Zamboanga Restaurant is located in Adriatico, Manila and offers seafood and native dishes and cultural performances nightly. If you would also check their website, they also offer competive wedding, baptismal and birthday packages. Theirs even start cheaper than what Ibarra's offers. 
For an authentic Zamboangan dining experience, make sure you sample their crab delicacies, especially the Curacha (cockroach-looking crab).
I know, there are a lot of sites offering free photo uploads. Multiply, Photobucket, Pbase, Picasa, Flickr, Webshots, etc. You can even use the 1024 mb Blogger gives you per blog account.
But... free accounts sometimes take time to load. Or they require you to resize pictures, which can be a hassle if you don't have a software that will allow you to mass resize at will. But what happens if your hard disk crashes and all your uploaded and salvageable pictures have already been resized and reduced, resolution-wise?
So may I suggest a thoughtful gift then, in the form of a paid account for unlimited uploads. I opted to upload our pics at Smugmug.com. The yearly fees is negligible really and won't cost as much as Festina watches. Plus, if you were referred by a user already, the fees get discounted. So in case you've looked around already and also want to subscribe to Smugmug, allow me to save you $5 by entering my e-mail address (delisyus at gmail dot com) at the 'Referred By' field on the signup form.
If you're like me who owns multiple gadgets, (with chargers to go with them) chances are, your work station is also a mess of wires and cables.
The answer to keeping your work spaces clean (or manageable, at least) is using bins or separate trays. Stackable ones that are properly labeled or see-through ones will go a long way in helping you locate your stuff without having to always disentangle your MP3 players from your cellphone chargers and ID lace.
Bins also do wonders for closets and pantries. Dividers inside them, or smaller trays, will also help some more. Even shoes can be kept in bins and still be accessible for use. And of course, children's toys would do well to have bins all their own, unless you want to keep slipping and stumbling on them.
So head to your nearest Home Depot or Ikea shopping center and choose bins that will not only keep you organized, but will also accessorize your home with color. There are so many designs to choose from and you can even personalize some of them.
It's a sad fact. Eating out results in eating more, or if not more, certainly more salted or sugared fare.
I realized this yet again after having around two to three chocolate cream chip drink from Starbucks weekly last May. It was really the only deviation from homecooked meals because we seldom really eat or go out. We get the drinks while travelling to and from my in-laws.
So, although I don't need to take Orovo detox pills just yet, I did gain ten pounds in a month just because of all the caramel drizzle and extra whipped cream I stuffed myself with.
Fastfood fare is no better. Remember that video of McDonalds fries not getting any mold even after ten weeks? That's the sodium content talking! Plus, when you eat out, you often get to buying extra side dishes and desserts or getting second helpings. Want to know just how many calories your burger has? Check Burger King, they have this huge poster stating just how many calories their Whopper packs.
Because it's a fundamental law of cooking, the saltier or the fatter it is, the tastier it gets. That's how restaurants keep their patrons coming...
So if you suddenly gained weight, consider how many times you ate out this month. It could be the reason why your pants won't fit you anymore.
At my son's baptism, we gave away mugs with his picture and cheap pens on carabs. In the mugs, I put printed notes explaining the name choice for my son which I also connected with prosperity. So the notes ended with an invitation for all guests receiving the mug to use it as a coin-tainer.
Buying rings and don't really want to pay for the brand and the fancy stall? Then head to Binondo instead for the diamond rings your heart is longing for... or that precious gem you want to put on your beloved's finger.
Come prepared though. Do your research first on reputable suppliers. Ask for recommendations. Know your diamond. Don't be swept off by the cheap rates some stalls will offer. And consider the ring prices in terms of the ring quality... how many grams of gold were used? How is the appearance? Can you have it checked in other shops to corroborate quality? What is their policy on returns? What do they do if the customer feels his specifications weren't followed?
And of course, make sure you keep your receipt.
Just recently, I found myself caught between throngs of people and their grocery carts when SM Manila offered a One-Time Sale for their SM Advantage Members.
Members could buy FIVE Buy 1, Take 1 items and TEN Value Bags (with freebies). Naturally, people got swept by the opportunity to buy things at the price of one. So they loaded their carts with the Buy 1, Take 1 items being brought out of storage eventhough these weren't exactly in their grocery list.
