Tree Has To Go!

Tree during Fall season

Bye tree!

So, it's now a little more than a month that we decided to put down the tree. It has been quite some help during the summer, but annoying during the fall...you know what I mean? Plus, it gets so bushy and thick at the peak of summer that it covers almost the front of our house which we find it unpleasant to see. Since it would probably be a couple more years before we will move out and sell our house, the presence of it will probably not an attractive sight for prospective buyers.

We hired That Tree Guy to cut it down, remove the roots and I thought of replacing it with a Japanese maple tree which will be more attractively colorful most of the season ;).

That Tree Guy did all the purchase and replanting as well, a bigger bill for all the work that has been done but all will be worth it later on. I'm so excited to see this tree grow with its colors. Too bad, a day after it was planted, the weather went below freezing, so I couldn't water it. I think it won't die anyhow, as the tree guy said it would be okay and doesn't need to be watered when it gets too cold. Of course, I tried turning on the garden faucet and the water was frozen..LOL!

Checking Up Your Emotional & Behavioral Health

Each of us has a uniqueness instilled in us. We are born differently, in the same way that we have different reactions to anything to any stimuli that would come through us as we deal with day to day lives.

For instance, we encounter various issues of how we confront stress, loss of a loved one, abrupt transitions in life such as job, relationships, disappointments, depression, etc. They become so overwhelming that when everything becomes too much, our capacity to cope becomes too much to bear and we feel helpless.

Been there, done that, and am still undergoing through it.

I found a link that seems to be helpful; - http://www.nyjungian.com/. As I've mentioned, it depends on your level of coping. I can say mine is subtle, and I am slowly improving with my coping with a bit of self-help and advices. :)

But if you are looking for a New York Jungian Psycotherapy, you are so lucky enough if you are a New York-based. Check the link and you will be able to know more about Jungian Analysis. There are other resources you can read as well in order to help you cope up with New York Jungian Psychologists and analysts like Douglas Tompkins.

You can get in touch to schedule a consultation through their contact phone on their site or through email.

Live a life at peace through renewal and transformation. We all deserve to live a life to enjoy!

On The 8th Day Before Christmas!...

So, after we arrived from our 10-day Caribbean cruise, the house was a mess and there were tons of chores to be done. Laundry, cleaning, online tasks, mail sorting to catch up for our bills due approaching, etc...

Then, with all the tasks on the list I made, I noticed there wasn't even a single Christmas decor at home. One night, I went outside the neighborhood, and the neighborhood was full of glitters on their houses, trees well lit, and outdoor lights blinking. So, I thought it's time to do my decors, outside first!

Then a snow storm came! Ouch! So, change plans! I had to ask help from hubby to bring in the tree so I can put it up. Of course, hubby said the tree looks better if I do it alone...lol! Well, I don't actually mind decorating the tree alone, I enjoy it anyway :).

So, here it goes! I was able to put it up with all the decors. Oh, and the hubby helped me with the lights! (yey).

I also put christmas lights on the hallway upstairs. It was quite a bonus during nightime so I don't need to turn on the main light most of the time to save electric energy. lol.

Finally, I was able to hang out my two favorite stars outside the porch. It was freezing outside when I did it, but it was easy putting them on so it was not a big problem.

My house can be easily found during night time because of the dancing star lights. Nobody in the neighborhood has this, so I got the most unique light decor ever!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Learn To Live on a Bug-Free Home!

When bugs start to invade your home, just imagine how this can cause you thousands of dollars of damage to your property. So it is always an ideal key to prevent it or do early action to do something about it.

Here are some tips that can help just in case:

Avoid crumbs off counters and floors and keep food containers sealed tightly. But in order to win battle against pest attacks, you need to invest some effort and money as well.

Avoid damp locations because pests love this environment. So, be sure to check for leaky sinks, fridge and washers. Also, don't leave plants in trays of standing water, and if possible keep your pet's water bowls outdoors.

Seal cracks to avoid stinkbugs, termites and wasps coming in. If you got yard waste container or a firewood bin, locate it at least 3 feet from your home's exterior walls.

Also, keep your garden mulch at least 1-2 feet away from your home's exterior walls. You can DIY or hire a handyman and repair tears in doors or window screens, place caulk on holes in siding, repair all cracks on floors or porches and apply weather stripping around doors.

It's probably worth it to have a pro inspect your property regularly should you find out that termites/carpenter ants have invaded your neighbor's house. Costs often include some preventive treatments and you might also get initial consultation for free.

Know what kind of pests you're having. For instance, clusters of insect wings close to your windows and doors means you probably got termites, while piles of sawdust near your baseboards means carpenter ants are likely the culprit.

Check for presence of wasps sch as hives that might be hidden in the bushes and trees around your home, gutters, eaves and attics.

Be sure you know how much the cost to get rid of them. If you want to do it yourself, and you want to work on getting rid of roaches or wasps, sprinkle boric acid powder, insecticidal soaps or diatomaceous earth which is a fine white powder that dehydrates bugs under your kitchen cabinets, in closets and around the outside of your home.

If there are few stinkbugs just vacuum them, and try not to crush them...they stink! 

It's always a good idea though to call a pro if you have carpenter ants and termites. Their nests must be destroyed to solve the problem. This is done by applying products inside the walls. Depending on the extent of the problem, expect to pay several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.

For termites, you might spend a few hundred dollars for a termite warrant policy or "termite bond" which can also include coverage for additional treatment in the event they will return someday.

Just take note that when you hire a pest control firm, make sure it offers "integrated pest management" - which focuses on prevention and uses more harmless pesticides.

Phone App For Real Estate Agents

So, almost everyone is using smart phones...business people, students, parents, etc. Today, there are lots of phone apps for every purpose. Finally, here comes the mobile first tool for real estate agents on the go. 

Interested? Check what real estate crm can do for you and see the amazing functions that could make your tasks much even more convenient. 

