My son loves to play ball. The husband is actually thinking of getting one of those personalized basketballs we saw online. They are very cute, I am thinking of having his name scribbled on the ball. Sort of like those names of those famous basketball players on the basketballs. My husband thinks otherwise, he has a design in mind and I think I just have to see the design.

These are really nice. And when my son grows up, he can display his basketball in his bedroom. Very nice idea right?

I don’t know until when 5 Corners will be testing my patience. I actually ordered this lamp from their store…

2 months ago and until then they are not calling me or texting me to update me about it. I’ve been to their store twice just to ask about it but apparently, they are having delays with their orders because of the shipment of the boxes. I paid a deposit for the item and my husband is already suggesting that I cancel my order and get the money but I really want the lamp and we don’t have Ikea here so it’s either I wait or do my husband’s suggestion and just order the same lamp from my friend in Boston. What do you think?

A friend is getting married this September. As early as today they are already scouting for their photographer and videographer. They are already booked with the church and reception venue so that’s not a problem already and since she knows I love weddings, she asks me from time to time advices about the preparation like today, she asked me about the wedding programs and actually gave her a site that will help her prepare for everything. I got married 2005 and some memories of the preparation are somehow blurred already but I have a list of suppliers that I can refer her to. I hope everything goes well. Preparing to get married is fun but also very stressful.

When our son was still a baby and Nanny was still a rookie in the house, we had trust issues about leaving her with our son at home with a television in our bedroom. DH installed a camera in the room and all she did was watch television, we actually told her about the webcam, she apologized and actually changed her ways and she’s with us for 3 years now and I have no complains. We trust her more now and my DH is actually window shopping for tvs when we went to the mall 2 weekends ago. While we trust our Nanny about television schedules, we are actually more concerned with our son now that he is a toddler. We don’t want him exposed to too much television shows, movies are okay and we control his viewing. We let him watch a movie every night and that’s it. Maybe the tv in the bedroom will have to wait a few more years. Maybe when DS is already in school for almost the whole day then maybe I can considering letting my husband buy his dream hdtv.

The hardest time is that you lost a real amount of weight, got back into shape and is seeing obvious results, then you got back to your old diet of just about eating everything then decided you should go back and diet again but couldn’t resist food anymore. This is happening to me today, I seriously need appetite suppressant to not take in food anymore. Lemme give you a little flashback, last October 2009 I started my dieting seriously. Less sweets, less carbo, usually only 1/2 cup of rice during lunch time and 1/4 during dinner, NO cold drinks, stay away from coffee and have tea instead, if I can’t resist caffeine, I ordered brewed coffee. In less than a month I see results and my family noticed it. Come Christmas time when there are so much food and gatherings everywhere, I told myself, I can have a break and so I ate and ate as much as I can and got my old built back. Now that Christmas is finally over, I’m struggling with my diet because I got used to so much eating, I need to be motivated or else the suppressants are my last option. So help me God.

I got these nice earrings from Aldo in the US through a friend…

And as much as I’m very happy to have it and wear it all the time, the earrings aren’t real. They are just made with rhinestones and I’m actually expecting it to turn black with time. So I’m actually considering of copying it and have the same design with real loose diamonds and white gold which I can have it made by our jeweler. The earrings cost on 18$ and of course, I have to save money because the real ones will cost much more. Maybe I can have it made for my 35th birthday.

I know! Lame title. But what do you expect from someone who graduated from a Medical related course? My husband was talking about a barcode scanner he purchased for work and I totally went blank by just listening to him. It was like being sent from another time and I wasn’t ready. LOL. Anyway, he loves their new scanner. He was beaming with delight that they bought a really nice one which was so cheap his boss actually wants to buy more so when some of the scanners conk, they will have a better replacement. I’m sure it’s a delight to my geeky husband to find these kinds of stuff and I’m happy for him but now let me sulk in my own happiness of bags, fashion and interior home decos. HAHAHA…

My husband is thinking of buying a toy car in the future. He wants a muscle car which I really love. I love cars but I’m actually fascinated with the new ones. I don’t think investing your money in old schools is such a great idea but I think if it’s a muscle car then maybe you can sway me into buying one. But of course buying an old car should come with a mechanical breakdown insurance, you never know when it breaks down on you. These types of cars are very unpredictable. You better be sure when you’re on the road or going to your destination will be a problem. So what car is he planning to buy?

This is a 1975 Celica but Hubby is eyeing a 1972. I think this is way better. I love muscles and I’m actually excited about this.