It is so easy to lose your wits and immediately think you're getting a good deal because of offers like that. Try to exercise some control and think the items over. Do you really use that particular product? Could you really use the freebie? Will these items expire anytime soon? And are the items even good for you?
Save your money for the necessities and good buys. Keep your wits with you when shopping.
Branded morsels, chocolate drops and what-nots can be expensive. So woe to someone who loves a super chunky chocolate chip cookie right?
Baking supplies shops also store generic chocolate chips... but do beware that baking is more like installing a house's foundation. You can't remedy it as easily as when you're just cooking.
And using different brands will yield different results.
We made the mistake of overloading our choco chip cookie batter with generic choco chips. Sure, we got the sweetness overload we were shooting for but the choco chips also had too much butter/fats in them that resulted in a super soft bath of choco chip cookies. They all melted and got incorporated in the batter, like chocolate swirls in dough. The effect would have been more appreciated in cakes, and certainly not on cookies that are cookie-thin and cake-crumbly.
Using chopped generic chocolate blocks was actually better, albeit time-consuming.
Lesson learned... stick to the recipe. Once confident, experiment with only a portion of the batter where necessary. That way, you don't ruin the whole batch.
One of the expenses parents really feel bad about is disposable diapers. Basically, it's really buying trash, or waste. But of course, not everyone is up to the challenge anymore of using cloth ones.
So, if your baby isn't very sensitive and you want to cut down on costs but still want to stick to your favored brand, what can you do?
Well, you can try the following:
Mom Massage's Dial-a-Diaper
Multiply seller
Seller 1 at Sulit
Seller 2 at Sulit
One thing i've noticed is that salt water seems to be a great acne treatment for me. And I seem to have inherited the more persistent type of acne, one that has stayed even after I was through with adolescence.
I've just really observed that after a trip to the beach, I enjoy a week or two of clearer skin. Which led me wondering on whether I should bottle some of the salt water for use at home.
Weirdly enough, some actually do that!
Googling this however, I've gathered that it could be a combination of sun and sea water actually that is helping my skin to clear. The sea water has some sort of antibacterial properties (which is why, when you have minor wounds, elders encourage you to go swimming as the sea water helps speed up the healing process) but some exposure to the sun also stimulates the healing. And of course, everything in moderation, as ultraviolet rays can also damage our skin.
Still, it's one more reason to love the beach!
Weight loss after pregnancy often seems an insurmountable task to achieve. But it is actually very possible. Just the late nights alone after the delivery of the baby (and amniotic fluid, and elimination of lochia) easily result in a ten-to-twenty pound loss.
And then there's breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding burns a lot of calories per day. Provided you don't binge on really sinful food, breastfeeding should help you lose all the pregnancy weight you put on (and maybe even some more) within two months. If you throw in lots of healthy eating there, lots of water, and some sort of exercise too apart from the late-night dancing to put the baby to sleep, you just might be surprised at how quickly you get back to wearing your old clothes.
Even celebrities attest to how much breastfeeding helped them get back to their pre-pregnancy weight. After the weight was off, all they just had to do was tone. Don't believe me? Google Heidi Klum!
Surely this is a great incentive to give more of that liquid gold to your child?
Say you and your intended are discussing what to do for your honeymoon, or rather, where to go.
You want to shop, he wants to relax on the beach. You want to check out old Churches and flea markets, he wants to try extreme sports. You want to immerse yourself in different cultures, he wants to sample differently-cooked seafood. You want a massage, he wants to party!
Plus, you both have a limited budget. And limited vacation time.
What to do? Hmmm.
You can consider cruises instead. Usually, cruise ships will take you to a different city/port of call everyday so you literally don't run out of things to see and do and will be able to manage trying different things in one go. It can also be one of the cheapest ways to visit many countries in just one vacation.
You even have the option of just getting cheaper accommodations on-board and splurging on shopping and dining in the places you'd visit, or getting a fine room to sleep in to ensure a comfortable night's rest after a busy day of sightseeing.
Work with the cruise line you're going with, however, to ensure that you get there on time for its departure, and that there'd be minimal unwanted surprises. Maybe they can furnish maps for each port of call, or at least a travelogue brochure.
My BIL has tipped us that commercial real estate is booming in Pampanga. He works for their late uncle's (now cousin's) company, First Worldwide, which basically maintains golf courses (so yeah, they had Fontana and Mimosa as clients).