You can manage your actual relationships even better and gives you a more organized, less cluttered workload. GoConnect can make you go a way, making your job more enjoyable and inspiring.

Last Night of Our Cruise!

Tonight will be a night of saying farewell! It was a 10-day full of fun and excitement, excellent food, friendly staff services, and awesome tours...what more can I say? I love Royal Caribbean! :)

So, we are just waiting for the farewell night show tonight at 6:30pm, then dinner after that.

It will also a night of busy packing, and this is the only part I don't like much..lol! But it's part of traveling, so it's understandable. Our 2 big luggages got heavier I guess because of some souvenir shopping we bought.

But the good news is that we already booked our next cruise for 2015. Next year, (2014)  is scheduled for our trip to the Philippines, so it's nice that every year there is one big event I always look forward too.

Happy! ;)

My Birthday Treat This Year!

I can say I've been so much blessed this year. I thank God for giving me another year and I am taking all His blessings gladly while they are being given to me abundantly.

As a birthday treat coming from my husband, we again had a 10-day Caribbean cruise. This is so far our 3rd cruise, and our 2nd with Royal Caribbean. 

We departed on the 26th of November, and so far so good. We've been signed up for tours for all of the islands we're visiting, and I really enjoyed our visits. 

How I wish I can upload a photo but internet access in the ship is really expensive. So, I thought I can just skip the photo sharing for a while until we get back home :(.

The good thing is that we got a lot of photos, and of course a lot of shopping :).

See you later folks!

The Dirtiest Things You'll Be Touching Today!

You might see them as ordinary things you meet and touch everyday, but did you know that what you think about those seemingly harmless stuff you handle often in a day can be 16,000 times more dirty than a toilet seat?...eeeewwww!

Here are some of the things you should be aware of:

> Your purse. Watch out for the bottom of your bag as it may have teeming with tens of thousands of bacteria. Germs and more germs attach themselves when you put your bag on the floor, - so try to keep it on your shoulder or lap. Also, opt for leather bags, because they are easy to disinfect with just a weekly wipe.

> Your Car Dashboard. Warm climates are ideal favorite homes to loads of bacteria, while cold areas are prone to molds. Use antibacterial wipes in cleaning your dash, headlight switch, radio and turn signal.

>Classroom/Office Faucet. An average classroom/office faucet handle can have about 32,000 germs per square inch, - according to National Science Foundation study. Teach kids to use paper towel while turning off the water after washing.

> Fresh Produce. Water mister spouts in the grocery store can also be filled with bacteria, which can get into your dinner when unwashed. Be sure to scrub veggies/fruits under cold water. Pat them dry before placing them inside your fridge.

The Best Thing About Coffee...

One early Sunday morning, while on our way to church, we dropped by to get some gas at High's. This photo was taken (if I am not mistaken) last spring.

So, this was the sign that greeted us while on the gas station. We were actually in a hurry catching our time since we were running late for church.

But you know what is in a good sign, don't you? LOL! Good deal for a coffee lover.

I am not a coffee lover, but I am not a coffee hater either. (Although now, I am on a zero caffeine tolerance!) since  my anxiety level is getting so annoying nowadays.

So, I spent another 10 minute-wait for my husband to get one BIG mug of his coffee that morning. Just seeing him smiling with eyes gleaming over that huge mug of coffee is a pleasant day, with just a buck! :)

Accessibility Made Simply Convenient

Home safety nowadays is not something to be shrugged off or ignored. This is practically more important for those members of the family who have difficulty being alone and mostly dependent on somebody for help.

I am fully aware about elderly people for instance who have difficulty going through the stairs in their homes and how difficult it is you could imagine without the help of a stairway lift as an essential tool of equipment so they could still experience some sense of independence, at least.

Are we not lucky enough to consider that today, we can get the choice on how we can make our home into a safe, livable and maneuverable place to live in through home access modifications?

Check Gamburd company for more informative resources about this home modifications and if you need one, don't hesitate to get in touch with them online or by phone.

Safety really matters!

Managing My Mail Piles At Home!

I surely hate clutters! There are times that I organize a lot ofmagazines, books, paper stuff, etc...but wait a minute! They pile up so fast that in a matter of a few days, they can be as tall as my thick shrubs on my front porch, besides the fact that they occupy a large volume of space on my cabinet racks.

I used to subscribe magazines and collect shopping catalogs from the mail. In a matter of just a week's time, my rack would be full of them and I don't even have the time to read them all.

I stopped the subscription of magazines late last year, and I had to toss most of them out to the recycle bin every time they come in a bunch!

The subscription is free because of the miles I earn from plane companies. I get the option to choose to get free magazines of my own choice or let my miles expire. So, I got to choose the magazines.

Well, I don't have time to read, and so I thought it would be useless to have them and let them sit on a rack and see them pile up.

Bankruptcy Consultation

Did you recently lost your job? facing foreclosure? or having trouble and stressful financial situation? If you think you are on the verge of getting into bankruptcy, some licensed bankruptcy attorneys are always willing to help you out. They offer free bankruptcy consultation that would help you choose the right ways to go through.

Filing for bankruptcy is not an easy process as each case is unique as well as each state has different bankruptcy laws and specific exemptions. This is the reason why you have to seek consultations to your legal representative for further advice.

Make that important move today before it's too late!

Are You Having Sleep Disorders? - Know The Key Symptoms!

Once in a while, everyone has restless night...but if one of your loved ones and/or friend has chronic sleep issues, see your doctor.

Here's what to look out for key symptoms:

Having a restless leg syndrome - you wiggle a lot. This neurological disorder affects 10% of adults and 2% in children. This symptom feels you always have the pressing urge to move your legs when you lie down to rest. Your sleep is disrupted by "buzzing" or itchy sensation during the night. Treatments that help are relaxation techniques, exercise and in some cases, medication.

