Dramatize Your Photos

Dramatize your photos by printing them with fancy, whimsical frames. You don't really need to digiscrap and Photoshop them so much, just use some frames as accents. Frames need not be the usual boxes too, brush fluorishes, flowers and some words/wordart may do as well.

Take a leaf from Beth Nixon, or download her freebies, and then start printing those pictures.

Harry Potter: See You Next Year

For the meantime, forget all those plans of watching the latest Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) in IMAX or arranging for home theater seating. What was expected to come out in November has been postponed till next year.

Warner Bros. is saying that they want to take advantage of summer moviegoers (which will basically mean bigger box office earnings, however initially).

This is a hard blow for Harry Potter fans, for sure, since most have been feeling a little lost and deprived after the last installation of the Harry Potter's books was published last year.

At least, HP fans still have something to look forward to: publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard this December.

Modern Lends More Space

With space becoming a premium nowadays especially for those living in the city, we really must make every inch count.

And packing your house with a lot of things will only just be a fire hazard waiting to happen, or will, at least, invite more accidents and dust.

Streamlined space is key. And modern furnishings offer this with their clean lines, allowing for more room to breathe, literally. Carefully chosen decor instead of many varieties of the same is in, bulky pieces is out. A plasma stand is becoming more and more preferable than a whole cabinet for a TV.

And no, modern decor doesn't always have to look Zen-inspired (though there is nothing wrong with that). But with much more thought, decorating our homes need not mean running out of floor space to walk on.

TV Furniture

Nesting is a wonderful thing, especially if it's your first home and you have the means to furnish and decorate it.

TV sets are usually one of the first things people buy for or bring in their new home. So it's inevitable that we will invest on tv furniture, no matter how basic this will be.

Of course, the TV stand can range from just a small stand/table to a small shelf to an actual cabinet. Home entertainment systems can even require a complete wall of shelves and wood paneling. But just in case you're only starting out, a stand or table that's either at eye level or slightly lower when you're sitting down should suffice. That gives you around 12-24 inches to work with. And you would also need a rack or two, or small shelves, to accommodate speakers, dvd players and CDs/DVDs. And the remote control, for when the TV is turned off.

Health Investments: Medical Apparatus/Aids

Say, you have extra cash and want to invest in some medical apparatus for your home. Aside from having a First-Aid Kit and thermometer (digital ear if there are babies/kids), two other things that I think are good investments are a humidifier/nebulizer and a blood pressure monitor.

Humidifiers or nebulizers can help with colds or allergy attacks. Plus, they're easier to do than steam inhalate, which poses a great risk of scalding especially when the sick one in question is a bucking child.

A BP monitor, on the other hand, will come in handy if you're regularly exercising, are pregnant, are obese, or have a history of heart/cholesterol problems in the family. They're also advisable to have around for people in their 40s, since tendencies for hypertension increase around this time.

Maximize Your Bags

Making sure we get the most out of our bags (luggage and otherwise) mean several things.

Using them with care is first and foremost. Overloading and packing them with stuff won't simply do.

Storing them with care is another. Bags should have a place of their own for storage, where they won't be cramped and packed so tight, they'd lose their shape or get wrinkled. And they should be stored in an area where they won't be exposed directly to the sun's rays, otherwise, the leather will cook and crack in no time.

Indeed, where bags are concerned, less sun is more.

So before heading to Briggs and Riley for your travelware, make sure first that you have sufficient space to store your luggage in. Maybe you can de-clutter your home first before shopping.

Pens as Exhibit Souvenirs

Gearing up for an exhibit and at a loss on what to give away? Consider usable ones over cute, non-usable ones any day.

Sure, pens and mugs may seem already boring and every possible exhibit booth give these away. But those who do get it are sure to use them, so your adverts in that cup wouldn't be wasted. Besides, you can make those promotional pens funky, cool, hip, attractive and all kinds of interesting anyway.

How?

Get those that offer two to three color inks. Get those that can be used as laser pointers or mini flashlights as well. Get the scented ones, or those that write in gel-type inks (or even those that are in out-of-this world color like silver or gold). Of course, people are still more likely to use black-colored ballpens so you might want to just stick with the old and trusted.

Nayong Filipino

Nayong Filipino in Pasay is no more. It has been transferred to Clark Field, Pampanga already and is now not yet charging entrance fees. It doesn't look like anything like the old one, it looks more like a pasyalan village, perfect for photo opps and picnics.

I believe they're still building on it, with so much more attractions and structures to follow.

And I don't think there are public transports one can take to go there, so you must really hire one or go in your private vehicle. It's also close to Paradise Ranch Resort so you might want to visit both places while you're in the area.

Some of what you can already see there include:













They allow weddings in the quaint Chapel inside the park, just not sure if you can also hold your reception there.