Korean-owned companies have been investing a lot in Pampanga. Even call centers are sprouting like crazy over there. Villages and townhouses are also selling like hotcakes. Add to this the opening of the third major highway going to Baguio expected to be operational by 2009, and you really have a bustling economy separate from Manila.
So if you have some money you can use to invest, look to Pampanga for possibilities. I imagine properties there appreciating much in the next five years just from all the foreign investments.
Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino is a popular destination for out-of-towners wanting to unwind and get away from the buzz and hassle of the city. It's located inside Clark, Pampanga, some two-three hours away from Manila.
People stay in villas (one-, two-, three-bedroom ones) with a driver's room and separate CR/shower, a living room, a dining area, a kitchen equipped with a ref and a stove. All faucets offer hot water and there is some patio furniture at the back to extend the living area. Air-conditioning is centralized.
Wondering where to get baking supplies to start your own business or just spice up the desserts you're making? Consider these four:
Chocolate Lover
Main: 45 P. Tuazon St. cor. C. Benitez St., Cubao, QC
Tel. No: (632) 411-7474; 724-5752
Branch: #2 Kitanlad St., Quezon Avenue (just near the Rotonda)
Tel No: (632) 732-8576
For US and Canadian residents, see www.beyond-chocolates.com
*~*
Chefs’ Nook
220 Pilar St., Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City.
(02) 724-5812
Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5:30pm.
(source : Dessert Comes First)
*~*
Sweet Craft Baking and Confectionery Supplies
Visit us at 373 Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City
(In front of Rizal Technological University, a minute's ride from Boni MRT Station and EDSA!)
Telephone: (+632)5321595 Telefax: (+632)5326289
*~*
Ingrid's Sweet Haven
#363 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue cor.
Liwayway Street, Barangay Caniogan, Pasig City 1606
TELEFAX: (632) 641-2561
I believe these shops also sell contaiers for your goodies, but cardboard boxes for your cakes and cookies are all still cheaper if you buy those in bulk in Divisoria. My MIL stocks up on these for her apple pies and bow tarts, and now, for cookies as well.
The key to travelling on a budget is planning ahead.
First, decide on a destination or activity. Then do your research. Which place is nearer? Which would require more travelling time? Which offers more amenities? Which offers more activities for everyone going on the trip with you? Which offers complimentary breakfasts or tickets to local parks/shows? Are there guided tours you can join?
Come up with your itinerary months ahead. You get the cheapest fares and best cruise deals when you book ahead of time, mainly because that's already assured income for the airline or cruise line. Consider travelling during the non-peak season too (say, Boracay is absolutely filled to bursting with people during the summer, so go on the leaner months. It's also quieter then and you can have more of the white sand to enjoy).
If you're after the experience and not really the accommodations, consider just getting a day tour of a resort instead of actually staying there. Plus, staying in transient homes may just give you a better feel of the local flavor.
Lastly, consider using the rewards points or miles collected in your credit card or Flyer card. It might just land you on Business class seats you normally wouldn't be able to afford.
check this out:
Photo Studio For Rent (Calamba City Area)
Price: P400/hr
My studio is now open for those of you in need to shoot models or product shots.
Its just a small space, big enough for small portrait/product sessions. It has a restroom, pantry and dressing space with lifesize mirror, and is air conditioned.
You can use the following lighting equipment:
3 units Jinbei Delicacy 180/ws
1 (unit) Falcon Eyes MF45 Studio Strobe (45w)
4 light stands
1 octagonal softbox
1 rectangular softbox
1 honeycomb grid
2 silver umbrellas
1 large circular 5-in-1 reflector
1 medium circular 5-in-1 reflector
Portrait backgrounds:muslin blue, muslin brown, plain royal blue, plain white, plain white
Desktop backgrounds (for product shots): Savage Background sheets (24x31") - black, gray, white, blue, green
Table for product shots
Free use of PC with internet connection for uploading and burning purposes.
Rental fee is only P400/hour - with free 30 minutes for ingress and egress. Bookings and reservations should be done at least 2 weeks prior to desired schedule.
You can also visit my studio first for an occular inspection, download the MAP
For more info my contact details are below.