Snoring loudly. - Sleep apnea can affect both men, women and children. Sufferers may gasp and may even stop breathing hundreds of times a night - which if left untreated can lead to heart disease. Other possible symptoms can be night sweats or morning headaches. Treatments that help are weight loss or wearing a mask that pushes air into your nose, mouth and throat.

Insomnia. - About 30-40% of adults have insomnia. This can become chronic if it lasts longer than a month and may require treatment that includes behavioral or environmental changes, relaxation techniques and sometimes medication.

Hotel Supplies & Equipments

Hotel Supply Online can be one of the best source of  where to purchase your hotel needs, particularly if hotels are big. In terms of quantity without sacrificing the quality of your items, ordering online in huge bulks is the most convenient and smartest idea of doing it.

Take for instance those huge hotels in Atlanta. Have you been wondering how much is being consumed daily just for toiletries alone? Can you imagine checking in to a hotel and they would always run out of toiletries or other equipments in your room almost daily? If big hotels are rated at their best and customers keep coming, it is because of the kind of Atlanta Hotel Supply they are partnering with. The more successful hotels are, the more credible their suppliers too.

Hotel Bar Supplies are also very essential that should be taken cared of daily, especially if the hotel has bar. As a traveler myself, hotel bars are just one of the busiest part of the hotel almost every night. The more busy it is, the greater would be the income! ;) I bet you would agree.

Creating Scents For Your Home Is An Art Too!

It's nice to come home from a stressful day of work, and then you forgot how tired you were when your scents greet you at the door. This might not work for some, but most people love it...I guess it just depends on how you choose your scents for your home.

So, what's the trick in choosing home scents that you would not end up over doing it?

Choose the type you prefer better. Most commonly used nowadays are scented candles, or sprays. I would prefer candles, as sprays sometimes can irritate the nose when you tend to overspray an area.

Scented candles release the most fragrance and ideally used for filling large areas in your home. For instance, if your area is wide, it would be nice pairing opposite scents. A good example of this would be pairing a dark, spicy black tea scent with jasmine.

You can control a subtle scent of the candle by either burning it for a short time, or setting it out unlit. So, you can control the strength of the scent by how often you flip the sticks of the candle.

Sprays are good to use in a kitchen after cooking, while potpourri is more subtle and ideal to use in smaller spaces.

Beware of those sometimes annoying aromas. Choose a good quality and quantity of essential oils and waxes. For instance, a gardenia room spray would be good which has large amount of natural essence.

Choose scents for your kitchen such as fresh and green to avoid competing with the food. Ideal examples to choose from would be fig, basil, mint and bergamot.

For bedrooms, you might want to consider spicy and romantic scents, or relaxing lavender.

Remove Common Stains At Home

Running to the dry cleaner shop isn't always the best thing to do when you have stains on your favorite white dress, suit or gown. It's just a matter of discovering what's inside your kitchen cupboards and learning a basic simple chemistry to do some "magic" against those stubborn stains.

Remove red wine with club soda or baking soda.

Remove dirt or rust with lemon or vinegar.

Remove ink with hair spray or rubbing alcohol.

Remove blood stains with salt water.

Some good points worth note-taking, aren't they? ;)

Yamaha's Musical Stand

Treat your musical instruments as your buddies...they need to be protected and cared for just like your human friends. Of course, the more we take good care of them well, the longer they would work well with the music we make, right? 

 How about a yamaha sousaphone stand for your "buddy"? Feel free to check around some information regarding its features and durability which matters most, I'm sure. It would be worth the money you spend for it. Consider it a worthy investment as well, don't you think?

My Roller Window Shade

There are those times that I sit for hours in the car and it feels so annoying getting a sun burned skin because of the scorching heat of the sun, particularly during summer.

I tried buying a window roller shade and it says it can provide a full window coverage, but it didn't say anything about what car model or how big does a car window does it cover in full. My car is a Toyota yaris, so it's small, but it does NOT actually cover the whole window in full.

There is at least 1/3 of the car window area not covered, but it's no big deal anyway. It does the purpose I wanted in general, and can cover those areas I want to be protected! ;)

It has 4 suction cups and has a easy-to-use retract button to pull the cover back up when not in use. There is also a suction cup attached at the bottom of the shade to make the shade stay put while using it.

So far, it is still doing its job well. So, am happy and contented. ;)

Balikbayan Box Update!

This has been long overdue with the update, but anyway, I was able to drop off and dispatched the most recent balikbayan box I sent last June 8, 2013 at the store. It takes at least 2 months to reach Philippine home, but it's worth it. The fact that I can put tons of stuff inside that big box is the best way to ship them in a cheaper way. 

Most items that I sent were curtains, bedsheets, kitchen wares, etc...mostly home stuff! I also bought rolls of window films that I can use to cover my bedroom windows which can help block the sun during day time. My house has big windows where the sun directly hits the windows. I thought I can put some decorative designs on the window for a more pleasing sight! The designs help block the sun as well. Hopefully, I can start working on those when I get my vacation early next year. Sounds another exciting activity worth looking forward to.

Martin Guitar Strings

Have you been tuning in your guitars lately? Be sure they are in perfect shapes and in their perfect tone. After all, even musical instruments deserve pampering and a tender loving care ;).... If you need acoustic guitar strings, it's time to get one. 

You might want to check those top rated and great martin guitar strings at musicians friend and surprisingly, you can even get big savings too! From the huge collection of choices, you can easily compare prices, features basing on customer's reviews.

Scarf Hanger Organizers

It has been a while for me having a tough time consuming job keeping my stuff in a closet. My closet space is so much limited so that every year, I usually give out my old clothes for donation. I actually feel better doing that way for a good cause and tax-deductible too! ;)

So, I guess I consider it fairly done. And of course, there's the feeling of great fulfillment too, knowing my stuff will benefit the less fortunate.

