My Little Kaiden

hi, there Mommy!

is this smile good enough?

ooops! i think i'm gonna poooop...

yipee! i'm done!...and i'm gonna turn 1 next month! :)

Awwwww...

Surprise!

Oh, it was so much fun! Yesterday was the surprise birthday party of one of our Filipino friends. My friend Ruby called and told me about the plan. After work, I picked up the boys and as soon as we got home I gave them a much needed nap. The party was supposed to start around 6 p.m. so there's enough time for the boys to rest, and for me to make a dessert for the party. We got there first. It was held at the park where I had never been before even though it was just a few miles from where we live. All the kids had an enjoyable time. The playground was a hit! There was a lake nearby so I had to keep an eye on Noah for I was afraid he'd dive into the water with me unaware. Oh, gee...It's pretty scary when I think about it. Nevertheless, the food was abundant! Everybody brought something such as pansit, pork adobo, fried chicken, cassava cake, chocolate cake, etc. etc... I think I already gained some pounds for I had been constantly eating the entire time of the party. Can't blame me. They were really good! yum yummmy! :)

Improve Your Credit

It's true. If you really want to save, spend less and use cash instead of credit card as much as possible. I know credit cards are so tempting to use because it's light weight and easy to grab. Whenever I go out shopping, what I normally use is the cash I have on hand, or my debit card. That way my spending will be controlled or limited. Just like what my smart friend Debbie said, use credit cards only in case of emergency. I've seen people get wiped out because of misuse and abuse of these plastic cards. If you are in what seems to be a hopeless situation right now because of bad credit, you may want to check DSI Solutions.

Having a good credit goes a long way when it comes to getting what you need or want. You will reap the benefits of being able to be approved for the dream house or car you've wanted. You need not pay exorbitant interest rates but instead pay the lowest rates possible. DSI Solutions offers credit repair services online. The process it takes to improve credit and repair bad credit with them is simple and easy. There have been a number of customers who have been helped by them, and they're happy and satisfied.

Before Buying A Car

I have yet to find a time or day where I can just focus on cleaning my car. It is such a mess right now. Few days ago, I washed my kids' car seats. They had become filthy from food scraps, spills, etc. I need to spend probably a day to do a thorough vacuum, or do detail cleaning of my car. I've been wanting to do that. In fact, I even bought a vacuum intended for car use only recently from a garage sale. Currently, my mind is preoccupied preparing for Kaiden's first birthday. I guess after his birthday, I'd be able to find time to do it. I wish!

Speaking of cars, GMC has a new small crossover called 2010 GMC Terrain that made its debut last month in New York. It seems to me that this can compete with the popular SUV's such as the Honda-CRV and Toyota RAV4. One of its great features is that it has a roomy space. Space is not limiting. That would be a plus factor if you have kids. It has a stylish interior and most of all, it saves on fuel. If you're looking for Ford Transit Connect, Buick enclave, or trucks, it would be wise to do further research on them before purchasing. TheCarConnection has a wealth of information that would surely be helpful in your decision. Reviews, photos, insurance, tips are available. Before you buy, be sure to check their site.

Our Upside-Down Tomatoes

Instead of buying the topsy-turvy planters, we decided to use the empty paint buckets we had in our garage. Hubby had to drill a big hole in the middle and few small holes around it. We spray painted the buckets with burgundy to make them look lil bit pretty. On top, I'm planning on putting flowers such as petunia, or herbs like parsley, cilantro, or basil. I'm hoping this weekend the plan would push through. That way, the buckets would look more attractive. :)

Adorable Stuff

It was a fun long weekend for the whole family. We were at the backyard most of the time playing and tending the garden. Since it's been warm and the weather had been great, we decided to set up the pool outside. It took a long time though to fill it up but it was worth the wait. We put several colorful balls, plastic boats, toy dolphins, etc. for the boys to play with while in the pool. While I was looking for the boys' swimwear, I realized that it's about time to get them some nice summer clothes. So, I decided to look online and I found one that I really like. It's called Long Shorts Crashing Waves-Tea collection from Lou Lou's Corner.
I guess it would also be nice to pair it up with this cute little shirt.