Regards,
Nix Taytay
--
Nikko Taytay Photography
140 National Road, Mayapa, Calamba City, Laguna
Studio Tel. No. 049.8341295
Mobile No. 0928.3682678
E-mail: info@nikkotaytay.tk, mywedding@nikkotaytay.tk
Website: www.nikkotaytay.tk
This is absolutely great for those with DSLRs wanting to take pictures of their tots but don't really want to shell out, or be limited, by shops like The Picture Company.
Nope. This isn't about being green and recycling.
I'm referring to the boxes your cellphone units come with. Save them. Including everything inside them, especially if you aren't using them.
Why?
See, in cases when you want to trade in your older unit for a new one, units that have boxes fetch a slightly higher price.
And yes, the older your phone is, the lower it's trade-in and resale value becomes, so saving those boxes will count for something.
Spoiler Alert?
The movie was very entertaining, with some really choice parts that will get you laughing like a hyena. I mostly laughed at Po eating the peaches from the Sacred Tree and washing his armpits from the Sacred Lake (sorry, am not bothering to google what they were really called).
But... it didn't really offer anything new. I'd prefer Nacho Libre over it anytime. Or Shrek. Or Finding Nemo. Or Ice Age. Or Monsters, Inc.
I'd also even prefer those movies from a decade ago of little Shaolin kids, with the fat boy mistaken to be the next Dalai Lama just because he went after the Dalai's beads (which he thought were food).
So yeah, I liked it but I wouldn't have missed anything if I didn't watch it.
... like Fontana, in Pampanga, for example, is that there are some things they prohibit you from bringing in. Like extra beddings for the others sharing the villa with you. Or food (snacks and drinks) in their pool. You need not leave your beer pong tables behind, but you also cannot bring in your own beer. I guess you can sit on them to go down the water slide instead... or as a raft of sorts in the resort's 'river'.
You cannot even use resort-issued towels at their pool area, you'd have to deposit it at the Entrance if you can't leave it in your car or villa.
To think that they're already charging you some P200-300 I think (P100 for members or those endorsed by members) just to go in the pool area!
I can rant further but I won't. But do consider yourself warned.
It's one of the Pinoys' bad habits. We seldom collect and use coupons when it can actually save us a lot of big money.
There was a program I saw before (Oprah, I think) where a Mom was being interviewed on how she gets to shop for clothes for her kids and still get to save money.
She said the secret to her savings include buying house brands for some items, buying off-season, buying at surplus shops, and checking first at the mall's reception desk for a book of coupons which she can use. She literally saves hundreds of dollars this way.
So, let's say you'd be requiring a lot of printed brochures and business cards for your company (or the company you're working for). A good move would be to get your hands on some Vista Print coupons and maybe have enough savings for company stationery and shirts.
Say you're decorating, renovating, improving, revamping or reinventing your home. Consider glass for class, especially when complemented by proper lighting.
You don't have to invest on glass walls everywhere. It can be just a perfectly chosen crystal here and there. Say, like a unique glass bowl or ashtray, or an intricate vase as centerpiece.
Punch through portions of your wall for some stained glass windows. Install a glass sink or put candles in frosted glasses. Serve party food on glass pedestals. Frame your door with wrought iron on glass. Your options are endless and your home will be more illuminated.
One of the better buys you can probably make is investing in vacuum cleaners, be they hand-held devices or truly heavy-duty ones.
Hand-held ones are great for using in the car, some nooks and crannies you can't really reach or dust away completely. The heavy duty ones are great if you have carpets in your home. They help get to the dirt and facilitate removal of allergens (dust and molds).
It would also help if you air your entire home once in a while. Let it breathe. And regularly clean your place, wiping counters and surfaces and dusting rags and mats completely. You don't have to be Martha Stewart clean at home and your work areas need not be gleaming from cleanliness all the time but it sure pays to keep them clean and dust-free.
If there are kids at home, and plushies in the form of stuffed or soft toys abound, clean them using wipes drenched in ethyl alcohol.
My Berk friends, who are set to meet and have a grand tour of several States this autumn, are scouring the internet for ways to maximize their Outer Banks visit.
Thank heavens that almost anything now can be googled. But I must be using the wrong keywords too because I was meaning to direct my friends to that site where bloggers all over the world open their own homes to fellow bloggers who may be visiting their country. This not only builds stronger friendships, this also saves travelling bloggers a lot of money. So my friends would really do well to check that site out.