But much of some of my other clothing accessories that I love are worth keeping like scarves or belts for instance. The truth is, I am unconsciously buying more of them whenever I get the chance to shop in the store, and I am ending up making a huge scarves collection in my closet! So, they pile up and they consume space that fast.

So, finally I was able to find some good and helpful scarf organizers online and bought 3 of them.

I have 2 organizers with the same kind that can hold 18 scarves each, and one with a different style and design that can hold at least 28 scarves.

To make the story short, problem solved! They are perfect space savers in my closet! I hanged them neatly without having them crammed on top of a cabinet space.

High Quality Bath Sinks That Are Worth Your Money!

Since I and my husband purchased a house in the Philippines, it made me develop an interest in checking up many home accessories, including all home fixtures be it in the kitchen, bathrooms, patios, outdoor home decors, etc... In fact, we had remodeled our bathrooms and sinks recently, including some parts of our home like our outdoor patios and flooring. It was a burden in the pocket at times, but we have seen the final results, we were happy and we thought our money spent was all worth it. 

It was tough choosing those things that were to be replaced, because we wanted to be sure they are durable with good quality materials. I can say we were able to replace good quality bathroom sinks on both of our bathrooms upstairs and downstairs. It was also a bit of a challenge to look for those good quality bath sinks as we hop from store to store since online selling is not being done in the Philippines when it comes to this type of purchases. 

How I wish I could just have ordered online here in the US, but I didn't feel like risking for the shipping internationally. I know I can get better quality and lots of choices here, but I am not sure how compatible the model would it be. It is also a bit pricey doing it, so I thought I can easily do it with our home here when time comes.

The Trouble With The Big "M"...

So, it has been almost a month that I started feeling symptoms that don't seem to be right. I call it the big "M" and for women who are now at the prime age of their life surely know what I mean, right?

I am living in the age where menopausal blues are actively popping up every now and then. But it was only 3 weeks ago that I had the intense symptoms of heart palpitations and fast heart beat....so annoying and scary!

It was also within those weeks that I really felt so sick, the feeling of lightheadedness, and full of anxiety. I sometimes would just feel guilty that my husband would have to be disrupted from work because I have to call him so urgent that I really feel I would pass out, run out of breath and die and would tell him to come home right away! :((

I was able to keep holding on with these symptoms while we were on our 2-week trip to CA and AZ. It was the toughest feeling I had in my life feeling that way. So that, after we reached back home, I had to seek medical consultation, with the complaints of severe heart palpitations and fast heart beat. I was suspecting these are related to menopause, so I had cardiogram, no palpitations detected, but it showed I had fast heart beat. (I am suspecting because I was jittery and nervous too.) The doctor requested blood works to check if hormones are okay. But the results wouldn't be available until the next week.

Then a day after my check up, I had the spell once again...sweaty and cold hands and feet, fast heart beat, and I felt I was about to pass out! Called hubby again, and he had to run back home from work and called the doctor who was "on call duty" that afternoon. Luckily, the doctor responded back immediately, reviewed my chart asked about what and how I was feeling.

After an hour, hubby picked up the prescribed meds at the pharmacy. I had anxiety attack! I was given Alprazolam in a low dose. I took my first dose right away and it helped me. I was all calmed down and as if nothing happened. 

I still feel a slight mixtures of the big "M" symptoms...hot flashes, slight headache, dizziness, but I haven't had the palpitations and fast heart beat when I take the pills. 

I don't want to be dependent on the pills. It would certainly be a challenge for me on how to overcome an anxiety attack while learning how to finally stop the medication. 

So help me God!

High Quality Industrial Hoses By Delafield

Delafield petroleum drop hose is probably one of those industrial hose engineered to excel. Of course, Delafield has been in the business for quite a while, with a highly trained engineers and designers to do the job. 

Delafield Corporation is a known distributor of this kind of hose as well as those commonly used in the industry today such as those that utilize pumps, piping, valves, and others that are being used in the heavy industries nowadays.

Check it online.

Big Bucket Back Up!

I still recall my 2-month stay in the Philippines last year. As much as there were lots of fun hanging with my family and some friends, there were still some annoying experiences as well. I know these are no longer new to me since I've lived in the Philippines practically most of my life.

You know, there are things that sometimes "don't work" and services not so good, so to speak!

So, one day the water supply at home suddenly stopped running. I got 2 toilet and baths in my house, and we were 8 in the house. Just imagine a toilet being used by many people and there is no water to clean it. Sinks starting to stink, dirt everywhere coming inside.

It was so devastating...the management of the housing community didn't inform us about what was happening. I went to their office only to find out that there was a blackout and that the water company that supplies the water in the area can't pump up water because it relies mainly on electric service.

Well, no back up generator or something...just useless to ask those things because it won't help solve the problem. What else is new?

So, got to run to the store and I got 3 big buckets. This pink one was placed in my bathroom, the other 2 were placed in the other bathroom downstairs and in the kitchen.

We were "waterless" for 2 days, so I had to find a water shop that sells drinking water by gallons. I had to make the cars go several trips back and forth to load and unload gallons of water. And I had to spend out more money for those! Ugh!

It's kinda tough at times because it's not easy taking care a house in the Philippines and at the same time I got a house here in the US to care as well. I still love and enjoy staying in my own native land...I just have to be prepared for the things that can happen bad just in case.

Oh 'atta life! :)

Cool Nike Sunglasses!

Want to sport a new and more unique look? While wearing your favorite and comfy nike shoes for a walk, a jog or any of your sporting events, it's also the perfect time to wear your nike sunglasses as well, don't you think? ;) 

 If you still haven't got one, check them online (on the given like)...this is worth recommending to your friends as well if you want to. I love their designs! I am bookmarking it. Prices are reasonable enough, with the quality and all. Sunglasses are essential to wear outdoors for eye protection.

 If you love to do activities in the outdoor, then choose something with good, high quality ones for your protection.

Got My New Curtains!

