My life in 150 words, brand ambassadors the Ritz-Carlton way, HTML for Babies

Smiley in the sky

148 words - My life is all about LEARNING

I am a girl from the farm who moved to the metro to get better education. After studying, worked in multimedia, communications and IT companies. While working, met life partner. Married at 25. Had first baby the following year and the year after that.

From then, family life became second phase of my life. Left corporate career to focus on child rearing. Then found a new calling in the language of HTML and CSS. Started working freelance while balancing home management and raising kids. Learning a lot in all these three categories.

Now, in preparation for my next life phase – social entrepreneurship, husband and I knowing all we can. Perfect timing because kids have started school too and are getting busy learning. Waiting for our cue. Claiming victory that is in Christ Jesus. Trusting in His curriculum yet failing daily. Trying again and again with His mercies.

Try writing about your life in 150 words too. It will simplify and focus your perspective. :)

After AIDA, the goal is advocacy
Learned that in doing business, maintaining a customer-client is as important as getting them. Turning them as brand ambassadors the way Apple does is the ultimate goal. How to achieve that? Here's Ritz-Carlton's approach:

Every employee can spend up to $2,000 on his/her own to help a customer. One story that stuck out in my mind was a guest who lost an engagement ring on the beach beside the hotel. When they mentioned it to a hotel employee, the employee went and purchased several metal detectors and, with the help of other employees, searched the beach and found the guest’s ring.
It’s safe to say that guest will be telling people about The Ritz-Carlton and the lost ring story for years to come. That kind of brand ambassador will bring in more new customers than any slogan or ad copy.

Source: SitePoint

HTML for Babies - Will you get one?

September 2009 in photos - or something like that

Sling and Stone Web Design Employee Number 2 - Air Jordan

Pre-Nacho day. Now Marj and Tat's a trio with Ignacio... what's his second name?

Tony and Mau finally tied the knot - August 2, 2009

Mid-year Milestones

It's already half-way of 2009. I couldn't say that it has been so far, so good. I really feel like things are going too fast for me. The hours of a day are not enough for the things to be done, so I end up with this long list of carry over to-do's.

Meridian parents
But major accomplishments include having moved to our long-term residence here in Quezon City. Lois has just finished her summer orientation classes with Meridian International Learning Experience. She's an incoming preschooler. At the end of the class, her teachers talked to Paul and me. They said Lois has caught up with the routine of the class. Her being one of the oldest in the group shows, she silently holds the hand of her crying classmate. She has adjusted well. She talks with her teachers, showing to them her lovely dress. They described her as the gentle kind. Well, I'm fine with that.

Fitness buffs
And, another milestone, having enrolled at a gym near our place for wellness management. Yup, Paul and I are serious about living strong until the end. We've been gym regulars since Saturday. Doing cardio exercises and lifting weights. Monitoring what we eat and drinking milk. What I like about the gym is that it's population is just right. I don't know if it's because we go there during off-peak hours which is morning. So far, I've spotted several ABS-CBN 2 talents already, not that it matters, but maybe the place is really not so packed that's why celebrities prefer it over other facilities in the area.

So far, we're doing what Ms. Xhi, our trainer, listed us to do. The machines to use, number of reps and weights plus the diet. I guess though, we are failing at the diet. The plan says three glasses of milk and five servings of protein. My estimate is that I'm under consuming. This morning, one guy trainer there said it's best to not drop the weights of the machines. Maximum muscle workout is achieved when you continue to do your reps while holding the weights. I tried it and it's much harder. Wasn't able to do minimum repetitions for the arm lifts at 10lbs, but for the other workouts, was able to finish up to the second sets with much higher weights. Hehe!

Web newbie
On the hunt for the best commercial biz location for us, and it seems like the Lord has delivered once again. On my way home, I saw this row of small stores with one unit unoccupied. I inquired and found out the place is for rent. Fee is very much within the target budget we've allotted. Area is promising, best among all I've seen. Will submit the proposal tomorrow along with the processing fee. In about two weeks, we can start fixing the place and then, we're off to business.

form> function() & .class
Now that topic is business, let me announce the first Philippine web design conference. I've signed up and am hoping to win free tickets, that's a P1000 thing, that's why this announcement. I've visited the web site of the group who's hosting it, Philippine Web Designers Organization, and it looks promising. I hope the Philippines can become great at web design, and this is a good start.

Save the date, July 10 8am to 5pm at the Asian Institute of Management across Greenbelt 1 in Makati. Benefit from the genius of Rico Sta. Cruz - Creative Director, U.S. Auto Parts Philippines; Nap Lara - Software Developer, Friendster; Regnard Raquedan - Web & Usability Consultant; Jojo Esposa - Founder, Philippine Web Accessibility Group; Marco Palinar - User Interface/Web Design Consultant; Gail dela Cruz-Villanueva - Creative Director, Sheero Media; Luis Buenaventura II - Co-founder and Social Software Architect, Syndeo Labs; Director of Engineering, Exist Global. Honestly, have no idea who these people are but you can always google their credentials, right?

Schedule of activities on July 10 is:

* 08:00am-08:45am - Registration
* 08:45am-09:00am - Opening Remarks and Introduction to PWDO by Sophia Lucero
* 09:00am-09:45am - Design 101 by Rico Sta. Cruz
* 10:00am-10:45am - Interaction Design by Nap Lara
* 11:00am-11:45am - Web Standards, Accessibility, & Usability by Regnard Raquedan
* 12:00nn-12:45pm - Lunch
* 12:45pm-01:15pm - Disabled Friendly Awards by Jojo Esposa
* 01:15pm-02:00pm - Sponsor Talks
o Search-friendly Web Pages by Aileen Apolo of Google
* 02:00pm-02:45pm - Workflow by Marco Palinar
* 03:00pm-03:45pm - Industry Tips by Gail dela Cruz-Villanueva
* 04:00pm-04:45pm - State of the Web by Luis Buenaventura II
* 04:45pm-05:15pm - Panel Q&A

The event is still open for sponsors, if interested click here. Around 400 attendees are expected, and you could be one of them. Or like me, you can also earn your way in through the free ticket promo.