrutia-Garcia, 39, a human resource director at Universal, with two counts of encouraging or inducing illegal aliens to stay in the United States unlawfully.

A naturalized U.S. citizen, Urruita-Garcia of Provo was arrested this morning during the raid. He faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. Urrutia-Garcia is scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Nuffer in Salt Lake City.

The company faces a potential maximum penalty of $500,000 in fines or twice the amount of any pecuniary gain stemming from the offense, whichever is greater, for each count. The company is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court on Feb. 26.

"The investigation and prosecution of employers who violate our nation's immigration laws by hiring illegal workers is an important component of a comprehensive immigration strategy which involves apprehending and prosecuting those illegally in the country and those who facilitate the continued unlawful presence of such individuals," U.S. Attorney Brett L. Tolman said.
"Today's action should send a clear message to employers in Utah. We expect employers to comply with immigration laws in hiring employees. Failure to comply with these laws hampers our ability to address illegal immigration issues," he said.

"While our country's immigration laws must be recognized and vigorously enforced, we understand that the individuals taken into custody today may have families who have been in the United States for lengthy periods of time. Strictly enforcing immigration laws and having compassion for the families of those involved are not mutually exclusive. We have encouraged ICE to consider and address humanitarian issues as they interview these workers and are confident they are taking steps to do so," Tolman said.

Details on the nationalities of those arrested today weren't immediately available.
Workers taken into custody today on administrative immigration violations are being interviewed, photographed, fingerprinted, and processed by immigration officials. The workers are being interviewed by ICE agents and health professionals with ICE's Division of Immigration Health Services to determine if they have any medical, sole-caregiver, or other humanitarian-related issues, which could qualify them for a conditional humanitarian release.

"After they go through the administrative processing, they will be placed in Utah County and Weber County Jails until they are removed from the U.S. or appear before an immigration judge in Salt Lake to plead their case," said ICE spokesman Greg Palmore.

Family members of workers arrested in the operation today can call a toll-free hotline number to get information about the detention status and removal process. The toll-free hotline number is 1-866-341-3858.

Josh McLerran

2008-02-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm not here to promote Josh McLerran. I just want to blog my "brag" ... if you know what I mean. Josh McLerran is one of the actors in Daddy Day Camp. He served a 2-year Mormon mission in the Philippines. He mentioned in IMDB that he is fluent in several Filipino dialects, I knew instantly that he went to Visayas islands where I'm from.

And so I searched for his name in http://www.ldsmissions.net/ and found his email address. I emailed him telling him about my daughter being in the Daddy Day Camp, etc. etc. And this was his reply:

"Ay! Nami gid! Oo, sa Bacolod gid ang mission ko! Wala ko nakaagi sa imo nga Sampaguita Gardens sa Provo, pero tag-iya ka man sang Sampaguita Gardens sa Aklan, di bala? Kay nakaagi ko didto, kag nami siya kaayo! Nami gid nga nakaupod ang imo bata sa akon sa Daddy Day Camp. Extra siya? Bata sang Pinay ang lalaki ni "Lance Warner" sa film. Nami kaayo. Grabe ang kagamay sang kalibutan naton. Sige, halong kamo, kag regards gid sa imo bata!

Josh"

How cool is that! Basically he answered that he indeed went on a mission in Bacolod. He never been to Sampaguita Garden (our restaurant in Provo), but he was wondering if we owned the one in Aklan also. He also said that it was great to have my daughter in Daddy Day Camp and asked if she was an extra? And then he said that the actor that played "Lance Warner" in the movie is part Filipino. Then he said that it's cool that the world is indeed really small.

So there, that's my brag. :D

Daddy Day Camp DVD

2008-01-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

Daddy Day Camp DVD is now available! We bought 2 just for the heck of it. Hey, Jizelle is in it ... so why not, huh? :D

Anyways, get your copy now or go visit your local Blockbuster (http://www.blockbuster.com/) and rent one. I know, I know it probably has more thumbs down than up ... but just watch it ... pppppleaaaaase. ;)

President Gordon B. Hinckley Has Passed Away at 97

2008-01-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

My brother Erwin called to tell me that President Gordon B. Hinckley has passed away about 3 hours ago. He was 97 years old. It is a really sad news for me. President Hinckley was one of my favorite Prophets because of his exemplary life.

