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RSS Feed (xml)Well, I tried to get an appointment to see my doctor, Dr. Liu but she wasn't working yesterday. Good thing this medical practice has an Urgent Care Clinic so I went there instead. The nursing assistant swabbed my throat and after waiting for what seemed like forever, the doctor finally came. Good news is that I don't have Strep throat, bad news is I have some kind of infection, sinusitis I think. She gave me a prescription for Amoxycillin, an antibiotic to be taken for 10 days. So at this moment, I'm all drugged up. In addition to the antibiotic, I also took Claritin-D (the one with the Pseudoephedrine) and Tylenol for my fever. Howcome I don't feel any high? hehehe Drat! and I thought I'd finally experience being high on drugs. LOL Just kidding! Never had and never will...
-----Read Full Post-----5.30.2008
5.29.2008
A Nice Smile for Her Wedding Day
All brides want their wedding day to be perfect and my cousin Kathy is no exception. She lives in Panorama City in California. She will be getting married in a couple of months to her fiance John. She wants to have a Beverly Hills smile for her wedding day. You know, just like the smiles of the actors in TV and the movies. They have the whitest smile you'll ever see. Kathy wants to have this for herself but she is scared of drills and needles. She learned of the dental practice of Dr. Maddahi in Beverly Hills. His dental clinic uses the most modern dental equipment and advanced dental practices like painless air drills, miniature cameras and digital x-rays. I'm sure that with Dr. Maddahi's smile make-over, Kathy will have her brightest smile on her wedding day.
-----Read Full Post-----If You Could See Me Now
I'm currently blogging from my bed. I have an ice pack on my head, a sweatshirt (even though it is a warm night), pj's and a pair of socks. What a picture eh? LOL I've been feeling sick the whole day. I have a sore throat and it hurts even to talk. I hope it's just from my allergies and not from some virus. If my throat still hurts tomorrow morning, then I'm going to see the doctor and have this check-out. Fingers crossed!
-----Read Full Post-----Rap Music for Our Nephew
My husband's nephew is thirteen years old and unlike his sister, he does not like Hannah Montana or the Jonas Brothers. Korey is into Rap and Hip Hop music. He likes Jay-Z and Snoop Dog among others. He sings everytime he listens to Rap music in his IPod. He always looks for Rap Lyrics on the internet. He goes to RapArtists.com since this website has the most extensive library of Rap and Hip Hop music online.
-----Read Full Post-----5.28.2008
A Class Field Trip
My daughter is going on a class field trip to Boston tomorrow. They will go on the Freedom Trail and the Boston Common. She is very excited and has her body bag all packed up and ready to go. In it, she has her Zune MP3 player, Nintendo DS and a small digital camera. This is the first time for her to bring a camera, she knows how to use it and she is excited to take photos. She has been on the Freedom Trail before, we were with my mom and the family two years ago. Too bad that I couldn't join them since I still have Tyler to look after.
-----Read Full Post-----Looking For a Good Mortgage Deal
Our friends are moving out of state and they are currently looking for a house to move into. They already have mortgage approval from some mortgage lenders so all they need to do now is find that perfect house. We've been friends with them more many years now. She has been like a sister to me, and my parents treat her as their own. Dh and I will surely miss them and the kids. We hope we get to visit them in South Carolina next summer.
-----Read Full Post-----What Shoe To Bring?
We will be leaving on our month-long vacation to Europe next week. Am I excited, heck yeah! I'm also starting to get into it. I went to Target this morning and bought medicines, band-aids, pocket tissues and other travel stuffs. I still 
have not decided on what kind of shoes to bring with me. I know we will be doing a lot of walking especially in Rome. I already have a comfortable black Mary Jane walking shoe by Merrell, it's very comfy and I know it won't give me any problems. I want to bring another shoe, maybe a brown sandal my Merrell also. 
Merrell is a well-known brand that makes comfortable shoes. The sandals are comfortable, it's soft and feels like you're walking with pillows on your feet. But it has a 11/2-inch heel, I'm a little worried that it is going to bother me after a long days walk. I hope it doesn't though since it's perfect for summer wear. I think I'll bring my leather tan loafers or brown moccasins for back-up plus a lot of band-aids and foot cream. I just hope we don't have any use for it.
A Brand New Bedroom Set for My Little Boy
A Mother's Work is Never Done
You know that being a mom is the hardest job in the world, right? It does not matter if you are not feeling well and the only thing you want to do at the moment is lay in bed under the covers. You still need to get up and take care of the needs of the kids. Here in the US, there are no yayas to pass the responsibilities to. Everything is done by the mom, rain or shine, sick or not, you get the picture. Here I am, feeling awful and I still manage to do a mountain of laundry. If I don't do it, who else will? Well, there were a couple of times when dh did it himself, I was way too sick to even get up and it was his day off. Lucky me. *wink*
-----Read Full Post-----Make New Friends
Moving to a new area can be daunting. You do not know anyone and with everyone leading busy lives, it is sometimes hard to meet people who share the same interests as you. There is a website that can help you with this. You can search for other couples that has the same religious affiliation as you, couples who are into the same sport and you can also meet alternative lifestyle couples. This website TheCoupleSpot.com has a lot of profiles that you can browse, either by the kind of music they like or activities they like to participate in. You can also use this website if you are visiting another country. Meet new friends anywhere in the world or somewhere nearer.
-----Read Full Post-----Sex and the City Hoopla
Sorry, but I am not into 'Sex and the City', never had and never will. I don't see what the big deal is except for the clothes and shoes that Sarah Jessica Parker's character wears. Other than that, I don't know why people are crazy about this show. Is it because these are single women talking about their sex lives? How exciting! LOL Just like they say, "To each his own."
-----Read Full Post-----Handicap Accessible Vans
Having a physical handicap severely limits a person’s mobility. One has to depend on community vans that are handicap accessible; that means the person is heavily dependent on the availability of such van. My uncle’s wife lost both her legs to Diabetes so she uses a wheelchair to get around. They have a car but this is not the best vehicle to transport a physically handicapped person. The trunk of the car is not big enough to fit in her motorized wheelchair. They need a van that is handicap accessible. There is one dealership that specializes in handicapped vans, it is called MobilityWorks. They are just like the traditional dealership, they have new and used handicap vans and also used handicap conversion minivans. They also have an on-site service department to service all types of wheelchair vans. Go to www.mobilityworks.com to find the handicap van dealership nearest you.
-----Read Full Post-----How To Pack Light
That's the main goal for this trip...PACK LIGHT. Just bring the essentials and nothing else. We will have to do laundry, obviously since it is a month-long vacation. We need to pack everything in two medium-sized suitcases, one 24-inch and one 25-inch Atlantic luggage. That is why I already mailed the 'pasalubong' for my friends to Germany, so that we don't have to lug it around Europe. As for the souvenirs, we plan to mail it back home from each city. Well, that's the plan at least. Here is one website with invaluable information about traveling light: http://www.onebag.com/
-----Read Full Post-----A Gift for Father's Day
Father's Day is just a couple of weeks away and I need to get my gift for dad sorted out before we leave for vacation. I've been looking online and saw some men's jewelry. I think this will be a perfect gift for him. It's hard to shop for men's gifts but I think giving him a nice watch is perfect. He is a low-key person so I plan to give him a simple dress watch for Father's Day. I am sure he will love it.
