Study Saturday: Rural Rewards

Happy Birthday to my fellow school teacher, my Lola Rosing, who would’ve turned 106 today!

This spring☘ has challenged me in an array of ways along this countryside, which makes my work worthwhile.

Recently, we had our 🌎cultural🌏 🔖reports, and next week will be filled with résumés📑 and 💼interviews!

I aim for my students to accomplish these A’s💯 this semester:

• Appreciation of cultural diversity 🌍
• APA research writing style mastery 📚
• Ambition of maximizing their potential 🏅
• Audience-oriented speeches 🎤
• Advocacy of their teammates 🏆

As for yours truly, my own scholarly growth continues as I prepare my 🏐🏈🏀sport⚾️⚽️🎾 psychology presentation next month!

Southwestern Psychological Association-bound!

Study Saturday: The Show Must Go On…

Happy One-Week Anniversary of my Doc Grad!

This is where I reminisce about GOD’s plan.

When I thought that things were going wrong just because they didn’t go my way, it turned out that everything fell into place perfectly:

My Intent	What Went Wrong	GOD’s Perfect Plan
To wear my medal at my public dissertation defense and graduation	I couldn’t find it where I thought that I stored it … or anywhere else	Bishop Mike blessed me before my dissertation defense and gave me the Pope Francis rosary
To have my professors sign my dissertation with our dissertation signature pen	I misplaced it from the special spot where I set it aside for the past few years	Brought the “I Thank GOD for You” pen that Sister Jyothi gave us Religious Education teachers
To film my public dissertation defense with the tripod from Bestie Evie	Despite deleting Fast and Furious from my 128GB iPhone 6 plus, I still ran out of storage space as I presented results for my 15th out of 17 null hypothesis	Lessons learned: don’t consume too much memory on my devices or include so many variables in my research – but at least I recorded the majority
To walk across the stage without falling flat on my face – while wearing my cowboy boots instead of stilettos (like my high heels at my previous graduations)	I faced my school President while my dissertation chair hooded me instead of the crowd like the rest of the doctoral candidates	Bestie Evie pointed out that she noticed how I did the sign of the cross before I walked across the stage – which showed  that I put GOD first
To reserve the restaurant for my luncheon 3h after my graduation start time	Car accident on the major incident delayed our graduation procession, and major traffic jam getting out of parking lot delayed my reception	Time to catch up with my dad’s fellow Filipino Catholic USAF buddy with whom he was stationed in Germany and his wife (so we didn’t join impatient drivers and passengers) – shared stories

Thanks: GOD, my parents, my bestie Evie & her family, Drs. D & C-B, my colleagues + Team Dr. D for sticking w/me through my PhD journey! Scored this goal, now onto my next role #TitaElaine #MiniCOOLEYonTheWay #AnydayThisHOLYday #DISPObustAFlow #DrDISPObustAFlow #DISPO #TeamDrDISPO #TeamDrD #DrD #PhD #DoctorOfPhilosophy #3rdDegree (3 stripes) #OurLadyOfTheLakeUniversity #OurLadyOfTheLake #TheLake #OLLUSaints #Saints #WingsUp #PTL #PraiseTheLORD #PreciousTreasureLady #PrettyToughLady #WhatAWayToWrapUp2015 #YearOfFinishing #appreciate #graduate #celebrate #cheers #salud #GODblessUsEveryone ☝🏽️✌🏽🙏🏽👐🏽💒🏤⛲️🎓🎤🏅🏆🏈🏀⚾️🎾⚽️⛳️✨💫🌠🎇🎆🍾🍹🍷🍸🍻🍝🍨🍮

¡Gracias a Díos!

Working Woman’s Wednesday: Dissertation Declutter

Kicking off my first committee defense day: coffee mug for this clutterbug–shutterbug/my cup of joe & carrot cake from the baby shower of my Sis Jo Mama!

Happy National Dessert Day!

C is for … Carrot Cake * Cream Cheese * Chopped Pecans

My peers who’ve preceded me in finishing their doctor of philosophy degrees can agree:

Cleaner and clearer are better.

That means: clean desks and clear minds …

Plus clean PowerPoints to clear our minds!

Two of my esteemed classmates who graduated a few years ago and whose guidance I sought for my paper and slideshow both explicitly pointed out that I most certainly must cut back

Down to 120-140 slides, no more than 150!