Quoting the LDS Newsroom, "President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995."

"The Church president died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from causes incident to age."

I will surely miss him and his teachings.

Red Carpet or Cape?

2008-01-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

1/22/08, Tuesday -- another day at work. It was 4:00 pm; everybody at the warehouse department scrambled to go home as usual.

Boss Isaac (the owner) and Captain Leland (the Operation Manager) were upstairs in their offices; while I was minding my own business in my office, when all of a sudden my assistant was flapping her arms calling my name. I looked up and I saw something bright orange glow behind her -- a fire in our engraving office! It was engulfing the exhaust hose! I ran towards the fire, told my assistant to get boss and Captain. My assistant was panicking trying to unhook the fire extinguisher and still flapping her arms. Again, I told her to go and she ran, while I unhooked the fire extinguisher.

I never used one before and I really didn't have time to read the instruction either. The fire was reaching the ceiling and if it did engulf the ceiling floor, boss and Captain would be trapped upstairs, 'coz that's where the staircase is!!! So I was thinking -- what to do, what to do? All I know was what I saw from the movies -- pull the pin off first. So I was thinking -- where's the pin? where's the pin? So I saw and pulled the pin and went wild squeezing the trigger --- pzzzzzzzzzzt .... pzzzzzzzzzt ... pzzzzzzzzzt. Phew! The fire was out; Captain and boss came behind my assistant looking shocked. The first thing they said, "Look at her saving us from the fire; and she even knows how to use the fire extinguisher!" LOL!

When everyone came in to work the next day, they said that I'm a hero (heroine). Some say I should get a red carpet treatment or a cape even! Well, I don't need a red carpet or a cape. I'm just glad that I get to save "something" ... and that this event is another learning experience for me, i.e. how to use a fire extinguisher.

Wish for All of You in 2008!

2008-01-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

I received this New Year message from my classmate, Steve Te. I like it ... so I'm sharing it with everyone else:

My Wish for ALL of You in 2008

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline, and
May laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires, and
May happiness slap you across the face, and
May your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address!

In simple words ...
May 2008 be the best year of your life!

Our Beautiful Home

2007-11-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving Day for us this year was very special! 'Coz we moved to our beautiful home on Thanksgiving Eve. Call us crazy ... but we had our complete Thanksgiving dinner with our family while most of our kitchenwares were still packed in boxes! It was chaotic yet blissful! :)

Dancing With the Stars, Season 5

2007-11-14T11:34:00.001-07:00

Like Ashly del Grosso, Marie Osmond and Jonathan Roberts are the couple I am rooting for this season 5 in Dancing With the Stars. Not just because I see her improved significantly over the past few weeks, but also because she is from Utah and a Mormon. Also, she bought my gigantic matryoshka doll from my gift shop 6 or 7 years ago ... and man, she then became one of my favorite stars! Okay, I know my reasons are quite personal and biased, but why do you think she is still in "Dancing with the Stars" that's because she's got lot of support from Utahns and Mormons worldwide--good dancer or not. :)

I Joined MySpace

2007-10-20T22:58:00.000-06:00

Last month, I joined MySpace for fun. I think it's a great "space" to have, especially if you have plenty of time to login and update the contents. I made friends with 3 wonderful people during my first 2 weeks--Tom, AshBo, & Lea Salonga! Check my MySpace out at http://www.myspace.com/hibiscusblossom. I have yet to learn how to "pimp" my pages. In the meantime, please bear with my boring-looking "space."

The Graceful Art of Folk Dancing

2007-09-30T22:02:00.000-06:00

This morning as I was doing my "Dancing With the Stars - Cardio Dance", I thought of folk dancing. Go figure. :D But it made me realize that many of us dance to music without giving much thoughts to poise and grace of our body. We dance because it is fun! We follow the steps 1-2-and-3, but are we really executing them correctly? Does our body conveys the message of romance or grace or whatever it is the dance is all about?

When I was a member of BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble, I learned many different folk dance steps and performed them well. But what I realized then and now is that if I'm doing it without understanding the actual body motions, I'm not doing the folk dances any justice. For example, when I watched my co-dancers perform the Irish Riverdance, they looked very talented and professional ... but in comparison to the local Irish professional dancers, somehow we are missing something ...