-----Read Full Post-----What to Wear?
I have been browsing through different travel forums and one of the questions that are asked mostly by 'women' is what to wear. I guess they don't want to look like 'tourists'. Isn't that silly though? They are tourists and tourists need to be comfortable. These women probably want to look fashionable like the natives. The Italians or whoever, live there and they go to work. Therefore, they need to look the part, wear business suit and the like. Since they do not have to walk all day to go sightseeing, these women can afford to wear high heels. As a tourist, you are allowed to wear something comfortable, as long as you don't look like a slob. So what am I going to wear? Summer pants, capris and blouses, thank you. And no, I am not going to wear high heels. You will find me walking the cobbled streets of Rome wearing my comfy flats :)
-----Read Full Post-----Unlocked Cell Phone for Our Trip
We are getting ready for our summer trip to Europe for next week. One of the items we need to bring with us in an unlocked phone to use during our trip. We cannot use the cell phones we have from Verizon because it is locked, therefore it will not work with any mobile providers in Europe. Having an unlocked phone for use with us is very important if ever our families in the US needed to get hold of us. We will also need it to call the hotels if ever we need directions and such.
-----Read Full Post-----Doctor, Doctor I Am Sick
I haven't been feeling well these past few days. I think I may have the flu or maybe it is because of my allergies and then my nasal passages just became infected. Is it bad enough for me to go see the doctor? Uhhmm, maybe not, I think I'm going to live. LOL I hope this is not infectious, I don't want the kids to catch it. You know how it is with kids and being sick, especially the little ones. :(
-----Read Full Post-----5.27.2008
Student Credit Cards and More
If you have a student going off to college this coming school year, choosing the right credit card can be such a stressful undertaking. There are a lot of things to consider like the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), rewards, credit type and so on. One website that helps to make this process easier is http://creditcardsclub.com
You do not have to go through all the websites of credit card companies or banks to find the right credit card. All you need to do is go to http://creditcardsclub.com where all the important information about each credit card is there for you to compare.
They have student credit cards that is perfect for your son or daughter. If you are looking for a particular credit card that gives you rewards on airline miles or products, this website has it all. You can search for any credit card based on rewards, credit rating, low APRs, 0% Balance Transfer, Cash Back, No Annual Fee and others. The credit cards are also sorted out by the bank that issues the card. So if you are interested in lets say a credit card issued by Capital One, this website makes it easy for you since they have all the information about it right there. No matter what your credit card rating is, Creditcardsclub.com has the right credit card to fit your need.
Beauty Secrets...
This is a tag from Francine, Merci madame! :)
My Foundation: Clinique or Bare Escentuals
My Blush: Neutrogena
My Day Cream: NeoStrata
My Lipstick: Bare Escentuals
My Essential Beauty Product: Bare Escentuals Face powder
My favorite Make-up product: Bare Escentuals
My Perfume: I use too many: Parfum D’Ete, Angel, Romance, Aqua di Gio, Dream Angels, Lauren,Calyx, etc.
My Nails: natural LOL Although I prefer French manicure, if at all.
My Feet: natural also, I sometimes do it myself. I’m worried I’ll get some foot disease from the foot spa in the salon LOL
My hands: I swear by Lubriderm lotion
Three Products to bring on a deserted island: shampoo, body wash, deodorant
Women I admire for their beauty: Angelina Jolie and Aishwarya Rai
Women with the best Sense of Style: Sarah Jessica Parker
My ultimate dream: To see my kids succeed in whatever endeavor they choose
My favorite fashion publication: none, I prefer to read something else like National Geographic magazine
I am passing this to Mareng Amy and Janet.
All Natural HGH
So much has been said about steroids in the news nowadays that everyone knows that it is bad for the body. It is also illegal to use in any sport, be it amateur or professional. For people who are into weight-lifting or someone who just wants some help in losing their body fat, they can use a natural HGH (Human Growth Hormone) product like Sytropin. It is made from all-natural HGH, growth factors and potent amino acid releasers. These are designed to increase the production of HGH by the pituitary gland in the brain. Sytropin has no known bad side effects and is an oral spray so you don't have to deal with any needles or stomach upset. You do not need a prescription to use this product. It is available at www.sytropin.com
-----Read Full Post-----103 Posts...
...And the month is not over yet. All I can say is, whaaaaat? I'm probably just making up for the posts that I won't be doing next month. Too bad there is a limit on the number of stuff I can do each day. Oh well, it's better than nothing, right?
-----Read Full Post-----Shopping Made Easy: MiracleShopper.Com
5.26.2008
The Ants are Coming, Summer is Here!
One of the sure fire indicators that summer is here is when I start to see big black ants in the house. I usually see it crawling on the floor or on the wall. Our house was built on a wooded lot, so this used to be part of the woods or forest. It is surrounded by tall trees which is what attracted us to this place. Dh usually spray the perimeter of the house with ant spray to keep this black ants from coming in. My daughter is such a girly-girl that I hear her screaming. "Ants, ants!." While my son, the typical boy, looks for it and gets a shoe to crush it. :) I'm glad summer is here, there will be more time to do fun stuff with the whole family.
-----Read Full Post-----Summer Vacation in the Outer Banks
Our close friends Mike and Michelle are moving to South Carolina next month. They have invited us and a couple of friends to come and visit them in their new home. We are already planning to go sometime in July. While over there we also want to visit the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I heard that beaches over there are beautiful and pristine. We plan to rent a beach house that will accomodate everybody. The weather is also perfect at that time of the year. I'm sure my family and our friends are going to enjoy our summer road trip.
-----Read Full Post-----50 Years and Counting
Yesterday, we had a party for my in-laws in our house. It is for their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married in 1958, dad was 23 and mom was 18 years old. Even after 50 years, anyone can see that they are still very much in love.
There were a lot of friends and family who came and everyone had a great time. We had a lot of Italian food, a trivial pursuit game about their life and an 'Oldiewed Game' (a spin-off from the 'Newlywed Game'.) Mom's brother and his wife drove all the way from Arizona (he hates to fly). One of dad's brother and his wife drove down from New Hampshire. You can say that the majority of the guests were Senior citizens. :) All in all we had about 40 guests. We were so glad we had great weather, it was in the high 60's. To mom and dad, here's to many more years together.
5.23.2008
Auto Warranty and Emergency Roadside Service
I remember when we were driving to my brother-in-law's house in Albany,NY we hit a deer. The deer was trying to get away from some hunters and crossed the freeway. It all happened so fast, good thing the damage to the car was minimal and everyone in the family was okay. The accident happened more than 100 miles from our home. What saved us from the huge expense of having our car towed back home is the Emergency Roadside Service from our auto club. Having this kind of protection is very useful for car owners. Paragon Motor Club offers this kind of service , they also have affordable extended auto warranty and Tire and Wheel Road Hazard Protection. Their plans include the Emergency Roadside Service, it has no membership fee and you can cancel at any time. For more information, visit www.paragonmotorclub.com
-----Read Full Post-----Want to Avoid JetLag? Don't Eat
This is what researchers in Harvard University suggested for travelers to do to avoid jetlag. According to the researchers:
"Because the body's biological clock can only shift a small amount each day, it takes the average person about a week to adjust to the new time zone.