As the ☼summer☼ drew to a close ~ during my most recent hurdle (that lasted four months as we entered fall term), my statistics ~ I already reached 300+ slides and reached 300+ pages of my dissertation

Yet that’s way too many to fit into a two-hour presentation (including professors‘ Q&A) ~ so I’ve reduced down to almost ½ so far!

This slide: an indicator that I measured a TON of stats! I ended up taking out 50+ slides last night … Shooting to eliminate more. Next issue: making sure that the fewer slides that I look less cluttered!

Just as I’ve had to minimize my clutter-bug and shutter-bug ways, I’m also de-cluttering / cleaning and clearing up my PowerPoint

That way, I can advance into the next round!

Study Saturday: Presentation Prep

Who would’ve thought that the advice offered by Belinda Selene in this month’s Seventeen magazine would actually help yours truly (who’s double the title age)?

Belinda Selene also suggests concealer to prime eye shadow ~ which can be used in lieu of eye liner to prevent smudges! | Courtesy Seventeen magazine, October 2015

Indeed, this tip is relevant to ~ not only social media trendsetters with followers, but also ~ anyone who has an audience ~ in particular:

• My speech students, including for their upcoming informative speeches
• Yours truly in my rounds of dissertation defense, starting with committee

Apparently, Jessica Alba must be extremely influential with her following ~ she’s now branded produce! | Courtesy Seventeen magazine, October 2015

Bottom Line: Public Speaking revolves around our Audience, just as Writing revolves around our Readers!

I’ve already been on-point with making this Neutrogena base for my face as my go-to double-function foundation for SPF coverage and acne prevention/protection! | Courtesy Seventeen magazine, October 2015

Study Saturday: Schooled By The Sopranos

Quick breather from my research writing for refreshment🍮 & reception🍭

📊Stats📉📈 at 💫💸Starbucks☕️ are where it’s at ~ got this comfy cozy horseshoe booth to myself, booyah!

Strolling through campus for a quick snack🍩 ~ chocolate croissant is as close as I can get to a cannoli ~ & fresh 🌟perspective!

While 💡studying✨ my 🔭statistics🔬 📙book, I came across this Bill Cosby example!

 It’s business training without the whacking🔫!

Out of the business-savvy shows out there, my personal favorite would have to be the The Sopranos. I’ve always been fascinated with mafia  ~ not that I’m interested in joining the mob ~ but because organized crime still involves communication and leadership that I’ve studied and taught all through college and graduate school, such as mobster managers

• Sonny Corinthos, the “King of Port Charles” in General Hospital, and
• the movie Goodfellas, in which the main character’s wife’s character is played by the shrink on The Sopranos!
  

  Until I received my book order, Amazon provided electronically reading from Kindle!

  Tony Soprano may not have written the book on leadership …
  

… but I’m reading a couple of books📚 that are written about his management ~

  

• both for pleasure

• and to quench my thirst for knowledge on my major course of study!

These 📓readings📔 offer insight on intrapersonal communication * professional relationships * making decisions * managing conflict * solving problems!

The Sopranos Business👔 Books📕 (for your reading👓 pleasure)

• 📗 Tony Soprano on Management: Leadership Lessons Inspired by America’s Favorite Mobster by Anthony Schneider
• 📙 Leadership Sopranos Style: How to Become a More Effective Boss by Deborrah Himsel {from 👛Avon💄}

The Sopranos‘📺 “Cliffs Notes”📔/Greatest Hits📻 (if you have ⌚️2h/video🎥 to spare for your entertainment)

• 💽Best of Seasons 1-6
• 🎬E! True Hollywood Story

Fuggedaboutit! ✌

Foodie Friday: Photo & Scholar Mode

I kicked off my 🏤school trip🚘 with 🌇Sunday 🍹brunch🍳

🌇Sunday Brunch🍳 Sippie🍹 Selfie: CocoRita tickles my fancy! #salud

CocoRita + DosRita = Lifting Up These Pinay’s Spirits! 🍹🍸

Sopa de Fideo y CocoRita a Rosario’s 🍜🍹🌹

Followed by a cool down from my grad photo shoot at my fave Irish🍀 🍺pub🍻

Storm from Pat O‘s hits the spot! #salud #refreshing 🍹⚡️☔️

Selfie S is for … * 🌇Sunday Sippie🍹 Selfie * Storm that tastes as yummy as it pairs well with my dress #ColorCoordinating 🍹👗

Then I grabbed my 👓study📚 grub and more from 🌠💸☕️Starbucks!