I blogged about my online purchase for our bed. One of my weaknesses in a bedroom is a nice cozy bed. I love a clean, soft and cold bed every night and I’m a sucker for beautiful bedding. During cold weather, I love a pretty and reliable heated blanket but now that Summer is here, those kinds are resting in our closet. Thanks to Glo, we have a new and spanking bed at home, ready for our cuddles at night…

The complete set is only 35 USD and they are nice silk fabric perfect for an air-conditioned room during Summer since it holds the cold temperature of the room, my son always says, nice bed every time he lays down on top of it. It is a great buy and I’m one happy camper.

I’ve been reading this article about quick trim reviews and I’m amazed of how the reviews are written. I want to read further because I want to lose weight faster now that we might go to an outing this March. The plans are not certain yet but my dad wants us to go to the beach somewhere. Anyway, I saw these tips…

1. Drink water… No, you don’t have to fill up like a tub, but ensure that you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Don’t substitute for juice. Your body should always be hydrated. Your kidneys will thank you as it can easily flush out the waste. With adequate water intake your body will be able to metabolize fat more effectively. And if you have a glass of water 10-15 minutes prior to your meal, you will feel full once you start eating. Another fun fact, did you know that you can lose 62 calories by drinking ice cold water? But it’s better to drink it between meals or before meals, so that your food gets digested properly.

2. Eat 5 times a day… Start with breakfast. The more you eat for breakfast, the less food you will want to eat at night. Please, don’t skip this meal as you’ll end up devouring everything in sight for the rest of the day. You don’t need to gobble up 5 large meals, just 3 meals of a sensible size and 2 delicious yet low calorie snacks. Eat sensibly so your body doesn’t crave for food. If you treat your body right it won’t demand for more attention!

3. Use weights… Needless to say, exercise is crucial to weight loss. You can’t expect to sit on the couch all day, sip water and lose weight. Join a good gym that lets you work with weights. It will help you build muscle and your metabolism rate will increase. You’ll soon see the fat come off and in its place muscle will develop.

4. Use smaller plates in dark colors… The hotel industry has changed the way we look at food. Today a regular burger can feed an elephant. Well, almost! Check your portions the next time you dine out. You don’t need to finish every morsel. So, what you should do is ask your waiter to put half of your meal into a doggy bag before it even makes to the table. This way you will not be tempted and you will feel full eating less. And you will have something for breakfast too!

5. Read between the lines… Food and drink products are all out to get you. They scream ‘Buy me! Buy me!’. It could be ‘fat free’ but it could still have a lot of calories. You need to analyze the nutrition label on the cover. The number one example of this is sodas. Find out what’s good for you and what isn’t. Knowing in advance can help you stay away from products that are calorie-enriched. Oh, and when shopping for groceries, avoid the aisles with cookies, frozen pizzas and ice-cream – it’s not the best place to test your will-power.

6. Keep a journal… It helps to document what you eat. This way you can keep track and evaluate your eating habits at the end of each week. Ask your dietician to look at your journal and suggest improvement points. I found it helpful to measure myself with a meter every morning. Every time I skipped dinner, my waist was a little bit smaller – and that’s what gave me the strength to get my appetite under control.

7. Don’t punish yourself… Go easy on yourself at least one day in a week. If you begin to dislike your diet then there’s something wrong. Find a diet that suits your body type and your lifestyle. You will definitely see results with these 7 fastest ways to lose weight. If you’re motivated enough to stick to the regime, you’ll get there faster than ever! Stay committed!

When I reached my 30s I started losing more hairs. So I am always in search for hair loss prevention that will help me maintain my think hair.It’ sin our genes. My mom when she was young had think hair but now that she is in her 60s, her hair is really thin, she is not bald unlike her brothers but it runs in our genes and I’m a bit conscious about it. Anyway, I just want to share this one I read online…

Wash your hair less often. For those with extremely oily hair who shampoo twice a day, cut back to once; if you shampoo daily, try every other day. It takes two to three weeks for your scalp to adjust the amount of oil it produces. If your hair feels uncomfortably oily in the meantime, wear a ponytail or a thick headband?and think about what you’ll do with all that extra time in the morning.

Use just two shampoos. You might have heard that hair can become “bored” with a shampoo and conditioner if you’ve used them for too long. And it’s true that hair can seem lifeless after a month or more of the same routine. A buildup of conditioners may be the culprit, says salon owner Johnny Lavoy, but “the good news is that you don’t need to fill your bathroom with four bottles of shampoo to rotate every week. Using a clarifying shampoo twice a month or so should correct the problem.”