I have been recently searching for curtains that would be much thicker and can block direct sun coming through my windows during the day. Direct sunlight always hit my window on my office room which is quite glaring and would be too hard for me to see my PC screen while I work.

I got so many curtains that are printed and lacey (which are my favorites) because I love colorful designs which I can match  with my wall or furniture ;). But I thought they are only for windows which are not directly hit by the sun. They are mostly flimsy and see through, mostly like sheer curtains..not ideal for blocking sunlight.

I finally was able to buy this online and is lined. It's a grommet curtain and a thermal drapery. Since I only got   a narrow window, I bought a single panel which luckily fits the entire window width...thank God for tape measures! ;) And, I was able to get a color close to my light green wall color. A good match! Am happy with it. No more sun, and no worries at night which covers my privacy as well, while I work late on my night shifts, hahaha!

On the other hand, I got another 2 panels thermal draperies for my windows at the bath tub area, fronting the shower room. I used to have blinds on them but they broke and all the panels were falling down. It would be cheaper putting curtains on them rather than buying 2 new blinds. I couldn't get a different color other than mocca, but since it's a plain color design, it wasn't bad!

They are on my windows now, and am contented!

Privacy secured as well...whew!

Dance Recital Gift Items

I just saw a ballet gift shop store online that doesn't only help its customers save their hard earned money when buying gifts for their friends or loved ones, but this store works for a good goal as well...and that is producing a fundraising program to help other ballet companies thrive to produce new dancers. 

It will be a continous history of helping many student dancers achieve their dreams as they took it from there.  

Check out those dance recital gift ideas that are proudly American made! There are wide variety of choices for dance gifts and keepsakes. Cool stuff!

Lost And (I) Found! ;)

Found these accessories on one of those old boxes that are about to be thrown away while I was segregating their contents. The old box was just sitting underneath piles of boxes that had been there for 8 years! 

We have actually a room in the basement full of boxes that haven't been opened yet. I asked hubby what are we gonna do with those boxes and he said we'll have to wait few more years before we can shred them and dispose them away. The good thing was he labeled them...they are all tons of papers for taxes and training materials that he used in his previous trainings.

I can probably search for more in those boxes, but it takes time doing it. It's also difficult to pull them out from the piles...so, I'll wait! :)

Vises & Milling Machine Accessories

Where would you go when buying your industrial parts and accessories? For sure when your company does big projects, you would not want to take risk in using machines and industrial parts that are made of poor quality, right? 

 Earning a good reputation in the business industry is an essential aspect to win lots of customers. So it is important as well to be sure that the company you trust in getting your products possesses a high credibility in experience and service  too. Check a wide variety of industrial vices to choose from depending on what you need. This is to ensure that customers would be happy to have what they need. Searching by category is easy, and shopping online is much more convenient ;).

Wall Accent ;)

I got this picture from my sis-in-law who manages my house in the Philippines while am away! :) She was telling she finally managed to hang the photo frame and she was letting me know if she placed it the way I wanted it. I told her it's very perfect. 

I actually would prefer calling it a "wall accent" as it was a perfect accent on my apple green-colored wall. There is actually a story behind this painting. (actually, there were 2 of them.) The other one is still waiting where it could be hanged ..lol!

The paintings were bought by the hubby  9 years ago during his first visit to meet me in Iloilo. That was when he was still my fiance' ;). We saw this guy carrying rolls of painting and offered us one. He successfully convinced my husband and we found ourselves checking the guy's painting one at a time. I am not fond of paintings, but his designs were all attractive. So he let me chose 2. It costed like $30.00 each for the paintings. It's a pastel painting made on a fabric.

And would you believe, these paintings were still rolled and never been touched since we bought them? It was placed in a drawer for 8 long years!

It was only late last year that we were able to find a framing shop there, we got a good price with a good frame design. 

These are but few of those things with a sentimental value and are worth keeping.

America’s Favorite Student Travel Company

Do you love to travel? Been there, done that, so to speak. But to those who love to do educational group trips, be it student or adult groups, it doubles the fun when you do trips together and at the same time learning many things as you go along, don't you think? I believe that educational tours are essential part of the learning process. But few things to consider should also be kept on the priority list for the security, safety and hassle-free trips on the way for the group members on tour. This should be the reason why we have to carefully choose which tour company will guide and protect you from any hassles that may happen...we never know. Accidents or something unexpected case scenarios happen in the least expected circumstances at times. 

 And also, if you are a member of a tour group, I am sure you would always be on the lookout for discounts and savings :). It's not that hard to find student travel discounts as well. It's just a matter of choosing the travel company that has good credibility and efficiency in delivering a high standard quality of service.

Food Tents

Finally, I was able to find a type of food covers online. I thought I can send these to the Philippines for food cover protection. These food tents are interestingly designed. It came in a long box, in 3 different sizes...(small, medium, large). They look like the above photo when opened. It is made with white screen cloth with smooth texture. I just stacked them up to see the sizes, wherein the small size is on top, and the large one at the bottom :).

They can be opened and fold like an umbrella. But two of them have some small beads on top of their tip when you open them, and the beads have to be pulled upwards to hold the cover open. Then pulling them upwards again will close the cover. It was kinda tricky at first for me to figure out how to hold it open, as there was no manual for instructions given when I received them.

Anyway, quite ideal to protect open foods on the table against flies and ants and bugs. They are mostly common in the Philippines. My dirty kitchen doesn't have screens and the preparation table is usually where food can be while being cooked. I have a small kitchen inside which are free from flies, but ants are persistent bugs...they are just popping out anywhere! A small container stand filled with water usually does the trick, with a food cover!...Voila! No problemo :).

Bird Poopies

This is what I found one Saturday morning on our car! Bird poop everywhere...not so sure, but it must be that those birds hate our car so much??? Is it probably because of the bright blue color or something?

The car is not even under a tree and it is always parked on our garage way where it is clear from any trees. So, it was like the birds really intentionally did it.

What a day!

Overwhelming Mails!