So this morning as I thought of folk dancing, I realized that many of us dance without the "grace and poise" of the locals. My expertise is in Asian dancing, more specifically--Chinese and Filipino folk dancing. I have a non-profit dance organization where I teach Filipino and Chinese folk dances to Asians. The first thing I teach them are the body's fluidity. We can always do the steps of course, they're just skips, waltzes, minces, contra-ganzas, etc. But when not done with grace and poise, Asian folk dancing becomes very long, boring, and monotonous.

Check out the Bayanihan Folk Dancers in YouTube.com. The steps are usually quite easy, but the way their heads, hands, & feet move ... they make these dances look so interesting and beautiful.

Learning the graceful art of folk dancing is not difficult. You just have to be teachable and be very persistent about it.

I Lost 6 Lbs. with "Dancing With the Stars - Cardio Dance"

2007-09-22T19:21:00.001-06:00

After my ovarian cyst surgery, I gained 10 pounds which is not much according to my friends, coz I only weighed 104 pounds originally. And being 5' 2" tall and even with really small body frame, I'm considered underweight. But I know my body, "not much" is "too much" already. At 114 lbs, I was losing curve of my body and I know I am fat by my body's standard! So I started searching for the best exercise there is in the form of dancing. I am no good when it comes to weight lifting ... "gym-style" exercise. I started and finished the program the same day--back to being a potato couch!

Well, luckily my daughter takes dance classes at Center Stage where stars and professionals like Ashly del Grosso and Julianne Hough of (ABC's Dancing With the Stars) and Jared Murillo (Asst. Choreographer and Principal dancer in High School Musical National Concert Tour) were honed and trained. So everyday I would wait for her at the school, coupled with shopping at their little dance shop ... and there I found the answer to my exercise problem--a DVD that will help me lose weight -- Dancing with the Stars - Cardio Dance. I love the cha-cha sequence by Ashly! Check it out! Anyways, it has been 4 weeks since, I now weigh 108 lbs.

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

"I Am" Commercial

2007-08-13T20:34:00.001-06:00

Click this link to see Jizelle on a tv commercial --

USC's "I Am" . It is also in Utah SouthValley Community's site.

Xtreme Kidz Show 2007

2007-07-31T18:46:00.000-06:00

Jizelle auditioned for a vocal company called Xtreme Kidz last year. She got in and they really worked the kids all year round ... performing here and there. Their last performance was on July 24th in Spanish Fork. Here's some of the photos I've taken.

Another "Daddy Day Camp" Clip

2007-07-31T15:15:00.000-06:00

Found this clip in IMDB. See Jizelle's hair being "harassed"! LOL!

More "Daddy Day Camp" Clips

2007-07-30T16:38:00.000-06:00

Nine more days and we will get to see Jizelle in theater everywhere! Here are more clips of her:

Daddy Day Camp Clips

2007-07-01T09:24:00.000-06:00

Jizelle is in these two clips! Check her out at Sony Pictures site.

Daddy Day Camp Trailer

2007-06-15T10:44:00.001-06:00

My daughter is in "Daddy Day Camp" movie -- release date is August 8th, 2007. I checked out the trailer and we caught a glimpse of her (well, a little bit of her) in one scene. We can't wait to watch the movie and find out if she's really in there ... I mean really seeing her completely, instead of just her arm. LOL!

Anyways, check out the trailer & advertisement of "Daddy Day Camp" below. See if you can catch a glimpse of her. ;)

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

My Favorite Music Video

2007-06-01T18:30:00.000-06:00

PoP! Goes My Heart

Posted Mar 19, 2007

Hugh Grant rocks out in this hilarious 80s-esque video from the film Music and Lyrics.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

2007-02-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

After my daughter's musical show, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", the songs are constantly in my mind. Click the image below to see pictures taken before, during, and after the show. :)

Disneyland Vacation 2006

2006-07-15T15:55:00.000-06:00

We went to Disneyland on my birthday -- June 30th ... and stayed there for 3 days. It was a lot of fun! The place is truly the "happiest place on Earth!" We plan to go back again in 2008.