If you're planning to go abroad, now's a good time as any to also get in touch with a blogger from that country. At best, you just might be offered free accommodations. At worst, you can immediately get information about places and sights, by asking the blogger or just by reading his posts. If you're lucky, you even get pictures to entice you or turn you away!
Your blog network is also good for other things, like party planning (even wedding planning!), research and idea resource. Don't know where to bring your date? Check other people's blogs! Don't know what to cook for dinner tonight? Check blogs! Not sure if you're breastfeeding right or digiscrapping right, or taking pictures right? Check blogs!
It would help though if you've already haunted a certain blog for a while, so you'd also be somehow sure that the bloggers tastes aren't weird. :)
... says Nigella Lawson, is the amount of chocolate chips you add to your batter. She admits to using two packs of morsels/chocolate chips when she bakes her chocolate cookies and defends the indulgence by saying that "she doesn't put a price on alleviating human suffering".
I'm sure nobody will contest that!
But if you're not really willing to spend so much on chocolate chips/morsels/drops... my sister-in-law swears that it's the cocoa you use for the batter that really spells the difference. You can use any morsel brand you want, or even replace them with sprinkles, nuts or fruit, but if the cocoa you used isn't a trusted brand, the cookies will fall short.
We mostly use Hershey's cocoa for our baking requirements.
Let's make fathers happy by giving them gifts they will really enjoy! Consider the following...
for gadget-freaks and techie Dads:
Toy/hobby laptops in the form of Asus eee PC or Astone UMPC. An iPod, iTouch or iPhone. A DSLR. A lomo cam. A Mac. External Hard Drives (for sure, a MyBook 1 TB harddrive will make anyone happy). Bluetooth headphones. New speakers. If you can afford it, a plasma TV. If not, an LCD monitor.
for the fashion-forward Pop:
Branded outfits. New jeans. New matching belt and wallet. New buzz (haircut) with matching facial and massage. IWC watches. Cuff links. Jewelry. New socks. New boxers with your kids' favorite cartoon if you can find them.
for geeky fathers:
A telescope. First Edition magazines in mint condition. Action figures from his childhood. DVDs of geeky movies or TV programs. Encyclopedia collection in book or dvd format. Discovery Channel episodesin DVD. A new computer or TV. A hard-to-find book. A collection of childhood TV programs, or comic strip characters.
for the outdoorsy/athletic handyman of the house:
Genuine Swiss Army Knife. New phone with GPS or pedometer. Treadmill. Gym membership or Cardio Striptease classes (which should be fun). Dancing lessons with you. New trek shoes. New running shoes. New tennis or badminton rackets. Sweat bands. Tickets to his favorite game. New tools for the car. Special step ladders. Gift certificates to the home improvement section. Camping gear. Swim gear.
for the earthbound homebody:
Books. CDs. DVDs. Food. Kitchen appliance. Gardening tools.
for the easy-to-please love of your life:
A collage of family pictures. A DIY photoslide uploaded in Youtube. Or better yet, a video of you (or the kids) singing and dancing your greetings uploaded in Youtube. His favorite homecooked meals. Massage. A lot of loving-loving. A letter. A poem. A "good morning" with a kiss and a smile.
When I was paying my life insurance premiums several months ago, I thought to check if all my payments were being reflected and how many more years i'd have to be paying them.
I was shocked to find that I have to pay for two extra years.
Yes, life insurance rates can get affected by inflation and other factors the insurer uses to project payments and dividends. The amount you can collect after the terms have been met (say, when you retire, get disabled or heaven forbid die) also affect if your premium payments will be adjusted or not. This is why it is always good to check once in a while, so you can also adjust your finances accordingly. Most insurance companies have this in writing (read the really fine print) because they are a business after all, and not doing so might drive them bankrupt.
Here's an idea for a pyjama party, or bridal shower party even.
Get a suite. Order the food (or take a leaf after me and my MyGer friends before, we had our suitors and boyfriends sponsor the food and booze... and suite, hehe). Make sure you have the best party music in your mp3 players and iPods. Make sure at least one of you takes decent pictures. Make sure your camera has batteries and memeory cards. And make everybody show up in sexy costumes!!!
Nobody need not order a naughty nurse's uniform online. You can make it a DIY thing or maybe even turn it into a contest. The most resourceful one will get a prize (like a whole bottle of Tequila Rose to her name). For sure, it would be fun strutting your stuff and posing like crazy with girlfriends who will hoot appreciatively all the way.