While I was in the Philippines, a month after, my husband was so ecstatic sharing me this photo! So, this one is actually the mails I received in a month! These are catalogs and magazines that come in the mail. I can actually receive 2-3 mags or catalogs daily, not to include some other  spam mails. And oh yeah, I also get spam mails from the postal mail, not only on my email :(....the usual spams like credit card offers, insurance quotes, bank offers, etc...

After two more weeks, I got this high stack!

If  you are an avid readers of magazines such as RedBook, Essence, Travel & Leisure, Cosmo, Wired, Health, Money..., I got them all! The fact that they are quite pricey at the magazine stands, I receive them for free! ;). This is a signed up subscription for my miles that I got from my plane trips. They usually expire in certain months and so before they expire, I subscribe as to what they offer, depending on the airlines I have miles with. So, they offer tons of magazines.

I don't even read these...I do quick scans of their pages then off to the recycle bin. They are still brand new for a month and they are already landing on my bin.

I have decided that I won't be subscribing anymore...somebody might need it more than me, and another thing is they are crowding my shelf. Whew!

Designed Postcards To Send For Special Occasions

Every year, I and my husband receive lots of cards during Christmas. It starts as early as 3rd week of December until post Christmas. Some friends and families of ours do usually send a post card-type, with their family photo on it and a special greetings on top and sometimes with a calendar for the next year. I find that a cool design instead of the usual ordinary Christmas card we see on the stores. 

 So, I thought of doing it too for this year's Christmas and holiday occasions ;). I was just browsing on where I could get a resourceful link for printing and customized designing for that, and it was such a perfect timing to note that there is a cheap postcard printing where it could lead me to choose those sites that offer what I need. That's nice to know. At least I can bookmark them somehow so as not to lose them in sight.

I might start designing as well. Christmas is way too far yet, but I can use some designs for birthdays too!

"Balikbayan Box # 5"

Last week, I finally was able to take a quick shot about what's happening with my balikbayan preparations..lol! So, the items are still on the floor, and I haven't opened the box yet. I know I am trying to be as prompt as possible with regards to sending it home soon, but I still don't have time to check the list for additional items. I have to make sure the box will be full and intact.

It is always of highly importance to look and check for any spaces in between when sending your items through a big box such as this, because spaces are not allowed!...LOL! It's like every space is as costly as gold, you know ;). That being said, I have to wait for more days until such time that the box would be completely full.

I bought 2 big boxes and they came with 2 smaller brown boxes (free). Cool :).

So, now, I can't still say I can send these so soon. But the things would be for my house in the Philippines. Items are not really so badly needed, so it might take a while before either one or two boxes would be dispatched. I am sending additional bed sheets and more kitchen stuff. Whenever I get the chance to roam around, I just do random shopping in stores for more items.

I Need The Low Carb Grocery!

Few months ago, my doctor found out that I had a high blood sugar, way back while I was having my vacation in the Philippines. After her brief interview on me, she then advised me to lower my carbohydrates intake...and yes, I was so guilty having huge intakes of carbohydrates in my diet those previous days before my blood works were done! Bad indeed! :(

I was further advised to go back to her after a month to check on my blood works again. It was just like a big challenge for me because I love to eat rice. In the Philippines, a meal wouldn't be complete without a bowl of rice on the table...and I eat lots of it. Lol! But, of course, this time, I thought discipline is the key.

I didn't have any single idea that I can find low carb foods online. But this one is a perfect link I shouldn't miss! So, I am bookmarking it. I do shop online often, so I thought, why shouldn't I be shopping for grocery this time? I would be calling it a grocery shopping  the healthy way! Thanks a lot for the link. ;)

The "Little Helper"

My niece, Martina

It's just so heartwarming to see little kids grow as they show interest in helping do household chores. Whenever I see little kids as young as her doing chores in their own little way, I can see myself in them. As early as 6-7 years old, I was taught by my mom to do basic things in the kitchen such as washing the dishes. And those were the days where most of the chores we do at home are all done manually. No dishwashers, no washing machines, no rice cookers, no electric stoves, etc...

Good job for my niece Martina for helping her mom. According to her mom, she pretty much is slowly learning how to iron clothes. ;) Those are just but ideal things for her to practice and chores would be added as she grows older...:).

Oh, and look at those sandals! Good balancing will just do the trick!

Discounted Home & Kitchen Appliances

Late last year until this year, I have been noticing that my home appliances have been breaking! Ugh! Five months ago, I have to replace my washer because it broke in the middle of my laundry. Then, couple months ago, my cooking range's burners are starting to break too! Not to mention that my dishwasher never works since I moved in the house. 

 I told my husband, we don't need repairs because the damages are bad, to the point that repairs are costing more than the actual prices of buying new ones. So, this year is a big challenge. It was perfect that I saw goedekers.com for discount appliances. Maybe, it's worth considering this time. It would not be easy buying 3 appliances at one time. It will take a while for saving some for them. But for sure I am bookmarking this site. 

Closing The Deal!

We finally were able to have our mortgage closing deal done! From the time we applied and on to the processing, it was more or less a little more than  week. This is our 3rd mortgage refinancing with Quicken Loans to lower our payment. The signing was done at home by the company's representative, so it was just convenient for us. 

We will start our new first payment with this company in May, and we also had lowered our payment with an amount difference of $550. Big savings for a year if you would sum it out!

There would be no increase until after 7 years. We thought we would be moving before that year anytime soon, since the hubby is close to retiring. It is either that we will be getting a smaller home or staying longer in the Philippines (if not for good.)

There will be a refund for us awaiting from the mail...whew! Thank you Lord!

Cigar Lover?

Honestly, I am not fond of cigars and neither any type of smoking. But me and my husband have friends that are cigar lovers. What's so interesting, is that one friend of ours does not smoke cigars, but got amazing collections! So, it would be great to recommend him a good link to expand his collections the next time we will meet ;). 

