GIRLALOO

TOUR DATES:

nov 9-13: university of san carlos

nov 16-20: university of the philippines

nov 23-27: benedicto college

stuff

I need to buy/do stuff for my boys:

[ ] definitely get zaiid a haircut.
[ ] akii's birthday celebration poppers, balloons, backdrop!
[ ] zaiid's white rubber shoes for his P.E. day
[ ] bigger school bag
[ ] bigger breakfast and lunchboxes

Hope we can get all these done before the week ends.

No AirPort Card Installed : how to fix

This morning I found out I couln't connect to the internet, I have no AirPort and could not even turn it on. Soon, it says that there is "No AirPort Card Installed". This should not be happening! But then I found out that a lot of MacBook Pro users have the same problem after they have updated their 10.5.8.

My good friend Erik gave me this link to help me look for some answers.

And so I found that Apple has an AirPort Client Update to help address the problem with AirPort performance. In about 5 minutes I got my AirPort connection back - all powerful and strong! Yipee! :)

Day In A Jar

Created in 2004, finally published today! I'm so thrilled to share a story about a brave little faerie who rescues Day from being trapped inside an evil jar. Find out how she and her friends save the Eearth from total darkness.

Buy my eBook!

Story: Govinda Trazo

Cover concept: Tambolbee

ah. the satisfaction.

I almost forgot how it felt like to finally make a little javascript work in your own sweat. After a lot of research and google-ing and experimenting and tweaking - it is now working according to my direction. And I am so so satisfied I had to tell you - that is without telling you what project I am actually working on.

I'm not a genius at coding or decoding scripts, but I try to get all the help I can get online. There are answers out there that can help you or give you examples, all you have to do is make a one sample from scratch and then experiment it according to what you want.

Am I boring you or making you want to make a website? I am just too happy to tell you that the satisfaction of a working mother has come again. Aaah. Like tiny happy fireflies going on in your brain... now I can peacefully snuggle to my snoring babylove to bed.

(Actually, it was just a simple dropdown menu *blush.)

what's in a resume

"...People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is cold comfort on a winter's night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you've received your test results and they're not so good.

Here is my resume: I am a good mother to three children. I have tried never to let my work stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer consider myself the centre of the universe. I show up. I listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say. I am a good friend to my friends and they to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today, because I would be a cardboard cut out. But I call them on the phone, and I meet them for lunch. I would be rotten, at best mediocre at my job if those other things were not true.

You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you are. So here's what I wanted to tell you today: Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger pay cheque, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon, or found a lump in your breast?..."

Anna Quindlen is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and bestselling author. I haven't read any of her books but I am moved by this particular part of her speech she made at a graduation ceremony. 

True, the best resumes in the world contains something about offering yourself to others unconditionally. I hope I can build a spirit resume that I can show off to my Maker at the end of my journey on earth.

hello Hellolulu!

I had to let go of my Case Logic messenger bag because it didn't work for me. It was too big and my shoulders ached everytime I had to take my laptop out to meet a client. True, it was a smart bag - it had extra compartments that provide additional storage, it was padded for your laptop's safety, and it evan has matching usb shuttle that can hold two usb drives. But it wasn't logical for me.

But hello hello, Hellolulu! This compact laptop case fits me so well. It offers two ways of carrying my laptop - horizontal and vertical orientations, and add three more carrying styles with the detachable shoulder strap sling. Variations are good, because sometimes you need to switch carrying positions to help your body breathe - if you know what I mean. 

Ok, I admit. It was the furry green soft velvet lining with that cute stiched-in name tag that closed the deal.

upgrade to simplicity

I need to update my website. It seemed so old fashioned and it needs an upgrade. I'm not planning to make a flashy-flash site or a very complicated one. I just want an easy-to-update website so it's easier for me to fill in new projects. 

Now I need a pencil and a doodle pad please. Let's brainstorm!

CoffeeNest Logo + Badge

Here they are! My highschool batchmate has ordered badges and a logo design for her group, CoffeeNest. From my giveaway tokens she had an idea to give her friends a friendship badge this Christmas. Brilliant! 

I didn't go with the coffee cup because... well, there are too many coffee cups in the world! So I've settled for a "coffee tree" instead with their lovely group cat beside it. Yey!

i am govinda.

I am hosting and "renaming" my portfolio site to a new home. Thanks to an old friend, Jeffrey Wong, he rescued the life of my designs on the internet back in 30minutes flat. Genius!

visit www.iamgovinda.com

digital practice makes perfect

It's my pleasure to be invited by my good friend, the very talented Samantha Lazarte to be part of digital practice. An office-less canadian company that caters digital services such as CAD and 3D Visualization, Scaled Models, Corporate Branding and Websites. This is the perfect time for me to do extra work (and extra money). Not that I've got all the time in the world, but this is exciting for me to design dance again.

For more information about digital practice, please visit www.digitalpracticecanada.com

full-time

I am now officially unemployed, full-time mother and wife. If that sounds relaxing and stress-free, let me tell you how fully booked my calendar is.

Come 4th of july, my son will turn two years old. That means I need to get him a cake (something that will really make him happy and hope he will blow out his candles), balloons (the ones that stay up), and prepare lunch for the family. That's two days from now.

But at least we got one item down: giveaways for his playmates and friends. This was his Momila's idea. Before she flew here, she made out these cute car-printed loot bags. I'm so lucky to have a hyper mommy - the gift giver kind :) Plus I made out badges for them to keep, to remember Zaiid's special day.

Come 8th of july, we fly back to Cebu. That means I need to shop for my pasalubong. Believe me you don't want to see the list! So far, I got half of the boxes that got little red x marks on them. Not bad.