Just do not post/upload the incriminating pictures on the net afterwards.
A travel kit for all your travel supplies (from toiletries to snacks as well as locks, adaptors, chargers, etc) saves you a lot of time in preparing for a journey. Travel supplies also include accessible holders for important documents and IDs.
This saves you from forgetting something on your list because these things never leave your kit and will always be handy wherever you go. Of course, once in a while, you have to make sure that your flashlight bulb and batteries are ready for use otherwise they would require some changing.
When buying or finding yourself a kit for these essentials, consider what goes together, which can come in individual packs, which can be left behind depending on your destination, which can accomodate the things you really need, no more, no less (because a loose bag might make you think you don't really need anything there and before you know it, you've just left behind your aspirator or something). And always leave these things inside your luggage, preferably in one kit (or for packing purposes, in containers at least).
You can choose to get a complete and matching set and just tag them properly, or you can use color-coded/design-coded containers (like a billfold in shocking pink which you can easily spot in a jumble).
For an added incentive, having an established travel kit will ive you more time to plan your wardrobe or revisit your itinerary.
Guinataang Alimango (Crabs in Coconut Milk) is best served with squash and string beans. And of course, the season's freshest crabs (which are particularly cheap right now at P250/kilo).
The secret to getting the most out of the coco milk is to add the squash last. Let the crabs really cook in the coco milk for awhile, so that the flavor will seep into every inch of the crab, and the crab's juices and flavor will also return to the broth.
I know most people will probably say that you do add the veggies last (especially the string beans which cook really fast). I guess what i'm saying is to let the crabs cook in the coconut milk real good first before adding the squash, which, though it adds flavor to the dish, also takes away the flavor of the coco milk from the crab/the crab from the coco milk.
Got this from the FPPF ygroups:
The first FPPF travel photography workshop will be held on June 28, July 5 and July 12.
The first day will be at the FEMII office where the participants will learn what gadgets to bring on the shoot, review of the basics, a short lecture on the "Art of Seeing".
The trip to Laguna will be on July 5, whole day trip.
The last session on July 12 will be presentation of the participants shoot, selection of photos for exhibit and commentary on the shoot.
The workshop will be conducted by George Cabig and Aldwin Aspillera (taking the place of Bobot Meru who is leaving for the US). Aldwin is a magazine editorial photographer of Phil Tattler, Mega Magazine and has gone to different travel destinations here and abroad. He is a graduate of Dela Salle University ComArts major in Photography. George Cabig is known for his outstanding travel photos published in Mabuhay and other glossy magazines in the country today.
The trip is good for 20 participants only. Please call 5247576 or 5280371 to register. Fee is 5,000.
In the Philippines, this is one of the best times to buy gold, say, for your wedding rings. Also the best time to buy other jewelry pieces as prices tend to dip since people are saving/spending on enrolment fees for their kids instead. More people are likely to sell/pawn their pieces during this time.
Gold prices start going down around March-April until September, then it gets back up around October again as people start getting their Christmas bonuses, thirteenth month pays and other incentives. Plus, jewelries are common gifts around the Holidays till February, for Valentines.
If you're living abroad, ask your local jewellers if the trend is the same. So if you're about to wed, you'd know when to buy your rings and other gold accessories.
Don't just buy the latest model, especially if you really don't need the extra features it offers.
But if you love listening to music, get a model with great sounds. Make sure to read reviews because even 'higher' models are not necessarily better.
If you're a blogger who loves documenting things, get a phone that's high on resolution.
If an exercise buff, get something with a pedometer.
If you love travelling or are into outdoor sports like climbing or cycling, get something with GPS.
If working on the go, get a PDA phone.
This way, you minimize the gadgets you do have to always have with you, not to mention the kind of memory and accessories you'll invest in. It would also be one less charger to find.
What if you want all those things in one phone? I think that's possible and there may be already something like it in existence, but do remember that if you insist on everything, something's got to give. PDA phones are slightly bulkier, for example, and won't really be handy for the outdoorsy type.
Having natural light streaming into your home is generally good. Not only does it save you on artificial lighting costs, it's also actually good for your well-being. Sunlight helps people from getting depressed, you see.