A java perk exclusively for iPhone users: we’re the only ones who can order Starbucks to save ourselves a wait in line! 📲📱🌠💸☕️

Knocked 2 birds with 1 stone: picked up the latest Cosmo for Blogilates & my iPhone order @ SA’s B&N Starbucks! 📲📱🌠💸☕️📖💞💓

C is for … Crafted especially for Yours Truly * Caramel * Cocoa * Coffee * Coconut * Coolness 📲📱🌠💸☕️🌰🍯🍫

Caring is sharing: Mocha Swirl Drizzle ~ E to the Dizzle #DISPObustAFlow

My baon (portable meal) for school, straight from Starbucks! #itsAWrap 🌠💸🍱

When I returned home, I hit another university where I’m approved to research and lucked out because its library has more 🌠💸☕️Starbucks love!

Knocked 2 birds with 1 stone: Computer company at the library + Starbucks for a scone! #DISPObustAFlow

Study Saturday: Stats Comic Relief

As I’ve been entering my data this week …

This Friends scene crossed my mind:

For those of you who’ve crunched numbers, you may understand why!

I have the entire Friends series on DVD, and it still never gets old. 🙂

Happy ☼Father’s Day☼ mañana =D

2 for Tuesday: 2-step Tex Mex Chili

Who’s in the mood for good study food?

🙋🏻I sure am! 💭

My mom always comes through for me:

• After I returned from my 🎾research🔬 🚘trip, she and my Bestie‘s mother both welcomed me 🏡home🏠 with chili: Mami Aya‘s colorful vegetarian 🍆variety🌽 & Mama Maggie‘s award-winning 🍖meaty🍣 version!
• Today, Nanay cooked this southwestern🍛 recipe, chock full of veggies and meat (her lean ground white turkey)

Mami Aya’s Tex Mex Chili🍲 pairs perfectly with Trader Joe‘s Veggie Flaxseed Tortilla Chips! Jalapeño adds that extra kick! #pica 

Excellent timing for this hearty, savory dish🍲 while I crank out 💡study📈 on this ⚡️rainy☔️ day!

Manny Monday: Fight, 4th, Cinco, Nurses & Moms

Happy May the 4th be with You!

Monday’s multiple feature is about May days …

• First, I traveled to SA for school and to meet with my esés for the game and fight*

Pinoy Pride ✌

*My remarks about Manny:

• He has way more going on in his life than just being a fighter:

1. He lives by his faith
2. He is a hero to his family and my native country due to

• his generosity from his earnings and
• his political career

… while Fighter is the only identity that Floyd Mayweather has achieved:

1. Professionally, obviously
2. Personally ~ considering his history of violence

This self-proclaimed $Money$ was in it for

• The title and to remain undefeated
• $elfishly keeping his winnings

 

• Before and after my trip back home, I had to celebrate May the Fourth be with You 

*** Star Wars *stars* ***

Cory’s King Cavalier Spaniels

Charlotte Bleu as Chewbacca

♪♫Rowley Jazz♫♪ as R2D2

Chris’ Rat Terrier

Snappy Jack as Darth Vader

My Double As as Princess Leia

Queen Asia with Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s Krayt Dragon

Princess Annie with Mardji Elephants

• Please vote for my Nurse Mom the Bday Girl in spirit of Nurses Week (May 6th-12th) and ☼Mother’s Day☼

Please go to No. 16 of 37 to find us, thanks!

• Please read this San Angelo Standard-Times article about my grad school classmate who asks for us to donate in the wake of the Nepal earthquake (in which I’m also quoted)

Throwback: Decade ago when we were awarded with our ASU grad scholarships

• Here are throwbacks from celebrating Cinco de Mayo Fiesta when I was teaching en el Valle

 

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo mañana!

Study Saturday: Higher Ed Cred

Happy Belated #GenTX Day!

Yesterday, we celebrated our advocacy for higher ed in the State of Texas🏇 by sharing our college shirts on 📳social media ~ great timing before my school trip today!

This raised my awareness that I’ve been showing team spirit📢 a great deal lately!

Our Lady of the Lake University ~ where I’m finishing my PhD🎓 

Duke University ~ for Coach K‘s 5th NCAA🏆

 

 Texas Lutheran University ~ whose basketball🏀 team won the SCAC  

Cisco College ~ where I teach speech🎤 before my R.E. 💒 

Since I’m still surveying Texas student-athletes for my dissertation, NCAA players in the Southland Conference (Division I), Lone Star Conference (Division II), Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference (Division III) and NAIA Red River Conference can participate here!