Pleased with Our Decision

Before the builder finally started building our house, they told us that the next step would be at the showroom where we can upgrade everything about the house; and so we went and chose what we want for it to look like inside and out including the bricks, windows, bathroom fixture, shed/patio and so on. Before we knew it the total of the upgrade we would pay was more than ten grand! We didn't want to pay that huge amount of money and so, we decided to let some stuffs remained as in (standard). We bought many stuffs ourselves outside the showroom to save some bucks. Now, that the house is done and we finally moved in, we couldn't be happier. We love our house and its simplicity.

La Mer

If you feel like going to the beach but isn't possible because you are nowhere near the ocean, just like here in Texas, then these ideas might interest you especially when you have kids to entertain on a hot summer days.

Summer is a time when our minds turn to water, getaways, and beaches. Get into the mood with one of the following oceany date ideas:

Visit the aquarium. The cool temperature and low light of an aquarium will provide a refreshing contrast to the heat and brightness of summer. Look at all the different kinds of fish

Grab some seafood. Take your date out for dinner and enjoy the bounties of the sea. If you live near the ocean, try to find a restaurant near the beach where you can enjoy the salt air while you eat.

Go to a waterpark. Take a dip in the wave pool and imagine you’re at a real beach. Ride all the two-person slides you can and entertain your childish side. Don’t forget to stop by the park’s other amenities (such as an arcade or fair rides area) to keep the fun going.

Take a moonlit walk. This works best for those who live by the ocean, but a nearby lake works nearly as well. Grab some ice cream cones beforehand and walk barefoot while you eat.

Breeches for Jordan

While checking my Facebook account, a friend from church posted a picture of her daughter riding a horse. When I asked her whether Jordan is learning to ride and her reply was 'yes.' I didn't realized that Jordan loves horse. Anyway, she wasn't wearing any kind of breeches. Since this kind of hobby is quite expensive, I am guessing that accessory and clothing are pricey, too. Oh well, they can afford to buy anything their kids want since my friend's work/job is very secure. Riding horse is one I'd like to learn someday when money is not an issue anymore. For now, I will need to learn to swim for my son's sake and maybe someday learn to play piano :-), yeah I know what you mean...so many dreams, but so little time...oh well, dreaming is free, so I can dream as much as I want to....can't?

TV Stand is Not a Must!

With all the expenses associated of owning a new home, hubby and I are overwhelmed with it. My sister in-law was right, aside from the amount of closing cost and fees, you will be surprised with things you didn't know you needed like shed, mover, paint, furniture and appliances. We were fine with the armor where our tv stands till we needed it for storage. Now, we are obligate to purchase new tv stands for the three tv home. Since the small and big tv have their own places for the meantime, we plan of buying only one tv stand; and maybe when money is not an issue anymore, we would get two more.

Belly Busting Breakfast

Sometimes we all enjoy indulging in a heartier-than-usual breakfast. But it’s important to define more clearly what “indulge” means—after all, there’s a big difference between eating an entire grapefruit instead of half and doubling the amount of sausage links you eat. The point is to be careful with what you eat first thing—especially at restaurants—since the mindset often is “I can burn it off the rest of the day.” Below is just a sampling of the breakfasts that could be disasters to your diet, so if you eat out, stick to healthy foods like fruits and whole grains; that way the most important meal of the day won’t become the most regrettable.

	Calories	Fat	Carbs	Sodium	Protein
Dunkin’ Donuts® Coffee Cake Muffin	660	26g	98g	530mg	7g
Hardee’s® Loaded Biscuit ‘N’ Gravy	1000	75g	50g	2350mg	32g
Jack in the Box® Grilled Breakfast Sandwich	602	28g	52g	1791mg	25g

So next time you decide to eat breakfast at fast food resto, keep this in mind to avoid bulky belly and weight gain.

A Netbook for My Brother

Moving is one thing I don't like to do. It gives me stress aside from very tiring and expensive. When we say moving, that means moving your whole household; you still need to transfer your utilities, medical records, and change address and so as your internet provider, phone number and cable. Talking about internet provider, the service will soon be transferred to our new address, and that means it will take days before we will have internet service again. So here am I trying to finish up posting the sponsored posts assigned to me or I will lose them. Anyway, I wished that my brother has his own netbook like the Sony VAIO I saw at Microcenter couple of days ago. He can earn money just like me through blogging and writing sponsored post. Since he cannot afford to buy himself one at this moment, I promised that I will buy a netbook for him as soon as I have enough money in my saving account. It is one of his wishes, so I need to really work hard on it. He said he can wait, but it would be nice if he can have it on his birthday this August. I am crossing my fingers for I don't want to disappoint him.

Mosquito - Free Your Summer Activities

Summer time is fast approaching, and everyone wants to be outdoor swimming, grilling,and playing games. To make it more enjoyable, we need to make sure that we have everything ready including sunblock to protect our skin from the sun and of course, from bugs bite such as pesky mosquitoes. We know that one of the few things you don’t like about summer outdoor fun is that itchy, scratchy welt you get from a skeeter. Since after getting the bite you just have to suffer, prevention is the name of the game. Here are some tips for keeping those pests away from your home:

• When outdoors, wear light-colored clothing—mosquitoes are attracted to dark.
  
  
• Check your property for standing water—many types of mosquitoes breed on the surface of water, so if you don’t get rid of that big puddle, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. Birdbaths, clogged drains, and roof gutters are other favorites for these insects.
  
  
• Get rid of rotting debris—your decaying garden has become a breeding ground. Lawn cuttings and raked leaves are also attractive spots for mosquito larvae.
  
