Ibyang Sanchez, Author at Ibyang

Keyboard Case For My Tablet

6 February 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 5 Comments Category: Blog Life, Tech World

In less than two months, my iPad 2 will turn a year old and honestly, the only protection it’s ever had are the plastic screen protection, clear case (for the back), smart cover and an oversized laptop sleeve which is originally for my netbook.

For the longest time, I’d stare at iPad cases in every gadget store, hoping to find the perfect case for me. And everytime I’d choose one, I’d bring it back to the shelves after a few minutes, unsure and hesitant. Sometimes, I’d lust over iPad cases from Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs but again, I can’t find enough logic in me to buy them. While I understand that they’re designer cases and pretty, I cannot succumb to shelling out money only for aesthetic reasons.

And then there’s the keyboard. Anyone who blogs or writes would find it easier if their tablet has a real keyboard. The Husband had suggested buying me an Apple keyboard before we went to Seoul last year but I shunned the idea because I didn’t want an additional gadget to think of when I travel. I’ve read a story about a blogger who owns an iPad and a separate keyboard which resulted to the blogger forgetting the keyboard at her hotel. I wouldn’t want that hassle on me.

Late last year, I thought I found the perfect iPad case for me which is an iPad case and keyboard in one. I didn’t buy it because I thought it wasn’t urgent anyway. I recommended the iPad Keyboard Case to one of my workmates because he said he wanted to use his iPad while attending classes in university. He bought one and found it really useful. Instead of writing down notes, he types his notes during classes on his iPad.

With plans of being more active in writing this year, I’ve decided to buy the iPad Keyboard Case soon. It didn’t occur to me that the Husband had the same idea. Yesterday, he once again made a gesture of thoughtfulness and generosity as he handed a post-birthday present.

If it were me, I’d probably grab any keyboard case I could find but the Husband did a bit of research and tested the ones available in store. He ended up choosing the Kensington KeyFolio Pro 2 Removable Keyboard because of its:

Tactile keyboard with high-performance keys optimized for touch typist (He didn’t like the quality of rubberized keyboards, he knew I wanted something that feels like a computer keyboard)

Removable Bluetooth keyboard delivers wireless operation (If I know that a keyboard isn’t critical to using it while I’m out, I can leave the keyboard at home)

Secured Velcro fastener ensures tablet vertical stability
View angle range from 70 to 20 degrees

Compact and functional 3-in-1 design
Folds flat and secures with elastic band for in case use
Easy port access to all iPad 2 controls and 30-pin connector
Cut outs for I/O ports, speakers, front and back cameras

Also, it’s much cheaper than other known brands in the market. Just a tip, make sure that the tablet case you will buy is the right one for your tablet model. In my case, the Husband had to double check whether he was buying a case for an iPad 2 because it had specified cut outs for the front and back cameras.

I’m now happily typing away when I use my tablet for blogging and writing articles.

Discovered Inspirations: Keep Moving to Achieve Balance

5 February 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 4 Comments Category: Discovered Inspirations

Today, the Husband and I went out to lunch with our friends today and one of them, Pam, gave us a card she beautifully and creatively made.

Discovered Inspirations: Keep Moving to Achieve Balance

Don’t you just love receiving personalized cards with inspiring thoughts that brighten your day?

Have a productive week ahead!

Grateful on my 35th

31 January 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 7 Comments Category: Charmed Life of a Mrs, Cherished Memories, Deep Thoughts, Milestones

I couldn’t let January pass without having a (belated) birthday post. This month has been amazing. I’ve always been glad that I celebrate my birthday on the first month of the year. I feel like it’s an advantage that I start my year celebrating my birthday and then focus on the rest of my year making my dreams come true.

My word on my birthday is GRATEFUL. It’s been my word for the past few months and I plan to make it my everyday word. GRATEFUL is my word because when I say that word, it is actually my prayer of thanks to God.