Lou Lou's corner has a wide selection of cute designer baby clothes, jellycat stuffed toys, barefoot dreams, lovely accessories, gift ideas, etc. Oh, I love their products! They are so adorable! My friend is going to have her baby shower this June and I'm planning to give her this. I know she'd love this for this is the exactly what she wanted.

Saving with Credit Cards

In these tough times, why would you not save? Most of the time, I buy store brand products instead of the name brand ones when I do grocery shopping. Main reason is they cost a lot less. For most items, you wouldn't notice the difference in taste, or quality such as sugar, salt, etc. There are some items though that I have to go for the name brand such as the diapers. I haven't been lucky with store brand diapers. They leak and are of poor quality from my experience. This is how I save. My hubby is pretty good with handling our finances or bills. When it comes to credit cards, he follows a credit card transfers guide. You can go to http://www.smartbalancetransfers.com/ for a very helpful guide on balance transfers. Last week, my husband had to call the credit card company and ask about the exorbitant interest rate that they are supposed to implement this July. It was a good thing that he read the letter from the bank. It is ridiculous how credit card interest rates can get so high. For that reason, one has to be extra vigilant. The best way to do it is to check smartbalancetransfers.com, take advantage of their balance transfer calculator and read their articles regularly. There is a number of banks out there who offer 0% balance transfer. Using the site can benefit you with choosing the one perfect for your needs.

Our White Azaleas

They bloomed sooner than our red roses. We have 3 azalea bushes in our front yard, but the middle one seemed to have dried up and died. We thought it would still live since we saw few, small green leaves at the bottom. But, the stems had become brittle and we couldn't wait any longer. It was like a guessing game if it's going to live or not. So hubby decided to pull it out. We have yet to replace it with the same kind. The roses are still taking their sweet time. I saw some buds and I feel they are about to open up and reveal their classic beauty any time soon. :)

Pair of Shades

The other day I got my two little boys a pair of blue shades. They didn't cost much. I think they were only a dollar each. Cheap, huh? lol! :) I asked Noah to put it on and it looked cute on him. I tried it on Kaiden and he was like wondering what was going on. He wanted to get it off his face as soon as possible. I've been looking for a pair of sunglasses that is similar to what I found online. It looked like this.
From that same store, there were also other pretty, inexpensive accessories being sold. Jewelry and watches of different colors and styles were available and they surely looked enticing to buy. Right now, I have to watch my money though. My little Kaiden's birthday is in a month and definitely there would be a lot of expenses. I have been getting the ingredients and other stuff we need little by little. I try to wait for them to be on sale as much as possible since the birthday party is still in a month.

Life Alert

My grandmother had fallen once and every one in our family was so worried especially my father. You would not want old people to fall, or get fractures from fall. They say that can make their condition worse. My grandmother, kindhearted as she is, can sometimes be stubborn. There are times that she would not want use a cane to stand or walk. She would always say she doesn't need it even if she does. My Dad would get upset. He fears she's going to fall and be hospitalized again. It was heartbreaking to see my grandmother in hospital bed and in much pain.

Both my parents work and sometimes my grandmother is left alone at home. They can surely make use of this new life alert system. Brickhouse Alert System offers security for your home and for yourself and loved ones. You won't have to worry about safety. It has a fall detection system, smoke detector, help button, medication reminders that would definitely be helpful. If your parent or grandparent falls, he or she doesn't need to push a button. A sensor is sent and if there's no response in 5 seconds, emergency would be on the way the soonest possible. I need to tell my father about this. This is an amazing life alert system product.

Be Original!

Thank you Mommy J for this award! I feel so honored! :) Mommy J is the author of one of my favorite blogs, PinayWahm. An exceptional writer/blogger! I love reading her blog as it is full of wit and humor, and most of all, original. (you can pay me through Paypal, ok? heheh jk :)).