Online Writers and Bloggers

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Freebies for Moms

I have chanced upon this wonderful blog of freebies (quickpages and wordart) of a generous Mom that's just perfect for those other moms documenting their babies anything and everything.

Ellie's Angels CT Blog. Add it to your favorites. And always leave her some love.

Getting a Passport in Manila

The good news is that DFA has come a long way in improving the passport application/renewal process. Now, they even offer a pick-up service for those who literally abhor lines. But at almost triple the price, I find that very impractical since you don't have to wait in line for half a day (or more) anymore with the measures they've implemented.

But first, go get a schedule/appointment first, which you can do in two ways.

First, you can download, print and fill-up their forms already and go to DFA Manila. Proceed to the covered court at the right side of Gate 2. Photocopy your accomplished form and fall in line for a stub with your schedule on it (date and time to return for the actual processing). Or you can just go to their website and click on a small icon at the left side to apply for an appointment. However, they sometimes take their time in replying. And their system may have glitches or what because my husband applied online for all three of us, but only received two appointment letters through e-mail.

And if you haven't gotten your appointment letter yet, do not bother to go. They're pretty strict with that because they really only process those who were scheduled for that day. All windows have a master list for each day.

But... if you do have an appointment for that day, the processing will really only take an hour. You still have to fall in line, but since there are already so many processors at each stage, it's not anymore the bothersome, annoying endeavor it once was.

Oh, do take note of the guidelines for the pictures. We had our pics taken at Great Image, which proved really unnecessary. We could have really just gotten our pics taken in one of the many studios around the DFA complex, and that would have been cheaper. Just make sure you wear a decent attire with a collar, and your top isn't white and your background is royal blue. (actually, most photo stalls even photoshop pics to give you a coat or blazer if you're only wearing a shirt)

Then again, minors (below 18 yrs old) need not be present so you'd have to have their pics taken somewhere else. Any parent can just sign for the child, but if the child's status is illegitimate, only the mother (or maybe legal guardian) can do so.

Regular processing costs P500. Overtime (meaning you can get it in a week's time) would cost P250 more.

What to do in Hong Kong

I know there's already Disneyland there, plus Ocean Park and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum... plus all the streets catering to sports, gadgets, clothes, etc.

But just in case you're thinking of what else to do in Hong Kong, you might want to bring out the inner child in you again and go spend a half day (or whole) in one of its museums (or two).

One such museum that is a must-visit is Hong Kong's Science Museum. I like to believe am no geek but you could easily lose yourself in all the things they have there that's educational, amazing and just plain mind-boggling.

They even have this one area where there are just all these puzzles for you to work on. You'd just really feel like a kid making all these new discoveries! What's more, you're not going to be graded so no pressure to perform well.

Wedding Expo - September 2008

An "Everything I Need" CD with Minus One and Other Exciting Freebies Await Soon-to-weds at the Wedding Expo happening this September 6-7, 2008 at the PICC Forum, CCP Complex. All the suppliers you need will be exhibiting, so even if you don't get them (or can't afford them), you'd still have priceless inputs to add to your planner.

Not only will resource materials like bridal magazines be for sale, you can also buy unity cord, candles and coins there plus other wedding paraphernalia and accessories you need. The photography studios will also be showcasing their best albums so you can be guided as to what type of pictures and album layout you want.

Even the gowns will give you great ideas, and you can usually sample the cakes and chocolate fountains. Yum!

And yes, there are raffles going on, and exhbitors offer more freebies with their packages when you book them at the expo. So pre-register now for free admission!

*~*

I love wedding expos so much... I went to three before getting wed, and to two more after being wed. And not just because am a sucker for free tastings! :)

Cheaper Diapers - Part Two

For those looking for cloth-like covered diapers, of tried and tested brands, there is another multiply seller that you might want to hook up with. Bizshonato does meet-ups in the following areas:

~ Eastwood
~ Gateway
~ Farmers Cubao
~ Munoz
~ SM Southmall and other areas in the south (EVERY 2 WEEKS)

De-cluttering

Everyone should hold a spring cleaning of sorts in their homes. It's a must to keep clutter away. Also, it's another way to see what things you haven't used (and is therefore wasting), what things you will never use, and what things you should really give away or sell.

De-cluttering gives you the space you also need for things you actually use and need. Feel free to use big plastic chests for storing your junk, even moving boxes. Just properly label everything. Sort the things as you go through them, especially those you think still have some market value in garage sales (fyi, even old magazines and books sell pretty fast).

If you can afford to be a little more OC, list the things you put in a chest or box and tape it outside for easy reference.

If you commit to doing this twice a year, or once at least, your mountain of garbage junk will never reach unmanageable proportions. And you'd always have space for new things you buy.