I’m on my 35th year and even if I still have many things to do, I’m very grateful for every blessing that has been given to me, my family and friends. I value every blessing, opportunity and circumstance that I’m able to witness in my life and my loved ones’ lives.

There were no plans for any birthday celebrations but it just happened. We have two group of friends whom we regularly hang out with and somehow the stars aligned that I got to spend time with them two weekends before my birthday.

My lovable Tweethearts had an 80’s themed party on the first Saturday of the month. It was a day filled with downing delicious home-cooked meals and singing our hearts out with the help of a Magic Sing microphone. Birit kung birit! It was so much fun singing and dancing to our favourite tunes (mostly) from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. We all went home with tummies full and hearts aglow from our get together.

The following weekend, I had dinner with my dearest Kolokoys at Phoenix Parramatta and savoured the best Chinese dishes ever created. I shared the celebration with two of our fellow Kolokoys who were also January celebrants, Gary and little Bella. The Kolokoys have a very special bond. Throughout the years, we have grown together like a family and have witnessed each other’s milestones. Compared to our past group dates, this birthday celebration with them was actually an impromptu celebration. A few days before Saturday, an email was sent and even if it was short notice, they all came. It was truly touching.

Two days before we left for Melbourne, we had a quiet dinner with my relatives. I’m so grateful that even if we scheduled it in the middle of the week, they were able to join us. Whether there’s an occasion or not, I love spending time with them.

Now the Melbourne trip, was yet another unplanned short vacation. We were having breakfast one Sunday in December and decided to just go ahead with it. We were actually set on staying in Sydney. However, celebrating 2 big milestones (our 5th wedding anniversary and my 35th birthday), we had that big urge to get out of Sydney and be somewhere.

As mentioned in a previous post, our Melbourne trip was truly amazing: celebrating with friends, having gastronomical indulgences with the Husband, watching a game at Rod Laver Arena for the Australian Open and being able to see one of the best tennis players of history, Roger Federer, made my birthday more fantastic.

Even if I was very quiet about my birthday at the office, the word got out and my workmates organized morning tea in honour of me.

And just when I thought that all the celebrations were over, the Husband went home last night with one of my favourite sponge cakes in tow. He made me wish and blow the candle on my cake as he sang “Happy Birthday” in Korean. Yes, in Korean!!! haha. How funny and sweet is that? The Husband said he thought that we should celebrate my birthday before January finally ends.

Five celebrations with friends. Five cakes. Four days in Melbourne. One tennis match I will always remember. Lots of gifts from family and friends. Sweet and touching birthday greetings throughout the month. The feeling that I’m loved and important to people whom I love too. Eternally priceless.

I’m GRATEFUL.

Discovered Inspirations: Create a Charmed Life in 2012

30 January 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 0 Comments Category: Ang Kalatas, Discovered Inspirations

Belated Kung Hei Fat Choi to everyone! As a belated New Year post, I would like to share with you my first article for Ang Kalatas entitled, “CREATE A CHARMED LIFE IN 2012“.

Although we will say hello to month of February in two days (how time flies!), any day is a good day to create a charmed life. So here are some tips I would like to share with you:

Everyday Living:

Start your day with a prayer, meditation or 10-minute silence. These activities guarantee a strong and centered spirit.

Never leave the house without making the bed. Tidy up the bed as soon as you wake up and it will surely give you a sense of accomplishment knowing that the first chore of the day is done.

When you wake up and look in the mirror, decide there and then that you are beautiful. Believe it and you will look it.

Never skip meals especially breakfast. It’s not worth having ulcers or any other internal bodily disorders just for the sake of looking sexy or skinny. Moderation to eating is always the key, not starvation to death.

Exercise! Physical activity assists in blood circulation and releases a neurotransmitter called Endorphins which aids in lowering the blood pressure and has been found useful in the fight against cancer.

Start the day with happy thoughts. If feeling a little flat or low or not-so-good, TRY, it will ease the gloominess somehow.