 Padron cigars might be one of those worthy of recommending...both for cigar smokers and cigar collectors, don't you think?

Sagging Gutters?

It was summer more than a year go when one of the rain gutters at the back portion of my house started to sag. It was half of it was down hanging and so I requested my husband to find one that can fix it.

But on the other hand, a minor repair such as this can be a D-I-Y thingy if you don't want to shell out money for that. And yes, it can be expensive hiring a professional to fix a simple hanging gutter {sigh!}...

Here are the things that you can do if one of your rain gutters start to hang down. (Just a quick note: Don't do it yourself if you are not sure what the main culprit is.)

If the gutters started sagging, it might be that one of the spikes securing it to the fascial board may be loose. Be sure to check it first. Once you find the main cause of it, take a 2x4 block inside the gutter to act as a brace and wedge it in, then remove the spike.

Start drilling a pilot hole through the back position of the gutter and into the fascia board which is about at least an inch from the original spot.

Reinsert the spike and direct it on the new hole and hammer it in place.

Cover the old hole with a gutter sealant to prevent water damage to your soffit.

There you go...it will be good to go the next time it rains! Your mind will be at peace without even have to sacrifice heavy expenses out from your tight budget.

Talking about savings!

Wake Your Garden Back Up To Life

Well, spring has finally come! Garden fanatics will soon be crowding outdoors for their gardens. Then, the colors would soon start blooming.

For me, it's a big yey! for the season. I do love flowers and gardens. I am highly appreciative of them. But the fact that I can't seem to have that "green thumb" effect of planting made me avoid myself being a gardener. So, I am just on that part where I become the "encouragement" for those who love to do gardening and those gifted with a "green thumb" so to speak ;).

I hope you can gain a bit of help (if not all) from these tips I will be sharing.

So, after the threat of frost has finally ended, you should begin pruning your garden, trees or shrubs around your home and start fertilizing the roots.

Start sowing your seedlings if you feel that the soil is already soft enough to crumble in your hand. The most ideal ones to grow would be pansies. They do well in sunny areas. Try primproses as well which are very ideal in shade. They can add early colors to your garden as well.

Have fun in the garden...happy spring!

Can't Wait For Summer

It has been only 5 days since Spring has started, but I think it's still gonna be a long wait before summer begins. Ahhh, how I wish I can just push the days fast forward! I have always wanted to try outdoor camping in the summer. I haven't done this yet, so I want to experience how is it to be in a campsite. It would also be good doing it with friends or family members...another way of spending a bonding time together. 

One time I was telling this to my husband, and he said we have to buy our camping materials for that. For sure, I would be packing like a freak, lol! I thought of having foam pads for camping as well. That would be one of the priorities. Of course, comfort is still an important aspect, so much so that we will be sleeping away from a real bed in the outdoor! ;) And I bet, there will be a lot of food as well. And no, I would never forget to have them.

It's always nice sharing what I would always be looking forward to. Summer come home soon...fast! ;)

My Bedroom Spring Theme!

This was the most perfect design I found for my bed sheet, a floral design for the spring! :) I got attracted mainly for the big floral design on the comforter and is really ideal for those who love flowers and colorful combinations. The fitted sheet ,blanket and the pair of pillow case that go with it are both designed with colorful small floral designs with bright color pink. 

Bought it for $30 bucks...complete set! Isn't that amazing? It's already quite cheap yet very pretty! I guess I hitted the jackpot when they were having a sale at Wal-Mart ;).

Promoting Your Business At Its Best!

Wherever you go, one of the most common things you see around you are brochures or business cards. I travel a lot and being in so many places, like hotels, restaurants, parks, tours, etc...I see brochures and flyers. So, it made me think, these are really of great help in promoting ay kind of business and/or valuable information to the public. 

If you are a business owner, just imagine yourself spending a lot of money for these, that ca possibly lead you to financial constraints some times. But you don't need to experience that when you will be smart enough to find a good company to help you produce your cheap flyers online without shelling out a lot of money, right? But it doesn't mean, being cheap is bad quality! In fact, today, you can have affordable services and yet getting a high quality product at its best! 

Raise your hand if you agree with me..lol!

Do Your Little Kids Practice Basic Etiquettes?

Today, while I was in a public restroom, there was a lady infront me and another one at my back. The line was getting long and all the rooms were occupied, so the line got a bit longer.

At the end of the line came a mother with her 2 little kids. After a few minutes, 2 doors swung open and became vacant. It was suppose to be for the lady in front of me, and then me.

The first door that became vacant was at the end, so the lady was aiming for that, while the door at the middle was where I went. It was in a matter of seconds that the younger kid went running to get the door at the end, and she went in as fast as a bullet! (Take note that they are at the end of the line!)

The lady in front of me said...."really???" Am I inline?" I was caught by surprise that the mother of the kid did NOT even reprimand her kid at the second she started running towards that door! I was already inside the room and I can hear the mother saying her very delayed "sorry". I heard her talked to the lady and was sounding apologetic, fine, she asked apology. But the fact that she could have still told her kid to stop running and let other people in front of the line go first should be a matter of concern. I wasn't sure if she told her kid the proper thing to do when waiting in line after she used the bathroom.

What the kids show reflect on how the parents' manners are! It was just ridiculous seeing like that in America, knowing that most kids are trained to practice basic and simple etiquettes like that...at least in my neighborhood that I have been for 7 years, I haven't seen any kid behave like that in public places.

Parents, watch out for your kids! The more your kids are trained to practice proper ethics during their younger years, the more they stick on to them and practice them until they get old.

If you happen to see more kids behaving improperly, nothing could come up into your mind and wonder..."where have all those proper etiquettes gone??? Isn't that alarming?

Soap Savvy Tips!! ;)

This was what I found in the shower while I was cleaning it one morning. It was a funny sight when I saw it but on the other hand, I thought this is actually one good way to save a bath soap! lol!