But what if you don't want the sunlight intruding harshly into your room? What if you don't want to be woken up by its blaring heat on a Saturday morning? And how do you protect your floor and furniture from its rays?
Putting up some well-chosen curtains ought to do the trick. Curtains can minimize the harshness but still let muted light through. Plus, drapes are our friends when we live somewhere where neighbors can easily hear or see us from their own homes.
Just make sure to wash/change those drapes regularly.
It's so easy nowadays, to have all our important info handy at the click of a mouse. Not just those, really, but all our files are so easily accessed now too, easy to find, and sort of easy to store what with bigger and bigger hard disks coming with our PCs.
But am sure we have all lost files one way or another too. Horror stories of hacked computers and PCs crashing, or our phones stolen or lost... even blog bugs make us lose precious posts. How to protect yourse;f from this?
No other way really but to back-up your files regularly. There are two ways you can go about this.
First, you can upload your files in the internet, whether in .zip or .rar files. We usually bemoan lost pictures the most so uploading those is really important.
Second is to buy memory, extra memory... whether they come in forms of zip drives, internal or external hard disks or many memory cards accessed through card readers.
Backing up files will seem like a chore, initially, but once you've made a habit of doing so, it's really easy. After all, files may be copied as you blog and chat and upload more photos. Do it regularly, like every first week of the month, or every week. Just put all new files in a separate folder or invest on a program that literally scours your computer for new/updated files.
This way, you need not worry so much about grieving over lost files.
I don't know about others but I used to think that preparing food requires a lot, even sandwiches. It's only been recently that I realized how easy some recipes are.
Take for example tuna sandwich spread. Basically, you just mix the ingredients and season to taste. But for those who are as intimidated as I was, here's how to make one:
Ingredients:
2 cans Century Tuna chunks in Water
3 big spoonfuls of Kraft Mayo
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of crushed pickles (or more, depending on your preference)
Directions:
Drain water from tuna chunks. Mix with other ingredients. Season to taste. Add onions (chopped or grated) for some zing. Serve with lettuce or cucumber slices if you have them.
It's one of the typical American's dream, to have his own home. I'm not sure if that dream is as great for us Filipinos though, but am pretty sure those who already have families of their own would love living somewhere they know they will never be kicked out off.
But how do you go securing your own home?
Good thing for us, there is Pag-Ibig, there are banks and even some big-time companies are offering home loans to their employees. All you really have to do is do your research first.
The research will start in your own family. What are your needs? How many bedrooms will you require? Will a small kitchen do? Will you require a small office space or a music room? I guess this is also why marriage counselors often encourage families to start buying their homes when they've already finished having all the children. This way, you can more correctly project your family's requirements and will save you costs by letting you avoid major renovations and expansion costs.
And then there's your real estate opportunities and limitations, as well as the financing options available to you. Americans have sites like mortgagefindersnetwork.com that can help them in finding mortgage loans at cheapest possible rates. Banking institutions and insurance companies also offer seminars on these matters. Even housing and real estate companies also have similar meetings (or Open House parties) where you can ask all your questions, compare prices/coverage, etc.
Make sure you verify if there will be additional or hidden charges when you do your maths. Some loaning facility might offer the lowest interests initially but will also charge you for other fees, or would be the easiest to penalize.
Doing your research will be exhausting and time-consuming. It may even require some cost, just going on ocular inspections or consulting experts. But it would be a worthwile investment as it would later on translate into a good investment you can live with.
Most middle-income Filipino families, and of course, the poorer sort, would already be happy with long fluorescents to light up their homes.
But those who can afford to also enjoy aesthetics should know that it's light that really spells the difference in how inviting and beautiful and cozy and usable a room or workspace will be.
Architects, interior designers and even Feng Shui experts all consider light, how to get natural light flowing throughout the house, and how to make sure that use of a room is maximized.
Lighting at home, whether you use Maxim lighting or DIY stuff you fashioned from pails, lamp shades and bulbs, will serve several purposes: to accent/emphasize, to beautify and to illuminate.
Accent lighting will be those placed beside windows, spotlights, lighting around mirrors, etc.
Samples of lights that decorate or beautify are chandeliers.
And of course, we all use light to do our tasks (say lighting on kitchen counters or over study tables).
Dimmer switches and halogen lights are becoming vogue now too, because it helps in creating a certain mood (and also saves energy when you do not really need that much light in a room).
So ye