  
• Be repellent-wise—DEET-based repellents are effective, but only on the areas they cover.
  
  
• Mosquitoes will bite skin four centimeters from where the repellent has been sprayed. However, don’t apply them under clothes; if you do, your skin may absorb the chemical and cause irritation.
  
  
• Make use of winds—mosquitoes, while talented at biting, are not strong flyers. Keeping a fan on your patio during barbecues can help blow the pests away.
  
  
• Don’t bother with zappers—they don’t kill many mosquitoes, but they do kill lots of beneficial bugs. Plus, they’re expensive. Ultrasonic mosquito devices have also proved to be ineffective.

LDS Living Magazine

Avail of Branson Vacation Package

Summertime is almost here, and the weather is getting warmer and warmer each day. It would be great if my family and I can go for a summer getaway just like we always do back when we were still living in VA where we go to the beach almost every other weekend. I remember last year, we spent my birthday in outer banks North Carolina and enjoyed riding the Ferry boat, swimming at the beach, touring the island Ocracoke as well as shopping souvenirs. I have been hearing great things about a place in Missouri called Branson, where every family's choice of recreational activities are there. I would like to go there and avail the Branson vacation package so we can save money while enjoying the place and everything they offer such as tickets and more.

Life Span of Skim Milk

My family and I love milk, be it skim, 2% milk or whole milk. We use it very often when we bake, eat, and prepare dishes. So, we have them in handy. Sometimes we can't really tell when emergency strikes. We need to have foods stored and that includes milk. Here is a study done that can help us and needs to consider when storing dehydrated milk/skim milk.

A study was performed at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. The quality of dehydrated non-fat milk was tested at different storage conditions. Here are some of the results.

• Nonfat dry milk stored at 90 degrees F began to develop "off flavors" by 6 months and considered unacceptable (oxidized and stale) after 2 years.
• Nonfat dry milk stored at 70 degrees F was considered unacceptable (oxidation and stale) after 4 years.
• Nonfat dry milk stored at 50 degrees F resulted in minimal flavor changes after 52 months (4 1/3 years).

This study is just one example of the effects that time have on food storage items. Every food is different and the shelf life can vary depending on storage conditions. We suggest marking the date on your food before putting it in storage, incorporate it into your diet, keep it cool, dark and dry and remember, "food is best if used within 5 years."

I Love Promotional Tote Bags

Hubby and I didn't realized that owning a new home built is that expensive. I cannot believe how much we already spent just by painting, decorating and purchasing the necessary things to maintain yard, and the whole house itself if we want to keep it for a long time. Anyway, tomorrow will be the final day where we will have the moving company load and unload our stuffs in the apartment into our new home. I am glad because I have finally finished painting the kitchen. All I need to do now is to get some groceries and produce for the whole week's consumption. I need to use those promotional tote bags we have purchased from different grocery stores such as Kroger, ALDI, Tom Thumb and Target. I really like these tote bags because I save money every time I use it, plus I am helping save the planet earth by using these recycle items.

Shoot Me! 1 of 52

While blog hopping I stumble at this meme called "Shoot Me" and decided to join today. I hope am not late yet for my entry. Anyway, this meme encourages me to be more visible in the camera often. As a mom, I hardly had a picture of me taken because I am always the who take pictures since hubby always forgets it. Now, I don't have excuse to stay behind the scene :-); so here is it is!

This was taken by me, of course one Sunday afternoon at Lake Ray Hubbard.

Recall For Shrek Glasses

When Sherk glasses were introduced by McDonald, I was very excited and wanted to buy all of them, but I didn't get the chance because it was all sold out by the time I get there. I didn't feel bad though for whatever reason. Now I know why I felt that way; it was because they are being recalled because it contains a dangerous metal called Cadmium. Read on.....below:

A dangerous metal called cadmium has been discovered in 'Shrek'-themed drinking glasses being sold at McDonald's restaurants across the country, prompting the fast-food giant to recall 12 million of the collectors items. The 16-ounce glasses have been going for $2 a pop, and with the success of 'Shrek Forever After' at the box office, they've been a hot item since their May 21 debut. The glasses have been available in four designs -- Shrek, Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey.

McDonald's announced Friday morning that it would post instructions on its website next week about refunds. Until then, they say to STOP using the glasses.

No Special Meal

I am not sure if I will believe on what other people say about giving vitamins to your kid makes them eat a lot, thus gaining weight in the long run. I give my son vitamins but he never gain weight. One thing I notice is that he eats 4 - 5 times a day, but only small meals. He is growing tall though. I love that my son eats veggies and fruits and less junk foods....he isn't even in to sweets. What I believe is that you are what you eat. I never make special meal for Jake...he eats what's in front of him. I mean, he eats what we eat....now is fully adjusted to eating Filipino and American foods....which is what we want.

Why Milk Matters

Did you know that toddlers need about 2 cups of milk products everyday for healthy growth and development? And so it is important to include them as part of your child's meals and snacks everyday. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for the health and development of your child's body.

~~ Calcium builds strong bones and teeth.
~~ Yogurt, cheese and milk contain calcium and potassium.
~~ Vitamin D helps the body to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorous, which helps to build strong bones. Milk is a good source of vitamin D.

Though my son is already 5 year old, I still give him at least 2 cups of milk a day for I know that it is good for him and his health. I am glad he loves milk. Some kids don't like it at all. If they only know what they are missing from not drinking milk or eating dairy foods. For me, parents should be strict when it comes to the foods their kids eat. Good eating habit starts at home and parents must a be good example of this!