"And, by then, it's often time to turn around and come home.
"A period of fasting with no food at all for about 16 hours is enough to engage this new clock.
"So, in this case, simply avoiding any food on the plane, and then eating as soon as you land, should help you to adjust and avoid some of the uncomfortable feelings of jet lag."
Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert at Norwich University Hospital, said the discovery was "potentially very beneficial" to travellers and people who work unsociable hours.
"It's never going to make the symptoms disappear entirely, but it could certainly make them a lot more manageable," he said.
Tutors for Your Child
School is almost over and kids are excited that summer vacation is starting soon. Amber did wonderful in 3rd grade, getting straight A+ the whole school year. For students who received less than excellent grades, having a Tutor will do wonders for their academic lives. Every child learns at a different pace and some children needs more personal attention and one-on-one interaction when it comes to studies.
Getting a tutor at ClubZ! Tutoring Services ( http://clubztutoring.com) will help alleviate the child's problem. Their tutors will help the child gain academic confidence in class, improve their grades and learn effective study skills. They can also help if the child has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or if your child needs help in studying for a test like the SATs. ClubZ! Tutoring Services also offers tutors for in-house schooling.
Memorial Day and Wedding Anniversary Weekend
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Publish Your Own Book
I read this article in the magazine about famous authors and how they started and got their break in the literary world. They said that it takes a lot of work and rejections from major book publishing company considering there are a lot of competition out there. Writers have to complete with other writers to get the attention of the editors in order to get published. Some authors did it another way, they published their own books and got the attention of the editors. One self-publishing company is AuthorHouse. If you are planning to publish a Christian book and are looking for Christian Publishers , you must consider AuthorHouse. Since almost 98 percent of book manuscripts submitted to traditional Christian publishers are rejected, you should have your book published by AuthorHouse. They will help you and guide you through the process of publishing a book. www.authorhouse.com
-----Read Full Post-----Lost and Never Found
It was the first purchase I made with my salary from my first month working at Eastman Kodak Company. It was an 18K gold bracelet, simple yet elegant. I've had it since 1992 and wore it to special occasions. I've gotten complements about it since it is understated, not gaudy at all. When I was looking for it in my drawer to wear for an event, it is nowhere to be found. I looked for it everywhere in the house until I was resigned to the fact that it is lost forever. I am amazed by how I reacted to this loss, gone were the days wherein I am beside myself if I lose something valuable. Is this the sign of maturity? Have I reached that stage wherein nothing else matters except my family? That bracelet is just a 'thing', it can be replaced. If I feel sad, it is because of all the memories that came with that bracelet and not because of the monetary value it holds. I hope that whoever found it, will make good memories while wearing it.
-----Read Full Post-----5.22.2008
Flashlight for Emergencies
I remember the months after 9-11, there were talks of impending attacks on the US. People were advised to prepare for an emergency situation by stocking up on non-perishable foods, water, battery-operated radio and flashlights. It was then that I found about flashlights and radios that do not run on batteries. The flashlight is called Shake Light, you just shake the body of the flashlight for only 20-30 seconds to charge and it's ready to use. It provides 20 minutes of light just from 20 seconds of shaking. This is a very handy tool that's why we keep one in each of our cars. With this kind of flashlight, I don't have to worry about the batteries running low and dying out if ever I need it in an emergency. One other great thing about Shake Light is it is indestructible, it got run over by the car and just like the Energizer bunny, it still keeps on going and going and going...
Another useful tool we have in the glove compartment is a digital tire gauge. Do you know that if your tires are under-inflated, you end up using more gas? That's why this digital tire gauge is very handy especially with the rising cost of gasoline nowadays. Check out this website for more awesome products, www.vat19.com
My Memory and Numbers
I've always been pretty good with numbers, either manipulating formulas or memorizing numbers. I know my bank account number, my ATM card number of which I use to log-on to my account online, my credit card number and so on. Each has from ten to sixteen numbers in all. Lately, I've been wondering how long before I start to forget the things that comes to me naturally. Will that day come when I'm about to log on to my bank account online and I will forget the the sequence of numbers to press? I know that with age comes with deterioration of some sort, it is inevitable. My maternal grandfather lived until he was about ninety years old, he also has big ears. Remember what they say about people with big ears? They live a long life; maybe there is some truth to that. I just hope that when I'm old and gray, I will still have most of my faculties. Who knows, I may still be blogging by then. :)
-----Read Full Post-----Organic Tea from India
My husband is a big tea drinker ever since he heard that drinking tea is good for the body. Naturally, he is always on the lookout for a very good brand of tea. It would've been so easy to buy any kind of tea but he prefers organic tea. He doesn't like using tea leaves on which insecticides have been used. Organic India is a seller of organic tea, coffee and fiber supplements. Their products have been certified by the USDA. They not only help farmers by buying the harvests at a premium rate, Organic India also promote sustainable agriculture by educating them. This company is not about all profits, they are also environmentally and socially aware. They work with the local farmers in India to create a sustainable environment and help them improve and preserve the farmer's health and the environment. Organic India is committed to provide consumers the highest quality product. Their website is www.organicindiausa.com
-----Read Full Post-----5.21.2008
The New American Idol
Meet our (Mira and I - LOL) American Idol, David Cook. He didn't have the best song choices for the finals but the voters showed their support for him big time. He apparently won by over 12 million votes! I remember Mira telling me at YM that David C. didn't perform as well as David Archuleta. We were worried that David C. will lose but he didn't! David A. is also a very good singer but I'm more into David C. I was so happy when I heard Ryan Seacrest say David C.'s name. I was even teary-eyed when I saw him crying after he won. I just hope that he will have a great career just like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. :) -----Read Full Post-----
A Perfect Gift for Father's Day
Father's Day is fast approaching and I'm in a rush to have something ordered for my dad and husband. I need to get it done before we leave for vacation in two weeks. My dad is an avid hunter. He was in the military before and that's where he got bitten by the hunting bug. He hunts for wild game mostly and travels with his buddies on hunting trips. So I am thinking of getting a pair of bushnell scopes as a Father's Day gift for my dad. Bushnell is a well-known maker of scopes and binoculars. I found a website that has the pair of scopes that I'm looking for and the price cannot be beat. Aside from hunting accessories, BigTSports.com also has outdoor accessories like tents and campground essentials, fishing, boating and marine accessories. They also have a large selection of GPS products and military gear. Go to www.bigtsports.com for your outdoor sporting goods and accessories.
-----Read Full Post-----$175 Hamburger - Do You Want Fries with That?
The Best Credit Card Deals
I've been always on time when paying my credit cards. I know how important this is for my credit rating and history. Nowadays, credit card lenders raise the interest rates across the board because of the bad state of the economy. Everyone is affected by this, yes, even those with very good credit ratings. So it just makes sense financially to find another credit card lender that will give you the best interest rate.