Write a journal with emphasis on two things: (1) Things I Learned Today and (2) Things I am Grateful for Today. When you have days when you feel depressed or sad, just read your past entries and it will surely make you realize that given unhappy circumstances, you are still blessed.

If feeling depressed or sad can’t be helped, just accept that there are days like these and you just have to go through them as gradually or as fast as you can. Give yourself some time to get things over with; however, it is not advisable to wallow for a long time.

Be friends with everyone you interact with—or at least be friendly (no need to be a snub). Everyone refers to people in your neighbourhood, the service staff of the restaurant you dine in, the attendant in the department store, etc.

Travel/Recreation/Leisure:

Travel once or twice a year, alone or with family or friends. Not only will you have a chance to relax but it will also give you the opportunity to re-connect with yourself (if alone) or your family or friends.

Learn something new. Attend pottery/art/photography/dance/coffee making classes—or whatever interests you. You may also want to learn a new language in preparation for your upcoming travel (e.g., a friend of mine enrolled himself to learn how to speak Spanish in preparation for his travel to Bolivia).

If you can’t travel, read travel books…this activity will help you enlarge your world.

You need not travel far in order to relax. Have a staycation! Spend a weekend at a nice hotel and just hang out the by the pool to de-stress. This will also be a good time to avail of the hotel’s spa services.

Maintaining Relationships:

The key is to spend time with family and friends and most importantly with you.

Have weekly or monthly dinners with friends.

Have weekly dates with your significant other.

Celebrate little milestones. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive dining out experience. Little milestones can be celebrated by having pizza night or sushi night.

Be there for family, relatives and friends by attending their parties (take note: you should be invited of course)

Never ever leave a sour note with a loved one. End fights as soon as possible. Time is precious and it’s never wise to spend it angry with a loved one.

Tell your loved ones that you love or miss them. Even if action speaks louder than words, our loved ones would still appreciate it if they hear us say the words “I love you” or “I miss you.”

Let our loved ones know that we appreciate them. Always say “Thank you.”

Financial Aspect:

Save, save, save.

Live simply. Live within your means and always be practical when acquiring things you want.

Aside from putting some of your money to savings, you may also opt to set up funds like a Christmas Fund, Birthday/Anniversary Fund, Travel Fund, Emergency Fund, etc.

I hope these tips will help you become a better “YOU.” Remember to focus on the positive side of things and always treat challenges as an avenue for learning as that is the best way to living a life of charmed experiences.

Let’s all have a charmed life!

Korean Cafe in Sydney: My Sweet Memory (MSM)

27 January 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Food, Restaurants

This is my newest favourite cafe in the city. I discovered My Sweet Memory (MSM) last year during one of the weekends we had dinner at Strathfield. I’ve been hanging out in Strathfield because of the Korean shopes, cafes and restaurants there. However, I’ve been discovering a few more Korean restaurants in the city of Sydney lately and this was one of them.

My Sweet Memory (MSM) is a stationery cafe located in Bathurst Street near Townhall Station. It is a quaint and charming cafe that serves good coffee and delectable cakes and pastries.

They have a wide array of stationery items you can buy. They also sell shoes, bags and polaroid cameras.

Cute E-postcards. I hope they have a Sydney or Korea E-Postcard but they don’t. Instead they have Tokyo and Paris.

I’ve been spending all my “Me” times at MSM. The staff are accommodating and they make good coffee.

I tried their New York Cheesecafe and it was indulgent.

Once I ordered their Coffee+Macaron for AUD$5.00. It was a good deal but the Macaron was average. That didn’t stop me from enjoying my coffee though.

Whenever they serve your coffee, they always give a small sweet and crunchy biscuit which I love. The biscuits are also available in packed containers should you want to bring some home. It is also a great gift idea to loved ones.

My Sweet Memory (MSM)
95 Bathurst Street
Sydney, NSW