Eat your way to healthier hair. If your hair is looking more like a wire fox terrier’s than a champion golden retriever’s, you should consider your eating habits. Biotin, a B vitamin found in many whole grains, liver, rice, milk, and egg yolks, “is a key vitamin to make your hair stronger,” says dermatologist Marianne O’Donoghue. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E and A can also have an impact on the overall health of the scalp. They can be found in fish, vegetables?oh, and kibble.

Now, I’m used to most myths. Then again I might be wrong.

I had a very flawless skin when I was in high school up until my early years in College, but my genes kicked in and my hormones got wild and now that I’m in my 30s I’m still in search for the best acne treatments around. My Husband actually told me the best line he can ever give me, that I will always be beautiful just the way he saw me years back when he first met me. Just as I would be contented of that, but searching for the best for my skin is not for him but for myself, so as to gain back my self confidence. Anyway, right now, I’m using the soap that my Dad gave me, and it’s helping me and somehow is giving me wonders but I still get pimples once in a while and the marks are still there which I use the creams that my online friend recommended. I also found this which I think I will try to follow and observe the improvements…

1. 1. Consider Your Water - And tailor your skin-care products accordingly. “Soft water doesn’t remove soap well, so it can leave a residue on your skin,” says Susan H. Weinkle, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of South Florida, in Tampa. If your water is soft, use face and body cleansers sparingly (no more than a nickel- or quarter-size amount, respectively). Hard water, on the other hand, doesn’t allow washes to lather easily, prompting you to use even more cleanser, which can cause dryness. Gentle, nonsoap formulas, which aren’t meant to lather, can minimize this, says Carolyn Jacob, a dermatologist in Chicago. To check the water quality in your area, log on to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website (epa.gov).
2. Drink Green Tea - If your complexion is red or blotchy, this tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can be soothing,” says Andrea Cambio, a dermatologist in Cape Coral, Florida. “Iced is best because hot beverages can worsen redness and other symptoms of rosacea.” Another benefit: The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea may help prevent the collagen destruction that leads to wrinkles as well as sun-induced DNA damage in the skin (think lines and discoloration), according to some experts. Consider subbing tea for your morning mug of coffee.
3. Keep Stress in Check - It takes a toll on nearly every part of your body, including your skin. In a study conducted at Stanford University, researchers found that during exam time, students who felt stressed had more severe acne breakouts than did those under less pressure. That’s because stress increases the body’s production of hormones such as cortisol, which can make skin oilier and decrease its ability to fight off acne-causing bacteria, says Lisa Donofrio, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine. To keep that frazzled feeling under control, regularly practice stress-management techniques, like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation. This “can help conditions such as acne, psoriasis, rosacea, and seborrhea,” Donofrio says.
4. Improve Your Air Quality - Avoiding smoky environments is smart, since “just being around smoke can lead to the release of free radicals that damage skin and hasten aging,” says Diane S. Berson, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, in New York City. Other indoor pollutants can adversely affect skin, too. Change the air filter in your furnace regularly, and if you cook with oil, use the fan over your range. Also keep in mind that dry indoor air can dehydrate skin and make fine lines more noticeable. Run a humidifier in your bedroom to minimize these problems.
5. Switch to Plain Toothpaste - Those with tartar-control ingredients or added flavors, like cinnamon, may contribute to a common skin condition called perioral dermatitis. It looks like pimples, redness, and scaling around the mouth, says Donofrio. Use a basic paste instead, like Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste ($4 at drugstores). Note: If you suffer from this problem, see a dermatologist for antibiotics to clear it up.

You want more tips? Visit here.

