I know. I’d been a little out of my element this past week coz I guess I was just too overwhelmed with things to do, errands to run, weather not cooperating with me at times. I badly needed a break.

The past week has been so hectic, in fact I had to drag Hi-ace for a weekend in Kep because I felt like I needed to be alone, away from maddening crowds, away from a computer, where I could stop thinking about what I should be doing next, what I have missed doing etc.

I’ve posted a few updates and mostly for blog memes because I simply don’t have the energy to write more. Things are in full swing with updating and repackaging my sister’s graphic design business and I have my hands full helping them. It was also my mistake accepting custom blog installation services while I was busy.

I didn’t even have the time to go to the market the past week and thankfully, MIL supplied us with food we needed. I was also supposed to meet my friends last Monday but I couldn’t. Wednesday also passed by with me unable to be out of the house and by the time Friday came I was really glad I had some free time to have coffee with friends. I was scheduled to meet a new friend, Jonna who was visiting Phnom Penh, but I felt thoroughly guilty canceling on her because it was raining so hard and our place is far from central Phnom Penh and I had no one to drive me around. And since the weather was bad enough, my daughter had to be home early too. So I got my hands full again..

Sigh! At times like this I really feel like I should get myself a house helper but them again after I take a breather I always change my mind. For now, things are slowing down a bit and I promise to also slow down..

Time passed by just like a breeze and I was browsing through my archives that I realized February 2008 was when I first started with this blog. And now its hard to believe that I have been at it for 2 years already. There where reasons why I didn’t blog earlier, but I’m glad I did.

This blog has been my virtual playground, a place to take out my frustrations, to rant and vent. How many times did I mess up with my WordPress installation – read posts here and here, that time when I forgot that I exceeded my bandwidth limitations, my paranoia about transferring web hosting, how many times the whole site went into frenzy just because I could not get enough of tweaking the themes?  It’ll be an understatement if I say I learned something from blogging. I should say, I learned a lot. I also discovered a lot of things about myself and blogging..

…That I have the aptitude for things technical and for tweaking this and that. For understanding what’s behind the blog – the themes, the plugins, the site structure etc.

…That yeah, though I’m not a great writer I can work on it and practice more, still some people somehow survive reading my entries

…That yahoo! I could actually earn from blogging! This blog supports itself. My initial outlay was for the domain registration only, while the monthly hosting bills are all taken care of out of the blog’s earnings. I know some blogging purists would say inserting paid links is something almost like a crime but hey! this is my blog, I’m sure people who visit understands that while I love to blog, write, share thoughts, I’m still a practical person, I don’t have bottomless pits of money to support the blog, so occasional paid links are fine and I do strive my best to be discrete and choosy about paid links.

…  I realized I could actually find lots of people who share the same views, who could somehow appreciate what I have to say. I love receiving emails and comments from readers. Some would email me when they are coming over to Cambodia, asking for travel advice, some would give me suggestions, some would critique a post.. This is for me, is one of the most gratifying things about blogging – connecting with people who reads the blog.

… that I could actually find friends through this blog. I found friends I could constantly correspond with through email, some blogging friends from all over, and here in Phnom Penh, I found a great set of Filipina friends (Zarah, Josiet, Che..)  all thanks to blogging.

Blogging has been a superb learning experience for me. Being able to earn from it is an added bonus and I love the extra income I get out of blogging. So what’s in store for this blog for the next year? More posts, just more.. Things I dunno yet, so do keep visiting, explore and experience blogging with Pinaywifespeaks.

I’ve been doing the laundry this morning and its one of the chores around the house that I don’t particularly enjoy. And since I almost loathe it, I would usually allow my mind to wander and ironically this is usually the time when ideas and plans are best conceptualized.

Here’s what I’ve been mulling on while the sheets were being laundered. I’ve decided to make more changes to this blog. When I first started this I really had no idea what this will be all about, more like a random thoughts – personal blog thing. Then it just evolved by itself I guess and just last year I made changes to organize all posts. For sometime, Pinaywifespeaks.com  has been my blog for musings about living in Cambodia, about life in the Philippines, and also about blogging and the web.