At CreditCardSpecialist.com, you can find information about different credit cards to suit your needs. They have the Best Credit Card Deals that you can find online. It is so easy to browse through this website for the credit card that is perfect for you. You can search for the kind of credit card according to rewards, credit rating, bank and they even have foreign credit cards. Even if you have less than perfect credit history, CreditCardSpecialist.com has the Credit Cards for Bad Credit.
What I find easy about this website is that they already did most of the work for you. Everything is laid out and written in plain English and not in some legal language, making it easy to understand by anyone. It shows the interest rate, annual fees and other information. Visit www.creditcardSpecialist.com for your credit card needs.
5.20.2008
Welcome to Kennedy Country
This was one of my first impressions when we moved here in Massachusetts. This is the state where former US President John F. Kennedy came from. From then on, it has remained a so-called 'Kennedy country'. Our state senator, Ted Kennedy, the younger brother of President Kennedy has been in office forever. Since I've moved here, I don't remember anyone running against him in the elections. If any member of the Kennedy family is in the hospital, you can bet it is in the night time news or sometimes they even interrupt regular programming to break the news. I wonder if John Kennedy Jr. were still alive if he will be in politics. That's going to be an unanswered question, unfortunately.
-----Read Full Post-----Cheap Calls to the Philippines
I remember when I first migrated here in the US many years ago. There was no choices in long distance service. Whatever your phone company offers, that is what you are stuck with. You can just imagine my long distance phone bill with my calls to the Philippines, I cringe everytime I remember it. Now, there are many choices for phone cards to use for international calls. GetMeCallingCards.com has different cards like Philippine phone cards and cards for use to call other countries. The rates for this phone cards are cheap compared to other long distance card providers.
-----Read Full Post-----5.19.2008
WooHoo! Yes!
I finally got an extra tack at my favorite site (Petra Procopio at Popoy). I've been waiting to get it and it finally happened. I am so happy. I really like going to visit my letter P friends, they always have something for me. :) To Petra, Procopio and Popoy, salamat sa trabaho.
-----Read Full Post-----Off to College with a Laptop
My friend's daughter is graduating from high school next month. It is a big achievement so they will have a graduation party for her. She wants to be a pharmacist and plans to enroll in a university in Davao city. She and her mom are now busy preparing for her trip and long stay in the Philippines. One of the things she wants to bring with her is a new laptop. College students nowadays are dependent on them. They use laptops for their school reports and research. Buying a laptop nowadays is easy, you can get it from everywhere. The downside to this is you never know what kind of product and service you will be getting. There is an online site that sells quality laptops at low prices. They also provide excellent service should you need it after your purchase. This cannot be said to the other online stores where no service is given after the point of sale. LaptopBroker has all the popular notebook brands in stock like Dell, Apple, IBM and Sony among others. Not only do they sell laptops, they also have the accessories that one might need like laptop bags, memory (RAM), batteries and power adapters. www.laptopbroker.com is the place to go for laptops and more.
-----Read Full Post-----And The American Idol is...David!
I watch American Idol only at the start of the season and at the end of the season. What happens in-between, I can either watch or skip. I knew then that both Davids will be in the last four. Both are very good singers and have mass appeal. So who would I want to be The American Idol? Well, it's David, of course! ;)
-----Read Full Post-----Telemarketers, No One is Home!
We registered our phone numbers at the DoNotCall Registry set up by the government. So for a couple of years, we did not get any calls from telemarketers until last year. We started receiving phone calls from a number in Orlando, Florida. At first I thought it was someone we knew but upon answering the call, I learned it was a telemarketer for a credit card or loan company. I was surprised to receive this call since I know we were in the "No Call List". The same company kept on calling every week. I did a search on Google and found that the DoNotCall Registry expires every five years and you need to re-register. (This was changed by the government and after February 2008, the list does not expire). I did not know that and I bet a lot of people didn't either. I also found out that I can also register my cell phone number in a separate registry. Since telemarketer calls are annoying and a waste of time I am thinking of using a company that offers Privacy service, this will prevent the telemarketers from getting any of my information. One company that offer such service is www.whojustcalledhere.com, they also offer other services that individuals or businesses can use such as Reverse Cell Phone Lookup. These services are a must for businesses where time is important.
-----Read Full Post-----Not Enough Time in a Day
Have you ever wished you have extra time in a day to finish your chores? Well this week I do! We are having a party in our house for my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday. There are a lot of stuff that needs to be done and the most time consuming is making Lumpia Shanghai (Philippine Egg Rolls). I already mixed the ingredients, it just needed to be rolled up in the egg roll wrapper. I've done most of the gardening and dh already put in some mulch around the plants. I still have to plant some perennials that I bought from a house in the other street for cheap. Then I have to finalize the slideshow project I am doing for the anniversary party. Good thing that we are having the party catered. All I need to cook is the Lumpia and as if I still don't have enough things to do, I told dh that I plan to make Italian sausages with peppers. I was hoping dh will be able to help me during his days off but he made plans to play golf tomorrow. Well at least he cleaned the house siding and the screens. This is certainly one of those times that I wish I have househelp.
-----Read Full Post-----A Great Tool for an EBay Seller and Buyer
My husband and I are big computer users. We have been connected on the internet since the early nineties. So it is just logical that we always upgrade our computer every couple of years to keep up with the changing technology. Aside from my laptop with is less than a year old, we have three other desktop computers that everyone in the family use often. Yes, even Tyler has his very own computer. We are currently thinking of getting a new desktop soon, so we will sell one of the computers. To find out used computer prices, we use a website called UsedPrice.com. Not only do they have prices for used electronics like computers and stereos they also have prices for a broad range of things like appliances, video games, power tools and even musical instruments. This is a great site to use if you sell or buy on EBay. It will give you an idea on how much to sell your used item or if you are a buyer, how much to bid for an item. This website is easy to use and they have a used equipment calculator and an online price guide.
-----Read Full Post-----Facials At 9 Years Old?
I saw this piece on Good Morning America where girls as young as nine years old are getting facials, eyebrow and bikini wax, chemical treatments for their hair. My reaction? Exasperated! Why cannot they let these young girls be kids? What are these moms thinking? Am I just being old-fashioned? Maybe so, but I am not ready for my daughter to grow up THAT fast. I still like seeing her play with her Littlest Pet Shop toys or use her jump rope but seeing her getting a facial? Uhhm, maybe in seven more years.
-----Read Full Post-----Deal or No Deal's Howie Mandel
I like watching the game show 'Deal or No Deal' and it's host Howie Mandel. He looks like a genuine nice guy and cares about the contestants. You can really see that he wants them to win the big money. I heard that this game show and Howie were in Manila, Philippines. I was browsing through YouTube looking for a video clip of that show when I came across another video of Howie Mandel talking to a random guy on the street. Howie asked him about his shopping habits and mentioned that he can find great deals at http://www.buy.com. Howie then presented this guy with an Xbox360, wow, I was surprised just like the guy in the video.