I was talking to my friend online about the sheets that I’m about to get from an online friend’s balikbayan box this week. I’m pretty much excited about it, since we don’t have our own house, I have our small room to be busy about. She was talking about glucomannan, something she read about online that is a dietary fiber which is also very effective for constipation, high cholesterol, acne, and type 2 diabetes. We have a common friend who has diabetes which led us to this topic before we ended up talking about Pottery Barn because she lives in the States and she loves the shop as much as I love the site. She loves interior designing as well so this topic is also a hit for us. These are the in sheets for Spring, I would love to have one of these sets for our bedroom, if only we have Pottery Barn here…

Spring Sparrow

Gardener Organic

Okay, I’m guilty! I shouldn’t be posting about chocolates when I’m just about to finish reading an article about the fda approved diet pills. People who are close to me are aware that I’m on a diet but when you have chocolates only a few inches from you, who can resist that? Anyway, last night we (hubby and I) went on a bar/restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day and I drank a few cocktails and I just thought wouldn’t it be nice to try a chocolate alcoholic drink, because Bailey’s actually is a bit boring for me. So, I think I will have to try this one of these days (diet set aside)…

Chocolate Martini
6 parts vodka
1 part chocolate liqueur

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Strain into a martini glass to serve. For an extra chocolate kick consider rimming the glass with chocolate flakes.

Photo and recipe grabbed here.

We caught traffic yesterday in going home. As my husband and I were talking about our hopes and dreams in the future and I mentioned to him the Scottsdale homes for sale, I saw online. Such beautiful homes to have in the future. We have our dream home and we have our dream business and both of which are about real estates. Life is tough here in our country and right now we have our own little priorities. I just hope that God will help us reach our big dreams in the future. I’m all positive about this, my parents are my inspiration.

I saw this over at Trendir and I would one of each for our bathroom.

To make every boring bathroom classy and comfortable, these items will be very nice. I love the new faucet, very cute and unique. Our shower head needs replacement as well and that one in the picture will be the best replacement. These stuff can pass as wall art! Love them, don’t you?

I love Cilantros. I use it mostly for the Indian and Mexican recipes I cook on special occasions. What I observe is that it dries up fast and so I found a way to make it fresh as possible.

1. Before chopping, dunk and swish cilantro in the water bowl, holding it by the stems. For very muddy herbs, change water and repeat this step until it’s mostly clear.
2. Shake cilantro well to remove the excess water.
3. Using paper towels, pat cilantro dry. Set paper towels aside for later.
4. Begin slicing through stems with your chef’s knife. Slice off only as much as you need; the unused portion will last longer uncut.
5. Holding your knife’s tip steady on the board while you rock the blade back and forth, finely chop cilantro. Take care not to over-chop, or cilantro will turn black.
6. Wrap unused cilantro in damp paper towels used in Step 3, and place inside a resealable plastic bag. Your herbs will last three to five days in the refrigerator, as long as you keep the paper towel slightly damp.

A friend once said, that it’s time to buy gold bullion, and decided to invest! It’s been her long time plan to buy gold and use her money by investing on gold and this year, she just jumped right in and took the plunge contrary to some people’s advices to her. She believes that putting her money through gold investment is much safer. That the growth of her money will be better than investing on paper. Gold future added to earlier gains in early February following a jump in the U.S. manufacturing index. Growing concerns over the enormous U.S. budget deficit also whipped up interest in gold sparking the early month rally. Now she is keeping her fingers crossed that her investment will be successful, with her determination I’m sure she will succeed!

Traveling is a nice experience. I learned so much about myself, my husband and especially my son during our recent travel and it was such a wonderful experience that I pray to God that He will let us see more places in the future, to bond and learn about different cultures and different people.

Photo from http://notebookdoodles.blogspot.com/

I haven’t done this in ages. I just want to relax and take away my mind from those blogging paragraphs. Anyway, here goes…

Your Cell Phone? iPhone.
Your Hair? rebonded.
Your Mother? talkative.
Your Father? provider.
Your Favorite Food? mom’s kare-kare.
Your Dream Last Night? none.
Your Favorite Drink? iced.
Your Dream/Goal? happy.
What Room Are You In? office.
Your Hobby? malling.
Your Fear? rats.
Where Do You See Yourself In Six Years? somewhere.
Where Were You Last Night? bedroom.
Something That You Aren’t? hypocrite.
Muffins? chocolate.
Wish List Item? iMac.
Where Did You Grow Up? camp.
Last Thing You Did? eat.
What Are You Wearing? polo shirt.
Your TV? none.
Your Pets? none.
Friends? loyal.
Your Life? grateful.
Your Mood? in love.
Missing Someone? yes.
Vehicle? rav.
Something You Aren’t Wearing? make-up.
Your Favorite Store? 5Corners.
Your Favorite Color? chocolate brown.
When Was The Last Time You Laughed? this morning.
Last Time You Cried? forgot.
Your Best Friend? sincere.
One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? starbucks.
Facebook? overused.
Favorite Place To Eat? many.

Tag yourselves. Leave a comment so I can read your answers!