I'm running out of time and this pregnant lady is running out of breath.

Last MileHigh Day

I have been part of the Signature family under MileHigh Media for almost a year (11months) as their web and graphic designer. Generally, it's been fairly relaxing to me - in terms of having all the creative freedom. I have made good portfolio from websites to pages of Aircrew magazine which I am proud to say that I have satisfied the clients and the company. (in photo: Christmas 2007)

(photo above: from my Signature family)

I had to make last minute amends on a website on my last day. It was a bit funny and annoying at the same time because these amends include font types, alignments, photos used. It was crazy! But in the end, I made them happy. They gave me flowers to say their thanks. I've never received thank you flowers from a client... pretty sweet.


I will definitely miss working in a corporate world - meeting clients, beating deadlines, pride of doing something good for a brand, creating friendship, earning... All these I will miss but I can't wait to just be at home with my kids, taking care of my puddings, making our home worthwhile. (in photo: my desk, desktop. Wacom not included in picture - will terribly miss it!)

little tokens of farewell

These are the tokens I'm giving out to my colleagues as my farewell bid. Hopefully they'd remember me as not just the smallest pregnant lady they've seen - but as a friend... I hope I'd leave a hearty mark in their memories :)

These are for the bosses. For Paul who first noticed my talent and gave me a spare chair to join the team. For Lisa who easily gets amused by my works and knows how to push my time to the limit. Cheers to the Halpins!

These are for the two of my favorite friends in the office. Two is such a lonely number I know, but who cares? Their friendship is genuine!

For Kimberly who's never discriminating, every warm and loving - thank you.



For my Tagalog Katokwabots - labsyu ever! I will miss you and your exciting snaks and kayabangan and kasupladahan. (Sorry, can't compose English translation)

Dinner at Kimberly's

It was her idea to have dinner at her place before I leave Dubai. She was our General Manager before she became our friend. But even then, she had the magic of staying sunny despite the pressure she got from our boss. She cracks jokes and tells "weird-story-of-the-day" before each boring office day ends. No room can stay dull having a Kimberly Tully around.


I requested my dear Manona to cook us her special Chicken with Mushroom before her flight to Italy that night. I can't help it, I had to let them taste how good it was! And indeed, they all had their fill. Kimberly made her famous Lasagna and for dessert she made Death by Chocolate. Well you can just imagine me unbuttoning my skirt!

While us girls were busy with Kimberly's Scrapbook show-and-tell, them boys were babysitting Zaiid! My son felt the warmth of the Tully's and he didn't throw any tantrum. He even forgot to ask for his milk. He played with Karen's husband, Paolo and insisted on playing "blocks" with him throughout dessert break. He fetch stones for Kimberly's husband, Mark and gave out fake laughs, ran around... it was a long, cozy night.


I gave Karen and Kimberly little tokens of thank-you's. Kimberly gave out a sweet sob for me. I would definitely miss their company. Thanks for the friendship guys, will miss you.

I am being too pregnant.

3oth of June marks the last day of my office life (temporarily that is.) and 8th of July marks the day we fly back to Cebu.

That makes me really excited and depressed at the same time. How can I be of two feelings? Is that possible?

Besides dealing with tight deadlines, meeting clients, making sure I'm on track, getting stressed... Besides getting frustrated about not getting things done yet: preparing for Zaiid's second birthday, preparing my goodbye tokens, shopping for pasalubong... Besides getting a bit scared once in awhile knowing I'd soon go through the horrible labor drama and c-section pains... Besides having a long TO DO list before we fly back to the Philippines... Besides being down, to be away with my husband again, knowing he will miss Zaiid every second of his day...

But I am excited. Excited to have another babyboylove, to recreate motherhood experiences again, to have given the chance to do better as a mother. Excited to become a full-time mama officially to my two boys. I am excited to meet up old friends again... To be back home in Cebu... Excited to show Zaiid anything Dubai hasn't got...

Maybe I'm just being too pregnant (if there's such a thing).

the badges of motherhood pride

This was my favorite bag. It carried 4 badge designs I made. I was so inspired by the fact that I am a mother and that I have the most precious littlest being in my life.

(Now it made me think of getting my officemates some badges before I go as a thank-you token. Hmm.. not a bad idea)

Congratulations to my Mommy!

Congratulations Momi!

My mother was inducted into office as Vice Pres of The Philippine Society of Hospital Pharmacists (PSHP EV Chapter) at Casino Español last March 15 2008. We're proud of you Momila!

By the way, I designed the gown she's wearing hehe. Doesn't she look too gorgeous for a grandma?

i don't feel like working today.

TO DO:
- mock-up for CD cover designs
- Bags of Sens logo design amends
- Prepare final artwork of tri-fold brochure and folder
- new folder design

I'm the type of designer who wants to get things done before any doing any extra unrelated-to-work stuff... like blogging. Instead of getting that list out of my plate, I am composing this entry. I don't feel like working today. I feel tired and lousy and sleepy altogether. Can I just go home and sleep?

back in office life.

I am back in the office. 30 more minutes to go and I'm home. Can't wait.

1. Murali (the printing press guy) came to me this morning to show me the business cards in violet. He said I have written to the envelope "special violet". I cannot in my entire recalling power imagine me writing something like that. But he insisted so I said it was my mistake. The files on the CD however are perfect in blue. Weird. So why would you print them in violet when in fact the files are not?

2. I've heard the news that my bosses (a.k.a the owners of the company) are moving down to Australia but would still continue to run the business. Hmmm... I think no one was convinced.

3. Nauseous again. Bright lights and computers combined is a killer.