This is my husband's soap. Probably, many would call us weird, but I and my husband use different soap. It's just we have a different type of choosing a soap. So, I saw this on the soap dish hanging on the caddy. Perhaps, I haven't noticed it lately, until such time that he added a new soap, the older ones being on top.

By the way I am amused about how it looks. I find it attractive, and looking like a home decor! :)

Organizing Your Stuff Properly

My husband would always give me compliments on being so organized. I do! I hate seeing clutters. My husband can be sloppy (most of the time, lol!), but I never hated him for that of course. It is just a matter of proper organization. 

Getting proper storage should do the trick. You will need it big or small depending on the things you would be putting in. You can get cheap plastic storage bins for your stuff at home. No need to be spending a lot for them. They come in various sizes and shapes that would help you find the ideal ones that perfectly fit as to where you would want to put them and what are the things you would be putting in the. I bought ones good for my closets seasonal clothes not in use. I also have one for holiday decorations. So, I feel better having them. They are actually my "big helpers" when it comes to clutters. They are clutter savers! ;)

Treating Your Windows With A Good Washing!

Windows are mainly for the purpose of looking out and see what's happening to the outside whether good or bad.  I consider it an essential aspect in a home. Well, just imagine a home without windows! 

My home is equipped with glasses on its windows. There are times when they really become so dirty making them obscure the sunlight coming in. I usually let the sun come in during early mornings especially in the bedrooms.

Don't forget washing your windows (if yours has window glasses). To do it, you can always use a soapy water and sponge it, then use a squeegee to remove extra water.

Use horizontal strokes on one side of the pane and vertical strokes on the other side. This way, it will be easy to make streaks easier to see.

If you see small scratches on them, buff them out with toothpaste.

If there are still sticky labels on them or you see paint specks, dampen and then scrape them off with a plastic razor blade.

You can then have a crystal-clear glass windows in a snap!...Good as brand new! :)

Supporting Your Well Being & Enrichment

Living a healthy lifestyle including your spiritual wellness and holistic living is one essential to support your well being. It is an all aspect of our whole life, not only being physically healthy. Many who practice yoga and meditation nowadays for instance are considered to be healthy which help up the mental, social and spiritual aspect of a person. 

And speaking of yoga, there can be a lot of yoga accessories that you can find anywhere online, but finding the real good deals is a different story! :) If you want cheap yoga mats where in you don't need to be compromised with the quality, then you don't need to look any further. Have a happy yoga session! ;)

Hair Curls

 

So, while I was int the hair salon in the Philippines to have my hair roots color retouch, my hair stylist thought of putting some curls on my hair. I told him I don't want permanent curls, so he said they are only temporary. They would be as good as they are until such time that I'll wash my hair. I had it for a day!

I didn't know that it looked that way...I actually like the curls with the highlights! It was a pretty shot. By the way, my husband took this photo. I would be keeping this for a remembrance. It was nicely done, both the hair and the photo ;).

Many thanks to Bambi! 

 

Back From A Long Vacation!

It's been 3 days since I and hubby came back home from our Philippine vacation. Thank God for a smooth trip, no delays, except for the long hours of trip sitting on the plane and long lay over at the airport. I needed sleep bad, but I can only doze for several minutes and wake up in between. Short naps helped but I felt I was a walking zombie! ;)

So, I am back with my usual routine at home except for the sleep routine. I am mostly awake nigh time and so sleepy during daytime, but I've learned basing on my experience, that when you come from the other side of the globe where time zones are completely opposite to where you live, you would expect the "zombie effect", lol! Anyway, there is no big deal about that because since I work at home, I can sleep anytime of the day and wake up any time at night. It is weird, but I got used to that effect every time I come home from Philippines.

So far, so good! I have so many backlogged works online. I get so many things in mind on my "to do list" but can't hardly get to work on them. I am struggling to cope up, but I think I need to do it one at a time. Paid posts are weak these past few months, so probably the reason why I just couldn't push myself to update my blog posts more often!

Let's see....one step at a time :)

Before Giving Your Kids Cold/Flu Medications...

For sure many parents don't want their kids suffer from the bouts of flu or colds, and yet as parents we should be careful of how we give them medications, especially if we give them over-the-counter (OTC) medications without a doctor's prescription.

It has been said that there are studies saying that OTC cough/cold/flu medications do work in children, according to Dr. Trunkel at Johns Hopkins.

Before giving your kids OTC decongestants and cough syrups, why not consider using simple remedies such as honey (for children 1 year or older.) for cough or sore throat relief, and  a humidifier or saltwater drops for relief of nasal congestion?

You can give age-appropriate doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen for fever and pain, but never give aspirin which can be at high risk of having Reye's syndrome, which is considered fatal. For children younger than 2 years of age, watch out in giving OTC cough and cold medications without doctor's advice which can give serious adverse side effects.

In some cases, OTC preparations have similar ingredients which can create a potential overdose when more than one product is used together.

Talk to your doctor before using them!

Smart Ways You Can Save On Your Home Costs

With the slumping real estate market situation, contractors will do everything to strike a good deal just to get your business. Basing on a survey by a consumer review website, 81% of contractors said they would negotiate on labor costs. Landscapers and house cleaners are also cutting rates.

So, first way on how to save would be to get multiple price quotes. If you can be flexible about the timing of your project, you'll likely to have the most bargaining power. If in case that the builder wouldn't be dropping his price, check whether he will upgrade you to higher-end fixtures.

Try to trim the cost of borrowing by requesting a good-faith estimate before you apply. This way you can save on closing costs. You can as well negotiate any fees the lender charges. This way, you'll have the most wiggle room on adjustable-rate and jumbo mortgages.

Get a deal on furniture. Usually, sales slow in the summer where many shops will make deals to move inventory. You may want to ask for 20% off but don't settle for less than 10%.

Sign up for emails from furniture shopping websites to get early updates on good deals!