-----Read Full Post-----A Sleepless Night
I've heard it being said over and over again, motherhood is the hardest job ever. I didn't realized what it really meant until I had my own children. You are on the job 24/7 no matter how you feel. Even if you are running a high fever and your child comes in and asks for your help, you are inclined to do it. Sleepless nights are also a requirement in being a mom. Last night was one of them for me, good thing that it is far and few in between. I heard Tyler cry around 2AM and it sounded like he was in pain. I thought at first that he had a stomach ache. It was hard to get an answer from him. He wouldn't stop crying until finally, after a couple of questions, he said that his right toe hurts. Dh and I looked at his toe and I noticed that his big toe was a little swollen and red. Dh got a band-aid and anti-biotic and applied it on Tyler's toe. I thought that this will appease him but it didn't, he still cried. I asked dh to give Tyler some Tylenol to help with the pain. His toe must have been throbbing, I know how uncomfortable that must have been. After more than half an hour, he finally fell back into deep sleep. I feel so bad everytime any of my children are sick or hurting. I'm sure you moms out there feel the same way. We'd rather be sick ourselves than our kids, am I right?
-----Read Full Post-----5.18.2008
Living Your Life the Earth-Friendly Way
I remember seeing a piece on Good Morning America years ago about new energy-saving light bulb called Compact Fluorescent light bulb or CFL. The savings a household can get just by changing the incandescent light bulbs into the new CFL Light Bulbs is enormous. Not only that, these CFL light bulbs last longer that the old light bulbs. Upon hearing these advantages, we started using CFL light bulbs around the house. Yes, it cost more but you will get the savings in the long run. Many families like mine are more aware of the impact we have on the environment. We try to do our part by using earth-friendly products, recycling as much as we can and buying products that use less packaging. Stores started to sell eco-friendly products but on a limited scale. I found this online store called www.ecogeekliving.com All their products are earth-friendly and they have a large selection of energy efficient products. You can browse their website and find great gifts and gadgets that are all eco-friendly and unique.
-----Read Full Post-----5.17.2008
5 Things Meme
This is a tag from Liza, salamat! :) This is about the things I do the most.
4. I have the TV on and watch/listen while I do stuff around the house. I am a huge multi-tasker. LOL
5. I drive Amber to and from school.
BUSY PEOPLE: 1.) my chopsuey 2.) mind bubbles 3.) vanity kit 4.) somethingpurple 5.) a detour 6.) Confessions of a Supermodel Wannabe 7.) Mitch of When Silence Speaks 8.) Hailey’s Domain 9.) Hailey’s Beats and Bits 10.) Air Sick 11.) Avee’s Adventures 12.) Never Ending Stories 13.) Essay of Life 14.) Tasteful Voyage 15.) A mom’s note 16.) AnnelovesWill 17.) Joyball 18.) Naomi- Irresistible Fascinations 19.) The Treasure Chest 20.) A Simple Life
To Lasik or Not to Lasik?
I have been thinking for years now if I should have Lasik surgery. There are a lot of reasons why I think I should. One is that it will save us money in the long run considering how expensive eyeglass frames can be. The other obvious reason is it will give me freedom from using eyeglasses and contacts. So what's keeping me from doing it? It's only one thing, I am worried that I will be in that small percentage of patients that will get a negative side effect from the surgery. It is my eyesight that I am risking and it is the most important among the senses for me. But I know of families and friends that have undergone Lasik surgery and they can't say enough praises about it. My father-in-law who had Lasik surgery when he was 68 years old said that it was the best decision he has ever done. My friend in California told me that her husband had Lasik in Walnut Creek in the San Francisco Bay Area. LaserVue Lasik surgeons have performed more than 25,000 procedures so her husband felt confident that he was in good hands. Her husband's eyesight is now almost 20/20 which is the perfect eyesight. After hearing these personal testimonies, I am now more inclined to have Lasik surgery. Probably the next time you see me, I will not be wearing my eyeglasses anymore.
-----Read Full Post-----Weeds, A Gardener's Nemesis
Gardening isn't my favorite thing to do. I only garden because I have to. Hiring a gardener is expensive and the only we have is the monthly visit of the TruGreen people who keeps our lawn lush and green. Yesterday, I spent a good hour or so pulling weeds in the end of our driveway. Thinking back, I should've made this a part of the lawn, then I don't have to do all these weeding. Well, hindsight is always 20/20 isn't it? We put some mulch in these area along with some flowering plants but there are still weeds. I think one has to re-mulch each year to keep the weeds away. If that's the case, then I need to blame dh since he's the procrastinator. I asked him countless times last year to order a truckload of mulch. Now I am not the one who nags constantly, I don't know if that's a positive in this case. My back is aching right now and I still have some more weeding to do.
-----Read Full Post-----5.16.2008
Drug Intervention
There is a program on A&E network on cable that I watch, it is called Intervention. It is a documentary on persons that are battling some kind of addiction. These people were filmed not knowing that their families asked for some intervention with a professional counselor. These people thought that they were being filmed for a documentary on their addiction. They are all battling different kinds of addiction: alcohol, gambling, food, shopping and drugs. With drug addicts, their families ask the person to go into a drug treatment center. If they refuse, then their families usually tell the person that he or she will not have any contact whatsoever. Usually, the person involved will get upset at the start, but at the end, they concede and go to drug rehab. This is a very intense show and sometimes graphic. But it is something that people need to know more about.
-----Read Full Post-----Father Ian Gabinete's Ordination
I received an email from Father Ian and he attached some photos from his ordination to priesthood last March in Paranaque, Philippines. It was through my mom that I've gotten to know Fr. Ian, he was still a seminarian at the San Jose Major Seminary at Ateneo in Quezon City. I asked my mom that dh and I want to sponsor a seminarian and she told us about Fr. Ian. We corresponded through email and I didn't meet him in person until summer of last year, when I went back for my high school reunion. Now he is currently the personal secretary of the Bishop of the Paranaque Diocese. Here are more photos of his ordination:
Invite Them with Class
The wedding day is one of the most important event in a person's life and it is also unforgetable for everyone involved. I remember at my cousin's wedding, the ring bearer was my nephew who was only 3 year old then. When the time came for him to give the wedding rings to the priest, he wouldn't let go of the pillow and the rings. He took his job very seriously and thought that he is supposed to hold it until the ceremony ends. Everyone was laughing out loud when we heard the priest jokingly begged for my nephew to give him the rings. All's well that ends well, he finally gave him the rings after his dad came up and promised to give him a treat after the ceremony.
5.15.2008
A Busy Week Ahead
Next week is going to be a busy one for me. We will celebrate my in-law's 50th Wedding Anniversary here in our house. The good news is that I will not be cooking the food with the exception of my father-in-law's favorite, Lumpia Shanghai. I will order all the food from the local Italian restaurant and the cake from the club store. We are expecting 28 guests, brothers and sisters of the celebrants, their friends and of course my dh's brothers and their family. I've been thinking if I need to buy some decorations? I don't have any idea what they have for decorations for this kind of anniversary. Do we need balloons or will it seem like a children's party instead? My sis-in-law suggested I get some dessert paper plates with 50th anniversary on it. I guess that's one more thing to do next week. Then the week after that will be the start of our summer vacation to Europe. :)
To my blogger friends:
I may not be able to visit all your blogs but I usually return your visit if I see you on the tag board. Thanks for visiting my blog, it is greatly appreciated.