Not a skillful writer myself, but I try my best to write from my heart and mind. It's tough to even find time to write with my crazy, hectic life. :)



What is Plagiarism?

According to Dictionary, Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.

To all Bloggers who exert effort to create noteworthy entries and who continue to maintain a Blog which is a reflection of who she / he is, " Good job! "

To those who have the desire to Blog but are merely scraping contents from other people' s materials, " Whether you are monetizing your site to help you with your basic needs or to satisfy some of your wants, do it the proper way. Stop making money out of someone else's work. Otherwise, you are nothing but a common thief! "

Epsom Salt For Your Plants

They say epsom salt does wonder to your plants. I got a big bag at Walmart for $2.89. Not expensive. They say epsom salt provides magnesium that sometimes gets washed off every time you water your plants. It makes your tomatoes grow bigger and healthier! Needless to say, I put epsom salt on my tomatoes, and Noah's as soon as I learned about it. I read that you can also use this on roses and azaleas. So, I did the same. I've read varied instructions though on how much you could put. Others say 1 tablespoon to a gallon, or 2 cups to a gallon, etc. Oh well...I read it won't hurt your plants so you need not worry much about the measurements. I sprinkled a tbsp around the base, I sprayed some on the plants themselves. Every other week, I have to do this. Oh, can't wait to see the results myself. More roses, bigger tomatoes... :)

Quality Lockers

People who go to the gym most often need to utilize the lockers. You don't want to be carrying your stuff all the time while working out. And besides, you might possibly lose it especially if you're focused on what you're doing. I used to go the gym before I tried jazzercise. I'd see men and women carrying their bags to every equipment they'd use. There was one time that I forgot my combination lock. Therefore, I couldn't use the gym lockers. I had to tag along the bag with me all the time while doing my exercises. It was such as hassle. That was my only choice since my bag had my wallet and keys in it.

In the other facility were I used to do my jazzercise, they didn't have any locker at all. All of us needed to put our bags either on the chairs, or on the floor. There are lockers for sale online that I could suggest to them. Wood lockers look pretty neat. That reminded me of our school lockers back when I was still studying. Morelockers have such a wide collection that would suit your every need and taste. There are of exceptional quality and style. At home, we could use the Modular Locker which they currently have on sale.

Olive Oil For My Face

I thought the Clinique Moisturizing Gel would work the same way as the Moisturizing Lotion. I had been using the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ( long name, huh? :)) for years and I'd say I was happy and satisfied with it. Because I read great reviews about the gel, and out of curiosity as well, I tried the newer formulation thinking it would give me better results. It actually did. The first week, I was impressed. It did make my skin feel velvety smooth. I loved it! However, after that week, my face got too dry. Too dry that lines on my face became prominent whenever I smiled. All of a sudden I noticed wrinkles. I'm getting old! hehehe :) So, I decided to go online and check on olive oil for dry skin.

I've been using it for a week now, and I can say that it works! I wipe my face with a drop of the extra virgin olive using a cotton ball before going to sleep and before putting my make-up on during the day for work. The smell...well, it's tolerable. I can't complain especially if the effects are wonderful. Now to exfoliate, I add a teaspoonful of sugar or salt to olive oil in a small bowl and rub the mixture gently on my whole face, including my lips. (I concentrate a bit more on my cheeks for the "rosy cheek" effect. *wink* :))I then wash it with warm water until the sugar or salt is gone. Soon after that, I splash my face with cold water. Pat dry. Put a little of the olive oil again to moisturize. Oh, your skin will glow! It's a new addition to my bathroom. A necessity I surely consider. :)

Cheap Life Insurance

If there's one thing I admire about my husband is the fact that he makes sure that everyone is protected and that the future of our children is secured. We have life insurance, and that is important. You just can never know what will happen tomorrow. There's uncertainty ahead. Having a life insurance will help support your dependents financially in case of death, loss of income, etc.