I found myself getting more and more immersed in Cambodian culture and lifestyle so lately that seemed to be what I had been constantly writing about. So then from now on this would be focusing mainly on three things:

• Living in Cambodia and exploring Cambodian culture
• of course, Philippines is still home for me, so expect some occasional posts about Pinas
• and my other passion, Travel. Just featuring travels, places, travel promos and deals.

I’ll be removing the blogging and web categories soon. Though previous posts on these categories will still remain under Exploring the Web category. I will be running a featured Cambodian blog soon too.

Last year, on a whim I registered another domain – Lui-bloggera.com, then I promptly forgot about it and it has been sitting on my hosting account like a wet blanket. I should really bang my  head often on the wall! It’s time I make use of this domain and not let it go to waste.

I’m developing it into a new personal blog where I could blah blah about my other interest. Topics would be…

• blogging – WordPress, earning with blogs, blogging tips etc,
• trend hunting –   i love trends! ,
• latest buzz  - celebs, gossip, luxury lifestyle,tech, fashion – yeah I’ll be indulging my gossiping tendencies a bit..

I’ll be awfully busy these next few days to get this off the ground and I’m super excited. =) I guess I’ll be loosing some sleep over this and getting some pimples again, but that’s nothing acne scar removal creams can’ t take care of. I’m always excited about new things, new projects.  Things are looking up and I do hope you check out my latest blog – Lui-Bloggera.com..

Hmm, time for my Living in Phnom Penh snippets. Hehe I realize that most of this blog’s readers (“what!!? you have readers??” – I guess Hi-ace is reading again from behind me! )aren’t really reading this but I like writing these kinds of posts the most so I’m trying to make these at least once per week..

One reason I like posting my life bits is that I get to look back and put things into perspective, whenever I write short snippets of how it is like living in Phnom Penh, I appreciate new things and experiences more. I also get my chance to gloat and tell myself, ah! so I’ve accomplished that this week! If you call shopping or gossiping with friends an accomplishment =). And the best reason I like posting snippets of our life here in Phnom Penh – it saves me a LOT on my phone bills. Combined with Facebook, well this blog sure saves me a lot. I simply ask my relatives back home to check out my blog for the latest and they get updated. Sometimes they leave messages on my shoutbox (and it sometimes gets weird..) or just send me their comments through Facebook.

Okay, before I get really carried away with the why’s and wherefore’s of this post.. Here’s what I’ve been busy with the past few days..

umm, i kinda like this cartoon..

Wednesday was fun day for me with new friends I found here in Phnom Penh. Josiet invited everyone to her place and cooked a super yummy lunch for us. Pinoy favorites chicken-pork adobo,  ensaladang talong, crab meat omelette, fish in chinese-style sauce, pancit bihon, and dessert was sticky rice with mangoes. Pure yumminess, thanks J! As usual there was never ending laughter and chika with Che, Zarah, Mel and I’m glad I met another two Phnom Penhers- Ate Elma and Janette. I’m looking forward to more bonding times with these fab ladies..

I know it’s Christmas season, but I’m not talking about any shopping. I’m referring to one paid to blog/review program which has been around for sometime already. One way I keep my blogs going is by doing reviews and this one has been a source of good review opportunities in the past.

Sadly, the past year, it doesn’t really have much to offer in terms of good opps not just in price but the sites that are offered for review. I’m quite picky when it comes to websites that I link to. So I found myself doing less and less work for them.

Anyway, yesterday I decided to check out what’s new with their site and lol! I was really surprised with the offers there. $.50 for a post? And they have a lot of requirements aside from the link! And they also have the nerve to demand PR3 or higher..Is it really that cheap? I realize that we are in dire times now, the marketplace is brimming with more bloggers waiting to write review but come on! $.50???

It’s not like I’m asking for payment enough for me to take florida vacations (but that’s okay too..), but those prices are simply too cheap. I know I can’t do anything about it, its their company’s decision to do that, but I won’t be writing reviews for them anymore. Not really a loss, as I have some more much reliable blog for reviews company who offer regular opportunities at fair prices.