Protect Yourself from Credit Scams
Have you ever been a victim of a credit scam? Usually, when people find out about it, hundreds if not thousands of dollars has already been charged to their name by unscrupulous persons. That is why checking your credit report often is important. When you get your credit report, you can look at all the accounts and loans that are opened under your name. It gives you all the information about the accounts, when it was opened, the payment history and creditor information. Doing this regulary will help protect you and your credit score. Every time you take out a loan, open a credit card or apply for a car loan, your credit score is looked up by the lender. They want to know if you are a good borrower and whether they are taking a big risk in lending you money.
At FreeCreditScoreOnline.com, you can find tons of information about your credit rating and how to protect yourself from fraud. They have a library full of articles about credit cards, building up your FICO score, establishing good credit and more credit card security information. This company also offers Identity Theft Insurance and other fraud prevention services. When you join FreeCreditScoreOnline.com you will learn how your credit score is calculated and how you can improve it. Go to www.FreeCreditSchoreOnline.com for more information.
Credit fraud. Every credit card holder worries about his/her protection. Though credit card companies do their best to protect customers’ personal data, fraudsters often manage to get access to our money.
But they say forewarned means forearmed. Learn more about credit card fraud and you will know how to protect yourself.
Today financial specialists point out about 30 illegal means of getting access to someone’s personal data. The most wide spreading illegal actions are use of fake credit cards, theft through fake online shops, fake ATM, keyboard nozzles, etc.
So, be careful. Protect your personal data. Never disclose your data, if it is not necessary and you are not sure that anybody will abuse it.
Many card owners are careless when it comes to cash advance, meanwhile ATM is an easy way to get to your money. Today fraudsters use such sophisticated methods as fake ATM, special keyboard nozzles, tiny video cameras, etc. Be careful. Examine ATMs before to paste your PIN code. First, look at the keyboard. Fraudsters can put special buttons that will keep all the pressing. If an ATM is inactive, ask a security officer about the trouble to make sure that it is not a fraud trick.
Take pains to protect yourself and you will never face a problem of fraudulent actions on your credit card.
Uh, You Have to Sit in the Lavatory for the Rest of the Flight
Did you hear about the man who flew Jet Blue Airlines and had to spend time in the lavatory? This happened on a cross-country flight from the East coast to California. For the first hour of the flight, the flight attendant was seating on the jump seat (the seat where F.A. sit on take off and landing) since the flight was full. The man who was flying for free (he used a Buddy Pass), was asked to give up his seat for the F.A. since she isn’t comfortable in the jump seat. The man protested and the pilot came and told him that it is his plane and he can tell anyone what to do. So the man gave up his seat. He wasn’t allowed to use the jump seat because they said that the rules prohibit passengers from using it. The pilot told the man to sit in the lavatory. (!)
The man said that the flight was very bumpy and he was scared for his life while sitting on the toilet. After a long while, his seat was given back to him. Now, understandably, the man is suing Jet Blue for $2 Million. I would sue too, if that happened to me. I cannot, for the life of me, understand the pilot’s thinking. Why did he ask the passenger to give up his seat for the F.A. when there is no place for him to go? Jet Blue is not commenting on this lawsuit. This is definitely humiliating for the poor man. If all of these really took place, then I hope he wins this lawsuit.
Father's Day Fun Gifts
Father's Day this year falls on June 15. Why is it that we find it hard to think of a gift to give our dad, husband or father-in-law? This year give them fun gifts for fathers day. I am sure they will appreciate a good laugh. At Fathersday.collectiblestoday.com the have many choices for fun gifts for dad. Not only that, they also have jewelry, gifts for a Star Wars fan, tech gifts and other gadgets. If they are into sports, this website has collectibles for any kind of sportsfan. The choices are endless, from a Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball Commemorative Baseball Collection to a Detroit Pistons Team Ring. For awesome father's day gifts, go to: http://fathersday.collectiblestoday.com
-----Read Full Post-----A Special Day
Today was a special day for our good friends Mira and Rob. Dh and I are happy to share this special event with them. To Mira and Rob, God Bless your family. We are here for you always.
-----Read Full Post-----Build and Upgrade Your Own Computer
Computer technology changes so fast and usually the computer we use lags far behind. New programs use up a lot of memories and buying a new computer everytime Intel rolls out a new processor gets so expensive. I found a website called www.easyasmypc.com that will help you solve that problem without causing a lot of money. Having had the experience of building my own computer, I can tell you that it is very easy.
They have custom build pc kits, these kits include all you need to build your own computer. The instructions are written in plain English, not in a hard-to-understand technical jargon. It also has illustrations which show step-by-step instructions. You just need a screwdriver and the Easy As My PC Kit to build your own computer. Easyasmypc.com also has kits to increase your computer's memory or RAM or even replace your old CPU.
5.14.2008
Ooops, where's our son?
Can you imagine traveling cross-country only to find out that your son was left in the airport? Well this happened to a newly immigrant Filipino family on their way to Winnipeg, Canada. They accidentally left their 23-month old son in the Vancouver airport, they didn't even know he was missing until they were told in the air. Apparently, they were in a hurry because they were re-packing their luggages after a customs inspection. They only had 10 minutes to get to the gate so the grandparents and mother went ahead. They thought that the boy was with the father, while the father thought that his son was with his wife. Since they sat at different parts of the plane, they didn't know the boy was missing. The boy didn't have his own ticket so there was no extra boarding pass.
Meanwhile, in the Vancouver Airport, the child was found wandering between the security checkpoint and the gates. Since he didn't speak English, they found an employee who speaks Tagalog and this person took care of him while waiting for the boy's father. Air Canada covered the costs of the return flights and the father and son were reunited.