If you're looking for a cheap life insurance, Financial One can surely help you. Simply fill out the form and rates will be shown to you instantly. They compare life insurance quotes from more than 140 companies such as AIG, John Hancock, Prudential, Lincoln, among others. If you prefer, you can always call 877-209-7548 for an immediate quote as well. They do the research for you. You don't have to spend a long time in front of the computer searching for the right term insurance for you and your family. How convenient is that? You don't have to call each company and ask what their rates are. That can surely take one's time and energy. Financial One will do the homework for you in an instant. Quicker than you think. Save time, energy and money.

Award From Kim

I got a new good friend in the blogosphere and her name is Kim. She's the author of the very inspiring blog, Stuff Could Always Be Worse. Very enlightening! :) Thank you, Kim for this Lovely Blog Award. Love it! :)

Noah's Garden

Besides Mommy (myself), Noah also has his own little garden at the corner of our backyard. It has tomato plants, watermelon, cantaloupe and radishes. They say seeing the watermelon grows into a ripen fruit would be exciting for kids. We planted the radishes from seeds so we're still waiting for the seedlings to come out. Each day, I'd take Noah with me to check on his garden so he can see how his plants have grown. Not much improvement yet. Many more days to count. But, the garden adventure surely is a lot of fun for the whole family. :)

Fun-filled Getaway

Most of the time it's been sunny, although yesterday there was a threat of a severe thunderstorm. We didn't experience that, thankfully. So, since the weather has been nice outside, we decided to get a pool for the kids. Not too small nor big, but just the right size for the kids to dunk themselves in. It's Kaiden's birthday next month, so we're also thinking of setting this up outside for the party. A year ago, hubby would bring Noah to the nearby park where there's a huge pool for the kids. Kaiden was still a newborn baby then. Oh, Noah had so much fun! Swimming in pools, going to beaches are popular especially during the summer because everybody wants to cool off from the hot, humid weather.

When the kids are big enough, we plan to go to a nice beach resort such as the Prince Resort, located in North Myrtle Beach Resortin South Carolina. Lovely views, quality amenities, excellent customer service are what they boast of. It's one of the North Myrtle Beach Resorts that is full of fun and excitement. If you want to watch a concert, they have the great Legends to entertain you. My hubby loves the ocean and he comes from a family of boatmakers. He will surely love the Enchanted Sailing Charters by the North Myrtle Beach Resort. Fish-N-Chips? Oh, I've been craving for that. That's what they call their breakfast buffet. You dine while you get to cruise on Carolina's biggest vessel.

Award from Online Mommy

Thank you onlinemommy for this wonderful award! This is the second tag I got from you and I have yet to do the first one. I'm slackin' huh? :) Anyway, I feel blessed to have such a sweet and thoughtful friend like you. Nice! :)

Beautiful Beach Resort

Finally, Noah got sand for his green turtle sandbox. When hubby got home from work, he poured out 5 bags of sand in it until it was almost full. Noah was still sleeping then, so little Kaiden had a chance to play with it first. I just let him sat on it and he had fun by himself. It seemed that he was amazed with the rough texture of the sand. He had been trying to feel it slowly falling from his little hands. When his brother Noah woke up, I gave him his toy tools and he started to put the sand in his small blue bucket with a plastic shovel. This reminded me of my childhood days in the beach. I remember building sand castles, and being buried in the sand with only my face showing.

An impressively beautiful resort that I found online is the Towers On The Grove which is an oceanfront North Myrtle Beach Resort. Oh, they have spectacular ocean views! It's a great vacation place for young and old couples, and for families with kids. If you and your friends want to have wonderful time, this is the place to be. Right now, they have a promo for a free 4-night stay at the North Myrtle Beach Resort. Simply register and you'd be in for the sweepstakes. It started January 2009 and will end December 2009. Since it's their grand opening, they offer special rates for a limited number of guests. North Myrtle Beach Resorts offer a lot of things you can do during the whole duration of your stay. They have clean pools, dinner theaters, theme parks, etc. I want to try the deep sea fishing which really seems to be exciting. And I know I would also love their relaxing spa treatments. Let yourself free from all the worries of the world. Get relaxed.