Preparing for A Climb

I know it's really rainy the past weeks so climbing mountains isn't really a good idea. But now is also the perfect time to prepare for such a climb.

If there's enough sun, running/jogging is a perfect cardio workout to get your heart pumping. If you have to stay indoors, however, hitting the treadmill or exercising with a jumping rope will do the trick for you.

Of course, weights will help tone your muscles (and would come in handy in case you have some rope-climbing/bouldering to do) and lunges will help keep cramps away.

It is also very important to exercise regularly and challenge yourself continuously by, say, increasing the speed or incline in your treadmill, or doing more laps around an oval. This way, you increase the chances of actually enjoying your climb instead of panting and gasping for breath at the end of the pack.

Casa Leonida

Casa Leonida is located in Calamba, Laguna. For P12,000, you get to rent the venue for 24 hours. It comes with use of big pool and kiddie pool (hot springs), three air-conditioned rooms (with at least three double beds each plus extra mattresses), all rooms have cable TV, two sets of CR/shower room for men and women, videoke machine, pool table, and a fully-equipped kitchen (so you really just need to bring the food you want to cook because they even have big pots there).

Not a bad price for all that, really.

Plus, there are enough chairs and spaces for lounging. I'm guessing, if you rearrange the furniture a little, there's even enough room for some weight equipment.

Some updates on the directions provided by the site:
1) Bato-Bato is already called Sta. Lucia Springs (?) so if you look for Bato-Bato, you will reach Max's and would have to turn back;
2) Look for Binalot Restaurant instead, because the entrance to Solemar Subdivision is just in front it (and yes, the arch is missing an 'S' so you'll only see Olemar)

There's only enough parking inside for three big cars.

Fresh Carabao Milk

Does Anoretix work? It seems to have received nothing but positive reviews from almost every single fat burner reviewer.

Still, whether its by pill or through exercise or both that you're trying to lose weight, one should do well to remember to still eat right. And as you shed those pounds away, make sure you don't forget your bones. Few people know that weight loss affects bone density so its really important that you get enough calcium to protect your bones.

One good source of calcium is fresh carabao milk. What's more, it has even been found to help fight tumors. The taste could get some getting used to, however, because it's really rich and might give you the feeling that you're drinking butter instead.

Fresh carabao milk is more expensive though. And its really best that it is consumed within a day or two from opening a bottle. Storing it in your chiller will also help so that the constant opening of your fridge won't affect its temperature and expedite it going bad.

Good thing for Manila folks, it can now be bought in most malls, as stalls have sprouted for this kind of milk. They're even offered in chocolate flavor! But for those who want a regular supply or order in bulk, you may turn to farmers from Tagaytay.

Tagaytay Dairy Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Bo. Patutong Malaki, South, tagaytay City
Contact No. - 0918-3048721
tagaytay_dairy@yahoo.com

And yes, whenever you buy carabao milk, you help support our many farmers and their families.

Pigeon's Service Center

If you bought a Pigeon breast pump, but didn't get the service center details for it before, but need that information now because your pump is broken or, like me, you've burnt your pump accessories, then here it is.

RICHWELL TRADING CORP.
# 26 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Tell. #: 732-5141

Other notes in dealing with them:
1) Tell the operator if you're requiring repair or replacement because receipt of items to be repaired is centralized to only one person.
2) If you need part replacements, just ask to be directed to "baby products"
3) Their office is located inside the compound of Goodyear along Quezon Ave. It's just immediately past Tuazon St. if you're coming from Manila/UST area.
4) There isn't a stop light anywhere near their office so be prepared to cross the busy road dodging fast cars.
5) They also have other items on sale there. I saw a lot of Barbie stuff plus other toys. Not sure if they sell big-ticket baby items like strollers, but am sure you can always ask. You can ask for SALES SCHEDULES as well so you can buy the products they trade at lower prices.

Consider Wilmington

My friend from the US told me that real estate is starting to pick up already over there. Granted, there is a recession going on, but demands for certain professions (like nurses and teachers) are still at an all-time high.

So even if Starbucks and Mrs. Fields are closing shops and filing for bankruptcy, Filipinos looking to build a life for themselves in the land of milk and honey are still welcome to try. Those who don't think they can handle the competition of fellow Filipinos in California can look for opportunties in other states, like Virginia, Florida and North Carolina.

And those who couldn't afford their own homes before should do well to take advantage of the still competive market right now. Wilmington NC real estate companies, for example, will be more than eager to show prospective buyers around to properties that will fit their budget. Of course, they just have to remember that location spells the difference for a home's affordability. In California, for example, a $600,000 home in the city will only be a small-sized loft in an old apartment building but can be an actual house with a yard if its located in the outskirts. beach-front homes, of course, no matter how small, will require millions of dollars.