Bad Credit Personal Loans
Usually, when you want to obtain a personal loan from a bank or a credit union, you need some kind of collateral. Even so, you are not assured of an approval for your loan. It could be because of your credit history and being a high risk borrower. PersonalLoansMania.com is the place to go to for Bad Credit Personal Loans. They have programs for high-risk borrowers with poor credit scores and history. Even with this kind of credit history, you are assured that your personal loan will be approved. This is because PersonalLoansMania.com does not require any credit checks. Your personal loan will be approved in three minutes. Visit http://www.personalloansmania.com/
-----Read Full Post-----SALE = Shopping
I, like countless other people like it when there is a SALE in the stores. For a couple of days now, Kohls has a 'Buy One, Get One Free' promotion on regular priced items. They also have a sale for other discounted items, from 40% to 90% off. Well, today was the last day of the promotion so after dropping off Amber in school, Tyler and I went straight to Kohls. They open at 8:00AM so we only had to wait 5 minutes in the car. Almost everything in the store is on sale, it's like Christmas all over again. :)
I spent about 2 hours in the store, trying to find a good deal here and there. I bought some clothes on the Buy 1 Get 1 Free promo: for example, there was a nice white knitted top for $44.00 and I got another blouse with the same price for free. Well, it's not exactly free, it's more like I paid 50% off each blouse. Hey, as long as I don't pay the full price it's considered a good deal, right? I also got a black suede skirt for $4.00 and a party dress with a matching sweater for $8.00 - the best deal. At the end of the shopping trip, I paid around $225.00 and that's a great deal considering I made out with 2 pairs of slacks, 5 blouses, 2 leather belts, 2 shirts and 1 knit sweater for Amber and a small toy for Tyler. I miss shopping days like this, I used to shop frequently when I was single and my favorite stores were Nordstroms and Macys in San Francisco. All that changed when I had my first child, now I always shop for my kids first. It's part of being a mom, I guess. :)
Probate Cash Advance When You Need It
I've heard it happen countless times where a loved one passes away and they did not have a will. When this happens, all the deceased person's property goes into probate. Getting the property all sorted out by the state takes a very long time. The family that is left behind have to worry about finances and other stuff that needs money in order to be taken cared of like mortages, property insurance and such. This is where a probate cash advance comes in very handy. Inheritance Funding Company, Inc. will give you the money that you need while you're waiting for the property to go through probate courts. These are not loans since it doesn't have any interest rates and you don't get a payment schedule. If you are just one of the inheritors and you take a probate cash advance, the other inheritors share will not be affected. IFC probate cash advance usually pays anywhere from 60 to 80 cents on the dollar. To learn more about this probate cash advance, go to www.ifccash.com
-----Read Full Post-----
5.13.2008
Elementary School Fundraisers
My daughter goes to a Catholic school and along with the tuition fees we also have to make a yearly 'contribution'. With the way the Catholic Churches' finances are these days, the schools have to rely on fundraising to get money for school improvements. The usual fundraising drive that they have is giving each child a box of candies and snacks which can be sold for $1 each. I usually just pay for the whole box since we don't have a lot of relatives and friends who live nearby. This is better than buying gift-wrappers or some other things that I don't use much. There is a company called Schoolpop, that provides non-traditional fundraisers. They have simple elementary school fundraisers for schools of all sizes. They offer a program where everytime you shop using the Schoolpop Platinum Visa, 1% of every purchase will go towards the school fundraising program. I think this is a great idea since it will be helping the school in earning money to use in purchasing new computer equipments, books and other important educational tools.
-----Read Full Post-----55 Posts in 13 Days
Golf Tournament Software
My husband grew up in a sports-centered family. His dad was a high school coach and a Physics teacher in addition to being a part-time Pharmacist. So all of his kids are involved in one or two sports all year. My husband in particular was into basketball, track and baseball. He used to play basketball and baseball until he hurt his knee. Nowadays, he is into golf just like his dad. They play every Tuesday in the summer and fall with his dad's friends. Just like any sport, you need to play a lot to be good in the game. In golf, a player's goal is to get his handicap as low as possible. I showed my husband this website where they have this golf tournament software that can be used by amateur golfers, golf clubs and USGA tournaments. You can either get a Recreational Handicap or a USGA Handicap Index. This website also has many online utilities to help a golfer improve his game and other features only available from this website.
-----Read Full Post-----Sr. Constancia O.S.A.
I still remember the way she walks, talk and smile. She's from Bacolod and her voice is soft and is 'malambing' (sweet). She was our high school principal, Sr. Constancia of the Order of Saint Augustine. She is now retired and living in Bacolod.
Our high school batch contacted her last year to invite her for our 25th reunion (July 2007). She was surprised and touched by our gesture that she cried on the phone. She couldn't believe that after all these years, we still remember her. How can we forget when our batch gave her the most headache and laughter. There was one year when we protested the outcome of a choir contest. We slammed the windows on the 3rd floor all at once and stomped our feet. LOL We paid for her round-trip plane ticket to Manila. It was a great night, seeing old friends, classmates and Sr. Connie. She is now 75 years old and apart from a few wrinkles, didn't change a lot. I hope that she lives a long and happy life in retirement.
African Safari
It is in my 'Things To Do' list, go to Africa on a safari. I remember watching the old Tarzan show on TV with Johnny Weismuller and Ron Ely when I was a kid. I was fascinated with all the different animals in Africa. Later on, I saw the African plains on the Discovery Channel and watched the migration of different animals. I imagine it will be quite an experience to see the animals in their natural surroundings. There are different types of safaris that one can take in Africa. A safari outfitter called T. Jeffrey Safari Company,LLC is one of the leading companies that offer big game hunting safari trips to Africa. They have African hunting safaris in South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Khomas and the Kalahari. This company also offers hunting trips for exclusively for women and North American hunting trips. If you are a game trophy hunter, then you should go to this website for your trip of a lifetime. www.tjsafari.com
-----Read Full Post-----What Was She Thinking?
"I think I want to bring my plant and butterflies." That's probably why she wore this outrageous and ugly hat. It was made by a famous milliner in the UK so it must be expensive. In my opinion, expensive does not necessarily mean beautiful. There's a saying "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." I don't think it applies to this hat though since from the news reports in TV and print media, all of the comments have been negative. Obviously Sarah Jessica Parker wanted to be the center of attention and out do her Sex and the City co-stars. Well, she definitely got the world's attention and snickers.
Orovo Store
My cousin Kathy is planning to get married at the end of the year. She asked me if I know of any product that will help her lose weight. I told her about this company called Orovo and their products. They have a lot of products that will help her lose weight safely. Not only that, the Orovo store also has multi-vitamin supplements and other products she can use with her work-out. Hopefully she'll reach her target weight before her wedding day comes.
-----Read Full Post-----Travel Tip #5 - Use 3-1-1
After 911, scurity is stricter than ever. Gone are the days when you can bring your own bottled water or drinks through the security screening and into the boarding gate. The Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) imposed a rule that you can only bring in liquids that is 3 ounces or less. There are exceptions like baby formula, medications, etc. which needs to be declared. A good rule of thumb is that if it does not fit a quart-sized plastic baggie, then you should pack it with your checked-in luggage, not in your carry-on bag.
On my return trip from the Philippines, I went through Narita airport and I didn't know that I had my Lubriderm lotion in my carry-on. I was supposed to put it in the side pocket of my luggage but obviously I forgot to do it. The security person in Narita confiscated my 95% full lotion, what a waste. I hope someone brought it home and used it or else, it's a complete waste. LOL Anyway, everytime I travel I always re-read these travel tips from the TSA. Always remember that passengers in all flights going to the United States has to conform with this 3-1-1 rule.
Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1
- 3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.
- Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.
- Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.
- 3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
- Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.
- Come early and be patient. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.
Mechanic Lien - To Protect Your Business Interests
Travel Tip #4 - Kids and Airport Security
We traveled extensively when my daughter was little. Living in California back then, we always travel cross-country to visit my in-laws in Massachusetts. We also stayed in Oregon for a year for my dh's work at Intel and of course, there are the vacations in the Philippines.
Having children travel with you is stressful if you have not planned accordingly. One of the most stressful part in traveling for me is going through airport security. Carrying a stroller, diaper bag, jackets, plus taking off your shoes and your kids shoes will certainly drive up your stress level up the roof. Here are some tips from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on travelling with kids and going through security.
TIPS At the airport
- Please allow yourself and your family extra time to get through security - especially when traveling with younger children.
- Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.
- Speak to your children again about the screening process so that they will not be frightened or surprised. Remind them not to joke about threats such as bombs or explosives.
- Tell your children that their bags (backpack, dolls, etc.) will be put in the X-ray machine and will come out at the other end and be returned to them.
- Let your children know that a Security Officer may ask to see their shoes, but that they will get these back as well.
- Remove babies and children from their strollers or infant carriers so that our Security Officers can screen them individually.
- You may not pass the child to another person behind you or in front of you during this process.
- Do not pass your child to our Security Officer to hold.
- Our Security Officer may ask for your help screening your child.
- You may want to consider asking for a private screening if you are traveling with more than one child.
- Ask a Security Officer for help gathering your bags and child-related equipment, if you need it.
Getting Ready for My Brother
My parents, sister and I are looking forward to my brother's arrival here in the States. Having married early, he had to wait almost 15 years to be able to immigrate in this country. He will be staying with my parents in Orange County. My dad and mom are preparing for his arrival and are very excited. They made a spare room into his bedroom and my dad is looking to trade his old truck for a recent model. He found he can get an trade appraisal for a used dodge truck san diego which is only an hour away from where they live. San Diego Dodge also has an online form you can fill out to get an estimate on used Dodge trucks and cars. They have auto financing services to make it easier for their customers and have very competitive rates. San Diego Dodge's online trade appraisal at www.sddodge.com is very convenient for my dad and everyone who is looking into trading in their automobiles. I hope my dad finds the automobile that is perfect for my brother.
-----Read Full Post-----5.12.2008
Vacation is Coming Sooner Than You Think! Travel Update
Can you believe it, less than three weeks to go and we will be off to our summer vacation in Europe. It seems just a year or so ago, I told my friends in Germany that we have plans on visiting the continent in 2008. Now, in a month or so, I will be seeing my college friend for the first time in 20 years! I will also meet Vicky and Prescy for the first time. I've met them online and have been friends ever since.
I have booked our hotels months in advance. I was glad I did it, I saw people asking for help looking for vacant hotels in Venice. Italy is the most expensive country that we will be going to and Venice being the most expensive city. Since this is the so-called 'trip of a lifetime', we will enjoy it to the nth degree!
Now all I have to do is figure out what clothes to bring. We want to travel light since we will be using the trains to go around Europe. Yeah, we can fly to anywhere which is also cost effective, but we prefer seeing the countryside.
We will be staying at the following hotels which I found after much research: Hotel Ponte Sisto in Rome, Hotel Davanzati in Florence, Hotel American Dinesen in Venice, Hotel Des Alpes in Lucerne, Caprice Hotel in Jungfrao region, Switzerland, Hotel Hannong in Strasbourg,France, Hotel Deutscher Hof in Trier, Germany, Swissotel in Berlin and finally Eden Hotel Wolff in Munich. In The Netherlands, we will be staying with a Fil-Dutch couple we met in the Philippines in 2003. I hope that the reviews I read from Frommers and TripAdvisor are spot on. I will definitely take a lot of photos of the hotel rooms, lobby and common areas and post them online. It's my contribution to these great traveler website that helped a lot while I was planning our trip.
Ireland Car Hire
My in-laws will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the end of the month. We will be having a party for them at our house and we invited their close friends, brothers and sisters and my husband's siblings. They are a low-key couple, they have simple tastes and are both down-to-earth. My husband and his brothers have been thinking of a wedding anniversary gift for them. Since my father-in-law is part-Irish, they decided to give them a trip to Ireland. They've never been to Ireland but I'm sure they will both enjoy visiting the Emerald Isle.
I've been given the task of looking for accomodations and transportation for their trip. Since they are both independent and not into rigid schedules we didn't book a full-tour. We found nice hotels and individual tours for them. For car hire Ireland has Argus Rent-a-Car. It is Ireland's #1 car hire company and is family-owned. They have the best car hire rates in Ireland, be it a short-term rental or a long-term rental. Their rates already include both collision and vehicle damage waiver. You can choose from their fleet of cars, from economy to luxury rentals or if you are looking for something bigger, they also have vans. Their website is www.argus-rentacar.com
What's Your Japanese Name?
Juliet of www.twinscolumn.com and Inaj of www.dabawenyako.com gave me this fun tag. :)
For the instructions, add your name on the list and simply spell out your name using the given Japanese letter- translations below. Tag six of your friends and inform them of the tag. Have fun!
TRANSLATION:
A - ka G - ji M - rin S - ari Y - fu
B - tu H - ri N - to T - chi Z - zi
C - mi I - ki O - mo U - do
D - te J - zu P - no V - ru
E - ku K - me Q - ke W - mei
F - lu L - ta R - shi X - na
1. OSWALD - moarimeikatate (sounds like american and states har....har...har...)
2. JUNELLE - zudotokutataku (Thank God I’m a Filipino! sounds like sadako. nyay! hehehe)
3. JACQUELINE - zukamikedokutakitoku (Ayay!! Unsaman ni perti mang taasa..wa ko kasabot nyahahaha)
4. LERMA - takushirinka ( I’ll use this name if I’m in Japan!)
5. BREGIE -tushikujikiku ( Wah....ang sagwa hehehehe)
6. Michelle - rinkimirikutataku (sounds like miriku-piriko, tataku-tatak-u) hahaha!
7. C.A. "tque" - mika "chikedoku" (nice and cool!)
8. JULIET - zudotakikuchi (murag suntuka koh!? hehehe!
9. Inaj - kitokazu ( not bad, like the sound of it wink*)
10. BABETTE - Tu-ka-tu-ku-chi-chi-ku (parang ibon na tumutuka lOL)
I'm tagging Janet and Ronald.
Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
With the way interest rates are nowadays, it is wise to shop around for a credit card that gives you the best deal be it in the form of airline mileage, free gas, cash back and many more incentives. Going through all the different offers the credit card company has is hard work and time-consuming. Everyone gets credit card offers in the mail. To read all those fine print which is usually written in some form of legal mumbo-jumbo is such a daunting task that all too often, may people just give up.
There is a website called CreditCardBest.com that makes choosing a credit card easier for everyone. They have all information about each and every credit card available online. You can search for credit cards by your spending habits, the kind of credit history you have or your financial goals. If you are looking for a credit card that has the best rates for balance transfers, they have it. They have links for online applications for whatever credit card you choose. This is a complete website for choosing credit cards because they are sorted out for you. Go to www.creditcardbest.com
Press Release:
Balance transfer credit cards are extremely popular among consumers with good credit and there is an explanation to this. Ads insist on the fact that with a balance transfer credit card you will be able to save a good deal of money, since you will get an opportunity to pay off your current balance at zero APR.
However, one should pay attention to a number of features a balance transfer card has in order to choose the most beneficial deal. Many credit card providers apply no annual fee to their balance transfer plastics. This is really a way to save, since usually a balance transfer fee is no less than 3% of the balance transferred. Besides, the balance transfer introductory period is supposed to be enough for you to pay out your debt – about 6 months probably. So, look for the best balance transfer credit cards with an intro period with zero APR on transferring balances.
An important issue which is pointed out by most experts is correct usage of a balance transfer card. The basic rule is avoiding purchases until you finish paying off the transferred balance: interest rates on purchases are usually too high with these cards. As you see, with a wise approach, you can make the best of a balance transfer plastic!
